Driving From Chiang Rai To Isaan.

[sceadugenga]

I had to meet friends at Udon Thani and go to Vientiane with them so I decided to drive over and back.

I use the terms the "I" and "drive" loosely as I got a Thai neighbour who does work for me occasionally to do the actual driving.

I think this is a good idea on long trips as I can concentrate on the scenery and, having been involved in a car accident in Thailand, I've seen how much easier it is with police involvement if a Farang isn't driving.

I'd noticed a short cut on the map across to Loei without passing through Phitsanulok so after making inquiries in the Isaan forum received good advice from Chuckd that the roads were in good condition and well signposted.

We turned off Route 11 after Uttradijit onto Route 1246, then turning onto 1143 to Nakhon Thai. From there, Route 2013 to Dan Sai then on to Loei.

Good hard top roads all the way apart from a few kms of roadworks here and there.

Looking back at the Phitsanulok Road.

Good mountain scenery with out being spectacular.

I thought we might stay at Loei if the trip had been tiring but we made good time without pushing things too hard so drove through to Udon.

Nice limestone outcrops on the Udon Thani road. (Route 210).

I suppose it took about 10 hours in all. We stopped regularly, I have back problems and like a ten minute break every couple of hours when travelling.

Edited October 8, 2010 by sceadugenga

[chuckd]

I have a view of the "nice limestone outcropping" from my back yard.

My wife goes to the Wat there on occasion and I normally drive her there.

[sceadugenga]

It was great country, I've been through before on the bus but it was always after dark so I enjoyed seeing it in daylight.

Something that impresses me in Thailand is the quality of even minor country roads which are superior to those in a lot of "first" world countries, and make driving a pleasure... and of course, always offer a photo opportunity.

This "school bus" also had at least six small kids packed into the cab!

[Lizard2010]

Nice pics.

Glad you enjoyed Udon Thani

[kumsamut]

love the pix of school car.

[Paul888]

I am thinking of doing this same drive next week some time. Either on my own, or turning it into a break with my family (inc kids).

Can anybody tell me:

Is there anything interesting for kids (accepting that tv and games are the only things really exciting for kids) on the way there or in Vientiane itself?

Is it possible for a farang (with thai owner in car) to drive a Thai car into Laos, or is it a headache or significantly more expensive etc than walking through?

Do Thai people need the same visas as us to go into Laos?

Thanks

[sceadugenga]

I had to think a little about your "Is there anything interesting for kids (accepting that tv and games are the only things really exciting for kids) on the way there or in Vientiane itself?" Paul.

When I was a kid my Dad was a great traveller and I seem to recalled we enjoyed just watching the landscape go by.

Thailand is a rich tapestry, take a few books and games and stop every couple of hours to let the kids have a run around and I'm sure they will keep occupied.

I've heard of people taking their cars into Lao. You need a "car passport". There's plenty about this in the South East Asia sub-forum. Remember they drive on the dodgy side of the road.

Thais can get a border pass into Lao, I think it's 48 hours.

[sceadugenga]

Buddha Park near Vientiane. (The kids will love this).

[lannaman]

How many kms did you save by taking this short cut?

Like your pix.

[sceadugenga]

I'm not sure Lannaman but my driver knew of it even though he had never been that way before.

I was keeping a log but "we" got lost when he declined to take the 1143 turn off and we went about 30kms before he turned back, which messed up the mileage. (Kilometerage?)

I took a long wishful look at the roads that follow the Lao border eastwards but decided to leave them for another day.

I suspect we only saved a few kms but the "short cut" was about scenery rather than time saving.

[Lizard2010]

That lot od pics was very unusual of their statues.

[AjarnP]

I am thinking of doing this same drive next week some time. Either on my own, or turning it into a break with my family (inc kids).

Can anybody tell me:

Is there anything interesting for kids (accepting that tv and games are the only things really exciting for kids) on the way there or in Vientiane itself?

Is it possible for a farang (with thai owner in car) to drive a Thai car into Laos, or is it a headache or significantly more expensive etc than walking through?

Do Thai people need the same visas as us to go into Laos?

Thanks

Hi Paul

Yes it is possible to take your car into Laos as always though there are conditions:

Firstly you must either own the car outright or have a letter (power of attorney) from the finance company. You will need all original documents with you

You can take the car on one of two ways: You can either fill out a temporary export form at the border or you can prepare yourself by getting a "passport" for the car.

This can be done at any Vehicle Registration place but some are easier than others CHinag Rai is not bad but Nong Khai is very easy as there are umpteen 'touts' offering the service at teh registration place there. They charged me two hundred baht on topp of the official fee and it was all over in twenty minutes, quite painless so we went for it.

Once over the border you will be asked to buy Laos insurance for THB 600 (old rate?) I actually arranged mine in Thailand first and I detected that they were a bit disappointed (probably missed their cut!!!) All set then? just remember they drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

If you go the passport route of documentation you can then enter Laos anywhere but they will insist that you tell them on the form where you will leave from. And you can't chaneg your mind!! Be very careful too. We didn't check teh stamps in the passport and took it that the car had the same length of stay as us. WRONG! we had been given 15 days but teh car only got 7. teh car thus overstayed by two days that cost us tremendous hassle and a 2,000 Baht fine.

By the way, gas stations are everywhere now and all take either USD or THB but take lots of small denomination notes as no-one has change. The route from Nong Khai is one of the most beautiful I have ever driven and was voted one of the top ten motorcycling routes in the world, It's just a shade over 400 kliks.

Apparently you can now even cros in Chiang Khong then go by road through Laos via Luang Namta and Luang Prabang to Vientienne and Nong Khai but I have heard that the last 80 km into LP is not very good yet. ELsewhere all the roads are as good as rural Thailand.

Hope this helps you

Cheers, bon voyage

Hope this helps you

[sceadugenga]

Thanks for the post AjarnP, very useful information.

[Paul888]

Hi Paul

Yes it is possible to take your car into Laos as always though there are conditions:

Firstly you must either own the car outright or have a letter (power of attorney) from the finance company. You will need all original documents with you

You can take the car on one of two ways: You can either fill out a temporary export form at the border or you can prepare yourself by getting a "passport" for the car.

This can be done at any Vehicle Registration place but some are easier than others CHinag Rai is not bad but Nong Khai is very easy as there are umpteen 'touts' offering the service at teh registration place there. They charged me two hundred baht on topp of the official fee and it was all over in twenty minutes, quite painless so we went for it.

Once over the border you will be asked to buy Laos insurance for THB 600 (old rate?) I actually arranged mine in Thailand first and I detected that they were a bit disappointed (probably missed their cut!!!) All set then? just remember they drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

If you go the passport route of documentation you can then enter Laos anywhere but they will insist that you tell them on the form where you will leave from. And you can't chaneg your mind!! Be very careful too. We didn't check teh stamps in the passport and took it that the car had the same length of stay as us. WRONG! we had been given 15 days but teh car only got 7. teh car thus overstayed by two days that cost us tremendous hassle and a 2,000 Baht fine.

By the way, gas stations are everywhere now and all take either USD or THB but take lots of small denomination notes as no-one has change. The route from Nong Khai is one of the most beautiful I have ever driven and was voted one of the top ten motorcycling routes in the world, It's just a shade over 400 kliks.

Apparently you can now even cros in Chiang Khong then go by road through Laos via Luang Namta and Luang Prabang to Vientienne and Nong Khai but I have heard that the last 80 km into LP is not very good yet. ELsewhere all the roads are as good as rural Thailand.

Hope this helps you

Cheers, bon voyage

Hope this helps you

Great info mate, very useful. Thanks

I don't think I will actually be doing it, I was only trying to avoid walking and tuk tuks really !

[sceadugenga]

Personally I'd never take my car into Lao.

There are secure parking options in Nong Khai and if you're only going for a few days to stay in Vientiane I'd put up with tuktuks.

Being a small city walking will get you to most places of importance anyway.

Edited October 18, 2010 by sceadugenga