Trip To Mukdahan Checking Out Visa Run Total Cost

[up2me4now]

Just to let you good folks know how easy it was.

Caught the bus from Pattaya to Morchit 123 baht 2hours.

Bus to Mukdahan from Mochit VIP double decker single seat arrangemet 900 baht 10 hours leaving

at 8pm arriving 6am next day.

Hotel at the Bus station 1 night 350 baht (only 1 year old A/C on suite) Shower and change clothes.

Bus to Loas 1st bus 8am 50 baht one way.

Arrive at Border 15 mins later. 2 passport photos 1500 baht.

Same bus from Mukdahan into Loas. Arrive Savanakhet bus station at 9-30am

Tuk Tuk to Consulate 50 baht 10 mins

Back to Loas Bus station 50 baht and the Bus back to the Border 45 baht 3pm

Local taxes to enter Thailand 30 baht. Bus continues to Mukdahan and hotel 15 mins

Arrive back at the Bus Station Hotel 4-15pm

Stayed the night at the Hotel and caught the 8am bus back to Pattaya next day.

[craigt3365]

Why wouldn't you do the run to a closer location? I know you can do one from here in a single day. Mukdahan is a loooooong way.

[Thailaw]

Why wouldn't you do the run to a closer location? I know you can do one from here in a single day. Mukdahan is a loooooong way.

Exactly right. And why go to Mo Chit?? You can go by bus from Pattaya to Nong Kai directly. The cost is around B700 as I recall. The bus leaves at 8:00 pm and arrives at 7:00 am. From there, a B20 motorbike taxi gets you to the border and another B20 gets you a bus over the bridge into Lao. If you want to visit Mukdahan fine (even then, you don't need to go to Mo Chit; there are direct buses from Pattaya), but if the goal is to go to from Pattaya to Vientaine as easily and quickly as possible, the OP's route makes no sense.

[Orac]

I assume the OP is talking about getting a new visa rather than just a border run which is why he is talking about Savannakhet but I also am struggling to see the point of a trial run. Also the he has not taken into account that visas are not issued same day there so he will need to overnight in Savanakhet in order to pick up his passport next day.

[Thailaw]

I assume the OP is talking about getting a new visa rather than just a border run which is why he is talking about Savannakhet but I also am struggling to see the point of a trial run. Also the he has not taken into account that visas are not issued same day there so he will need to overnight in Savanakhet in order to pick up his passport next day.

Not a "border run". You can get a new visa at the Thai Embassy in Vientaine. Same overnight required in Vientaine for a new visa. Vientaine is nothing great, but I expect that it beats Savanakhet for a night. Of the two choices, Vientaine is a "no brainer", unless you are a masochist and want to experience first hand the "Bus Station from Hell" (aka Mo Chit).

[Orac]

I assume the OP is talking about getting a new visa rather than just a border run which is why he is talking about Savannakhet but I also am struggling to see the point of a trial run. Also the he has not taken into account that visas are not issued same day there so he will need to overnight in Savanakhet in order to pick up his passport next day.

Not a "border run". You can get a new visa at the Thai Embassy in Vientaine. Same overnight required in Vientaine for a new visa. Vientaine is nothing great, but I expect that it beats Savanakhet for a night. Of the two choices, Vientaine is a "no brainer", unless you are a masochist and want to experience first hand the "Bus Station from Hell" (aka Mo Chit).

I got a Non O (Marriage) multi entry at Savanakhet 6 months ago. I was under the impression that Vientianne were not issuing these - it would certainly have been a lot more convenient for me as I can see Vientianne from my wifes village.

[Thailaw]

I assume the OP is talking about getting a new visa rather than just a border run which is why he is talking about Savannakhet but I also am struggling to see the point of a trial run. Also the he has not taken into account that visas are not issued same day there so he will need to overnight in Savanakhet in order to pick up his passport next day.

Not a "border run". You can get a new visa at the Thai Embassy in Vientaine. Same overnight required in Vientaine for a new visa. Vientaine is nothing great, but I expect that it beats Savanakhet for a night. Of the two choices, Vientaine is a "no brainer", unless you are a masochist and want to experience first hand the "Bus Station from Hell" (aka Mo Chit).

I got a Non O (Marriage) multi entry at Savanakhet 6 months ago. I was under the impression that Vientianne were not issuing these - it would certainly have been a lot more convenient for me as I can see Vientianne from my wifes village.

I got a tourist visa (60 day) at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane about a year ago -- very easy, but it does require an overnight in Vientiane. There may be times when one embassy or consulate offers or offers more easily a visa type than another embassy or consulate. The ease or difficulty of getting a visa changes at a particular embassy or consulate frequently. And posters in threads here often alert people interested in getting a visa for Thailand where it is difficult or impossible to get a particular type of visa. If it is the case that a particular visa that one wants/requires is easier to get at Savanakhet than at Vientiane, that would obviously encourage you to go to Savanakhet. Certainly, nothing else would.

[Exsexyman]

1,500 baht for 2 passport photos! Surely not.

[wwex]

Savanakhet does have some advantages, its easy to get around and the consulate is easy to deal with with smaller waiting times. May also be slightly shorter bus trip then Vientiane. Buses go from the Pattaya bus station so going to BKK is unnecessary.

[ROBINPATTAYA]

1,500 baht for 2 passport photos! Surely not.

I am sure he means 2 photos & 1500 baht for the visa.

If you pay in US$, it is only $30 (x 29 = 870baht). This is how they get their tea money, they have US$ & exchange it for baht & pocket the difference between the currencies.

I always carry small US$ wherever I go, 1 tip, make sure the notes are of good quality or they will be rejected as faulty.

I was in Savanakhet last week at the casino, nothing to do with a visa, just fun.

It is a very ordinary casino/hotel, don't rush there for a visit.

The casino is very small & mainly electronic games & baccarat for the Asians. The only upside was the beer was 50 baht a can...555

The service to get you over the border to the casino was first class, on the return leg the just ignore you so you have to make your own arrangements.

I have emailed my displeasure to the management but don't expect a reply.

Edited May 2, 2013 by ROBINPATTAYA

[ROBINPATTAYA]

Savanakhet does have some advantages, its easy to get around and the consulate is easy to deal with with smaller waiting times. May also be slightly shorter bus trip then Vientiane. Buses go from the Pattaya bus station so going to BKK is unnecessary.

There is a yellow Mukdahan bus that goes from Pattaya Nua daily.

Not sure of prices etc but the bus doesn't look that flash, maybe a rough trip.

[Asiantravel]

Savanakhet does have some advantages, its easy to get around and the consulate is easy to deal with with smaller waiting times. May also be slightly shorter bus trip then Vientiane. Buses go from the Pattaya bus station so going to BKK is unnecessary.

There is a yellow Mukdahan bus that goes from Pattaya Nua daily.

Not sure of prices etc but the bus doesn't look that flash, maybe a rough trip.

Or if you only want to travel on NCA you can go Gold Class from Pattaya to Ubon Ratchatani overnight and change bus for a final 3 hours during the morning time from Ubon to Mukdahan. Takes a bit longer than the yellow bus but NCA is the only company I would trust on an overnight journey.And going via Ubon is certainly better than going from Bangkok.

[wwex]

Savanakhet does have some advantages, its easy to get around and the consulate is easy to deal with with smaller waiting times. May also be slightly shorter bus trip then Vientiane. Buses go from the Pattaya bus station so going to BKK is unnecessary.

There is a yellow Mukdahan bus that goes from Pattaya Nua daily.

Not sure of prices etc but the bus doesn't look that flash, maybe a rough trip.

http://www.iloveyellowbus.com/en/home.php

the drivers arent too crazy but you have to get the express which reduces time by about 3 hours, also some of the buses have hard plastic neck supports which obviously neither the designers, manufacturers or the bus company owners have ever done a long journey with

[up2me4now]

Interesting replies. but the purpose of the thread was an alternative to going to Vientine wich is not everyones first choice of a visa destination. Plus as one member said it is smaller city and can walk round ect. There are many expats whose wifes/partners live in east Issan around the province of Mukdahan so that could kill two birds with one stone (pardon the pun).

Savanakhet also issues 60 day/ 90 day and 1 year visa's more readily to farangs than anywhere eles on border runs.

And quite right the yellow bus goes from Pattaya direct to Mukdahan 3 times a day price 900 baht one way to the sae bus station but no everyone who reads this forum lives in pattaya city and could get to mochit just as easy.

Mukdahan is also another city which has alot to offer the expat with restuants/bars and safe nightlife, good cheap hotels and no dual pricing (yet).

So its just another experience if you fancy it, or you could just blank it like a few of the readers on here have, who get home sick for the go go bars and a pub where complaining is mandatory.

[wwex]

just to correct you, the price is about 700b on the yellow bus, and you posted in the Pattaya forum so most readers would live in Pattaya, other then that good points