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Laos Visas For Family

Neeranam
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Neeranam Star Member

Neeranam

Posted
Posted

I'm going to Laos with my Thai wife and 2 kids (who have Thai passports).

I'm not sure whether to take my car or not. I believe there is a bus from Khon Kaen to Vientienne. Could we all get our visas at the border. Do the kids need visas? Does the wife? I'm thinking of staying for 2 nights.

Thanyaburi Mac Platinum Member

Thanyaburi Mac

Posted
Posted
I'm going to Laos with my Thai wife and 2 kids (who have Thai passports).

I'm not sure whether to take my car or not. I believe there is a bus from Khon Kaen to Vientienne. Could we all get our visas at the border. Do the kids need visas? Does the wife? I'm thinking of staying for 2 nights.

Thai wife & kids with Thai passports have a "visa free" entry to Laos at the Nong Khai-Thanaleng Bridge. My wife & I were up there last month, she free, me $36, including the extra $1 since it was a Sunday.

Mac

Neeranam Star Member

Neeranam

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I'm going to Laos with my Thai wife and 2 kids (who have Thai passports).

I'm not sure whether to take my car or not. I believe there is a bus from Khon Kaen to Vientienne. Could we all get our visas at the border. Do the kids need visas? Does the wife? I'm thinking of staying for 2 nights.

Thai wife & kids with Thai passports have a "visa free" entry to Laos at the Nong Khai-Thanaleng Bridge. My wife & I were up there last month, she free, me $36, including the extra $1 since it was a Sunday.

Mac

I'll remember not to go on Sunday :o

How long can they stay?

sjaak327 Gold Member

sjaak327

Posted
Posted

Thai citizens that have a passport, will receive a 30 days leave to remain stamp, free of charge. They do however pay a 10 baht "entrance fee" at the friendship bridge, and possibly pay 10.000 kip overtime if on a weekend or after office hours

The visa fee for yourself is depending on Nationality, most Western European citizens pay 35 USD or 1500 baht. you also pay overtime and entrance fee.

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Posted
Posted (edited)

If you take your car, it will also need a 'passport', sort of a tibian bhan for cars so Thai and Lao authorities can keep tabs. There's also compulsory insurance but check with your current carrier to see if theirs is acceptable.

They also drive on the 'wrong' side but for the most part, Lao traffic is way more forgiving than on the Thai side.

I would advise doing you border crossings on Tue, Wed or Thurs as the rush picks up on Friday and Sunday can be a total zoo. Also check for local holidays (both countries) as that too can swell the Immigration lines and turn a 20 minute formality into a 2-hour nightmare.

Have a great time! We did. I recommend a long weekend there rather than just 2 nights.

Edited by NanLaew
Neeranam Star Member

Neeranam

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I think I'll leave the car then, although could be a hassle with the toddler. Does anyone know any good hotels in Vientienne? It's been over 10 years since I went there.

Thanyaburi Mac Platinum Member

Thanyaburi Mac

Posted
Posted
I think I'll leave the car then, although could be a hassle with the toddler. Does anyone know any good hotels in Vientienne? It's been over 10 years since I went there.

Regrading your car you can leave it in the large fenced off area before the bridge where the van station is located. FYI, only baht 250 for your own van which seems to me worth the expense if you've got lots of bags and especially so if you've got a wee one with you.

I've stayed here a couple times, right handy, 50 meters from the fountain. Mali Namphu Guest House

http://www.malinamphu.com/MSindex.htm Email ahead of time for reservations as they're often full. Get a room on the ground floor or 2nd. Last month I declined a room on the 4th (!) floor, and stayed around the corner at the Lao Paris Hotel The LPH was OK but be sure to request a room with a window.

Otherwise rather than chase all around town looking for digs we often crash at the Ekarath-Metropole, near the That Dam.

Mac

sjaak327 Gold Member

sjaak327

Posted
Posted (edited)

Mali Namphu is indeed often full, I tried to get a room with them a few days ago, and they were full, went to next door Phonepaseuth, which is fine as well. In your case, you might want to opt for the Khamkoun hotel over at Lane Xang, as they have family rooms that sleep four. I stayed in one of those rooms, and for the price (800 baht) they were nice rooms.

I wasn't impressed with the Lao Paris, rooms were nothing better then Phonepaseuth, but almost double the price. I think they have moved a few buildings to the left, and are now called new Lao paris. (maybe the rooms are better now).

Taking the car into Laos is not a difficult thing anymore, and as far as I know, all formalities can be arranged right at the border. Otherwise taxis into Vientiane are 300 baht.

And of course in Laos they drive on the right side, which in this case has a double meaning :o

Edited by sjaak327
Neeranam Star Member

Neeranam

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Regrading your car you can leave it in the large fenced off area before the bridge where the van station is located. FYI, only baht 250 for your own van which seems to me worth the expense if you've got lots of bags and especially so if you've got a wee one with you.

Thanks for that.

Do you mean we can get a van from the Thai side of the bridge to Vientienne? What kid of van is it, a minivan?

Can I get a visa at the bridge or is it better to use an agent or get my visa beforehand in Khon Kaen?

Thanyaburi Mac Platinum Member

Thanyaburi Mac

Posted
Posted
Regrading your car you can leave it in the large fenced off area before the bridge where the van station is located. FYI, only baht 250 for your own van which seems to me worth the expense if you've got lots of bags and especially so if you've got a wee one with you.

Thanks for that.

Do you mean we can get a van from the Thai side of the bridge to Vientienne? What kid of van is it, a minivan?

Can I get a visa at the bridge or is it better to use an agent or get my visa beforehand in Khon Kaen?

No, the van from the Thai side van station will take you over to Thai Immigration near the bridge, then across the bridge and drop you off.

At that point, you apply for a Lao Visa On Arrival, window to the left of the two windows. Go to that window and get the VOA form, fill it in, then back to the same window to turn in your passport, pay $35 or whatever. Wait a bit, if no crowd, not long, perhaps 10 minutes. Hopefully you'll arrive when there is no bus arriving at the same time from Nong Khai!

Pickup your passport at the window on the right, FILL IN the visa number and date on the VOA, then straight ahead to one of the 2 or 3 visa stamping booths. After that there's another booth where you pay baht 10-20 for something, but at least there is a receipt. Continue on, don't put your passport away yet, just before the exit there's a table with an LGM sitting there, he'll check that you're stamped in OK and that you've paid the baht 10-20, then pass through.

Taxis at this point, as another poster said, baht 300 on into Vientiane, 20 some km.

Oh, yes, I've never bothered with an agent. Sure would take more time if you had to pull into Khon Kaen to do so.

Mac

Neeranam Star Member

Neeranam

Posted
  • Author
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I think I'll leave the car then, although could be a hassle with the toddler. Does anyone know any good hotels in Vientienne? It's been over 10 years since I went there.

Regrading your car you can leave it in the large fenced off area before the bridge where the van station is located. FYI, only baht 250 for your own van which seems to me worth the expense if you've got lots of bags and especially so if you've got a wee one with you.

I've stayed here a couple times, right handy, 50 meters from the fountain. Mali Namphu Guest House

http://www.malinamphu.com/MSindex.htm Email ahead of time for reservations as they're often full. Get a room on the ground floor or 2nd. Last month I declined a room on the 4th (!) floor, and stayed around the corner at the Lao Paris Hotel The LPH was OK but be sure to request a room with a window.

Otherwise rather than chase all around town looking for digs we often crash at the Ekarath-Metropole, near the That Dam.

Mac

Can you remember how much the rooms are?

ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

Posted
Posted (edited)

There are lots of good cheap hotels. Your wife can probably talk to a tuk tuk driver and be able to find a hotel that way after you finish at the consulate. Use the name of any hotel on your visa application for laos.

I don't remember the name but the last time we stayed in hotel on the river at the end of river road. It was something like 500 baht and not bad at all.

You did say your wife kids have Thai passports. If not they can get border pass at Bus/Van station where they told you to park. You will need birth cirtificates for the kids if they don't have passports.

You can also get a tuk tuk to bridge. Its a little cheaper than a Van and then use the shuttle bus across bridge.

Edited by ubonjoe
Thanyaburi Mac Platinum Member

Thanyaburi Mac

Posted
Posted
Thanks Mac!

I live in Khon Kaen actually the lao consulate is very near my house - maybe I'll just get it there.

Getting the Lao visas ahead of time will save some time on the Lao side at Immigration, especially so if a bus load from Nong Khai shows up just before you!! Near your house, do it, I thought you'd be driving through KK, not living there.

Mac

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