Tourist visa in Vientiane, pls help with practical advice

[lala12]

British passport holder planning to travel next week to Vientiane from BKK to get a double entry visa. I would really appreciate your help with some of the following questions:

1. I want to fly to either Vientiane or whichever is the closest Thai airport to the Lao border. I'd like to be able to get to Vientiane as early as possible so I can apply when I arrive and pick up the next day. Would prefer to spend one night only in Vientiane. Is this possible? Which airport would be most convenient to fly to. I realise there can be a big difference in the flight fare between flying domestically and going across the border. I don't mind paying more if it means I get to apply the morning I arrive. Any info on airports and transfers would be very helpful.

2. What are the hours when one can submit the visa application?

3. When is collection time?

4. What documents are needed for a double tourist entry visa?

5. Do I need to apply for Lao visa upon arrival if I land at Vientiane or get it at land border if crossing from Thailand. Is this a straightforward affair?

6. Finally, any recs for a decent hotel convenient enough for the Thai consulate and the airport if arriving in Vientiane?

I am sorry if this is a lot to ask but any littlle help. Anyone can offer is gratefully received. Many thanks.

[Shaunduhpostman]

Most of the hotels in Vientiane are fairly convenient to the Thai Consulate. It is just a quick 10-15 minute samlor ride away from the area with most of the restaurants, bars and hotels that you'd want. I don't like the hotels in Vientiane, they are poor value generally speaking, either good accomodation that is overpriced or budget accomodation that is sorely lacking, usually maintenance and cleanliness wise.

I've had the best experiences staying at the Mali Namphru. It's near the fountain which is a good area due to its proximity to a good if overpriced bakery/coffee shop, Joma, and a restaurant next door called Khop Chai Deu which has a nice garden, a huge crowd eating and drinking there and hit or miss Indian/Chinese/Lao/Thai/ Italian menu with jaw droppingly incompetent if friendly and happy service from the waiters/waitresses.

As far as the consulate hours, I believe they are listed somewhere on the web. Google Thai Consulate, Vientiane.

[seasia]

The most convenient airport would be Vientiane but when I looked at prices it was considerably more than flying to Udon Thani which I believe would be the next nearest and is how I went, sorry forgotten how long Udon to Vientiane took.

If crossing by land in to Laos you can get a visa there, it took me about 20 minutes, cost was I believe US$ 35.

Taxis waiting on the Laos side to take you in to town or the consulate, wasn`t expensive, buses also but would be slower and not sure where they head to.

Khop Chai Deu I`d second that as an OK place to visit if you have some time in the evening.

Forgotten application and collection times at the Consulate.

[ubonjoe]

1. Udon Thani would be lower cost than Vientiane. Check Air Asia or Nok Air. Nok offers a fly/bus to Vientiane via Udon. It is about an hour to bridge in Nong Kai.

2/3. Info here: http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/en/consular/consular_check/

4. Passport photo page, and Lao visa/entry stamp. Plus 2 photos for application.

5. Lao visa on arrival at bridge or airport. Visa is easy plus stamp you in at the same time. You will need a photo. Cost is $35 or 1500 baht for most nationalities.

6. Other post gave you info.

I suggest you fly to Udon the evening before you plan on applying it will save you you rushing to get to embassy consular section.

There are several reports here about getting visas in Vientiane that have good info about hotels and etc. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

[Jay Sata]

You can also fly to Khon Kaen. There are two direct buses to Vientiane each day costing around £3.00 direct to the Laos bus station in the market.

It's only about three hours.

However if you use the bus from Khon Kaen or Udon they rush you through the border at Nong Khai.

Unless you are stuck for time or cash why not enjoy a day or two in Vientiane?

Which ever way you do it to get a new visa takes more than a day in Laos.

PS. Just read Shaunduhpostman and I agree.

Why the rush?

[ubonjoe]

You can also fly to Khon Kaen. There are two direct buses to Vientiane each day costing around £3.00 direct to the Laos bus station in the market.

 

It's only about three hours.

 

However if you use the bus from Khon Kaen or Udon they rush you through the border at Nong Khai.

 

Unless you are stuck for time or cash why not enjoy a day or two in Vientiane?

 

Which ever way you do it to get a new visa takes more than a day in Laos.

 

PS. Just read Shaunduhpostman and I agree.

 

Why the rush?

To take direct buses you need to have Lao visa already.

They are available in Udon also. But by the time you make the trip to the bus station and wait for it you can be at bridge by taking van from airport.

[eri]

Hi, I recommend using Savan Vegas (I have used their service 3 times, always good and efficient).

I usually take VIP bus to Mukdahan (border town at Thailand side) as Savan Vegas has an office in the bus terminal and you can just hop into thier shuttle bus from there (simple and easy). No hassles at the border, they have one stop service for Laos visa which will be handled by Savan Vegas staff. However I recommend to take US cash (I think $35 for visa + $1 for some kind of fee, $36 total for British passport), farang lady I was sharing the mini-bus last time was charged B1,500 instead of $35.

Anyway, the casino & hotel is about 10min ride from the border, upon arrival you check-in and pay hotel room & deposit & visa, everything will be done by 8:30 and you can enjoy free buffet breakfast (or take a rest at your room). It's simple and you don't need to do anything. Your passport will be ready at around 15:00 the following day, take tha same way back to Mukdahan.

I always take a bus so don't know about the arrangements to pick you up at the airport, sorry.

Bus leaves BKK 21:30 arrives at Mukudahan bus terminal at around 7:00.

I tried to attach their URL but couldn't find one (there is Casino & Hotel webisite, however the one with visa run package has gone..). I have contact details of the girl who handled my visa application on my previous visit (March 2013). If you need, I can send it to you.

Hope this info will be usuful.

P.S. You need 3 passport sized photo, one for Laos visa, two for Thai visa. I saw an American guy had only two and he had to go to the Conculate for that.

[eri]

Oops, did you mean you want to apply at Vientiane? Sorry I missed it out. (I have done that many times, so perhaps I can help if you need specific info)

[lala12]

Thank you upon joke, Been calling around the airlines, and it seems nokair is the best option. They offer flight bus service all the way and it's reasonable. They also seem to suggest that they will stop at the border for people to get their Laos visa. The operator wasn't so clear and so I am hoping thee will be no problem getting it while the bus is waiting.

[lala12]

Damn this technology that thinks it is more clever than you!!! I meant to write UBONJOE.

[ubonjoe]

Damn this technology that thinks it is more clever than you!!! I meant to write UBONJOE.

No problem it happens to me to. Glad it's working out for you.

I am sure they will wait for you to get the visa.

[lala12]

Rush because of various commitments in BKK but will just have to stay cool and get this out of the way first. Thanks for your help.

[55bulldog]

I went to Vientiane 5 months ago for a new 60 day visa. You may want to get in line first thing in the morning. I arrived 1 hour and 30 minutes before the gates opened and I was #10 in line. When they opened the gates it took me 20-30 minutes. MAKE A COPY OF EVERYTHING IN YOUR PASSPORT BEFORE YOU GO and have it ready. Bring coins just in case you have to use the copy machine there. If you haven't already glued on your photos bring a q tip or cotton bud.....they provide glue there without a brush (people tear up paper strips and use this as a brush) and you paste your own photo to the application

I thought I had everything copied but they wanted a copy of the page with your last stamp(your LAOS entry). I didn't have it and the clerk was quite rude (just as I was about to give her my documents some farang opened the door to the room only for consulate clerks and started asking questions which set her off in a rage). She said, "you need copy of Laos entry, I give you 5 minutes! There was a copy machine there but there was a huge line with 30 people in it. I had to explain myself to some nice Philippinos at the front of the line and one even loaned me a much needed coin for the machine.

I raced downstairs to apologetically cut the line again. Turned in my docs and picked them up the next day (also got their about an hour early and took about 20 minutes to get new visa when the gates opened.

As for Vientiane you should embrace the visa run if you can. I thought it was quite nice. The promenade with food market, river view of Thai/Laos border, park, with exercise classes in the evening and public exercise equipment. Also, not to far from the Thai consulate. The Cope center is also not too far. It is a museum and rehab facility dedicated to people injured/killed from 1960's leftover cluster bombs that continue to explode today.........

To get to the embassy walk down the huge street with what I think was the Presidential Mansion and walk towards the huge arch (you can find this on the river view promenade- the mansion is directly behind the statue on the riverfront of the Laos soldier/hero that is looking across the river to Thailand. If you walk away from the statue and river the backyard of the mansion is 300 meters or so away from the statue -the entrance of the mansion faces a three way intersection. Walk down the intersection straight (with your back to the mansion) to the arch......about 2 to 400 meters pass the arch you will see a small park near a "peace gong" (this is all directly behind the arch). When you get to this park pass it, and walk straight but a little to the right (don't completely turn right just stay to the right and take it straight until you see the Vietnamese embassy. Take a right on the street with the Vietnamese embassy and go about 600-800 meters you will walk to another big intersection cross it and cross the small bridge and make a left at the intersection with the 1212 Pizza restaurant........there is also a some type of college or university sign there.

Good luck!

[slipperylobster]

I live in Udon and been doing this for quite some time. Most recently, last month. First of all, do not bother goo ging to Khon Kaen, you fly right into udon. Make sure you time your travel to arrive at the border very early.

1. Fly into Udon in the Morning early in the week (do not attempt to go to the Consulate in Vientiane on Sat/Sun.

2. Simply take a bus from Udon right to Nong Khai and stay overnight there, on the river. 50-75 baht

3. At 7am have a tuk tuk take you to Freedom Bridge and have a photo (check size online) and if you pay in dollars, take two brand new twenty dollar bills... you should get 5 back. or get fleeced paying baht.

4. Once you clear immigration, head right for the bus that will take you to the Lao side. very cheap.

5. Go right to the window there and get your forms. Fill them out fast. You need to get to the Consulate before everyone else.

6. When you get through the Lao Immigration, get the quickest ride possible to the Thai consulate. It is worth it to get the one that will leave right away.

7. Run into the consulate and grab your number .... you need to do that first. The get the blank forms. go back outside and get your photos....cheap. Complete the paperwork and go upstairs. They make copies for you for a low price.

8 They call groups of numbers up to the window. Watch out for line cutters . Check everyones number in front of you. Make sure you check the Double Entry on the form . Its 1000 baht per entry... so 2000 baht.

9. Stay at a nearby hotel if you like, but I prefer the riverfront. Just take a tuk tuk to the Riverside Hotel, but look for Hotel Paradise Mixay. Its near the temple on the street parallel to the river. Its new, clean, close, and good price. I check most of the others.

10. Keep your receipt and show up at 1pm the next day and grab another number. Its a long line, but if you are number 50 or less, you are doing good

,,,,,

.....my recommendation. I think you would enjoy your night on the river in Nong khai better than udon... and you then prepared to get to the border early.

Do not change alot of money to Lao Money. You will be stuck with it. Rather pay in baht or dollars. Exchange 20 dollars for some funny Lao money to pay transportation/some restaurants or beer money. Hold on to smaller bills.

[dddave]

The Suradeth Hotel is decent, not at all fancy but only a 10 minute walk from the Consulate. Rooms are small but clean. Rooms in the garden area to the rear are the nicest. There is a Disco in the front of the hotel but I never heard it. Rooms about 5-600 Baht'

Directions: Exiting the Consulate, turn right, walk 50 meters to the intersecting street and go left. Walk on whatever the shady side is to your first right (street,,,not driveways), probably 500 meters or so. Hotel is 100 meters on the right.

There is little nightlife nearby and Tuk-Tuks don't hang around at night. It's a good choice if you just want to be close to the consulate so you can be there early.

[sfbandung]

Half the replies here sound like advertisements.

We live near Nong Khai and it is really easy. There are loads of people at the Friendship (not Freedom) Bridge and if you don't have photos they have cameras. We did everything outside immigration and it was a piece of cake. If missus is from Isaan she doesn't need a visa. Yours will take a whole page in your passport. Don't buy Kip everywhere takes baht. Consulate is the same as consulates everywhere, have your shit together, be polite and you'll be fine. Don't be in a hurry.

Enjoy the little bit of France that is Vientiane, right down to the Arc de Triomphe. Read the plaque inside, it's a hoot. "Concrete monstrosity" it calls itself.

[elzach]

Calculate 2 - 2&1/2 hours from Udon to Vientiane Talat Sao (morning market), plus 10 min tuk-tuk to Thai Consulate.

Frankly, I don't see the benefit of going early before they open, 1 hr before plus waiting inside another 1 hr? go late at around 11:25-11:30. Pick up next day is easier, again no need to go early, max waiting time half-hour (unless it's a Monday I hear).

Stay NEAR the river, forget about the area around the Consulate, there is absolutely nothing to do there.

I agree with the post above about hotels, probably overpriced for what they are. BUT, restaurants are underpriced, if anything, compared to BKK. Good food and large beer for 45000 kip pp (about 175-200 bht)

Edit: do change some baht/$ to Kip (or better use the ATMs), otherwise your local expenses (tuk-tuk, food) will be 20-25% more expensive.

[slipperylobster]

Yep..I screwed up the name of the bridge. Sometimes I write faster than I think.

You do need to get there and get a number quickly. The first time, I never saw the number machine. I ended up sweating it out if I would actually get a chance to submit my papers, as they stop accepting applications just about lunch. Was it 1200 or 1230??? I just know....get there early. You can get out in an hour or two, or you can sweat the deadline and get there later...just know the window closes about 1200 or soon after. If you are crossing into Lao in the morning, it is impossible to get to the Consulate before it opens, due to the fact that you cannot pass through immigration before that opens, and its another half hour ride after that to the consulate. I never got there early enough where I had to wait for them to open! Seems I am always in the middle.

[dave2]

re

There are loads of people at the Friendship (not Freedom) Bridge

hes right

dave2