Opening times Friendship bridge

[baco]

I arrive with nok air at 6 pm in udon thani is it still possible to cross the border in time?

[ubonjoe]

You should have plenty of time. The bridge closes at 10pm but you should be at Thai immigration by 9 or shortly after to insure you get across the bridge before Lao immigration closes.

[baco]

Thanks again ubonjoe

I hope that there will be enough transport available to get me to the bridge in time

[Tomtomtom69]

No problems at all. I've crossed at 9.45pm in both directions and was OK but things do slow down after about 9.30pm (particularly transport wise, so it's better for someone to drive their own car across if arriving that late) but provided you're on the other side by about 9.45pm you'll be OK. The Thais and Lao officials only allow you to cross in either direction no later than 9.45pm anyway in order to have sufficient time for formalities to be completed - therefore safeguards are put in place to ensure no one crosses when the other side is no longer working... However, since you're arriving at 6pm you'll have plenty of time as you'll likely arrive at the Thai side of the bridge by no later than 7.30pm.

[baco]

Thanks tomtomtom

[vincentbanner]

I just be back from the border.

I saw a sign on the immigration counter that after 22:00 they will charge you 1 dollar for every ouer after closing time.

I don't know or there is still a change to cross ?

[Jay Sata]

Why the rush?

​Vientiane has a lot to offer.

[ubonjoe]

I just be back from the border.

I saw a sign on the immigration counter that after 22:00 they will charge you 1 dollar for every ouer after closing time.

I don't know or there is still a change to cross ?

Was that Thai or Lao immigration?

Lao immigration charge overtime for the visa on arrival if after normal business hours and weekends.

[Tomtomtom69]

I just be back from the border.

I saw a sign on the immigration counter that after 22:00 they will charge you 1 dollar for every ouer after closing time.

I don't know or there is still a change to cross ?

Was that Thai or Lao immigration?

Lao immigration charge overtime for the visa on arrival if after normal business hours and weekends.

Neither side will be open after 22.00 unless a large group of people just arrived shortly before and they need to process the backlog before retiring for the day. However, I have almost never heard of large groups of people arriving that late - I tend to do so at times (although I am always either alone or with 1-2 other people max.), but relatively few foreigners like crossing borders that late.

Lao immigration charges a so-called "overtime" fee anytime after...around 4pm? something like that and on weekends as previously mentioned by Ubonjoe. Generally speaking, the Lao officials start to go home after around 4pm except for duty staff that do the evening shifts, hence I am quite sure that after around 4pm the extra $1 or equivalent in Kip or Baht is charged.

[johnp512003]

have operation hours at friendship bridge change since military coup.

[ubonjoe]

Not as far as I know. I have seen nothing stating they have.