Btw - I applied on Friday morning and there were another 3 people in the queue, so if you don't mind staying for the weekend a Friday is a great time to rock up.

I was just wondering about the quickest way to get back to CM?

I have to pick my passport up at 1.30pm then I'll make my way down to center bus station.

From there I think there is an international bus to Udon Thani that will go to bus terminal 1 and I'll need a tuk tuk to terminal 2.

Also heard you can jump out at Nong Khai and get a bus directly to terminal 2 in Udon Thani.

Then hopefully there is room in a bus leaving for CM at around 7.30-8.00pm.

Sounds complicated and it might be easier just to head down to BKK for a while, but I'd rather hit CM for another week before going down there.

Does anyone have any tips?

Cheers

Their are flights to Khon Kaen not daily and maybe to Udon Thani?

Nong Khai bus station now minivans to Udon Thani and also for others, to Kalasin by passing Khon Kaen 3 hours.

Edited June 8, 201412 yr by Colabamumbai

I'd say the "easiest" would be a bus or taxi to Udon then flying to Chiang Mai.

Nok Air, 18:10 daily, about B1600.

Nok Air, daily flight Udon Thani to Chiang Mai, departing 6:10 PM.

Too early for you:

flight from Vientianne to Chiang Mai with Lao Air, changing at Luang Prabang. Quite pricey I guess.

Departing 12:10 PM.

Edited June 8, 201412 yr by KhunBENQ

I'd say the "easiest" would be a bus or taxi to Udon then flying to Chiang Mai.

Nok Air, 18:10 daily, about B1600.

Your choices may be the cheapest but they are not the easiest.

http://www.laoairlines.com/

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I'd say the "easiest" would be a bus or taxi to Udon then flying to Chiang Mai.

Nok Air, 18:10 daily, about B1600.

Your choices may be the cheapest but they are not the easiest.

http://www.laoairlines.com/

Not really, the passport has to be picked up at 13:30; Lao Air fly around 12:00.

Assuming they don't want another night in Laos the 18:10 flight from Udon is pretty perfect.

Nok Air, daily flight Udon Thani to Chiang Mai, departing 6:10 PM.

Too early for you:

flight from Vientianne to Chiang Mai with Lao Air, changing at Luang Prabang. Quite pricey I guess.

Departing 12:10 PM.

12.10 = Twelve in the afternoon (midday)

00:10 = Twelve at night (midnight)

But yes, very pricey, and via Luang Prabang!

I'm actually just talking about buses, so when I said easiest I didn't actually mean flying.

I have lots of audio to listen to on 12hr trip and I'd rather not fly when I can help it (yeah I know it's the safest way to travel, but still...)

There's a VIP bus direct from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai. I think around 900 Baht.