I've just returned from a visa run in Vientiane, here is my report:

I opted for a single entry tourist visa, but I guess everything here applies to all visa runs.

Getting from Bkk to Udon Thani:
Took the AirAsia flight Bkk - Udon Thani at 11:05 am, 3,168 thb return ticket. Apparently the flight to Laos is much more expensive.
Flight took off 30 minutes late, but other than that everything was smooth.

Udon Thani - Thai border:
At Udon Thani airport, just near the exit, there a "Limousine Service" sign, you can buy a ticket to the Thai border for 200 thb.
The ride takes less then 1 hour.

Thai border:
At the Thai border, you need to fill in your departure card, and hand it over along with your passport to the immigration booth.

Next step is to walk 50 meter on foot, and buy a 15 thb ticket to the local bus that takes you across the Friendship Bridge to the Laos side. Not a comfortable ride, but it's just a 5 minutes ride.

Lao border:
On the Laos side, take the application form from the booth, fill it in, and hand it over to the guy in the booth along with a photo and $35 or 1,300 thb (not sure about the $ amount - I paid in thb).

Wait 5-10 minutes, and you get your passport with the Laos Visa for 30 days.

Getting to Vientiane:
Walk to the other side of the border crossing, and you will see taxis waiting to take you to Vientiane.
If you share a taxi with other travelers, it would cost 100 thb each. There is also a local bus.
The taxi ride to my hotel doorstep took around 30 minutes (maybe less, I didn't really check)

I stayed at the Lane Xang Princess Hotel, about 1,100 thb per night, but you can find cheaper accommodations at the city center and near the river.

Handing my application at the Thai Consulate:
The Thai Consulate opens at 8:30 am. You can come earlier if you are in a hurry, I arrived at around 9 am, and let the guy outside fill in my form, including the photocopies, for 100 thb. You will need two photos, so don't forget to bring them.
Walked inside the consulate, and got the number 54.
Waited around 15 minutes until my number was called, handed in the application, and than was told to walk in the next building to pay for it.
Again, waited maybe 5-10 minutes until my number was called, paid 1,000 thb, got a receipt, and that was it.
The whole thing took around one hour.

Collecting the passport from the consulate:
You can collect your passport the next day, 13:30 to 15:30 (or maybe 13:00 - 15:00, I saw different hours written in two different places).
I arrived at 14:20, and there was only one guy before me... waited 30 seconds, handed the receipt, and got my passport with the visa.

Getting from Vientiane to Udon Thani:
I used the Vientiane - Udon Thani bus from the local bus station, as I had a flight from Udon Thani to Bkk.
Note that you can only buy a ticket for the next bus that leaves, you can't buy a ticket for the next day, or even for a bus that leaves later in the day. Very strange and annoying, but hey, it's not called the 3rd world for nothing...
Buses start from 8:00 AM, and there are about 7-8 of them per day. I took the 9:00 am bus, as my flight left Udon Thani at 12:45.
Price is 22,000 kip = 88 thb.
The bus was pretty comfortable, with Aircon.

Lao border - again:
The bus stops at the Lao border, where you have to fill in the Laos departure card, and hand in your passport and departure card at the booth.
Note that you have to carry all your bags with you - they take all bags off the bus.
After you pass the booth, walk to the other side, and wait a few minutes for the bus to arrive (same bus). Hop on, and off to the Thai border.

Thai border - again:
At the Thai border, fill in your arrival card, and hand it over along with your passport at the booth.
Hop on the bus again, and continue to Udon Thani.

At Udon Thani:
The bus arrives at the central bus station of Udon Thani, where you will be swarmed by hungry tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers in orange vests. Since I really hate when they attack me like that, I walked out of the station, and stopped a tuk-tuk at the street.
He wanted 200 thb to go to the airport, and since I wasn't in the mood to argue I said ok. You can probably get them down to 150 or even 100.
Got to the airport at 11:30 am, more than an hour before my flight.

Flight Udon - Bkk:
Flight actually left early, and arrived in bkk 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Other than that, its a short and comfortable flight.

Don Muang:
When stepping out to catch a taxi, there were more than 100 people standing in line to get a taxi, and taxis where coming at a slow pace. Don't know if it's bad luck or a regular occurrence.
I didn't want to wait an hour to catch a taxi, so I took the bus service to Mochit BTS, and took a taxi from there.
The bus costs 30 thb, and takes around 20 minutes to get to Mochit.

Edited November 16, 201312 yr by soomak

You can also take a flight to Koen Kaen with Air Asia, about 900 Baht one way or 1800 Baht return, go to the long distance bus station in the city center in Khon Kaen, from there take the direct bus to Vientiane. For Swiss and Japanese visa-free entry to Laos.

Do not believe that can be done without obtaining a visa for Laos prior to travel however for those that require visa (most people).

Thanks, ver comprehensive report.

This is a very useful topic, thanks for it.

I tell my funny story about Vientiane embassy.

This happened in 2009 or 2010. last days of visa fee free time. Was a huge crowd and I failed to awake in time, cause the last night was a pretty hard night. So I was late, just arrived to the scene at 10,30 am. Of course I have got a very nice line number over 300. I saw the table and it showed I have to wait more than 150 number. OK, I thought, I deserved it. Than came form the opposite direction an embassy worker (not a body-guard seemed a maintainer in brown overall). I started to thinkig: If I would work here sure I sale less line number. The man looked at me and showed one line number and his forefinger. So 100 Baht? Chai. OK. The deal was realised immadiately. I had to wait only 2 minutes.

I like Laos, and I like the Thai Embassy there.

Edited November 17, 201312 yr by Loles

Do not believe that can be done without obtaining a visa for Laos prior to travel however for those that require visa (most people).

Almost anyone can get a visa on arrival.

The list of those who can't:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

http://www.tourismlaos.org/show.php?Cont_ID=348

Do not believe that can be done without obtaining a visa for Laos prior to travel however for those that require visa (most people).

 

Almost anyone can get a visa on arrival.

 

The list of those who can't:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

 

http://www.tourismlaos.org/show.php?Cont_ID=348

But you cannot get on a direct bus to Vientiane without a visa in your passport. That is what the quoted post was about.

We are talking about using the international bus and AFAIK it does not stop to allow visa issue at border.

Do not believe that can be done without obtaining a visa for Laos prior to travel however for those that require visa (most people).

Almost anyone can get a visa on arrival.

The list of those who can't:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

http://www.tourismlaos.org/show.php?Cont_ID=348

But you cannot get on a direct bus to Vientiane without a visa in your passport. That is what the quoted post was about.

I didn't take a direct bus to Vientiane. I too a van from Udon airport to the Thai border.

After crossing the bridge Friendship bridge on the local bus, I took a taxi to Vientiane.

We are talking about using the international bus and AFAIK it does not stop to allow visa issue at border.

This post is about getting a TOURIST VISA in the Thai consulate in Vientiane.

Once you got it, you have a visa for Thailand, and can take the international bus ...

Really people, a little thinking before you try to undermine anything other people do or say.

I understand this whole forum has a very negative streak, but sometimes holding back negative comments is better.

We are talking about using the international bus and AFAIK it does not stop to allow visa issue at border.

 

This post is about getting a TOURIST VISA in the Thai consulate in Vientiane.

Once you got it, you have a visa for Thailand, and can take the international bus ...

 

Really people, a little thinking before you try to undermine anything other people do or say.

 

I understand this whole forum has a very negative streak, but sometimes holding back negative comments is better.

The original discussion was about going to Vientiane on a direct bus not returning from there. You should of read further back in the topic.