Visa agent in Luang Prabang

[Najinsky]

I know there is no consulate/embassy in Luang Prabang, but does anyone know of a reliable agent who can take the passport/application to Vientiane or Savannakhet and return the passport with visa a few days later?

I don't want to go to Vientiane yet again, and the agent in Siem Reap (my Cambodian alternative) say they can't deal with the Thai Embassy at the moment, so I'd really like to go back to Luang Prabang during this visa run. The reason is its a shitty long road road journey from Surin to Laos, so I'd prefer to fly, and if Im flying I'd much rather take the opportunity to go to LP than Vientiane (because the road journey from Vientiane to LP is only for people with a death wish).

If I do end up having to overnight in Vientiane without using a tour, I'd have to check into a hotel first (so I can show my passport) before heading to the embassy/consulate to make the application.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Andy

[Thanyaburi Mac]

FYI, on the road trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.

There's a nice new bypass that takes off to the west from Kassy/Kasi, and neads NW up to Rt 4 at Nan, on the east side of the Mekong from Sayaboury. Then Rt 4 goes on a nice paved road NE to Xieng Nguen where it rejoins Rt 13N and on to LP. I was over this road in February.

Mac

[freedomnow]

You have to go in yourself.

It cannot be handled by a 3rd party 100% end-to-end and returned to you in LP without you physically stepping up to the counter in Vientiane as far as I'm aware. .

[ubonjoe]

Why don't you go to Savannakhet. From Surin ot Mukdahan the trip is not all that bad. Going on route 214 it is 250 km and would take 3 hours 21 minutes according to Google maps.

[Najinsky]

You have to go in yourself.

It cannot be handled by a 3rd party 100% and returned to you in LP without you physically stepping up to the counter in Vintiane as far as I'm aware.

I friend did a 'group tour' visa run to Vientiane (from Pattaya) and said it was all handled by the tour agent. It seems each country has some 'trusted agents' that can get the visa done by a third party

I've done this a lot myself in Cambodia (to get a Thai Visa) but last time I went the agent said the Thai Embassy won't deal with them at the moment. Perhaps it's another area they are cracking down on. That's why I was looking at Laos this time.

Cheers,

Andy

[Najinsky]

Why don't you go to Savannakhet. From Surin ot Mukdahan the trip is not all that bad. Going on route 214 it is 250 km and would take 3 hours 21 minutes according to Google maps.

Yes, I've been thinking about that option. It's 5hrs by bus but the departure times are 02:50, 04:40 and 16:40 and would would also need to overnight in Savannakhet to wait for visa/passport return.

With an afternoon passport pickup, and guessing the return bus times (based on arrival times) it actually turns it into nearly a 3 day trip with 2 very late nights and 2 early mornings. Not sure I want to go through that with my GF and dealing with immigration and border officials.

Also can't be driving the bike on these jungle roads at night after all this rain, so would have to wait around Surin at the start and end.

By myself I'd probably go for it, but GF has a lot of other stuff to deal with at the moment and this option just seems more hassle with little fun.

Maybe an option for another time.