Border hop to Laos (no visa)

[KhunBENQ]

45 minutes ago, agg211 said:

I wonder if I would save time by flying to Vientiane with an eVisa

Looked it up and to no surprise it's a costly excursion.

One way in the morning about 4k to 5k.

Return flight same day might be more than 10k.

Might well be that Kuala Lumpur is cheaper and more choices.

Edited November 18, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, jaiyenyen said:

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.

There is no written limit for the visa exempt entries Laotians since they are done under a bilateral agreement with Thailand.

That is why they cannot apply for the 30 day extensions.

It seems Nakhon Phanom is making up their own rules. Going to another crossing should solve that problem.

Until March 31st they now get a 45 day entry. 

[agg211]

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Looked it up and to no surprise it's a costly excursion.

One way in the morning about 4k to 5k.

Return flight same day might be more than 10k.

Might well be that Kuala Lumpur is cheaper and more choices.

As far as you know: no problem for Thai immigration returning the same day?

[FARANG KIWI]

On 11/17/2022 at 7:08 AM, ubonjoe said:

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

UJ, 

 

I require to do a 'Border Bounce' early in 2023.

Nong Khai, Mukdahan and also Chong Mek ( which I had never considered ) are all 5 hours away from my home, so from what you wrote about Chong Mek sounds an attractive option!

 

-  What are the parking options\ parking charges at Chong Mek?

 

-  No Bridge and no Buses also makes it sound like a care free option.

 

-  Are there any 'extra charges' levied by immigration staff at either side at Chong Mek?

 

-  Ubon is always a great place to stop off for a night or two...

 

 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, FARANG KIWI said:

What are the parking options\ parking charges at Chong Mek?

-  No Bridge and no Buses also makes it sound like a care free option.

-  Are there any 'extra charges' levied by immigration staff at either side at Chong Mek?

-  Ubon is always a great place to stop off for a night or two...

I have not been there for a long time. But then there was free parking on the road to the crossing. I think there are parking areas before the crossing as well.

No extra charges that I am aware of.

[mutha289]

I'm new to the visa run thing, and need to get my visa extended mid December (US citizen). I see a number of you are doing a Laos land crossing and turning around and getting a new visa on entry into Thailand. What does this get you, another 30, 45 or 60 days?

 

I have been considering flying to Vientiane, go to the Thai Embassy there and get a 60 day visa.  Looking at different websites I've seen recommendations on applying for a Laos visa online, the other option is to just get a visa on entry when I arrive at the airport. Does anyone have any experience / recommendations on either option?

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, mutha289 said:

What does this get you, another 30, 45 or 60 days?

 

You will get a 45 day visa exempt entry (you cannot apply for a visa on arrival) that can be extended for 30 days at immigration.

18 minutes ago, mutha289 said:

Looking at different websites I've seen recommendations on applying for a Laos visa online, the other option is to just get a visa on entry when I arrive at the airport.

That is your choice. You can get the Lao visa on arrival at the border. The visa issued online costs a little more but it might save time when entering Laos. (See: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index )

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, agg211 said:

As far as you know: no problem for Thai immigration returning the same day?

At the land border I had no problem.

Have no experience with flying. But unlikely different.

[mutha289]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

 

You will get a 45 day visa exempt entry (you cannot apply for a visa on arrival) that can be extended for 30 days at immigration.

That is your choice. You can get the Lao visa on arrival at the border. The visa issued online costs a little more but it might save time when entering Laos. (See: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index )

Thanks for the info, the family wants to fly to Vientiane for a few days so looks like I'll update my visa at the Thai embassy there. Thanks again.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, mutha289 said:

Thanks for the info, the family wants to fly to Vientiane for a few days so looks like I'll update my visa at the Thai embassy there. Thanks again.

You will need to make a appointment to apply for the visa. See: https://thaivisavientiane.com/#

[3NUMBAS]

illegal crossing points always in use for thais on the midnite express boat 40baht

[edwardandtubs]

1 hour ago, 3NUMBAS said:

illegal crossing points always in use for thais on the midnite express boat 40baht

I once heard of some guy who got sued and wasn't allowed to leave the country, so was stuck here for years. This made me think, what are the escape options if that ever happens? Use the midnight express boat and then what?

[Mac Mickmanus]

1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said:

I once heard of some guy who got sued and wasn't allowed to leave the country, so was stuck here for years. This made me think, what are the escape options if that ever happens? Use the midnight express boat and then what?

You be stuck in Laos with no passport or visa and there illegally and no record of entry 

[edwardandtubs]

23 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

You be stuck in Laos with no passport or visa and there illegally and no record of entry 

Indeed, so I'm wondering what the next "midnight express" would be.

[Mac Mickmanus]

1 hour ago, 3NUMBAS said:

illegal crossing points always in use for thais on the midnite express boat 40baht

That boat from Laos to Thailand frequently sails across , some Laotians just cross over just to go shopping or have a KFC and then sail back again 

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

I once heard of some guy who got sued and wasn't allowed to leave the country, so was stuck here for years. This made me think, what are the escape options if that ever happens? Use the midnight express boat and then what?

At that point, you will have illegally entered Laos. Leaving Laos without your illegal entry being discovered would be difficult (except, of course, the return to Thailand). If trying to escape from Thailand, trying to sneak on board a container ship destined for your home country might be the best of the illegal options.

 

(Technically, this post involves discussion of illegal activities, but hopefully my summary of the situation will not be taken too seriously.)

[edwardandtubs]

48 minutes ago, BritTim said:

At that point, you will have illegally entered Laos. Leaving Laos without your illegal entry being discovered would be difficult (except, of course, the return to Thailand). If trying to escape from Thailand, trying to sneak on board a container ship destined for your home country might be the best of the illegal options.

 

(Technically, this post involves discussion of illegal activities, but hopefully my summary of the situation will not be taken too seriously.)

I think a better option may be to claim to have amnesia and to have lost your passport and have no idea how you got to Laos and ask your embassy to help you out in getting back home.

[BritTim]

8 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

I think a better option may be to claim to have amnesia and to have lost your passport and have no idea how you got to Laos and ask your embassy to help you out in getting back home.

Hmm ... you will presumably need to "remember" your name and nationality. Based on this, it will not take long to determine your "lost" passport information, and find out that you had entered Thailand. I believe the Lao authorities would contact their Thai counterparts, and you would quite quickly end up being transferred from the Lao jail where you are held temporarily to a Thai jail. Your embassy (even if they believe your story which is doubtful) will be able to do little for you except contact your overseas relatives to tell them what is going on.

 

Since women's prisons in Thailand are marginally less unpleasant then male ones, you could try wearing women's clothing at the time of your arrest, and claiming you now identified as a woman in the hope of avoiding the most horrendous of the Thai jail experiences.

 

If you are a talented writer, your book about your experiences, including how your schizophrenia was cured by your religious conversion, might gain you economic success, and a global group of supporters agitating for your release. However, this would take a while.

[geisha]

23 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

Indeed, so I'm wondering what the next "midnight express" would be.

Don’t consider it unless you like trouble. 

[JoseThailand]

On 11/18/2022 at 9:02 AM, jaiyenyen said:

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.

The Laos passport doesn't have a limitation on the number of entries via a land border. The limitation is set only for the visa exempt countries, listed here: https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/Svp1QKEi4u/migrate_directory/services-20161228-150522-918313.pdf

[JoseThailand]

Can anyone confirm if Laos still requires a vaccination certificate or covid tests?

[BritTim]

23 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Can anyone confirm if Laos still requires a vaccination certificate or covid tests?

Recent reports are that it is still technically required, but they often no longer check. It would be better to have that covered.

[at15]

On 11/19/2022 at 10:35 PM, BritTim said:

Recent reports are that it is still technically required, but they often no longer check. It would be better to have that covered.

@JoseThailand did they ask for anything going into Lao?

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

On 11/17/2022 at 7:08 AM, ubonjoe said:

the Chong Mek crossing here in Ubon Ratchathani that is about 90 km from the airport

I did this some years ago. Bus or plane to Ubon. Overnight bus is better, less booking and airport security hassles, just sleep on the way over from BKK and wake up in Ubon. Less than a 1000 baht bus ticket.

 

From the bus station many taxi drivers are familiar with the Chong Mek run. It'll be another 1000 baht, round trip. They'll wait for you as you walk across the border, stamp out on the Thai side, do your paperwork and pay for the VOA at the Laos side, and just walk right back.

 

Or, at the Ubon bus station, I recommend you book a bus that takes you across the border and all the way to Pakse, where I recommend you spend the night at the beautiful Pakse Hotel, dine at their wonderful rooftop restaurant, kick back several large Beerlaos, and take in a little tour of their interesting city.

[Daithi85]

On 11/17/2022 at 11:19 AM, 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.

I did it last month at nongkai,1700 baht for the Laos visa.I sat down on the Laos side for 10 minutes while eating a baguette then straight back in no problem.

[edwardandtubs]

1 hour ago, Daithi85 said:

I did it last month at nongkai,1700 baht for the Laos visa.I sat down on the Laos side for 10 minutes while eating a baguette then straight back in no problem.

You should always pay in dollars as you pay several hundred baht extra if you pay in baht.

 

Was it easy to find the baguette vendor? I was thinking of taking a bus all the way in to the city just to get my baguette fix.

[Daithi85]

10 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

You should always pay in dollars as you pay several hundred baht extra if you pay in baht.

 

Was it easy to find the baguette vendor? I was thinking of taking a bus all the way in to the city just to get my baguette fix.

The baguette is the first thing on my mind as soon as cross into Laos.Yes there is a few little shops on the right hand side as you cross into laos.The very first shop she does the pate,pork,veg baguettes.I did try to pay for the visa with dollars but they said couldn't take the dollars due to little ink marks on them.Your dollars need to be perfect.