Border bounce at Chiang Saen easy?

[Chalky0w]

Hi,

 

Anyone have experience of doing a border bounce at Chiang Saen please?

 

For info - I’m on a multiple entry tourist visa. Would drive myself. Not too worried about costs.

 

Mae Sai would have been my preference but shut. I’ve done Chiang Khong in the past but Chiang Saen is a bit closer and I like a restaurant there.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Tod Daniels]

Totally okay to bounce at Chiang Saen / SEZ (Special Economic Zone) up in Chiang Rai province with Lao.

Only thing is you have to take a boat across and back because there is no friendship bridge where you can take the bus..

Other than that no issue at all bouncing out and back there to activate a new entry on a currently valid METV

[Chalky0w]

Thanks Tod! Appreciate the info.

 

Boat is fine. Bit more interesting than the bus over the bridge.

 

I’m guessing a Laos visa on arrival is same as Chiang Khong? Been a while but think that was passport photo, $45 US and application form? 
 

SEZ worth staying a night or just come back? I’ll have a look anyway.

 

[Chalky0w]

Did the bounce at Chiang Saen today.

Short version:
Very easy. Took about 1.5hrs and cost $40US plus 250baht.

 

Long version:

Arrived at Thai immigration about 11am.

Stamped out.
Walked down to jetty and bought a boat ticket for 100baht.

Boat left immediately.

Walked from jetty to Laos immigration.

Showed passport and given visa on arrival form plus Laos arrival / departure slip (similar to Thai TM6).

Filled out forms leaving sections on where staying blank and returned to next window along with passport photo and $40US (could use 2000baht instead).

Stamped in and could go on into Laos but I just turned around.

Filled out departure part of slip.

Handed slip and passport to outbound window to get stamped out.

Walked down to the jetty and bought boat ticket for 150baht this time.

Boat left immediately again.

Walked from jetty to Thai immigration.

Completed TM6 arrival slip

Gave TM6 to arrival window along with passport and printout of METV to get stamped into Thailand for another 60 days.

All done by 12.30pm.

 

Possibly Malaysia or Japan or somewhere more exciting for longer next time when burning season starts in the North. 😖

 

Hope useful report.