Bus services to Vientiane from Friday

Four trips daily from Nong Khai and Udon

The first bus services across the Mekong river, linking Thailand and Laos, start on Friday.

Buses will run between Nong Khai and Vientiane and between Udon Thani and the Lao capital, Deputy Transport Minister Nikorn Chamnong said. There will be four trips daily on each route.

The service will be run by the state-run Transport Co and the Lao state bus firm.

The fare for the Nong Khai-Vientiane route will be 30 baht and 80 baht between Udon Thani and Vientiane.

A Bangkok-Vientiane route is likely to open later.

At present, buses run separately by the two countries shuttle passengers as far as the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.

Travellers cross the border and then take local buses or taxis into town.

--The Post 2004-04-19

This is excellent opportunity to see Vientienne but I suspect you better have pre arranged for your Re-entry to Thailand or it could be a big problem trying to get back.

It's already easy to travel to Vientianne from Nong Khai or Udon. The govt bus route will just make it more formal and simple for the bulk of people who cant travel independently. Politically could be an important thing too.

I was going to go to Laos for a visa run, but I ran into some people who said it was dangerous. Anybody have any input on that?