Border Run: do we really have to make it all the way to Laos?

[Ryokan]

So, I have been doing border runs for a while already and every time I do it, I am always debating with myself whether or not it is okay for me to return to Thailand without actually entering Laos. I just had a really bad experience getting into Laos, sometimes the officials there are up to no good. 

 

Does anyone have experience with this? because it is physically doable to return to Thailand without actually crossing to Laos, and from the Thai border perspective I think they only care about their own stamps (that you got out of their side of the border). 

 

Any inputs would be deeply appreciated.

[zzzzz]

100% you need exit Thailand , get stamp
enter Laos , get visa/stamp ($40)
exit Laos, get stamp
enter Thailand, get stamp

[Hummin]

6 minutes ago, Ryokan said:

So, I have been doing border runs for a while already and every time I do it, I am always debating with myself whether or not it is okay for me to return to Thailand without actually entering Laos. I just had a really bad experience getting into Laos, sometimes the officials there are up to no good. 

 

Does anyone have experience with this? because it is physically doable to return to Thailand without actually crossing to Laos, and from the Thai border perspective I think they only care about their own stamps (that you got out of their side of the border). 

 

Any inputs would be deeply appreciated.

Where is your location? 

Why Laos only?

 

 

[Caldera]

At any land border, Thailand won't stamp you back in if you haven't entered and exited the neighboring country as per stamps in your passport from that country. 

[DrJack54]

OP, is the border bounce for your multi entry visa.

Where are you located?

If Bangkok, I could think of lot worse than a mini break in Saigon.

You may be eligible for visa exempt entry to Vietnam.

[pomchop]

What is the current rule as to how many cambodia border runs followed by a 30 day extension at thai immigration are u allowed per calendar year?  Is Two times ok?

[flexomike]

15 minutes ago, pomchop said:

What is the current rule as to how many cambodia border runs followed by a 30 day extension at thai immigration are u allowed per calendar year?  Is Two times ok?

Two per calendar year 

[pomchop]

5 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Two per calendar year 

thank you

[Ben Zioner]

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Ryokan said:

Does anyone have experience with this? because it is physically doable to return to Thailand without actually crossing to Laos, and from the Thai border perspective I think they only care about their own stamps (that you got out of their side of the border). 

I have done many border runs to Cambodia and never physically entered the country,  always paid the couple of hundred baht for it to be done. Passport back by the time I had come out of duty free.

Bottom line is you won't be allowed to enter Thailand unless you have exited another country.

One time I was in the queue behind a couple of guys speaking English and could hear them talking. Sounded confused and like they hadn't done the Cambodian stamp. When they got to the desk police arrived and escorted them away.

[FriendlyFarang]

12 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

Some IOs at airports make problems when people enter repeatedly with visa exempts, because in their personal opinion these people stayed too long in Thailand. If you get denied they send you back where you came from.

At most land borders you can be certain to have no problems.

Also not everybody lives close to an airport with international flights, and thus a land border crossing might be easier and cheaper.

[sandyf]

17 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

Depends on personal circumstances.

We used to the couple of hours to Bang Laem, only half hour at the border, then drive into Chantaburi to see friends and then come home.

Last time I needed to do it my wife was tied up so I took overnight train down to Padang Besar, lunch in Malaysia and the afternoon train back north.

But yes indeed, did several enjoyable trips when a re-entry was required. Penang by train when you could go straight through to Butterworth.

[herfiehandbag]

33 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

Well I suppose it depends on where you live - for me in the top North it's a 45 minute bus ride and B500 to go into Myanmar.

[In the jungle]

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

It depends where you live.

 

I live 500 km from Bangkok and 125 km from a land border.

[Ben Zioner]

Not so sure, I live about 30 km from the Cambodian border but if I had to do a border run I'd fly from Buriram to Saigon or Penang, with only a short stop at DMK. This I can do on my own. By land I'd have to do it under the protection of my better half, to deal with all these non English speaking local mafias.

[vinci]

this question has been around for a long time, a decade ago i tried it, out of curiosity????, they will know 100%

Edited September 4, 2023 by vinci

[Ryokan]

Thanks everyone for your reply. It is clear is not possible, as I suspected ????. For those asking why Laos, I live around 30-40 mins drive from the border, so it is really the most convenient option for me.

[richn4]

5 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

This. I did a day trip to Penang on Air Asia for my border bounce in August. Nice lunch at China House in Georgetown. But then, I'm based in Bangkok and so cheap flights from DMK are the obvious choice. Next time, maybe Saigon but I'd be far too tempted to stay overnight...

[flexomike]

6 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

I can go to Cambodia by land in about an hour and a half at most, takes longer to go to the airport

[GypsyT]

I stayed at Doha 2 hotel in Saigon airport. Walk in price (cash) about $ 25/nite 2 yrs ago.

Clean, modern hotel hidden in dark alley. Lousy breakfast...

https://dohahotel.com.vn/doha-2-hotel.htm

You can walk there from the terminal, just across the inter section.

Warning; Watch out for very aggressive bike-taxi teen age boys! They try to grab your luggage to get your business. "Sorry boys, no need for taxi. I live just across the street!" was my white lie which worked. They just try to make their lives better...

[flexomike]

5 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Not so sure, I live about 30 km from the Cambodian border but if I had to do a border run I'd fly from Buriram to Saigon or Penang, with only a short stop at DMK. This I can do on my own. By land I'd have to do it under the protection of my better half, to deal with all these non English speaking local mafias.

done it three times in seven years to Cambodia, never an issue

[Sticky Rice Balls]

just did my last border hop allowed last week in Chiang khong-Laos border

 

would have MUCH rather done Mae sai-burma which i was lucky enough to do 1st border hop

 

Now MS is close to tourists but allows thais make ZERO sense to me but welcome to thailand

 

So i hate having to go to vientiane laos and am able to get my 6 months total with the 2 allowed border hops.....always come here one way..no visa for 15 yrs.....

 

get 30 day stamp at bkk--fly to Cm--extend    mae sai for 30+extend   chiang khong 30+extend

gets me the 6 months and i heading home in Oct...having arrived in May

 

Was very easy apart from buying a Laos visa which drives me crazy as im not even "entering"

 

and foolishly rode my 100cc honda dream to CRai...took me 5 hrs..took the bus to CK next day

 

very nice up there..mellow with the rice fields and mountains and found a nice cottage as the bus stops running from CK-loas checkpoint at 3pm.....so walked to this cheap little resort..

 

always prefer mae sai as i can  just pay the $10 usd but apart from paying for useless laos visa taking up my passport pages would use CK in the future.....the laos guys take usd but wanted 40 IF entering laos..50 if doing a turnaround...so i just paid the 1800 bt.....nice enough and very quit up there as i was the ONLY one there...thai side open daily until 8pm..take 25 bt bus over mekong

 

 

[zzzzz]

6 hours ago, sandyf said:

I have done many border runs to Cambodia and never physically entered the country,  always paid the couple of hundred baht for it to be done. Passport back by the time I had come out of duty free.

Bottom line is you won't be allowed to enter Thailand unless you have exited another country.

One time I was in the queue behind a couple of guys speaking English and could hear them talking. Sounded confused and like they hadn't done the Cambodian stamp. When they got to the desk police arrived and escorted them away.

UR passport entered Cambodia and you paid extra for that>
same same

[bluejets]

Laos is a garden party compared to Myanmar.

[chris carre]

20 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

Lack of money,i would think

[Tod Daniels]

20 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Well I suppose it depends on where you live - for me in the top North it's a 45 minute bus ride and B500 to go into Myanmar.

Just curious there slick, when was the last time you bounced out and back at Mae Sai / Tachileik ? That border has been closed more than 2 months now

[Tod Daniels]

20 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

You also have to realize that flying in to EITHER Bangkok airport (DMK or BKK) after milking free stamps/30 day extensions to live here is a risk on it's own. HUNDREDS of people are denied entry at those airports every week because the officers think they're living here on free stamps, and entering by land (which most people can do 2 times a year) is far less risky as far as denial of entry.. Worst case you get turned around, sent back to the country you just left and told to fly in..

 

[brianthainess]

21 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Don't understand this fascination with land border runs. Isn't easier to fly to Saigon or Penang, spend a couple of nights there and come back?

It's nothing to do with 'Fascinations' some of us live near a boarder, I could leave my place at 7am and be home by 2pm.

[Scouse123]

20 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Well I suppose it depends on where you live - for me in the top North it's a 45 minute bus ride and B500 to go into Myanmar.

I don't need to enter and exit but was interested in what you said, It's a long time since I have been up your way but I did like the change of environment and scenery.

 

I thought they had closed the Myanmar/Thai border for now?

 

Obviously not.

[Scouse123]

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

It's nothing to do with 'Fascinations' some of us live near a boarder, I could leave my place at 7am and be home by 2pm.

I live near the Mukdahan/Laos border and I don't need border bounces at my age unfortunately, as I used to love the adventure aspect of them, but I still fly out to Cambodia and Vietnam every so often for the different vibe.

 

I don't understand why people are so adverse to nipping out of the country for two or three days, and so desperate to find shortcuts to stay in. It's not as though they have any desperate need to be here 24/7.

 

Everything will still be here when they get back.