Travel To Vientiane, Whats Best?

[innerspace]

I am considering a trip to Vientiane for my next visa run and was wondering what advice anyone has to give.

I want to do it as cheaply as possible, taking public transport rather than a private trip.

My plan was to take a night bus to the border with some strong sleeping tablets to drown out the karaoke.

Hand the passport in the next morning, spend one night and then head back the following day after collecting the visa.

Does anyone have experience in this trip or could provide me with a guide to important timings, rough costs and any potential pitfalls?

Also, how much do they charge for the non-ed visa there?

[tropo]

You're in the wrong forum.

When I did visa runs to Vientiane I flew to Udon Thani. What visa are you going to apply for? If it is a double entry tourist visa there is now an agent who can get one for you in Phnom Penh. All you do is take a 4 hour trip to Aranyaphrathet. You'll wait in a hotel in Poipet while an agent gets your tourist visa for you in Phnom Penh. Much cheaper, less work and easier than going to Vientiane.

[innerspace]

It appears that I forgot to mention that it is a trip from Pattaya to Vientiane, hence my choice of forums.

I figured local knowledge would be more relevent than visa knowledge.

Im planning on getting a non-ed visa.

The phnom Penh sounds possible as well. How many days do you spend in Poipet? Any further info/contact details?

[morrobay]

The overnite train ( 2nd class sleeper) from Bangkok to Nong Khai was the way to go for me when living in Bangkok for 2 years.

From Pattaya you have plenty of time to get to the station. By bus to Ekamai, Bangkok. Then skytrain to Asok station -transfer to subway to terminal Hualamphong train station. Or take the train from the East Pattaya train station to Bangkok.

You arrive in Nong Khai in morning, cross bridge into Laos ,then take bus or taxi to Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Your visa will be ready next day.

The area of Vientiene right on the Mekong river is nice place to stay with various accomodations .restaurants , massage ...

Actually if it was not so far away I would visit the river front part of Vientiene often just for a holiday.

[bunta71]

Yes go to Vientiane and spend a couple days hanging out by the river. I agree that if it were closer I would spend a little more time there. Seems more laid back and didn't have armed thieves on every corner (police) like other places... Brush up on your French as most of the old, old women with no teeth speak French.

[Visavis]

You're in the wrong forum.

...If it is a double entry tourist visa there is now an agent who can get one for you in Phnom Penh. All you do is take a 4 hour trip to Aranyaphrathet. You'll wait in a hotel in Poipet while an agent gets your tourist visa for you in Phnom Penh. Much cheaper, less work and easier than going to Vientiane.

Hi, this sounds interesting. Do you have any more info, like how much it costs, how long it takes, and whom to contact?

Thanks

[Jdietz]

The overnite train ( 2nd class sleeper)...

You arrive in Nong Khai in morning, cross bridge into Laos ,then take bus or taxi to Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Your visa will be ready next day.

Nowadays there is an immigration post right at the Nong Khai railway station and a connecting train into Laos (20 Baht) waiting when you arrive. It brings you to a dedicated Laos immigration checkpoint on the other side of the river, no crazy queues there. Laos Visas available.

So cheapest way would be:

- Train Pattaya Railway station to Bangkok (weekdays only 14:30, arrives at around 18:00) 32 Baht last time I checked

- Train BKK (Hualampong) to Nong Kai (320 - 1200 baht depending on luxury (3rd class seat -> 1st class aircon sleeper)

- Train Nong Kai to Laos immigration (20 baht)

So the whole trip can be done for less then 400 baht, though I'd prefer the second class sleeper (upper berth, fan or aircon if you really need it)

[NADTATIDA1]

Train from Nong Khai train station?

when did this start have you actually used it,i dont recall this service operating?

[Jdietz]

Train from Nong Khai train station?

when did this start have you actually used it,i dont recall this service operating?

Used it twice, started about a year ago, they connect (and wait for) the overnight trains, two departures. B20 a trip.

Shuttle services now operate onward from Nong Khai to Tha Nalaeng, Laos (near Vientiane) four times a day, synced to the arrivals and departures of the Bangkok trains. You can only buy tickets at Nong Khai station, and you need to pass through immigration as well. (If coming in on train #69 from Bangkok, there's a 90-minute window to do this.) Once the formalities are done, the trip itself across the Friendship Bridge only takes 15 minutes. Visa on arrival is now available on the Lao side

[Utterlyuseful]

Take 407 VIP nite bus from Sumhumvit-Pattaya Klang....get NK first thing next morning......this is what you're looking for...

[tropo]

You're in the wrong forum.

...If it is a double entry tourist visa there is now an agent who can get one for you in Phnom Penh. All you do is take a 4 hour trip to Aranyaphrathet. You'll wait in a hotel in Poipet while an agent gets your tourist visa for you in Phnom Penh. Much cheaper, less work and easier than going to Vientiane.

Hi, this sounds interesting. Do you have any more info, like how much it costs, how long it takes, and whom to contact?

Thanks

I haven't used this service before because I just heard about it. Visa run companies in Pattaya used to do the tourist visa (double entry) run to Poipet early last year before the free visa period started and then it was canned. I had no idea it has started up again.

Try calling Asia Travel (Minda) 0897481477. She's a Filipino woman who does the bookings for the agent in Poipet. They don't go every week, but only if they have a certain number of people for the trip. The next run is on June 7. If you do this run, please report back and let us know how it went. I'm thinking of using this service next month for a non-Imm O visa.

They charge 3,500 including the transport (4 hours each way) and a night's accommodation in a Poipet hotel. An extra 500 if you don't want to share a room. That includes the double entry tourist visa which is free right now. I know one Filipina who has used this service in January and this month for double entry tourist visas. Depending on your nationality you'll probably have to add 1000 baht for your Cambodia Visa.