Do It Yourself Visa Run To Vientiane

[jellymeister]

Has anyone tried driving themselves up to Nong Khai, parking the vehicle and then proceeding to Laos to do all the procedures yourself?

A few questions:

-Which is the best highway

-Where to park the car in Nong Khai

-expected itninerary if not in a real rush

-best day/time to get there

-any expected problems that could crop up

Thanks in advance for kind advice

[ubonjoe]

Best highway will depend upon where you are coming from. Highway 2 is the main road coming in which is a freeway all the way from Bankgok going through Korat and then ends at the bridge.

I have parked at the van/bus station where you can get transport to go across the bridge. It is a fenced area and costs about 100 baht a day. The bus station is just before the bridge.

Arrive late afternoon or early evening and cross into Laos then go to the consulate early the next morning. Then pick up passport the next afternoon. After that it is up to you.

Best day for visa application is Wednesday. It is normally the least busy day. If not in any hurry then Friday is really the best day if you don't mind spending the weekend and then pick up your passport Monday afternoon.

Holidays can be a big problem if you don't know about them. This week there are two. One on Tuesday and the other on Friday.

See this very long topic about visa runs to Vientiane. Suggest you start on the last page and work your way back for the latest info including links to the embassy website for holiday schedule and application form.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Vientiane-La...sa-t158561.html

[ALFREDO]

Has anyone tried driving themselves up to Nong Khai, parking the vehicle and then proceeding to Laos to do all the procedures yourse

I, until now was never at the thai embassy, made only several times a visarun over the border in the duty free a coffee and back to TH. Was only once ongoing to Vientiane, about 20 min with Taxi and made some sightseeing.

-Which is the best highway

If you come from south, pass by Khon Kaen and Udon and follow the roadsigns to Nong Khai, later on the Highway before Nong K. follow sign to the left to Friendship bridge and Vientiane.

-Where to park the car in Nong Khai

There are more possibilitys which cost a small amount, the Parking is than fenced and has a guard.

since some time, I just park on the road side, same others do, without problem.

-best day/time to get there

I can only speak about the Visarun, not for a visit at the Thai embassy. For a Visarun over the bridge and back about 1-2 hours,

sometimes you have to quue on both sides. More people on the border can be expected anytime, but special at Thai-Lao holydays,

weekends.

-any expected problems that could crop up

No problem so far.

[abdulrahman]

Has anyone tried driving themselves up to Nong Khai, parking the vehicle and then proceeding to Laos to do all the procedures yourself?

A few questions:

-Which is the best highway

-Where to park the car in Nong Khai

-expected itninerary if not in a real rush

-best day/time to get there

-any expected problems that could crop up

Thanks in advance for kind advice

1)From anywhere you'll arrive to Highway 2,straight to the Friendship Bridge.

2)About 100 m before the Bridge,many places,some gated,all with Security,or you can let the car on the road,no problems that I'm aware of,(up to now!)

3)If not in a rush,arrive in Nong Khai Thursday afternoon,or Friday morning(early)go to the Consulate,should be fast.Never went there,can't be sure.Parking place to the Border,5 min walk,bus over the Bridge 20 Baht,Lao visa on arrival 35 $(most Countries),bus to Vientiane 30 Baht,samlor 50 Baht+,Taxi 100 Baht++.Take the week-end to stroll trough Vientiane,or to a short trip to Vang Vieng,or to the Nam Ngum Lake

4)If you are really unlucky,you have 2 busloads of Vietnamese in front of you,that will take HOURS!

5)You don't stop to pay the 10 Baht overtime charge,and a bunch of Lao Police is running after you.

Have a good time!

[Prajak]

If you don't need a new tourist visa but just want to do the "run" for 15 or 30 days you can do this within one hour. Park your car early in the morning in front of the Nongkhai Direct Import (right side of the road), take a look at their goodies (Aussie beef and Dutch cheese and much more), promise to come back after the run and they will watch your car. Cross the border, (you do have a photo ?), pay the shuttlebus fee, file the visa form at the other side (1.600 baht or so, or 30 to 35 usd, no euro), pay the fee, file the entry card, get into Laos, pay the entrance fee, have your passport checked again, buy in the tax free shop (cheap wines, cigarettes and sigars and other goodies), leave Laos, take the bus, get into Thailand, take your car or visit the mentioned shop again. It's easy.

[jellymeister]

Thanks for kind responses to all....yes I was referring to the "tourist" visa run option