Hi,

I am struggling to find information on how to travel to Lao for a week, not for a visa run but for a short trip. If I get the bus from Udon Thani can I get a visa on arrival?

Thanks

gaz

I don't think the Udon to Vientiane bus will wait for visa on arrival passengers, they like everyone to have a prearranged visa.

However, you could take this bus and if they don't/won't wait for VOA pax's, bailout at Thai immigration and catch the normal shuttle bus across the bridge (20baht) and then the Vientiane public bus no. 14 from just outside Lao immigration to the Talaat Sao bus station in central Vientiane. Fare is again around 20 baht (under 30 anyway). Don't ask the local taxi and tuk tuk drivers for the bus stop.

If the Udon to VTE bus won't take u onboard in Udon just catch the local Udon to Nong Khai non aircon to NK and tuk tuk to bridge. Tell the conductor u want the Friendship Bridge and he will let u off at the cross road to the bridge.

THINK before you ask-to avoid wastingtime

1.IF you can get VOA depends on YOUR nationality.

2.above is not quite right-the time eating hurdle is the LAO visa-issue-if you qualify. Thats other side of bridge.

3.normal Thai local buses run ev 30/40/60 mins Udorn-NKhai-into town. Udon has 2 different busstations. Many of these better buses come from BKK and stop at their office to offload Udon-bound pax first.