Time To Get From Udon Airport To Thai Immigration?

[jimmyzz]

Hi,

So im going on a visa trip to Vientiane. Problem is I rather stay 1 day instead of 2 days but earliest flight arrives in Udon Thani at 8:45 am. I wont bring any luggage so dont have to wait for that. I havent gotten a Laos visa so thats gonna take some extra time at the border I assume. Immigration closes at 12, do you think this is enough time or will I probably be late? Cause I have no idea how long time it takes from first airport to friendship bridge and then from there to Thai imigration/consulate. I did read somewhere 3.5H but then on another place someone said it was around 80km which with minivan + taxi shouldnt take more then 1.5H. But then again I have no idea how long time its gonna take at the border etc.

So what do you guys think, will I make it or better to stay 1 more day to be on the safe side?

[Ohyesuare]

I would be surprised if you made it on time, the visa on arrival can take a long time if you get there with a bunch of people. Just stay the 2 days and you don't have to stress out.

[ubonjoe]

You get the visa from Thai embassy consular section (it is not called immigration) which is not located at the embassy. Info here:http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

You might make it by 12 which is when they stop taking applications. But even a late arrival may mean you will no longer be able to get a queue number if their are a lot of people are applying for visas that day (Monday is the worst day). So it would be best to plan on 2 nights and make it a leisurely trip.

[DennyEagle]

I do 2 nights, and I live in Nong Khai, beer Lao is good IN LAOS, good reason right there.

[bdenner]

Arrive Udon 08:45 (assume on time) - arrive at the bridge by 09:45 (assuming no hassles) - get through Thai side Immigration cross the bridge - Lao immigration by 10:30 - lucky enough to get will be doing very well to get to the Embassy by 11:15, no chance even if you can find and pay a tout 5000 Baht to do a (tea money) quicky for you. I agree, don't stress and don't go on Monday. Be comfortable, take 2 days, plenty of good reasonable accommodation down near the river.

[jimmyzz]

^^ Thx guys, will make it an extra night then and maybe do some touristy stuff for a change

[jimmyzz]

Also on a related sidenote, how is the area by near the river? Any decent nightlife? Also, can anyone recomend a hotel they have used thats on the cheapish side (under 900 baht/night) and have solid internet?

[chris5346]

even if you have a day in hand it's a good idea to try and make the application the day you arrive, you can get a taxi from the border to the consulate for around 200 baht or less if you share.

from the consulate you could walk to the river area (30 mins) or get a tuk tuk for around 60 baht.

the bus station is located about half way between the thai consulate and fountain square/river side area.

when you come back you may prefer the easier express bus from vientiane to udon thani city center, there's a bus at 14:00 and 15:00, 16:30 you can only buy tickets on the same day and the buses get filled so buy a ticket early - 22,000 kip.

i went there a couple of weeks ago and i had a day in hand - all went well and i actually stayed in udon thani the second night and day,

vientiane has some bars etc and there's a hotel/casino with night club, there's also a roof top bar on the river side road a bit further down - look for tall glass fronted building.

people were saying internet isn't very good and use shops, i looked at a few different hotels and tested there internet and i found the expensive hotels had no better internet than the 10 $ hotel i stayed in which was close to a temple just off the river road.

if your going to the consulate before you have found a hotel you can just put on the application form any hotel - i always say i'm staying at lao plaza.

don't forget to take photos and photo copy of passport, there's people outside the consulate who will try to get you to use them but it's very easy to do yourself inside the consulate.

also take 35$ dollars to pay for the laos visa on arrival - it's cheaper than the 1500 baht option.

[Erit]

Help! I'm in a similar but different situation. I'll land at Vientiane AIRPORT at 09:30 for a visa run on a MONDAY (unavoidable). I've never gone through Lao immigration at the Vientiane airport. What are my chances of clearing Lao immigration (without a pre-existing visa), picking up my checked bag, and taxi-ing directly to the Thai Consular Office in time to get a queue number? Again, it will be a MONDAY (unavoidable). Anyone with experience going through customs at Vientiane airport, could you please let me know? I would really like to save staying in Laos the extra day, pleasant as it is. But if my chances are poor, I'll have to fly in on Sunday, which I really don't want to do because of my schedule at home. Does anybody know how long it takes to get out of Vientiane airport, assuming no flight delay? THANK YOU for any information.