I going to be headed to Nong Khai in a couple of days to activate the second entry on my tourist visa. I'd like to spend a day or two in Vientiane, so I thought I would take my girlfriend with me. She has a Thai passport, so it seems (theoretically) that she will be able to get a 30 day visa at no charge.

Does anybody know what the entry procedures are for Thai nationals with passport? Is it free, or are there fees in reality? Looking for some info on what paperwork needs to be filled out, what desks we need to go to, etc. We'll be arriving in Nong Khai by bus, so I guess we'll just take a taxi/tuk-tuk to the bridge and go over? I will have to do a visa-on-arrival at Laos Immigration for myself, will she also have paperwork to fill-out there? Will we be able to go through the process together?

First time at doing a border-run for me, and first time for my girlfriend traveling anywhere, so I don't want to get separated, and I'd like to know what we need to do, so I can keep her at ease. Any advice to make this as painless as possible is appreciated. Thanks.

no problem. She just takes her passport and fills in the respective arrivals and departure forms for each country. She gets an automatic free 30 days in Laos. She can just wait for your VOA to be processed, and then you can go through immigration together.

You might as well take a night and go to Vientienne. Some nice western restuarants there - good cheap french food and wine etc. One of my favourite little towns.

I'm hoping it will be a simple process, sounds like it. Thanks for the help.

I'm hoping it will be a simple process, sounds like it. Thanks for the help.

It is simple, as Samran said. My Thai wife & I were up there in August, 2nd time this year, three times last year, zero problems or complications.

BTW, take along a couple of paperclips. They don't staple your "departure" card in the passport and you don't want to lose it.

We stayed at the Asian Pavilion Hotel last trip, it's the old Constellation of years past. Been refurbished and quite OK for baht 600! Free WiFi in the rooms if you take a netbook, or there's an cyber outlet almost across the street.

The Khop Chai Deu restaurant is just around the corner next to the Nam Phu, fountain.

The Sticky Fingers restaurant also a good place to eat.

Handy map available online or hard copy in Vientiane: www.hobomaps.com

Out the door of the Asian Pavilion and to the left is a good mini-mart.

Also a good breakfast, omelet with coffee and fruit plate, about across the street from the AP.

Mac

Mac