Non Imm 'o' Visa Run - Vientiene

[jubby]

I need to do a VISA run to Vientiene for a NON IMM 'O' VISA.

I'll be going after a trip down south with the Wife & Kids & my Parents visiting from UK, thinking maybe I should make a trip of it and stay a couple of days in Vientiene as I've never been. I'd like to take the Car as its more convenient as there are eight of us. Has anyone experience of driving in Laos with a Thai Car. I guess I need permits, Insurance etc..

Is it straightforward ?

[dogit]

I need to do a VISA run to Vientiene for a NON IMM 'O' VISA.

I'll be going after a trip down south with the Wife & Kids & my Parents visiting from UK, thinking maybe I should make a trip of it and stay a couple of days in Vientiene as I've never been. I'd like to take the Car as its more convenient as there are eight of us. Has anyone experience of driving in Laos with a Thai Car. I guess I need permits, Insurance etc..

Is it straightforward ?

Wouldnt have thought it was worth the trouble , udon to the boarder is 30 or 40 mins , boarder to vientiene same , its a walkable city cant see the advantage of a car, there are pleanty of tuk tuks , think it would be easier just to cab it and walk it

[abdulrahman]

I need to do a VISA run to Vientiene for a NON IMM 'O' VISA.

I'll be going after a trip down south with the Wife & Kids & my Parents visiting from UK, thinking maybe I should make a trip of it and stay a couple of days in Vientiene as I've never been. I'd like to take the Car as its more convenient as there are eight of us. Has anyone experience of driving in Laos with a Thai Car. I guess I need permits, Insurance etc..

Is it straightforward ?

If the car is registered in Thailand,in your name,you have to stop in NongKhai Transport Office,the Soi on the links before Tsco Lotus,for a carnet;1 year validity,about 200 Baht.On the Thai border you fill two forms for the ezport of the car,free of charge.On the Lao border,another form for the import,200 Baht for the car,50 Baht for the driver(it's easier if the passengers walk over the border,you can take them on the other side,there is a branch of the Lao insurance where you can pay about 50K kip,validity one week.This,of course in addiction to visa,border permit(for Thais or Laotians,etc.

For more info PM me.

When I go to Lao with the family,many times a year,find my own transport very convenient,the tuk-tuks are always trying to rip you off,public transport is unreliable,taking the Lao bus to LuangPrabang is an experience I don't want to renew!

[gzu88bv]

If the car is registered in Thailand,in your name,you have to stop in NongKhai Transport Office,the Soi on the links before Tsco Lotus,for a carnet;1 year validity,about 200 Baht.On the Thai border you fill two forms for the ezport of the car,free of charge.On the Lao border,another form for the import,200 Baht for the car,50 Baht for the driver(it's easier if the passengers walk over the border,you can take them on the other side,there is a branch of the Lao insurance where you can pay about 50K kip,validity one week.This,of course in addiction to visa,border permit(for Thais or Laotians,etc.

For more info PM me.

When I go to Lao with the family,many times a year,find my own transport very convenient,the tuk-tuks are always trying to rip you off,public transport is unreliable,taking the Lao bus to LuangPrabang is an experience I don't want to renew!

Thanks, this is very interesting news. Could have PM-ed you, but my questions may interest others too.

1. What is that “carnet” and what is it meant for. Could you buy that booklet at any Land Transportation Office prior your trip in advance?

2. How does it work if the driver is Thai and the car registered in her name? Would you rather recommend this as an alternative?

3. What about if car registered in the name of a Thai, but driver is a Falang?

4. You mentioned that passengers would better walk over the bridge. Do you really mean that, or would they not have to take the bus? I have never seen people walking over the bridge.

[abdulrahman]

1. What is that “carnet” and what is it meant for. Could you buy that booklet at any Land Transportation Office prior your trip in advance?

2. How does it work if the driver is Thai and the car registered in her name? Would you rather recommend this as an alternative?

3. What about if car registered in the name of a Thai, but driver is a Falang?

4. You mentioned that passengers would better walk over the bridge. Do you really mean that, or would they not have to take the bus? I have never seen people walking over the bridge.

1.The 'carnet' is a purple booklet with the car and owner informations in it.No.you must go to the NongKhai Transport Office(for Vientiane).

2.It's the same.

3.Never tried;think may be possible if the owner is present.

4.No,not over the bridge,only at the Lao border control post,where they must exit the car in every evenience!

If you take them in the car before passing Cusoms,its 50 Baht for each adult,children 10 Baht,extra!

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I need to do a VISA run to Vientiene for a NON IMM 'O' VISA.

Is it straightforward ?

If the car is registered in Thailand,in your name,you have to stop in NongKhai Transport Office,the Soi on the links before Tsco Lotus,for a carnet;1 year validity,about 200 Baht.On the Thai border you fill two forms for the ezport of the car,free of charge.On the Lao border,another form for the import,200 Baht for the car,50 Baht for the driver(it's easier if the passengers walk over the border,you can take them on the other side,there is a branch of the Lao insurance where you can pay about 50K kip,validity one week.This,of course in addiction to visa,border permit(for Thais or Laotians,etc.

For more info PM me.

When I go to Lao with the family,many times a year,find my own transport very convenient,the tuk-tuks are always trying to rip you off,public transport is unreliable,taking the Lao bus to LuangPrabang is an experience I don't want to renew!

Yes, adulrahman, how about more details here at the forum.  I've not tried to take my POV across but might do so one day if it's really easy.  Usually just the wife & I travelling.

Jubby, what I normally do when I go to Vientiane it leave my POV in the "caged" car park there at the station where you catch the van/bus across the bridge.  Runs baht 100 per day, and seems to be good security, I've been doing this for 10++ years and no problem.

If I happen to have a crowd I just tell the gals at the van/bus ticket windown that I want to charter a van (maw bai kham saphan), runs bant 200 or 250 rather than the baht 10 for a single ticket, and you don't have to wait.  On the Lao side need to ask for a van to your hotel.

Mac

[abdulrahman]

I will say first that travelling with your car to the Lao P.D.R. you don't save money,it's the covenience.

You need to have a purple booklet that states the vehicle's data:owner,car number,engine number,frame number,as in your(thai)car book.You can have this made by the Transport Office in NongKhai,not sure about NakhonPhanom,now that the Friendship Bridge 2 is open to traffic,or perhaps the Central Office in Bangkok;but with the boolet made in NongKhai you can use both Bridges;again,not sure about the Bridge on a river (not the Mekong)in ThaLi,Loei Province,will try next time.

The purple book costs about 200 Baht and two hours time,validity 1 year,renevable,sinc last year you can drive through all Lao.

Exiting at the Thai Border,NongKhai or Mukdahan,you have to fill two forms:for export of a vehicle and for Customs:free.

Before passing the Bridge,20 Baht at the Tollboot.After the Bridge,2000 Kip or 10 Baht for disinfestant spraying of the wheels;introduced after the chicken-flu scare.

On the Lao Border present the car book,they'll give you a green form and a sticker,cost 200 Baht for the car,50 Baht the driver and every passenger(children 10 Baht).They DON'T accept Kips!

Right inside the Border is an Office of the A.G.L.,one week for a Pick-Up 60000 Kip or about 220 Baht.

Drive carefully,and on the RIGHT side of the road!

Coming back,return the green form at the border,pay the Toll on the Lao side (8000 Kip or equivalent) Give back the two forms at the Thai side.You have now 4 new stamps in your purple book!

All of these,of course,and the Lao visa,stamping of the Passport,re-entry card,etc.

Hope to have remembered eveything,and that someone find it useful.