Border hop to Laos (no visa)

[JoseThailand]

Does anyone have an experience doing a border hop to Laos? I mean, a one day trip to get a fresh entry stamp, no Thai visa required. Which border crossing is best to use for this? I'm planning to depart from Bangkok.

Why I wanna do a border hop to Laos instead of Cambodia? To save a page in the passport, otherwise wasted on a Cambodian visa (my passport does not require a visa to enter Laos).

Edited November 16, 2022 by JoseThailand

[visabouncer]

Nong Khai->Vientiane is the best because of cheap Bangkok->Udon Thani flights and regular minivans from Udon to the border.

[KhunBENQ]

Plenty of reports here.

I did mine in July at Nong Khai to Vientiane checkpoint (a 3 hour drive for me).

From Bangkok you could fly to Udon Thani.

At that time no Covid related documents needed.

Seems that has changed. Laos requiring proof of vaccination or documented ATK test (?).

Can't help with visa on arrival procedure (VoA) for Laos as I am visa exempt.

All painless at Thai and Laos checkpoints. Somewhat crowded in the afternoon with Thais returning.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, visabouncer said:

Nong Khai->Vientiane is the best because of cheap Bangkok->Udon Thani flights and regular minivans from Udon to the border.

Nailed it. 

[JoseThailand]

8 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Plenty of reports here.

I did mine in July at Nong Khai to Vientiane checkpoint (a 3 hour drive for me).

From Bangkok you could fly to Udon Thani.

At that time no Covid related documents needed.

Seems that has changed. Laos requiring proof of vaccination or documented ATK test (?).

Can't help with visa on arrival procedure (VoA) for Laos as I am visa exempt.

All painless at Thai and Laos checkpoints. Somewhat crowded in the afternoon with Thais returning.

They don't ask you to pay an additional "fee" to return the same day, as the do on the Cambodian border?

[KhunBENQ]

Just now, JoseThailand said:

They don't ask you to pay an additional "fee" to return the same day, as the do on the Cambodian border?

Not me and also can't remember reading here.

I was wandering around the Laos checkpoint area for less than two hours.

[edwardandtubs]

59 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

They don't ask you to pay an additional "fee" to return the same day, as the do on the Cambodian border?

They never have with me in the past. Seems to be the least corrupt border crossing.

[problemfarang]

i thought 90% of the countries in the world need a visa for Laos... so how can you save a page?

whats the difference between cambodia and laos visa?

[rankric]

1500 baht visa and a stamp to get into laos. Vientiane is a nice spot for 2 days.

[ubonjoe]

Since you do not need a Lao visa on arrival  another option is the Chong Mek crossing here in Ubon Ratchathani that is about 90 km from the airport. Plenty of flights per day from Bangkok to Ubon.

There are vans available at the airport or you can go to the bus station.

No bridge to cross. Just walk from Thai immigration to the Lao side of things

[agg211]

9 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Not me and also can't remember reading here.

I was wandering around the Laos checkpoint area for less than two hours.

Did you immediately return to Thailand after you got to the Laos checkpoint?

 

And Thai immigration also didn't care that you entered Thailand the same day you departed from Thailand?

[patman30]

for those who would also like to save a page
but would still get a Laos visa takng up a page
i have exit/re-entered (same day) at mae sot saving a page

Edited November 17, 2022 by patman30

[agg211]

26 minutes ago, patman30 said:

for those who would also like to save a page
but would still get a Laos visa takng up a page
i have exit/re-entered (same day) at mae sot saving a page

How is this possible. I thought the borders with Myanmar are closed?

And Myanmar doesn't require a Visa (on arrival)? 

[BritTim]

23 minutes ago, agg211 said:

How is this possible. I thought the borders with Myanmar are closed?

And Myanmar doesn't require a Visa (on arrival)? 

I assume the use of Mae Sot was pre Covid. At that time, it was an excellent place for a border hop. One of the advantages (over, say, Laos) was that you only needed a border pass, thus avoiding the full page visa sticker from the visa on arrival necessary for most people crossing into Laos. Sadly, as you point out, it is not an option now.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, patman30 said:

i have exit/re-entered (same day) at mae sot saving a page

When? The crossings to Myanmar are still closed at this time.

 

34 minutes ago, agg211 said:

And Myanmar doesn't require a Visa (on arrival)?

When opent they were doing day passes for a fee of 500 baht (No stickers).

Laos has visa available online for certain airports and crossings.

Number 6 is a new one they recently added. It is located in Chiang Rai province.

See: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

 

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, agg211 said:

Did you immediately return to Thailand after you got to the Laos checkpoint?

 

And Thai immigration also didn't care that you entered Thailand the same day you departed from Thailand?

Yes (two hours or so) and yes.

And that was a regular practice over the years.

Some tried the trick to return without passing Laos immigration. Just bus back over the bridge. Technically possible but being refused reentry to Thailand.

 

As far as I know visa exempt entry at land borders is limited to three per year.

 

If you don't have a long history of visa exempt entries there is nothing to fear of.

Edited November 17, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[agg211]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Yes (two hours or so) and yes.

 

Just curious: did you wait deliberately for 2 hours or why would one else wait for 2 hours before returning?

[KhunBENQ]

3 minutes ago, agg211 said:

Just curious: did you wait deliberately for 2 hours or why would one else wait for 2 hours before returning?

No I just meant to inspect the (useless) duty free, take some pictures for the family and have a Laos beer (unusal for me). If it wouldn't have been so hot and wanting to get back before dark I would have gone to Vientiane. In 2011 I was there and found it a nice change with some remains of French colonial time (architecture and cuisine).

 

[edwardandtubs]

The danger is that everyone in this thread is describing their pre-covid experiences. I can't see any reports about doing a same-day border hop at this border post-covid.

[BritTim]

5 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

The danger is that everyone in this thread is describing their pre-covid experiences. I can't see any reports about doing a same-day border hop at this border post-covid.

There is no problem doing that at land crossings with Laos.

[patman30]

9 hours ago, agg211 said:

How is this possible.

9 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

When?

Obviously when the border was open
hence i typed "i have" instead of "you can"
just letting others know it is an option to save a page in passport when it is open

[JoseThailand]

15 hours ago, problemfarang said:

i thought 90% of the countries in the world need a visa for Laos... so how can you save a page?

whats the difference between cambodia and laos visa?

Maybe I'm in the rest 10%? ????

[edwardandtubs]

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

There is no problem doing that at land crossings with Laos.

How are you so sure? Have you read reports or done it yourself post-covid?

[MichaelHunt]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Laos

 

 

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

How are you so sure? Have you read reports or done it yourself post-covid?

My assurance is based on multiple credible reports I have read in the last few months, both on here and elsewhere. No one has reported any problem. The situation, as far as immediate return at Laos land crossings, remains as it was pre Covid.

[agg211]

I wonder if I would save time by flying to Vientiane with an eVisa and then go rightaway to the border, instead of flying to Udon and take a van from there to the border with Laos?

[KhunBENQ]

21 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

The danger is that everyone in this thread is describing their pre-covid experiences. I can't see any reports about doing a same-day border hop at this border post-covid.

?

If I write July I mean this year of course.

And plenty of other reports in the forum (many doing border run to get rid of Non O-A visa).

I have described in some detail in other threads.

Border is open and business as usual before COVID. Only exception is that Laos might still check for vaccination or ATK. No such at entering Thailand.

Edited November 18, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

11 minutes ago, agg211 said:

I wonder if I would save time by flying to Vientiane with an eVisa and then go rightaway to the border, instead of flying to Udon and take a van from there to the border with Laos?

Sure, it's technically possible. Just yesterday I saw a a video of a Bangkok based  vlogger coming back from his Laos short trip with Thaismile flight from Vientiane.

I don't know about schedule and prices.

If schedule allows you could also fly back without using land border.

Or spend a night in Vientiane. Seems a lot has developed since I was there in 2011.

Edited November 18, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[jaiyenyen]

I know someone who's used up all their tourist stamps (3 per year). They have a Laos passport and have been told that they won't be able to enter Thailand again. They've always used the same land crossing point in Nakhon Phanom.

I have 2 questions, but I feel I already know the answers,  I'll ask anyway.

1) Would it make any difference if they used a different land crossing point?

2) Would crossing by air make a difference? 

 

Any advice would be helpful.

[KhunBENQ]

7 minutes ago, jaiyenyen said:

Any advice would be helpful

I hesitate to answer on this.

Likely flying in would make a difference.

I wasn't aware that the rule applies to Laos citizens and that they need to use passport instead of an ID?

Better open a new thread here. Or can I get 

@ubonjoe

to help?