i realized last minute that i want to fly to udon thani to do my visa run to vientiane. was about to buy the ticket, but i'm wondering if i have time between the flights...

i know there are countless descriptions of this trip on this site, but i wanted to know if someone has done this recently. i assume it's possible, if a little tight, ordinarily, but reports of hundreds of people in recent months worries me!

so:

can i still get to the embassy on time if i arrive in udon 0815 and take the airport limo (still running?) to the border?

what about the return? is there any problem catching the return flight from udon thani to bkk at 17:40? will i still be waiting for my passport at the embassy in vientianne at 3pm, wondering if i'll ever possibly catch my flight?

finally, there was that post indicating the thai tourist visa will be FREE again, starting April 1. is this a fact? the topic wandered so quickly into "april fool's" i ended up being a little confused whether the visa was free again or not...

WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY QUICK RESPONSES!!! THANKS!!!

I would book your return flight for the following day, to allow for whatever may happen.I would not try to do all of this in one day. Any number of things could delay you. I don't want to sound negative but a little more planning may be advised.

I used to do this run in two days/one night in Vientiane -via Udon Thani-:

- day one: 06.00 Nok Air (from Dong Muang) -

(7am Air Asia is do able if you have already your Lao visa, otherwise the border seems to be always crowded at this time of the day)

Mini vans are always on stand by with incoming flights

- day two: 17.40 Air Asia (to Swampy) -

And if you use an agent, you can get your passport back in the next morning, around 10am.

I used to do this run in two days/one night in Vientiane -via Udon Thani-:

- day one: 06.00 Nok Air (from Dong Muang) -

(7am Air Asia is do able if you have already your Lao visa, otherwise the border seems to be always crowded at this time of the day)

Mini vans are always on stand by with incoming flights

- day two: 17.40 Air Asia (to Swampy) -

And if you use an agent, you can get your passport back in the next morning, around 10am.

can you elaborate about agents? i thought you had to walk everything through yourself in vientiane...

i was even getting back the thaiairways flight at 15.10h in udon

12pm wait for 1pm open gates, pickup at first,taxi to boarder no tuktuk,quick taxi to airport in udon arrive 14.20h ( taxi 600 and i said if police stop for quick run i pay, and if him arrive before 14,45 get 200 extra)

the 17h flight you regulary get sure.

Visa trip via Vientiane is two day min. trip, even if you already have a Lao visa. Because Thai Embassy takes a bout a day ish.

Visa applications are only accepted from 8am - 12pm. If you get there mid morning, you will have to wait a while.

The following day around 11 or 12 - 4pm you pick up your passport.