mukdahan to savannakhet thai consulate

[brez66]

Hi I just wondering if anyone was done this trip recently. I am planning to take a bus from Pattaya to Mukdahan that will get me into the bus station there at approx 8.45 in the morning. I've never been to Mukdahan before so don't know the logistics. Will I still have enough time to get a Laos visa and get the the Thai consulate in Savannakhet to submit a tourist visa application form before the 11am cut off point - or is that pushing it a bit?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

If would be tight to get to the consulate by 11am with that schedule. But with luck you could make it.

You would take a bus from the Mukdahan bus station to Savannakhet that will wait for you while you clear Thai immigration at the bridge. Then possibly on the Lao side while you get you Lao visa on arrival. If it does not wait you could get a tuk tuk to the consulate from the bridge.

[steve187]

do the Lao visa forms before arrival

[lopburi3]

As above believe I have read that using local transport rather than the bus on Lao side can save you 20 minutes getting to the Consulate so that probably should be your plan - often can share with others.

[nightfox]

I dont recommend taking the yellow bus from Pattaya to Mukduhan unless you want to stop over 20 times along your journey to Mukdahan picking up and dropping passengers off in every small and large town in Chonbori and Issan siting for over 12 + hours in a not so comfortable bus and there is no way you will make it for the 8.45 am bus leaving to Savanakhet which means you will need to wait an hour and take 9.45 am bus as you will be pushing the 11:00am deadline.

 

I lived in Pattaya for years and will never take any bus to Issan from there. I recommenced to catch a direct non stop bus on Nokonchai air to Mukdahan from Mochit bus station in Bangkok leaving at 7.50 pm and you arriving there at about 6:am the next day at Mukdahan taking the first bust at 6.45 am to the boarder.

[nightfox]

31 minutes ago, steve187 said:

do the Lao visa forms before arrival

That wont do anything regarding saving time as he will still need to go through immigration and wait for the bus to fill up and go into town.

[brez66]

Ok many thanks for the replies and advice. I'll look into the direct bus from Morchit. If it gets in at 6am that should give me plenty of time.

[nightfox]

4 minutes ago, brez66 said:

Ok many thanks for the replies and advice. I'll look into the direct bus from Morchit. If it gets in at 6am that should give me plenty of time.

Bus to Mochit leaves every 45 minutes from North Pattaya bus station on North Pattaya road. You can even book your bust ticket on Nokonchai air from any 7-11 for an extra 20 bhat and yes you will get there before the first 6.45 am bus to the Lao boarder unless there is more flooding in Issan which will slow your ride.

[steve187]

49 minutes ago, nightfox said:

That wont do anything regarding saving time as he will still need to go through immigration and wait for the bus to fill up and go into town.

but may stop him missing the bus into town, they dont wait

[Matzzon]

Thight as they say. Save time by not stand waiting for the bus at the bridge. You just offer Saven Vegas car driver 100 baht to take you over. You can save a huge amount of time. When over just fix the visa and take the first and best taxi. If you arrive to Mukdahan with mini van, then you can also give them 100 naht at the bus station and they take you directly to the immigration checkout and bridge. 

[gimo]

22 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Thight as they say. Save time by not stand waiting for the bus at the bridge. You just offer Saven Vegas car driver 100 baht to take you over. You can save a huge amount of time. When over just fix the visa and take the first and best taxi. If you arrive to Mukdahan with mini van, then you can also give them 100 naht at the bus station and they take you directly to the immigration checkout and bridge. 

All of the advice so far is very good /correct . Having made the trip about 20 times over 6 years ( Mukdahan bus station to Laos immigration on other side ), I can say that you'll definitely make it in time to consulate , if you get to the bus station at 8.45 am . Be aware that you can get your Laos visa on arrival at the other side of the bridge .

[Denim]

Throw another 500 baht at it spend an extra night either in Mukdahan or Savannakhet. Why all the mad rush trying to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible ? There is no kudos in doing it quickly when a few extra baht and one extra night make it a trip not a torture.

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Denim said:

Throw another 500 baht at it spend an extra night either in Mukdahan or Savannakhet. Why all the mad rush trying to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible ? There is no kudos in doing it quickly when a few extra baht and one extra night make it a trip not a torture.

Savannakhet is a bit dull.

 

[Matzzon]

59 minutes ago, gimo said:

Be aware that you can get your Laos visa on arrival at the other side of the bridge .

What? When did I say that you can´t? Off course you take care of Laos visa on arrival at the small booth on the left side before the entry booths straight forward.

[Denim]

37 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Savannakhet is a bit dull.

 

 

True , but Mukdahan is not a whole lot better. 

 

I am just back from there ( 17th Sept ) and stayed in Mukdahan rather than 2 nights in Savannah.

 

But Mukdahan is boring too unless wandering around Robinson's is exciting. The night market in Muk has plenty of food but precious few places to sit and eat it.

 

In the event we found one night in Savannah more exiting than Muk.

Our hotel ( Queens Inn ) overlooked the growing night market where thanks to a real bottle of Argentine wine for 240 baht we spent a pleasant evening people watching.

 

Next time will go for 2 nights there if only for the cheap wine and interesting food choices.

[WonnabeBiker]

DON'T take that International bus. Mine departed almost an hour late. Overcrowded. No concern for a timely departure. 

 

With luck, you can make it. But take a Tuk Tuk to the border and from the border. (Thai side, I haggled hard and got it for 100 THB, on the Laos side, it had to be 160 THB or else - that day, there was no one else around and I walked right up to the counter. Don't come on Mondays or,,, Thursdays? 

 

They wanted "proof of funds" for a SETV and I returned empty handed. 

[brez66]

2 hours ago, WonnabeBiker said:

DON'T take that International bus. Mine departed almost an hour late. Overcrowded. No concern for a timely departure. 

 

With luck, you can make it. But take a Tuk Tuk to the border and from the border. (Thai side, I haggled hard and got it for 100 THB, on the Laos side, it had to be 160 THB or else - that day, there was no one else around and I walked right up to the counter. Don't come on Mondays or,,, Thursdays? 

 

They wanted "proof of funds" for a SETV and I returned empty handed. 

Thanks I'll take my bank book and hope to submit my application on Wednesday. What's up with Thursdays?

[brez66]

4 hours ago, Denim said:

 

True , but Mukdahan is not a whole lot better. 

 

I am just back from there ( 17th Sept ) and stayed in Mukdahan rather than 2 nights in Savannah.

 

But Mukdahan is boring too unless wandering around Robinson's is exciting. The night market in Muk has plenty of food but precious few places to sit and eat it.

 

In the event we found one night in Savannah more exiting than Muk.

Our hotel ( Queens Inn ) overlooked the growing night market where thanks to a real bottle of Argentine wine for 240 baht we spent a pleasant evening people watching.

 

Next time will go for 2 nights there if only for the cheap wine and interesting food choices.

Can you give a clue as to where I can pick up a bottle of Argentine wine when I am there? Cheers ????

[lopburi3]

6 hours ago, brez66 said:

Thanks I'll take my bank book and hope to submit my application on Wednesday. What's up with Thursdays?

Monday and Thursday are the days the organized visa run trips arrive and when Vientiane went to advance queue system many hundreds more were using Savannakhet.  But recent reports are that it is now OK on all days as many tourist visa runners (workers?) can not qualify and are no longer trying.

[Denim]

7 hours ago, brez66 said:

Can you give a clue as to where I can pick up a bottle of Argentine wine when I am there? Cheers ????

 

From Savanh wine shop. Real wines from all over. Start at around 75,000 Kip : Big selection in this place. We bought our bottle then sat drinking it at the night market watching the world go by.

Our hotel, the Queens Inn , overlooked the market and is in a restored French colonial building. 700 baht a night.

 

 

[ReelTime]

Savannakhet is a great little town!  Nothing wrong with staying a few days...  I see it was mentioned be prepared for a potential embassy long line and overnight delay.  No reason to go to MUk, everything is available in ZVK.