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Chiang Saen / Chiang Khong border bounce

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Hi,

 

I’m on a DTV visa. Not anywhere near my 180 days being up but was thinking of having a night or two in Laos from Chiang Mai.
 

I was wondering:

- Any restrictions on bouncing out / back at Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong? I seem to recall seeing something about staying out a minimum number of nights but maybe that was just for visa exempt?

- Any recommendations for hotels / restaurants on the Laos side? I like Beer Laos and Thai / Laos food but not on a backpacker budget which seems to be the target of the hotels I’ve seen. My budget is up to about 5k baht a night for hotel. Quite happy on plastic seats for a restaurant if food is good.
 

Not interested in going to the Chinese casino / enclave.

The minimum stay requirement is for those who are trying to bounce visa exempt.  Since you have a DTV you should not be subject to any such requirement.  I've read very recent reports, within the last week, of people doing same day bounces at Chiang Khong without issue with DTV.  The Laos side might "warn" you that you could be rejected, but you should be fine.  If you want to do an "instant" bounce you'll have to pay an extra fee to the Laos side and they'll return your passport with both your entry and exit stamps together.  Or you can take the extra 5 minutes to go and get stamped in yourself and walk back out the exit side.

  • Author

Thanks Brandon.

 

Anyone have recommendations for where to go / stay on the Laos side?
 

I’m looking for a change of scenery rather than purely a border bounce. Anything nice in immediate area or further in at that part of Laos? I’ve done the slow boat trip before and liked the food / scenery in Laos but not the boat ride itself.

Realistically, Houayxay is the only place you can go to after crossing at Chiang Khong.  I did a 2 day trip there just to see Laos.  To be frank, it was boring.  This place is geared around sending people off on the slow boats, not for real tourists.  A few restaurants on the river.

 

If you cross at Chiang Saen you can go to the casino in the Chinese enclave, if that's your thing.  It's a sleepy area overall though.  I found the Thai side much more lively, especially around the Golden Triangle area.

  • Author

Thanks Brandon.
 

Your experience seems to back up what I’ve been seeing when looking myself - most of the hotels seem to be a bit poor and couldn’t even find one with a swimming pool. 

 

The Chinese casino doesn’t interest me - wanted to eat Laos food, drink Lao beer and enjoy Laos scenery for a few days.

I couldn't find a hotel to book ahead of time.  Extremely limited online options.  Better to just walk down the river and find a place.  They should all have availability if they're open during low season.

 

Did a quick scan on google maps satellite view.  Not a single pool to be found.

Make sure you limit the amount of kip you get, if you get any.  You won't be able to convert it back to baht or USD.  Pretty much everyone accepts baht or you can use the LOCA app and a credit card to pay with QR scan with a small % fee.

That close to the border your Thai sim card should work fine.

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