Lao visa on arrival Mukdahan-Savannakhet bridge (after 18.30)

[alphason]

I arrive into Mukdahan with air asia city transfer around 18.30, its says drop off is indochina market.

Is it to late the apply the Laos visa on arrival and cross the bridge into Savamakhet same day?

Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

The Lao visa on arrival office officially closes at 18:00. Sometimes they are open later if they are busy.

It would be best to plan on a night in Mukdahan and then take the first bus from the bus station.

[alphason]

The Lao visa on arrival office officially closes at 18:00. Sometimes they are open later if they are busy.

It would be best to plan on a night in Mukdahan and then take the first bus from the bus station.

Thanks ubonjoe, i thought this was the case.

Can I get a Lao visa before hand without having to go in person to the embassy (agent or postal application?), the bridge is open later i think its just the visa office thats the problem.

Thanks

[IMA_FARANG]

If you fly into Savannakhet you can get a Lao visa there at the airport.

[ubonjoe]

Not sure about using an agent at the Lao embassy.

The bridge is open until 10 pm.

[alphason]

I've booked the flight and transfer already, thinking the Visa office would be open later same as Vientiane.

Its not that much of a big deal but would have preffered to cross over the same night instead of morning, I will look around for any travel agents that might do the Laos visa (Bangkok or more likely Khon Kaen ?) by post, its not worth the trip from Phuket to do it, (not travelling until December).

Thanks for replies.

[alphason]

had another thought... if I do get a visa before hand will the bus over the bridge still be running?

anyone have a timetable please, or just times of last bus of the day (and first if I cross in the morning) - thanks.

Edit- think I have just seen the answer in another post

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/834725-nakhon-phanom-bridge-crossing/

first is 07.30 last 19.00

[Maestro]

Removed an unhelpful, off-topic post.

[alphason]

Still looking into crossing the bridge after 6.30PM...

We called the bus company in Mukdahan, surely they would not let you leave knowing you would be stuck on the other side of the bridge, they said it is ok until 9PM.

Has anyone actually tried to get the Lao visa on arrival after this time, any successful reports or otherwise? Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

Not sure what bus company you called. According to this webpage the last bus leaves Savannakhet at 17:30. http://home.transport.co.th/index.php/th/2014-12-16-07-24-57/%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%96/item/443-%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%96%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A8-international-route.html

You might be OK with youe arrival time at the bridge. If it shows the arrival in Mukdahan as 18:30 you might be at the bridge at 18:00.

[alphason]

Thanks, according to the link the last bus is 19.00,

The bus station in Mukdahan and they said its ok until 21.00, but we then asked Thai immigration in Mukdahan and they said can not go later than 16.30.

So unless anyone can confirm it can be done it looks safer and get the first 07.30 bus in the morning, I was just trying to get to Savan early to arrive at the consuate when they opened.

[Paiman]

Now the first Thai - Lao International bus (Mukdahan - Savannakhet) leaves at 7 am, but it does not do you any good, if a Lao visa on arrival is required.

I was on the first bus, got of the bus on the Thai side for " departure of Thailand", no problem. When boarding the bus again, the bus driver asked for my ticket, which I handed over to him. The bus brought us to the Laos side, - out of the bus and entering Laos - so I thought. I was the only expat on the bus.

There is a "visa on arrival" counter on the left side, but nobody home. Was told that it will be manned by 8 am. At 8:30 the guy showed up and I finally got the Laos visa. (1500B)

Paid another 40B where the passport gets stamped and another 50B to somebody else, because it was a Saturday.

Because not having my bus - ticket anymore, boarding a later bus was not possible. ( Keep the bus - ticket, d`ont hand it over to the driver) . Lesson learned