Dear Chiang Rai Forum Readers.

I'm considering a two night visit to Kings Roman Casino across the river in Laos later this month. I'm finding it difficult to get reliable information about the following:

Where to cross the border?

Best method for crossing the border, boat, bus,?? I have a car here in Chiang Mai and plan to drive to the crossing point, but not take my car into Laos.

Visa, immigration requirements. I'm a US citizen with a multiple entry O visa for Thailand.

Where to stay near the casino?

What currency to bring?

What else should I know?????

Thanks for any help you can provide.

John in Chiang Mai

Prior ThaiVisa threads with info on Kings Romans

Golden Triangle Crossing To Laos

Started by DonaldBattles, 2014-01-20 08:27 -- 24 replies

post 21 talks about the casino and prior safety issues with the casinos

New Golden Triangle Permanent Border Post To Help Trade - Or Gamblers?

Started by webfact, 2013-05-21 07:14 -- 18 replies

Lao Casino (Kings Romans)

Started by L&J, 2012-07-14 08:53 -- 6 replies

Oh, then there is this ThaiVisa info-poli thread...

great! laos defying evil red pekin comie Colonialism

Started by rnw, 2014-04-13 10:57 -- 26 replies

Hi, did a few Visa-runs last year, so I hope the info is still accurate.

You have to clear Thai immigration in SopRuak (GT). If you arrive by car, you should find parking space easily nearby. Walk down to the Mekong, and wait for the yellow boat (Casino owned) which will you take to the other side for free. So you can ignore the other guys on the long-tail boats, what ever for a BS they gonna tell you.

On the other (Lao) side you walk up to Lao immigration get your visa (I guess it's 35$, for US citizen, but better double-check that) in front of immigration is a van waiting, most of the time, which brings you to the casino.

There is a hotel nearby, I did never stay, nor do I know the price. Behind the casino is a china-town, which looked quite nice, and a lot of Chinese shops, with a lot of Chinese merchandise.

In front of the casino near the river are some typical Chinese restaurants, with inexpensive food and booze (Baiju, Harbin and Lao beer (40bath/bottle big). The casino is probably the only place where you get along with some English / Lao-Thai, the rest is Mandarin territory, I speak some limited Chinese, so I get along.

Ohh, just asked the missus, they went 2-3 weeks ago, so the boat and van info is still accurate.

Ohh, forgot the currency. Bring US$ for the Lao-immigration, paying in THB gives you a horrible exchange rate. If you have some Chinese RMB, they can be used in the shops and restaurants. Thai bath are fine, and if you get some Lao Kip, they're fine too, but not necessary.

LOL...

I lived in Lao for a year and used to regularly carry 3 currencies, USD, Baht and kip, the bigger the purchase the stronger the currency you used.

Meanwhile, all the time converting it to my own national $.

I'd say bring RMB or THB. USD only for the visa. This info pertains only to the casino zone; for everywhere else in Laos bring Baht to exchange for Kip and use Kip.