Chiang Saen Sop Ruak crossing to Donsao (donxao?) island, can we stamp passport ? And to Casino ?

[thefactoryoutlet]

Hello,

Some people say that we can go on Donsao island in laos in front of Chiang saen / sopruak without passport but some also said that you need to stamp your passport to go to the casino on donxao island.

So I wonder why it would not be possible to use this place for a visa run if it is possible to stamp the passport (there is immigration there).

And if you can stamp to go to the casino why you could not stamp to go shopping at the market on donsao island ?

Thank you.

[Rooo]

Perhaps visa section wold have more info.

Moved for now.

[ubonjoe]

Chiang Saen does not appear to be an international crossing. There is no Lao visa on arrival available meaning you cannot enter Laos which is required to do a crossing to get a new entry.

Crossings with Lao VOA's are shown here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

[Tomtomtom69]

Chiang Saen does not appear to be an international crossing. There is no Lao visa on arrival available meaning you cannot enter Laos which is required to do a crossing to get a new entry.

Crossings with Lao VOA's are shown here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

I was under the impression that it IS now an international crossing to encourage Thai and Chinese (and other international) gamblers to the King Roman's Casino, a monstrous casino complex on the banks of the Mekong on the Lao side. I could be wrong but numerous other forums have indicated this crossing as being open to all since a year or two now, but only for passengers and not for vehicles.

[ubonjoe]

Thai's can cross with a border pass or a passport and enter Laos at any border crossing.

It could be others could cross but not be stamped out using some type of pass but not enter Laos.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thai's can cross with a border pass or a passport and enter Laos at any border crossing.

It could be others could cross but not be stamped out using some type of pass but not enter Laos.

But only at international crossings can they proceed further into the country than a local border checkpoint. The locals checkpoints are for trading or short term visit purposes and I believe generally speaking they want to see a Thai ID card, not even a passport.

I state this because at Mae Sot, I went into Myawady, Myanmar last year with a Thai businessman and since we were just going for the day and without visas, his Thai passport was not accepted. He had to go back to the border pass issuing office about 2km before the bridge to get a border pass made using his ID card, allowing him access to an area not further than 12km from the border and day return only.

For Laos, it's similar, I think it depends on the crossing but only 1-3 day passes, usable within the same province only are accepted and no travel outside of the local area is permitted except if entry is made using a passport, in which case the whole country is accessible and exit can be made to any neighboring country. Again I've been across to Laos with Thais, on one occasion a Thai friend's passport was close to expiry and since we were only heading to Vientiane, a 3 day border pass was made for her for 120 Baht; the others entered Laos on their passports for free.

Donsao island when I went didn't require a passport, just a 20 Baht "entry fee" payable on the island.

However, I thought it was on this very forum some time ago last year when I disputed the opening of the Golden Triangle crossing as a proper international crossing and at least one poster told me it was indeed open and I even found a picture posted to this effect; now all of a sudden it may not be?

[thefactoryoutlet]

So we are not sure foreigners can get a stamp for visa run or not ?

Thank you Ubonjoe for your link, I see these border crossing that I didn't know:

Bungkan - Pakxan (Nong Khai prov to Bolikhamxai prov.), No VA

Nakon Phanom - Thakhaek (Nakon Phanom prov to Khammouane prov.)

Do you have any information ? Someone crossed there lately ? Do they have duty free shops ?

Thank you again.

[Tomtomtom69]

Chiang Saen does not appear to be an international crossing. There is no Lao visa on arrival available meaning you cannot enter Laos which is required to do a crossing to get a new entry.

Crossings with Lao VOA's are shown here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

This border crossing guide is out-of-date and inaccurate. First of all, the existence of the Xiengkok river crossing, second on the list of crossings between China and Laos is disputed. I don't think there has ever been such a crossing and therefore only the main Mohan-Boten crossing and since December 2013, the second but seldom used Phongsali (Ban Lanteuy) to Jiangcheng (Pu'er, Yunnan, China) crossings are in fact international crossings.

The first ever Laos-Myanmar crossing may open as early as May, after the 1st Lao-Myanmar friendship bridge is completed near Tachilek in March. I read it was located near Xiengkok, but on the Myanmar side it's actually still in Tachilek district, probably not far from the Golden Triangle.

Laos-Vietnam have at least 8 if not 9 international crossings now - the latest being La Lay (the villages on both sides share the same name) in Laos' Salavan province and Vietnam's Quang Tri province. A friend of mine crossed there back in November. Also, there is a new crossing in Hua Phan province I think.

[Tomtomtom69]

So we are not sure foreigners can get a stamp for visa run or not ?

Thank you Ubonjoe for your link, I see these border crossing that I didn't know:

Bungkan - Pakxan (Nong Khai prov to Bolikhamxai prov.), No VA

Nakon Phanom - Thakhaek (Nakon Phanom prov to Khammouane prov.)

Do you have any information ? Someone crossed there lately ? Do they have duty free shops ?

Thank you again.

Nakorn Phanom to Tha Khaek is the site of the 3rd friendship bridge. I crossed from Thailand to Laos there around 9.15pm one night back in late November by car. I was the last person to arrive for the day, after a Thai truck went in the other direction before me. I don't recall seeing duty free shops, though since it was late and dark, I guess I wasn't really looking. They may exist there, but I'm not sure. Bridge opening times are 6am to 10pm daily. Last crossings should be made before 9.45pm though but if you don't have your own transport, I wouldn't recommend trying to cross later than 7 or 8pm. Also, it's said that the VOA office on the Lao side may close at 6pm, but since I don't need a visa for Laos I'm not sure as this wasn't relevant for me. However, crossing back into Thailand after 6pm wouldn't be an issue except if you are relying on public transport.

Beung Kan to Paksan I went to last March. I didn't end up crossing as the opening times were erratic and I was trying to bring my Thai motorcycle across, the status of which was uncertain, so I gave up as it was the weekend and I didn't have time to wait until Monday to go across by boat. Definitely no duty free on either side here though, we're talking about a very small local crossing (though it is designated as an international crossing). VOA is reportedly not available on the Lao side, but some reports indicate it now is...not sure who's right though.

The official opening times are 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning there is a boat as well. Immigration and customs are likely to operate somewhat outside of these hours if you charter a boat though, although don't expect anything to happen after around 6pm on any given day or in the afternoons on weekends.

[thefactoryoutlet]

So we are not sure foreigners can get a stamp for visa run or not ?

Thank you Ubonjoe for your link, I see these border crossing that I didn't know:

Bungkan - Pakxan (Nong Khai prov to Bolikhamxai prov.), No VA

Nakon Phanom - Thakhaek (Nakon Phanom prov to Khammouane prov.)

Do you have any information ? Someone crossed there lately ? Do they have duty free shops ?

Thank you again.

Nakorn Phanom to Tha Khaek is the site of the 3rd friendship bridge. I crossed from Thailand to Laos there around 9.15pm one night back in late November by car. I was the last person to arrive for the day, after a Thai truck went in the other direction before me. I don't recall seeing duty free shops, though since it was late and dark, I guess I wasn't really looking. They may exist there, but I'm not sure. Bridge opening times are 6am to 10pm daily. Last crossings should be made before 9.45pm though but if you don't have your own transport, I wouldn't recommend trying to cross later than 7 or 8pm. Also, it's said that the VOA office on the Lao side may close at 6pm, but since I don't need a visa for Laos I'm not sure as this wasn't relevant for me. However, crossing back into Thailand after 6pm wouldn't be an issue except if you are relying on public transport.

Beung Kan to Paksan I went to last March. I didn't end up crossing as the opening times were erratic and I was trying to bring my Thai motorcycle across, the status of which was uncertain, so I gave up as it was the weekend and I didn't have time to wait until Monday to go across by boat. Definitely no duty free on either side here though, we're talking about a very small local crossing (though it is designated as an international crossing). VOA is reportedly not available on the Lao side, but some reports indicate it now is...not sure who's right though.

The official opening times are 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning there is a boat as well. Immigration and customs are likely to operate somewhat outside of these hours if you charter a boat though, although don't expect anything to happen after around 6pm on any given day or in the afternoons on weekends.

Thank you for so complete information.

Anything to do / visit around these borders ?

[kanook]

Chiang Saen does not appear to be an international crossing. There is no Lao visa on arrival available meaning you cannot enter Laos which is required to do a crossing to get a new entry.

Crossings with Lao VOA's are shown here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

I was under the impression that it IS now an international crossing to encourage Thai and Chinese (and other international) gamblers to the King Roman's Casino, a monstrous casino complex on the banks of the Mekong on the Lao side. I could be wrong but numerous other forums have indicated this crossing as being open to all since a year or two now, but only for passengers and not for vehicles.

That would be great if it was an international crossing now. I remember being told at the checkpoint it wasn't, 2 - 2 1/2 yrs ago.

[kanook]

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Chiang Saen does not appear to be an international crossing. There is no Lao visa on arrival available meaning you cannot enter Laos which is required to do a crossing to get a new entry.

Crossings with Lao VOA's are shown here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-border.html

This border crossing guide is out-of-date and inaccurate. First of all, the existence of the Xiengkok river crossing, second on the list of crossings between China and Laos is disputed. I don't think there has ever been such a crossing and therefore only the main Mohan-Boten crossing and since December 2013, the second but seldom used Phongsali (Ban Lanteuy) to Jiangcheng (Pu'er, Yunnan, China) crossings are in fact international crossings.

The first ever Laos-Myanmar crossing may open as early as May, after the 1st Lao-Myanmar friendship bridge is completed near Tachilek in March. I read it was located near Xiengkok, but on the Myanmar side it's actually still in Tachilek district, probably not far from the Golden Triangle.

Laos-Vietnam have at least 8 if not 9 international crossings now - the latest being La Lay (the villages on both sides share the same name) in Laos' Salavan province and Vietnam's Quang Tri province. A friend of mine crossed there back in November. Also, there is a new crossing in Hua Phan province I think.

So we are not sure foreigners can get a stamp for visa run or not ?

Thank you Ubonjoe for your link, I see these border crossing that I didn't know:

Bungkan - Pakxan (Nong Khai prov to Bolikhamxai prov.), No VA

Nakon Phanom - Thakhaek (Nakon Phanom prov to Khammouane prov.)

Do you have any information ? Someone crossed there lately ? Do they have duty free shops ?

Thank you again.

Nakorn Phanom to Tha Khaek is the site of the 3rd friendship bridge. I crossed from Thailand to Laos there around 9.15pm one night back in late November by car. I was the last person to arrive for the day, after a Thai truck went in the other direction before me. I don't recall seeing duty free shops, though since it was late and dark, I guess I wasn't really looking. They may exist there, but I'm not sure. Bridge opening times are 6am to 10pm daily. Last crossings should be made before 9.45pm though but if you don't have your own transport, I wouldn't recommend trying to cross later than 7 or 8pm. Also, it's said that the VOA office on the Lao side may close at 6pm, but since I don't need a visa for Laos I'm not sure as this wasn't relevant for me. However, crossing back into Thailand after 6pm wouldn't be an issue except if you are relying on public transport.

Beung Kan to Paksan I went to last March. I didn't end up crossing as the opening times were erratic and I was trying to bring my Thai motorcycle across, the status of which was uncertain, so I gave up as it was the weekend and I didn't have time to wait until Monday to go across by boat. Definitely no duty free on either side here though, we're talking about a very small local crossing (though it is designated as an international crossing). VOA is reportedly not available on the Lao side, but some reports indicate it now is...not sure who's right though.

The official opening times are 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning there is a boat as well. Immigration and customs are likely to operate somewhat outside of these hours if you charter a boat though, although don't expect anything to happen after around 6pm on any given day or in the afternoons on weekends.

Great information Tomtomtom69.

[thefactoryoutlet]

Update:

Beung Kan to Paksan only possible if you already have a Lao visa because there is not Lao visa on arrival at this border

Paksan to Beung Kan no problem for Thai, Lao and foreigners from anywhere.

So we still don't know if it's possible to get stamped for Visa run at Chiang Saen casino crossing point ?

[questionsreplies]

It is not an international crossing there....