Vientiane-Udon By Bus: Am I Going To Miss My Flight ?

[cekipa]

Once collected my visa in Vientiane, what is my best option to get to Udon Thani's airport on time for FD3171 16:50 ? International bus can do or will I miss the flight ? Thank you.

[Tafia]

Probably miss it, you cannot collect your visa until after 1pm, race to the bus station purchase ticket (cannot do without visa) delay on the bridge or police search, arrive Udon Bus Station then from town out to the airport...too tight a schedule that way, whether a taxi from Nong Khai will do it again depends on traffic etc...why not stay a night in Udon.

[chris5346]

you can get the 14:00 bus from vientiane bus station,

you can only buy tickets on the same day of travel so goto the bus station early around 09:00 -10:00 am , price 22,000 kip.

i did the same trip recently and it got me into udon thai city center just before 16:00 , there wasn't much queuing

maybe you could get dropped off before the city center if your traveling light, and jump in a tuk tuk but i'd be supprised if you had enough time.

i think it might be quicker if you went from the thai embassy at 13:20 after collecting your passport, jumped in a taxi and got thru into thailand around 14:30, that leaves you around 2 hrs before your flight ,

a taxi from the border to airport should only take an hour or so.

personally i would get the bus and stay in udon an extra night.

[cekipa]

@tafia

@chris5346

Staying in Udon 1 night extra seems the best option. Thank you both. This is my first trip to vientiane and I have miscalculated the time back to Udon by bus. As I have already booked the flight, at this point I will hire a taxi or minivan from Thai border to Udon airport.

[Tafia]

Unless things have changed you couldnt purchase a bus ticket without a visa. Another thing to bear in mind is they like you to check in an hour before departure that doesnt leave a lot of time...very tight at best Good Luck!!

[chris5346]

when you goto collect your passport if you go early and queue outside and be first few people in the queue you maybe out by 13:10.

i went 2 weeks ago and there wasn't many people - i was around 10th in the queue and collected my passport at 13:20.

some days they do get busy at the embassy and if that's the case and you turn up late to collect your passport i would say you will miss your flight.

i would recommend you goto the embassy around 12:00 , there's a bar/restaurant directly opposite the embassy gates where you can keep an eye when people start queuing.

tuesday afternoon and after any holidays maybe a bit busier than usual.

i would forget about the bus and take a taxi instead to the border,

you will have to get a short bus accross the bridge which costs 15 baht .

i assume your getting a visa on arrival for laos ? depending on nationality but most people pay 35$ (or 1500 baht but that's more expensive)

you may also have to pay and extra 40 baht or 9000 kip to enter and leave laos - i have never paid this and just walked past and handed my passport over if anyone asks).

unless your going to laos again in the future don't bring kip back to thailand because it's difficult to change back - keep 9,000 baht in case you need to pay to exit. you maybe also can pay in kip for the short bus trip back accross the bridge maybe 3000 or 4000 kip. you can probably pay in baht also.

good luck i think you'll probably make it.

[chris5346]

it's ok to buy a bus ticket for the vientiane to udon bus without showing your passport - maybe an idea to take some other i.d incase they want to see your name.

the udon to vientiane bus though you do need to show your passport with a laos visa already inside.

[cekipa]

I was queuing at 12:40 and got ticket number 20. At 13:20, I was out of the Consulate, got minivan (100 baht) to the border and at 14:28 I left for Udon Thani with a 200 bath shared minivan. Arrived at Udon at 15:22, in time for my flight at 16:50

[chris5346]

nice one,

that shared minivan for 200 baht is good i will try and use that one day, is it a private taxi or run by the company at the airport ?