Udon Thani Visa Run?

[BngkkB]

Hi,

I have to make a Visa run and my GF wanted to go with me but didn't want to spend the day on the bus to Cambodia. So we booked tickets to Udon Thani from Bangkok, leaving in the morning and returning that same evening. So we arrive in Udon Thani at around Noon and depart around 5:00 pm. What now??? Need some experienced people that have made this Visa run now to fill me in on the best place to get my Lao Visa, Bangkok or Udon Thani? The best way to get to the border once we get to the airport in Udon Thani?

Thanks in advance.

B

[Lite Beer]

A mini bus goes from the airport to the border in Nong Khai.

You can get the Laos Visa at the border or in Bangkok.

[TerryLH]

"You can get the Laos Visa at the border or in Bangkok."

There is also a Lao Consulate in Khon Kaen.

Not in play for the OP, but might be of value to someone else.

"So we arrive in Udon Thani at around Noon and depart around 5:00 pm. What now???"

I haven't done a visa run in a long time, but that sounds like you're cutting it close.

[CharlieH]

Get a taxi or similar to the Friendship bridge that crosses into Laos, as you walk toward the bridge the exit is on the left, checkout of Thailand, if your gf is with you she can go by filling in a form and showing her ID, passport is not necessary for her but easier if she has one as no form filling and doesnt need a visa for Laos if she's Thai.

You walk about 20 ft from checking out of Thailand and get a 20 baht bus ticket to cross the bridge, on the other side you will get off right outside the window for Visa into Laos. Go to window 1 and get the form, fill it out attach a passport size photo, hand that in with appropriate money ($35 dollars) and your passport to window 2, and wait for them to hold your passport up to window 3 for collection. Then proceed down the length of that building, do not stop or queue anywhere as you will be stamped into Laos with your Visa. When you reach the end of the building, ignore the taxi touts, turn left and left again to bring you back down the other side of the building. Checkout of Laos, get your 20 baht bus ticket again at the end of the building, board bus back to Thailand. Get off at immigration, fill n arrival card, hand to immigration, check they have stamped you in with correct date. Job done, back to Udon for your return trip.

Hope this helps.

[chris5346]

have you booked both flights for the same day ?

you can only make the visa application in the mornings and collection is next day in the afternoon.

the visa on arrival for laos is very easy and getting the bus accross the bridge is all run by the authorities so don't stress people there to show you what to do. just take your own photos and have some small money .

i have read on forums that there is a shuttle bus (maybe private) that goes from the airport to the border and should cost approx. 150 Baht each , if not there's always taxis etc or make your way to the city center bus station and there's a vientiene express coach that is popular and saves time etc at the border.

if you have to change your flight then maybe try to find a morning flight so you can go from the border straight to the embassy .

the laos currency can't be used or changed in thailand so spend it all in the city.

touristy/ best hotel area is a 15 min tuk tuk from the embassy - fountain square and a street runs along the river,

there's also 2 embassy type building so tell the drivers it's for visa or passports.

to get from border to city takes 40 mins.

you may also need to put your hotel your staying in on the visa application form so if your doing the visa before finding a hotel find a hotel name and address on the internet or ask taxi driver for any hotels card etc.

any questions please ask.

[BngkkB]

Thanks for all the help. I heard I can get a Laos Visa at most travel agents in Bangkok, is this true? If so and I get it on Monday before I go on Tuesday I should be able to do the whole thing in the 4-5 hours I have there???? Thank you again for all for your help.

B

[chris5346]

i've just read your post again and i think maybe you need to change one of your flights ?

visa applications usually take 2 days unless they have changed recently.

take a look on the thai embassy web site for vientiene also make sure they are open and sometimes after a holiday they can get busy.

[chris5346]

no better to get visa on arrival at the border.

also i think it's closed monday for kings celebration so tuesday may also be closed or will be busy.

[Ohyesuare]

He probably meant border run if he bought flights to come back the same day... I would definitely get your Laos visa in Bangkok as you are cutting it close time wise and not having to do the visa on arrival will save you some time.

[chris5346]

ok, i see ,

you may need to take a car then instead of waiting for a shuttle bus to get back to the airport , approx. 500 baht instead of the cheaper 150B bus.

visa on arrival usually only takes 15 mins filling in form etc but maybe busy because the kings celebrations on the monday ?

next time maybe easier and cheaper to fly to chiang rai and pop into burma ?

[KhunBENQ]

Some confusion here?

CharlieH has correctly described what the initial post asks for.

There is no mention of getting a NEW THAI visa, which would not be possible in an afternoon.

Just depart/arrive in Thailand.

The schedule is still a bit tough, 5 hours from arrival to departure, some checkout/checkin time needed, travel to Nong Khai and back.

But it could work, as the stamp out/stamp in procedure can be done in less than an hour.

[BngkkB]

Thanks for all the advice. Let me clear up what I meant to say. I have a one year Thai Visa but have to leave the country every 90 days. So I am planning on flying to Udon Thani to cross Laos to leave Thailand and to turn around and come right back into the country.

From what I have read, I can catch a mini bus from the Udon Thani airport to get to the Bridge that goes to Laos. If necessary it seems I can also get a taxi for a few Baht more.

As I am flying this Tuesday, (Thank you for reminding me about the Thai Holiday) that leaves me Sunday and Monday to get a Laos Visa in Bangkok, is this possible? If so where? I have heard travel agencies in Bangkok can do?? If possible it seems that getting the Laos Visa in Bangkok would save me some time.

Then when I arrive in Udon Thani just catch transport to the border, cross over and cross back. Yes my GF is Thai and has a valid Thai passport. So with her passport I am assuming she does not need a Visa? Is this true?

I have heard that the it takes about 45 minutes from the airport to Bridge? Then another 20 to cross the bridge? Never been before so not sure?

So if anyone knows:

1) Where and how long to get Laos Visa in Bangkok?

2) How long from the Udon Thani Airport to actually leave Thailand? By Mini Bus or Private Taxi?

As we are not taking any baggage and will be pre-checked in I am also assuming that the Udon Thani airport is not that large so even if we arrive an hour before departure we should be ok for our return to Bangkok.

One last question, you think I will have any problems leaving the main airport? (Not Don Meung) or you think it will be hit by the floods.

I hope this clears up what I'm looking for?

Thank you again for all the great information. I knew this was the place to come to get my questions answered.

B

[BngkkB]

I forgot:

Arrive Udon Thani at 12:15 and depart at 5:40 pm So I have about 4.5 hours max. If it's an hour to the border and and hour back that gives me almost two hours at immigration's.

Thanks again.

B

[TerryLH]

"As I am flying this Tuesday, (Thank you for reminding me about the Thai Holiday) that leaves me Sunday and Monday to get a Laos Visa in Bangkok, is this possible?"

I don't think so. The Lao Embassy is probably closed on weekends and holidays. Travel agents would have to get you a visa from them.

Looks like you'll end up getting a visa at the border.

One solution would be to change your return until the next day, enjoy a night in Laos and have plenty of time to catch the (changed) flight back to Bangkok.

[chris5346]

http://www.udonthaniairport.com/transportation

best to call them make sure you don't have to wait,

also see if they do a return journey if not you may have to get a taxi car.

i got a car taxi once before and i think it took approx. 40 mins to udon thani city, but the airport is on the far side so maybe will take longer if you go though the city.

visa on arrival doesn't take long if it's not too busy, i think the afternoons it's a bit quieter too, but maybe double the people going through because less people going through on monday ?

try and find a copy of the visa application form so you know how to fill it in quickly.

also take 36$ because they sometimes charge an extra dollar.

if something goes wrong there's also two of you so one can go ahead and queue etc to try and make some time up.

shuttle bus accross the bridge only takes 5 mins if there's no big queues.

like previously mentioned goto window 1 if your getting visa on arrival.

[KhunBENQ]

From Udon Airport to Nong Khai there is no need to go through the city.

Use the western bypass. The route to friendship bridge is 60 km (~38 miles) on highway 2 and can be done in about 45 min.

(did it on Sunday Oct 9)

[DennyEagle]

A travel ajent may have the Lao Visa application form and the Lao Arrival departure card and the Thai arrival departure card all of which You will have to fill out, I always ask for extras and fill them out at home , then You can go through very fast.

[CharlieH]

There is ONE potential fly in the ointment here, IF you get your Laos Visa before going then you will have to queue with everyone else to stamp in to Laos.

BUT if you get the Visa at the bridge you are automatically stamped in at the same time the Visa is issued. So, dependent on how many or how busy it is when you go you could shoot yourself in the foot by getting it in Bangkok.

Dont forget to take US dollars if you can, $35 = approx 1050 baht, if you pay in baht its 1400 for the visa at the bridge on arrival.

[KhunBENQ]

So true!

I am Swiss and do not need a visa, but stood in a slow queue with many Thais and other Asians to stamp in.

The visa on arrival people were waved through after receiving their visa.

[transam]

There is ONE potential fly in the ointment here, IF you get your Laos Visa before going then you will have to queue with everyone else to stamp in to Laos.

BUT if you get the Visa at the bridge you are automatically stamped in at the same time the Visa is issued. So, dependent on how many or how busy it is when you go you could shoot yourself in the foot by getting it in Bangkok.

Dont forget to take US dollars if you can, $35 = approx 1050 baht, if you pay in baht its 1400 for the visa at the bridge on arrival.

Weekend or special day $36. Weekday $35 or 1500 bht.

For visa run with your lady, before you reach the immigration at the bridge, on your left is a small building where your lady must have here ID card copied and rubber stamped paper to leave LOS. Then go towards immigration and again on your left is a hut selling bus tickets to cross the bridge, 50 bht. Walk on to get stamped out and bus pickup point.

Bus will stop at Lao immigration just the other side of the bridge, again on your left, go to window and get the forms to fill in. Give passport, forms and cash and get your passport back in five minutes.

Walk out and on your right is immigration to get back on a bus back over the bridge.

I had bad luck at the LOS side, took hour and a half to get over the bridge. Coach loads of tourists queuing at immigration and a bus was cancelled .

[BngkkB]

After everyone's advice, we have decided to fly up on Tuesday. Take our time and check out Laos for the day and fly back on Wednesday. So instead of 4.5 hours we will have 28.5 hours. That should be plenty of time.

New question? Any good recommendations on where to stay for the night? In Laos or on the Thai side? I understand there are Casino's on the Laos side? I am assuming they have hotels attached to them? Anything that is a better deal in Laos? Johnny Black? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for all of your help with this.

B

[transam]

After everyone's advice, we have decided to fly up on Tuesday. Take our time and check out Laos for the day and fly back on Wednesday. So instead of 4.5 hours we will have 28.5 hours. That should be plenty of time.

New question? Any good recommendations on where to stay for the night? In Laos or on the Thai side? I understand there are Casino's on the Laos side? I am assuming they have hotels attached to them? Anything that is a better deal in Laos? Johnny Black? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for all of your help with this.

B

Outside Lao immigration there are loads of Tuk Tuks and a few people carriers, get one of these pc's, they will know any good hotels which sure your lady will understand the divers info, if know one here can recommend something suitable. The driver might assume you want to stay near the Thai consulate, which you don't cos the accommodation near there is grim.

[BngkkB]

Returned from the Udon Thani Visa run last night. Here is the low down.

Arrived on time on Air Asia. Cost 200 Baht per person for mini Bus to Friendship Bridge. It is 56 Kilometers from the airport. We were there in the hour (Arrived at Bridge at 1:30 pm).

Checked out of Thailand in no time at all even though I had to go in and pay for a 1 day overstay. Took the bus over friendship bridge, it was only 15 Baht each person. The bus ride is only 5 minutes.

Handed in the pre-filled in Visa application from the Lao web site but still had to fill in the Visa application they gave me at the border. Payed $35.00 USD and had my Entry Visa in less then 10 minutes had my Entry Visa and stamp in my passport. The girlfriend filled in the same paperwork I was handed at the border and we waited in the Immigration line. Her stamp took less then 5 minutes.

We wondered around the Duty Free shops for about 20-30 minutes. Didn't find much so decided to take the bus back across Friendship bridge to the Thai side.

Checked back in to Thailand and finished with the whole process in about an hour time, including looking around the Duty Free area.

We were ready to head back to the airport by 2:30. We could have easily made the 5:40 flight. But instead stayed in town at a great hotel the Much Che Manta or something close to that. A nice King size room with great overhead shower was 1,000.00 Baht a night. Went to a small night market and she picked up some cool clothes for about 100-200 Baht a piece. The next day went to the Factory outlets and found some more stuff.

The flight back to Bangkok was about 90 minutes late with the explanation being that the airport was only using one runway? Not sure why as there was no flooding at all.

Over all a nice trip. If we had left the next day by 2:00 in the afternoon it would have been a bit better but on whole a pretty painless process.

Hope this helps.

B

[chris5346]

how did you get back to udon from the border ?

is that same mini bus doing return trips ? maybe to the airport or city ?

glad it worked out alright for you,