Visa Trip Pattaya To Vientiane Report

[innerspace]

Just want to give a report of my recent visa run from Pattaya to Vientiane for the interest of anyone doing a similar trip.

I left at 5.40 to Nong Khai from the Pattana 407 bus station on the corner or sukhumvit and Pattaya Klang, in the Petronas petrol station.

Ticket was 530 or 580 baht for the upper floor, cant quiet remember.

The journey was advertised as 12 hours but took around 14. With a few va sleeping tablets I slept comfortable the whole way.

60 Baht for a tuk tuk to the border where I stamped out and paid 20 baht for the shuttle across friendship bridge.

After handing my passport in for a visa on arrival it took about 45 minutes to get it back.

This cost 1500 baht, which would have been cheaper if I paid the 35US dollars but I struggled in both Pattaya and at the border to buy any.

Once through it was 200 baht for a private taxi to the Thai consulate.

I first spoke with the agents outside to see if they could speed up the process.

They quoted 4500 to submit it themselves and 6000 for same day, collection at 5pm.

This included the 2000 baht fee for my non-B single entry.

They also tried to sell me a form claiming that the one I printed from the consulates website wasn't valid but this was a complete lie.

I then headed inside myself (around 9.30am) with no numbered tickets and almost no queue.

Handed the form in, was told I needed an address in Laos so borrowed a business card, re-submitted the form and then queued to pay.

About 20 minutes later I paid and headed to find a room.

I paid about 150 baht for a taxi down to the center near the mekhong and found a nice guesthouse (Maxis) for 260 a night, with free breakfast and afternoon snack.

Next day taxi back to the consulate for 1pm, short queue and was out in about 15 minutes.

50 baht shared taxi to the border, straight through quickly, 20 baht across the bridge and 40 baht tuk tuk to the bus station.

Then I got the 15:30 Pattana 407 bus back, this time VIP for 630 Baht and got to Pattaya about 5.30am

All in all it cost me 6,500 Baht door to door including transport, visas, taxis, food and accommodation.

Left 5.40pm on Monday night and back 5.30am Thursday morning.

If you were going for a double entry tourist visa which are currently free you could knock 2000b off this price.

One thing to note for anyone applying for a non-B.

In my research beforehand I got mixed reviews as to what was needed.

Many people INSISTED that you would need a WP3 receipt issued after handing in a work permit application at labour.

I took 95% of the documents needed for a work permit application (job offer letter, company docs, completed wp3 downloaded from website, cv, audit, tax, social security etc etc)

However these documents had been refused at labour the day before due to a few missing forms and I also realised that a number of signatures were missing on the copy I had.

So although the WP3 receipt from labour is recommended, it is NOT required - however take as much documentation as possible and a bit of luck.

Hope this helps anyone in a similar situation to mine.

[bornslippy]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but have just done a visa run to Vientiane from Bangkok (left from Suvarnabhumi, returned to Mo Chit), so thought it would be useful to add a bit more info. I hope you don't mind.

Similar experience to yours, except I paid 100 baht for a tuk tuk to the Nong Khai border! I had acquired some $s for the visa, so that worked out more than 300 baht cheaper (I paid 1$ extra due to weekend, so $36). I met a Swedish guy there who hitched to Vientiane, as he considered the 200 baht for private hire too expensive (which it is really). There is also public bus to the centre I believe and maybe minibuses, but you get accosted by tuk tuk drivers of course.

The Thai consulate isn't particularly far out of town (maybe 3km), and I walked back on the first day due to feeling like I was not getting a fair deal on Tuk Tuks. The Swedish guy I met walked to and fro each time! I paid 20000 kip for a tuk tuk one way to the consulate when I used them (approx 80 baht). I'm sure you could get a bus if you figured it out.

I got the international bus back from Talat Sao bus station (near the mall), which is 15000 kip (approx 60 baht) and takes you directly to Nong Khai bus station. There are also direct international buses to Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Khorat respectively (Udon 22000 Kip, Khon Kaen maybe 50000 Kip). I got a VIP bus from Nong Khai back to Mo Chit in Bangkok (700 baht). Journey time 9 hours each way (from and to Bangkok).

Bornslippy

[syd barrett]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but have just done a visa run to Vientiane from Bangkok (left from Suvarnabhumi, returned to Mo Chit), so thought it would be useful to add a bit more info. I hope you don't mind.

Similar experience to yours, except I paid 100 baht for a tuk tuk to the Nong Khai border! I had acquired some $s for the visa, so that worked out more than 300 baht cheaper (I paid 1$ extra due to weekend, so $36). I met a Swedish guy there who hitched to Vientiane, as he considered the 200 baht for private hire too expensive (which it is really). There is also public bus to the centre I believe and maybe minibuses, but you get accosted by tuk tuk drivers of course.

The Thai consulate isn't particularly far out of town (maybe 3km), and I walked back on the first day due to feeling like I was not getting a fair deal on Tuk Tuks. The Swedish guy I met walked to and fro each time! I paid 20000 kip for a tuk tuk one way to the consulate when I used them (approx 80 baht). I'm sure you could get a bus if you figured it out.

I got the international bus back from Talat Sao bus station (near the mall), which is 15000 kip (approx 60 baht) and takes you directly to Nong Khai bus station. There are also direct international buses to Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Khorat respectively (Udon 22000 Kip, Khon Kaen maybe 50000 Kip). I got a VIP bus from Nong Khai back to Mo Chit in Bangkok (700 baht). Journey time 9 hours each way (from and to Bangkok).

Bornslippy

Just a few additional questions because I've not been to the Nong Khai border for a while:

1. Does the Pattaya bus-Nong Khai still stop at the bridge instead of going to Nong Khai bus-station?

2. Is paying in US $ for the visa any hassle. (At Trat Cambodia Border for example they insist on Thai Baht because of the high exchange rate.

3. Do you have to pre-book Nong Khai Buses back to Pattaya (VIP buses).

4. Can I bring a case of Lao beer cans back over the border?

Thanks for any feedback.

[innerspace]

Just a few additional questions because I've not been to the Nong Khai border for a while:

1. Does the Pattaya bus-Nong Khai still stop at the bridge instead of going to Nong Khai bus-station?

2. Is paying in US $ for the visa any hassle. (At Trat Cambodia Border for example they insist on Thai Baht because of the high exchange rate.

3. Do you have to pre-book Nong Khai Buses back to Pattaya (VIP buses).

4. Can I bring a case of Lao beer cans back over the border?

Thanks for any feedback.

Only done the trip once a few months back but should still be similar.

1) I think it was the bus station where I got dropped and then jumped on a taxi to the border/bridge.

2) US no probs but I paid Baht because I couldn't find anywhere in Pattaya willing to sell US

3) I turned up and was on a VIP bus 20 minutes later.

4) Didn't try.

[Robby nz]

Going up again next weekend to do the second entry or double entry tourist visa.

Always use the overnight train, 2nd class fan sleeper 488b upper, 538b lower bunk.

Usually have a good sleep and arrive early morning.

if you are keen they have food and beer on the train.

Get on the free bus accross the bridge so no cost there.

[tropo]

2) US no probs but I paid Baht because I couldn't find anywhere in Pattaya willing to sell US

It's not so hard to find US currency in Pattaya. The best place with the best rates are the TT money exchanges just past the kebab stands on 2nd Road near the Pattaya Tai corner. There's one on both sides of the road nearly opposite each other. The shops are bright yellow. They'll sell you as many US dollars as you like in any denomination.