For those of you considering a visa run to Laos heres the details from my trip in Aug 2012.

If you`re in BKK get the MRT to Hua lamphong. Then get sleeper train to Nong Khai, 1st class costs 1100 one way. Try and get one that leaves before 8pm they run around 5-6pm too.

If you leave at 8pm your scheduled to arrive in Nong Khai at 8.25am but there will always be delays so plan on arriving at 10am, you can buy food on the train, the waitress will come to your cabin and you can order dinner and breakfast together.

When you arrive in Nong Khai take a tuk tuk to the Thai immigration office, it takes about 3 mins to get there, and costs 30THB don`t let the driver stop at any of the visa agents on the way you don`t need to.

When u get to Thai immigration just hand in your passport and departure card to get stamped out of Thailand

Now take a short bus trip (10 mins) to the Laos immigration office, you will cross the friendship bridge, bus costs 15THB.

Go to window 2, tap on the glass and they will open it and give you 2 forms, fill them in and then hand them in at window 1, (to the left of window 2) along with 1 passport foto you can pay in US$ (30-35, depending on your nationality) or in THB 1500, so better to take $ as you get screwed by their exchange rate ($35 being around 1000THB not 1500) there`s an exchange office right there.

Then wait outside window 3 for your passport and Laos visa, in my case it took 5 mins but can take longer. Then walk through Laos immigration, just show the passport and that`s it.

Now you need to get to the Thai embassy in Vientiane, it's 30 mins by taxi, try and find people to share with if you can, there`s plenty of foreigners around so it shouldn`t be difficult, you shouldn't pay more than200THB. You need to arrive before 12 or they will close for the day although sometimes they stay open longer till maybe 12.30.

When you get to the embassy go straight inside, don't be distracted by any of the touts outside they just want to try and charge you to do something you can do yourself in 2 mins, even if they tell you there`s no more tickets just go inside ignore them it`s a scam.

When you get inside grab a number and also the form, it`s on a little stand at the front. Fill in the form, don't forget to put 2 where it asks how many entries you want. You will need 2 passport fotos and copies of your passport, and of the Laos visa, you can get copies from upstairs, take the stairs on the left, and the guy will actually look over your forms to make sure they're filled out right but it`s not complicated. Once you've submitted your forms you go to the next building to pay the 2000THB for double re-entry visa. Once you've paid you will get a receipt, don`t lose this you need it to collect your passport/visa the next day. Now you have to wait around in Vientiane until 1 pm the next day when you can collect your passport. Vientiane is a hole of a town but there`s plenty of hotels you don't need to pay more than 500THB.

Once you get your passport back with the visa inside take a taxi back to the border, through Laos and then Thai immigration checkpoint again and then you can get a tuk tuk back to Nong Khai station for 30THB.

Edited September 3, 201213 yr by lopburi3
fix font (paste as plain text)

You used very small font and difficult to read.

There is a long thread in the visa forum about getting a visa in Laos.

The heading suggests that you will go all teh way to Laos by train, but you actually got off the train at Nong Khai. It is possible to go across the border by train, but the station is still along way from Vientiane.

You say that you went to the Embassy, I don't know if the Embassy actually issues visas anymore. If using a tuk tuk, just say visa and they will take you to the correct place.

...The heading suggests that you will go all teh way to Laos by train, but you actually got off the train at Nong Khai. It is possible to go across the border by train, but the station is still along way from Vientiane...

This web page says the international rail terminal at Thanaleng, where the journey ends in Laos, is 13 km outside Vientiane. Therefore, one should indeed not expect to arrive in the centre of Vientiane. You need a visa for Laos in your passport to use this train from Nong Khai to Thanaleng.

I liked your report, managed to read it OK, although noticed the font has been changed to make it easier.

Quite straight forward really, I flew BKK to Udon Thani then onwards by bus, spoke to a couple in Vientiane who were returning to BKK by train which held some appeal, didn`t fit in with my return route/schedule though.

Maybe another time.

I liked Vientiane, some nice restaurants and bars, stayed a few days.

Report appreciated, thanks.

Unless there has been a recent change (which is possible as it appears this track is destined to be fright only with the new highspeed train plans) visa is available at this station - it is only direct bus transport that requires a visa prior to travel into Laos.

http://www.seat61.com/Laos.htm#.UEVKq43iYUo

Thanks, Lopburi. That makes life easier for the train travellers,compared to those going by bus.