Just returned from Vientianne and received a 2x TV on Friday 01-04-08.

This is just MY experience,and yours may vary.

Arrived around 10 AM at Nong Khai checkpoint,waited about 30 minutes,then boarded a bus to Vientianne

visa station. There,upon disembarking,waited in a line for "immigration check in",for about 15 minutes.Was told I needed to go to front line for visa.Went to "front line" where there was a mass of backpackers milling about blocking two small windows,I asked someone which line was for visa.There was no sign indicating,and no lines marked,so falangs just horded in front of both windows! The good news was that everybody was relaxed and in good moods...the bad news: Time was running out to make it to a THIRD location for actual tourist visas! I heard someone say that there was only ONE person working both windows,and that one was to drop passport and pay(35 USD) for Laos visa,and the other he handed pasports out the tiny window,where a kind Norwegian chap was standing,reading out names,and handing passports to tired tourists(I was tired already as well) The total wait for me was about 40 minutes...I grabbed change and passport with Laos visa,and jammed to fill out arrival card,then to "Immi check in" line again.About 10 minutes later,my Thai g/f and I were through and we quickly grabbed a taxi...time was already past noon.Nice Laos guy transported us in an old Totota Corona through the dusty roads to the FINAL destination/line for TV.It was a friday afternoon,the next day was a Laos holiday,apparently,so it would amount to days to hopefully receive a TV,and with any luck,a 2x.Here I will not mention what transpired,as I know that certain officials read these,so if you are interested,you can PM me for details.(the word"expedited" should suffice)Aside from the visa,the Laos folks were very friendly,and our taxi driver escorted us all around town,even waiting for us to eat at a restaurant,and take some photos of the statues and wats,etc. My impression is the folks of Vientianne are kind,very relaxed(no one amping out or rushing greedily to make more $ than the next guy,etc) they were delightful! Hotel was very adequate,the restaurant on the Mekong wonderful,and we enjoyed many dark Beer Laos for the few days we stayed...food great! women..very beautiful,streets orderly and cleaner than here.Bottom line: received double visa,had a very nice time,took many great pics,and also very much enjoyed the time spent in Udon Thani and Nong Khai.

Mel

Just returned from Vientianne and received a 2x TV on Friday 01-04-08.

This is just MY experience,and yours may vary.

Arrived around 10 AM at Nong Khai checkpoint,waited about 30 minutes,then boarded a bus to Vientianne

visa station. There,upon disembarking,waited in a line for "immigration check in",for about 15 minutes.Was told I needed to go to front line for visa.Went to "front line" where there was a mass of backpackers milling about blocking two small windows,I asked someone which line was for visa.There was no sign indicating,and no lines marked,so falangs just horded in front of both windows! The good news was that everybody was relaxed and in good moods...the bad news: Time was running out to make it to a THIRD location for actual tourist visas! I heard someone say that there was only ONE person working both windows,and that one was to drop passport and pay(35 USD) for Laos visa,and the other he handed pasports out the tiny window,where a kind Norwegian chap was standing,reading out names,and handing passports to tired tourists(I was tired already as well) The total wait for me was about 40 minutes...I grabbed change and passport with Laos visa,and jammed to fill out arrival card,then to "Immi check in" line again.About 10 minutes later,my Thai g/f and I were through and we quickly grabbed a taxi...time was already past noon.Nice Laos guy transported us in an old Totota Corona through the dusty roads to the FINAL destination/line for TV.It was a friday afternoon,the next day was a Laos holiday,apparently,so it would amount to days to hopefully receive a TV,and with any luck,a 2x.Here I will not mention what transpired,as I know that certain officials read these,so if you are interested,you can PM me for details.(the word"expedited" should suffice)Aside from the visa,the Laos folks were very friendly,and our taxi driver escorted us all around town,even waiting for us to eat at a restaurant,and take some photos of the statues and wats,etc. My impression is the folks of Vientianne are kind,very relaxed(no one amping out or rushing greedily to make more $ than the next guy,etc) they were delightful! Hotel was very adequate,the restaurant on the Mekong wonderful,and we enjoyed many dark Beer Laos for the few days we stayed...food great! women..very beautiful,streets orderly and cleaner than here.Bottom line: received double visa,had a very nice time,took many great pics,and also very much enjoyed the time spent in Udon Thani and Nong Khai.

Mel

Very,very bad to arrive at the Lao border by lunchtime!