CHONG MEK - Border Bounce Report

[FARANG KIWI]

Drove to Chong Mek Border with Laos this morning with the Thai wife.

 

We thought we would do something different and use her Thai Passport as she came for the bounce with me.

 

For me NO issues at all with the crossing into Laos, turn around and come back into Thailand.

 

On this occasion I took $US 40.00 ( 4 x Crisp & New $10 notes ) - Accepted at Laos and no more money requested anywhere.

 

As for the wife who usually pays the 20 Baht for a Border Pass on providing her Thai Passport at Laos Immigration Arrival desk she was asked for 100 x Thai Baht.

 

Everyone else was also paying 100 x Thai Baht - quite a 'rort' going on!!

 

OK lesson learnt - Next time Thai Border Pass 🙂

 

The Thai Immigration officer at Thai Arrival must have been his Birthday - He was smiling and told the 3 x Farang's in the queue as he dealt with them that "you can extend this Visa stamp at your local immigration office"!!

 

A great all around experience......

 

Edit:  Spelling

[Upnotover]

Whether Thai or Lao there seems always a price to pay there.  Crossing with my gf (Lao) she is asked for money both ways by Lao immigration, normally gets away with less than asked for as she tells them she pays a lower amount at Savannakhet.  And I also make sure my US$ are crispy, guy seemed rather disappointed the last time.  They also had a new irritating arrival/departure card thing for me to fill out, never asked for the departure half on the return leg though.