Just wondering how much time I would need to exit Thailand, cross the bridge, enter and exit Laos and re-enter Thailand?

I have a Non O multiple entry visa

Depends on the day and time of day.

Obtaining a Laos Visa etc.

Would imagine 2/3 hours tops.

It opens at 6am if that's any help

Departure procedure from Thailand 15min

Cross bridge 15min

Visa on arrival at Laos entry at North end of bridge 15-30min

Walk to other side of building and depart Laos 3min

Cross bridge 15min

Re-enter Thailand 15min

My last time at the bridge started procedure at 6.45, back at Nong Khai bus station at 8.15.

From leaving the hotel in Nong Khai, to go to the bridge, until I return to the hotel... 90 minutes max, unless unusually heavy traffic at the Laos or Thailand entry immigration point. Done it many times. I usually leave the hotel around 9am.

Have breakfast in Ventiane. The baguettes and coffee are superb.

Have breakfast in Ventiane. The baguettes and coffee are superb.

20km round trip, at a minimum. For some baguettes and coffee? If you know Nong Khai, you can get the same quality there...

Obviously, the OP is concerned about time. 90 minutes, max.

Or were you just letting us know that, although you can't spell it, you've been to Vientiane?

Careful, don't overstay, Rat.

Coffee and baguette in Vientiane, pop up to Veng Vieng for a joint and a magic mushroom omelet.

If all is straightforward, just the round journey from Thai immigration to exit Thai immigration, around an hour, all in.

Thanks guys. Anything less than 2 hours is good

What is the fastest / easiest way to cross the bridge? Bus, tuk tuk, taxi?

The shuttle bus across the bridge is about the only option. The operated continuously. There will probably be one leaving as soon as you clear immigration.

Never seen a tuk tuk crossing the bridge and not many taxis are authorized to do it.

Anybody know if you can cross the bridge on a bike (pedal) ?

Anybody know if you can cross the bridge on a bike (pedal) ?

It is not allowed.

Anybody know if you can cross the bridge on a bike (pedal) ?

It is not allowed.

Has this changed, recently? i crossed in September with my mountain bike and have had several guests (mostly those crazy Dutch People) since Christmas come across on their bikes. It is not advertised but it was certainly possible.

Motorbikes....NO.

All I can do is go by posts made by people that tried but had to put their bike on the bus to cross. Maybe they allow it now.

Motorbikes yes if you have the required paperwork.

Are you not allowed to walk across now???????????

I actually crossed the bridge yesterday and I decided to use an agency. By using the agency, I had all the paperwork ready before I left their office and they taxied me from their office across the bridge and back again. The whole process took around 50 minutes so I felt it was worth the money (500 baht).

Regarding bicycles - I'm not sure if you are allowed to cross the bridge on bicycles but there was a family of 4 farangs that did so when I crossed.

If you put the bikes on a bus or the back of a pickup/inside a van etc. no problems. As for riding across - I thought that was prohibited and in all my years of travelling across the 1st Friendship Bridge, I've never seen one bicycle going across.

Motorcycles are OK but they must be 250cc minimum. Lao customs won't allow entry to smaller bikes, unless the bike is carried in the tray of a pickup and imported/exported together with the pickup carrying it.

I did notice a sign that showed no bicycles but I guess it depends how much attention officials are paying to what's going on