I'm planning to go to Laos for visa. But I have problems with my spine and I cannot cross friendship bridge by bus, because I cannot sit in it even 5 minutes. Is it possible:

1) To cross bridge and boarders by taxi?

2) Or just take taxi to the Thai end of the bridge and walk to Laos boarder?

Thanks,

William.

I've never seen any walkers on the bridge unless it was a special deal, like a joint celebration of some sort.

Taxi, unlikely, unless the presumably Thai taxi has the proper papers allowing for temporary export to another country, including the LTD's vehicle "passport."

However, an alternative to a "bus" are the vans there at the van station on the Nong Khai side of the bridge. Fare is usually baht 20 or so and they like to wait until the van is full before heading across, thus crowded. You can, however, charter a van by yourself, alone, only one pax, for baht 200, sometimes baht 250. Just say at the window "mao lot." That'd be a whole lot better than a bus, I'd think.

Mac

I have used a Tuk Tuk to cross over get the visa/stamp and come back to Thailand at the Tha Li border but never seen anyone do it at the Nong Khai border thought as they all use the buses provided.

Do you have to go to Nong Khai ? where are you travelling from ? Tha Li might be easier (never anyone there) dependant on your location.

Edited March 8, 201115 yr by CharlieH

Saw someone (young farang) walking accross the bridge last time I was there but coming from Laos to the TL side.

You can always stand in the bus, dont have to sit.

Great, Mac!

Are these vans far away from the bridge? Will they take me through boath boarders?

I've never been there, could you explain me - will it stop near thai boarder and wait while I will finish all paper work and then bring me to the Laos boarder and wait till I get Laos visa and then bring me to Laos land?

I'm going from Bangkok by train, and also considering crossing the bridge by train, I think it would be easier for me to stand in the train.

Does anybody know are the any taxis(not tuk-tuk) at Thanaleng (Lao railway station?

Thanks!

Something maybe for you to consider.......

The International Bus that runs from Udon Thani in Thailand to Vientiane in Laos requires you to have a valid Laos visa beforehand as it does not wait for you at the border.

It could well be that the train requires you to have the Laos visa in advance,as well.......otherwise you will have to exit the train and cross the Friendship Bridge either by minivan or private car (you can hire about 300 yards back from the bridge on the left) and apply for a Visa on Arrival at the Laos border.......you would then have to make your own transport arrangements from the border to Vientiane.

So well worth considering getting the visa in advance from the Laos Embassy in Bangkok imo.

AFAIK the train just crosses the border between Nong Khai and Laos - at the Laos side when train journey ends you obtain your visa.

Thanks, guys!

It's said here(http://www.seat61.com/Laos.htm#Bangkok%20to%20Vientiane)

that I can obtain visa on arrival at lao railway station. So will use the train from Nong Khai to Lao.

Does anybody know where thai custom officers will "check out" me if I leave Thailand by train? At Nong Khai train station or train will stop on the boarder?

Nong Khai railway station has its own immigration checkpoint. You get stamped out there.

Train ride is 15 minutes, 20 Baht, to Thana Laeng station / immigration post in Laos.

Vans will be waiting for you if you need further transport.

Thanks, Jdietz!

Thats all I wanted to know.

The Thai Immigration at the Nong Khai RTRR station and the train across the border to PDR Lao are synced to the BKK train arrival -- Thai Immigration and the train to Lao are not TTBOMK available with the arrival of the local 3rd class trains or at other times... You can e.g. arrive at the NK station by car when the BKK train arrives and purchase the train ticket, exit Thailand and then board the train for the short ride to PDR Lao.

Jazzbo, I don't know what TTBOMK means, but anyway I understand what you've said.

Thanks,

William.

TTBOMK = To The Best Of My Knowledge

this helps a baby-boomer like me: http://www.internetslang.com/