Nong Khai To Vientiane

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Vientiane via Nong Khai

-- If arriving Nong Khai via bus or train, take a tuk tuk to the Friendship Bridge, aka “bai sapan.”

- There's a large area prior to the Thai Immigration point where you can get a van across the bridge, along with a bunch of other passengers, baht 10 or baht 20 per person. Just queue at the window and pay. If you don't want to wait for the passenger van, or have lots of bags or kids with you, an option is to charter a van for the trip across the bridge. I often do this, about baht 250-300 and it's all yours, no waiting, easy loading of bags. To get one, at the queue window, just say “mao lot van,” which is rent a van.

-- If driving up, can leave your car in the pretty secure locked up storage area, baht 100/day.

-- If a Thai doesn't have a passport they can get a 2-3 day “border pass” there at the small office just behind the van queue area, baht 150 or so and a 20 minute or so wait. If the Thai has a passport, Lao visa is FREE and good for 30 days.

-- For others, get on your van, it'll drive to the Thai exit point, get out and go through the exit point. Get back in your van for the trip across the river, five minutes.

-- On the Lao side get out and you'll see two windows at Lao Immigration, go there and pickup a Visa On Arrival form, fill it out and turn in with your passport and a photo, cost $30-$35, or a bit more if paying in baht. Wait. Hopefully you'll have arrived prior to a bus full of tourists. You should also receive a Lao Arrival Card, can fill this out while waiting for your VOA.

-- Pick up your passport with the Visa On Arrival stamped or glued into it. Note the visa # and date, write this in on your Lao Arrival card.

-- Proceed straight ahead 30 feet or so to the Lao “arrival” booths, get a chop in your passport.

-- Go straight ahead again to another booth, perhaps pay baht 10-20 or not, varies, haven't yet figured out what this is really for.

-- Proceed on ahead to a uniformed cop sitting at the exit gate, show him your passport with visa, arrival chop, and receipt from the baht 10-20 booth. End of story.

-- Almost the end, now to get downtown, it's a 20 km drive depending on which way the drive goes. Lots of tuk tuks and taxis around, some vans, too.

-- A taxi will run about baht 250-300, a van baht 400. Opt for a van if lots of people or bags. To get a van just say “lot tou.”

-- End of story, really.

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