Udon Thani Airport To Nong Khai

[jauntyjohn]

Arriving at airport udon Thani morning at 11am next Tuesday.

Any advice of how to get to Nong Khai checkpoint from there....bus, taxi, or other.

Thanks for any help!

[rubberduck]

Last time I was there minibuses were waiting for airplanes taking passengers to Nong Kai for 500b. OK the normal bus fare from the busstation is only 35b but 500b is still quite cheap for a 1hr trip right to the bridge.

With Nok Air you can book a so called ticket 'Bangkok-Vientiane', it does fly to Udon not to Vientiane, but buses include that. Little bit more hassle but it's worth the money.

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[jauntyjohn]

Thanks. Ive already booked to udon, nok tell me I cannot buy a ticket on their bus to nong khai....any experiences with the local bus? Bus station far from the airport?

[lopburi3]

If you really mean next Tuesday (the 16th) it is the end of the holidays so transport will be very tight. But if going for a visa there is no hurry as Embassy will be closed until Thursday the 18th.

Or do you really mean this Tuesday? But no hurry as you will not be able to submit passport until the next day and there should be transport waiting at airport for the trip or obtain in town. Sorry can not be more specific but been almost 40 years since made that trip.

[asiaexpat]

Mini bus to the bridge is usually available. Buy at ticket at the stand just inside the airport entrance. In January it was 200 TB per person when I took it. Getting to the bus depot is a bit of a hassle and the total expense will be about the same as the minivans. Have a nice trip.

[koo]

When you arrive at Udon Thani airport and go through the doors from the baggage claim to the public arrivals hall, just opposite to you, maybe a little to the right there is a booth (first one at the corner, the booth row continues with car rental agencies etc.) that states Minibus to Nong Khai and Udon. There is usually an elderly man selling yellow or pink slips that cost 200 baht for Nong Khai (and if I remember correctly, only 50 baht to go Udon town). Buy the 2-part ticket to Nong Khai and immediately upon receiving the slip there is someone to escort you and your luggage to a minivan.

Traveltime is around 40-55 minutes to Nong Khai, and since the price includes dropping you off at your desired address in Nong Khai, the driver will ask for it in due course. I've used the service dozens of times, and never had any problem with it. Usually about half of the passengers go to the bridge (and to Laos) so normally the minivan heads there first.

The return journey costs only 150 baht, but I do not know how to book it if you are coming from the bridge. There is a travel agency office next to the highway that passes Nong Khai town and they have the timetables for the minivans (there's one in the morning, some in the afternoon -maybe noon, 1pm and 3pm). I always go to this office one day prior to my flight to check the timetable and buy a ticket and then just show up with my luggage the next day 10 minutes before schedule.

[jauntyjohn]

Thank you for the info. Great help. So there is a return minivan from the border to udon bus station and or the airport?

[jauntyjohn]

Thank you for the info. Great help. So there is a return minivan from the border to udon bus station and or the airport?

[Ajaan]

Thank you for the info. Great help. So there is a return minivan from the border to udon bus station and or the airport?

When you come out of Lao immigration on your way back (before you cross the bridge), touts will approach you for a ride (can be either in a car or minivan) to Udon, downtown or airport. Insist on the 200 baht price. However, note that this price assumes a van/car full of passengers. If it's a light day for passengers, they will either try to get you to charter the entire vehicle, either just for yourself or for one or two other passengers who may be waiting. Whether you go for this latter arrangement completely depends on how much of a hurry you're in; in an hour or two at most the vehicle should fill up at the 200 price. If it doesn't look like it's going to, though, and there are two of you, they'll usually take you two for 500 each, because a lower fare is better than no fare for them.

[BrianCR]

Get a mini bus into Udon (50 baht) then FROM THE OLD BUS STATION get the international bus right into Vientiane, it stops on the bridge for immigration (80 baht) and terminates at the Vientiane bus station