Vientiane Tourist Visa In 1 Day?

[NgoSawat]

Just wondering if anyone has done this by themselves, not by using an agent. I've been to Vientiane too many times and would like to spend as little time there as possible. So if I can somehow make it there early in the morning and go straight to the embassy, that'd be nice. I know this is what agents do, but how would you do it if you're on your own? Would you have to stay one night in Nong Khai or are there really early buses leaving from Udon? This is my primary concern as once I'm on the Laos side I can just get a taxi/tuktuk to the embassy.

Conclusion: I'd like to arrive at the Nong Khai/Vientiane border really early in the morning to make it to the embassy in time. Should I stay in Udon or Nong Khai? I prefer Udon as I have friends there.

[Tafia]

From my limited experience, it cannot be done in 1 day. You can get to the Thai Consul first thing in the morning but as you know the system is drop off your application on the morning of day 1 and retrieve it in the afternoon of day 2; So you would not be able to leave to go back to NK until after you receive your passport back, it really looks like 1 night in Vientiane.

Staying in Udon is ok prior to your trip, there is an early train (about 6.30) I think 1 hour and 11Baht. TukTuk from station to the bridge.

[NgoSawat]

Thanks Tafia. An update:

I'm now in Udon and have checked the bus time tables. The earliest bus leaves 8 am so that's too late. A train is available however as Tafia mentioned however but it's known as unreliable/never on time. I might be able to get a friend to take me to the border early in the morning though.

And by 1 day I meant stay one night, not the usual two nights

[bendejo]

You may want to try asking around Udon what a taxi ride to the border would cost. My guess is would be about the same as a cheap guesthouse in Nong Khai would cost if you got to NK the night before. Next morning it's a quick tuktuk ride to the border, and with a little luck the whole crossing is done within an hour. From there taxi to the embassy. With luck you'll be looking for a hotel well before noon.

[tropo]

Thanks Tafia. An update:

I'm now in Udon and have checked the bus time tables. The earliest bus leaves 8 am so that's too late. A train is available however as Tafia mentioned however but it's known as unreliable/never on time. I might be able to get a friend to take me to the border early in the morning though.

And by 1 day I meant stay one night, not the usual two nights

This reply maybe a little late for you, but there's a good limousine (minivan) service from the Udon Thani Airport which leaves at just after 7 am heading to Nong Khai. The leave when full and have several to take care of all passengers. It takes 45 minutes to the Friendship bridge.

On this timetable you'll be at the Thai Consulate by about 9 - 9:30 am. The 8 am train will be fine too. There's no problem if you get to the Thai Consulate at 10 - 11 am or even later. Usually the process is faster if you arrive late because most people queue up to get in early.

[NgoSawat]

I and probably many others have thought about coming late to avoid the queues but then there are these stories about guys waiting until lunch time just to be told that there will be no more visas for today

Oh and since it's been a while since I did my last run, what passport pages do I need to copy? The photo/name page and...? I got photos and will try to print out a form later today.

[Prajak]

In Udon you can rent a taxi (private) for about 800 baht at the airport. Taxi's in town tend to be more expensive. They will bring you to the bridge in 45 min max. You can also sleep in NK for an amount between 200 en 2.000 baht and take an early tuktuk to the bridge. But forget that you have your stamp in one day. It is "queueing up" in the ambassy.....

And take a look at official Thai holidays......and Lao holidays...... Or call the embassy in Laos before you go.

[tropo]

I and probably many others have thought about coming late to avoid the queues but then there are these stories about guys waiting until lunch time just to be told that there will be no more visas for today

10 - 11 am will never be a problem. They don't get as many customers as they used to. Perhaps there were isolated cases of late comers missing out, but that was probably on a Monday after a long weekend.

[NgoSawat]

An update. A friend took me to the border in the morning. There was no queue at the Thai side. On the Laos side the visa-on-arrival guys had gone for breakfast but I just had to wait about 10min to get my visa. While waiting a taxi driver offered to take me to the consulate then to a hotel for 250 baht. Not the cheapest but it started to rain a bit so I agreed. I arrived at the consulate 9am, there were about 20-30 people in total. Handed in application, was told to wait inside. Went inside, waited for my receipt. Was out of the consulate in just 20min, which is a new record for me. So well, that's it. I'll probably never bother again to queue up again early morning. I can also confirm that TVs are free at the moment.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

An update. A friend took me to the border in the morning. There was no queue at the Thai side. On the Laos side the visa-on-arrival guys had gone for breakfast but I just had to wait about 10min to get my visa. While waiting a taxi driver offered to take me to the consulate then to a hotel for 250 baht. Not the cheapest but it started to rain a bit so I agreed. I arrived at the consulate 9am, there were about 20-30 people in total. Handed in application, was told to wait inside. Went inside, waited for my receipt. Was out of the consulate in just 20min, which is a new record for me. So well, that's it. I'll probably never bother again to queue up again early morning. I can also confirm that TVs are free at the moment.

For breakfast tomorrow morn, hit the Khop Chai Deu Restaurant there next to the Nam Phu. They have a great "Mexican" omelet, fried potatoes, too.

Mac