Review : SETV - SAVANNAKHET, LAO PDR

This is to review our experience of obtaining a single entry tourist visa in Savannakhet – Laos at the end of May 2016.

The reviewer does not take any responsibility for missing information or updated/new visa application information.

The purpose of this review is for people who wish to apply for a Single Entry Tourist Visa for Thailand.

Laos Visa Preparation (if you are in Bangkok)

To avoid hassle or queuing at Savannakhet immigration, you can get Laos visa from The Embassy of Laos in Bangkok.

(The queue at the border on the date of travel was only 3 or 4 people and so you may not find it necessary to apply for visa before travel)

Useful Information :-

• Documents for applying Lao Visa (Tourist):-

1.) Passport

2.) A copy of passport (Data page)

3.) 2 inch photo x 1

(If you need to make a copy of your passport, there is a copy shop in the same alley as The Embassy of Lao, go straight on about 20 meters, it’s the opened gate on your right hand side, walk in there and the copy shop is on your right hand side).

• Lao visa fee 1,400 Baht (Visa fees may vary depending on your nationality, in this case, UK nationality), express service (same day collection) 200 Baht. Total cost 1,600 Baht, collect within 2 hours.
• Link to download >> Lao visa application
• The Embassy of Laos in Bangkok Address - 520,502/1-3 Soi Sahakarnpramoon, Pracha-Uthit Road, Wang Thonglang, Bangkok 10310
• Click here for >> GPS Coordinates

The Embassy of Laos in Bangkok

TRAVELLING INFORMATION

There are many ways to travel to Savannakhet but we chose to travel by Airplane (Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani) and took a van from Ubon Ratchathani to Mukdahan,

From Mukdahan, took an international bus to cross the bridge to Savannaket.

The airlines that fly from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani.

In Ubon Ratchathani

After arriving in Ubon Ratchathani Airport, you can get a taxi just right outside the airport to Ubon Ratchathani bus station.

A taxi will charge by meter which start from 30 Baht (after the 10^th kilometers, charge 10 baht per kilometer).

From Ubon Ratchathani Airport to Ubon Ratchathani bus station is about 8 kilometers, cost 60-70 baht.

At Ubon Ratchathani bus station, you can get a van ticket to Mukdahan bus station.

Sahamit Ubon Company sell van/bus tickets to Mukdahan, it’s at platform 8 in Ubon Ratchathani bus station.

The fare is 111 baht per person for a van ticket. If you have a luggage they might charge extra money for space to store your luggage

(they charged us 50 baht extra for 1 carry on size luggage). It takes 2.30 hours from Ubon Ratchathani bus station to Mukdahan bus station.

Sahamit Van Timetable and routes

In Ubon Ratchathani Airport, there are a few coffee shops (i.e. Black Canyon) which you can buy snacks or sandwhiches or if you come out from a terminal and turn right,

you will see a couple of restaurants that sell foods across the terminal. The restaurant we tried was one that has many wooden table, food was ok and with large portions.

The restaurant across the terminal

In Mukdahan

At Mukdahan bus station you can buy a bus ticket to the 2^nd Friendship Bridge (Mukdahan – Savannakhet), From the entrance of Mukdahan bus station,

look to the right you will see a few ATM’s and further ahead you will see the counter that sell international bus tickets,

the journey for this bus is from Mukdahan bus station to Suvannakhet bus station. It costs 50 baht per person.

After purchasing an international bus ticket, go wait for the international bus at platform 10.

The international bus timetable, Mukdahan - Savannakhet

Platform 10, bus ticket

We recommend you to be there an hour before the bus departs, the bus will leave before its departure time (as soon as they have enough passengers on board).

The ticket will be sold day by day, you cannot buy it in advance.

If you wish to get a taxi, you can call the taxi centre, the taxi will charge by meter like in Ubon Ratchathani but will charge 20 extra for call service fee.

It’s quite useful and cheaper than the Tuk – Tuk’s.

Taxi Centre in Mukdahan : +66(0)42 613666

In Savannakhet

Once the bus arrives at the 2^nd Friendship Bridge, everyone will have to get out of the bus to pass Laos immigration. The transit fee to get into Laos is 50 baht.

There is a tricky part as most of the passengers on the bus are laos people so they will get through the immigration so fast.

If you wish to continue using the same international bus to drop you at Savannakhet bus station rather than catching a Tuk - Tuk to The Royal Thai Consulate-General right away, you should notify a bus driver or his assistant that you would like them to wait for you to get through the immigration.

If you prefer to use a tuk-tuk to The Royal Thai Consulate-General after passing through Laos immigration, a tuk-tuk driver will usually charge 100 Baht per person.

To save money, you can continue using the same international bus after you get through Laos immigration,

to drop you at Savannakhet bus station and catch a Tuk - Tuk there instead, they will charge 50 baht or 10,000 LAK per person. We got a bargain for 40 baht per person.

Leaving Savannakhet

After collecting your passport and wanting to leave Savannakhet on the same day of collection, you can either use a Tuk – Tuk from in front of The Royal Thai Consulate straight to Laos Immigration (less than 10 mins ride) or you can get a Tuk – Tuk to drop you at Savannakhet bus station.

Both ways you still can buy an international bus ticket back to Mukdahan bus station. In this case we opted for the Tuk Tuk straight to Laos Immigration.

Option A : From The Royal Thai Consulate-General to Savannakhet bus station – you can buy an international bus ticket here for 13,000 LAK.

The bus will drop you at the Laos immigration, after you get through the immigration you can catch the same bus to cross the bridge.

When the bus drops passengers at Thai Immigration (Mukdahan), it might leave to pick up more passengers at the Savannakhet bus station again

so after you pass the Thai immigration just walk to area that people are waiting to get on the bus.

You can catch the bus that comes through the Thai immigration without paying for the ticket again.

The international bus timetable, Savannakhet - Mukdahan

Option B : From The Royal Thai Consulate-General to Laos immigration (The 2^ndFriendship Bridge,Laos side) – when you get through Laos immigration

and pay 50 baht immigration fee, you will see the booth behind immigration booth, you can buy an international bus ticket here, it costs 50 baht.
The international bus will cross the bridge and drop passengers at Thai immigration (Mukdahan), while passengers are going through immigration,

the bus might leave to pick up more passengers from Savannakhet bus station so if you don’t see the same bus after passing Thai immigration, it’s ok.

Just wait in the area people are queuing for the bus and you can catch it without paying for the ticket again.

Leaving Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani

From Mukdahan bus station, we purchased a bus ticket back to Ubon Ratchathani from platform 1 (there are 2 options, either bus or van).

For the bus, if you have luggage, you won’t need to pay for space but for the van they will charge for space to put your luggage. The mini bus costs 120 baht.

Timetable above is only a guideline, not guarantee that a bus/a mini bus or a van will be leaving at that time

The mini bus, 120 Baht per person

SETV VISA INFORMATION – The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet

Documents and fee prepared for SETV

1. A copy of passport (Data page) - Taken
2. Copies of all stamps/visa pages
3. A copy of Lao Visa – Taken
4. A copy of Lao immigration stamp - Taken
5. Bank Statements (3 months) - Taken
6. 2 passport size photos - Taken
7. Fee 1,000 THB - Taken
8. Filled Application Form (Fill in the details in capital letters) - Taken

Note : -

1. Visa application form
2. Visa application submission between 9.00 – 11.00, Mon. – Fri.
3. Visa collection (next day after submission) between 14.00 – 16.00, Mon. – Fri.
4. Applying and Collection took less than 30 minutes and no questions were asked.
5. A queue no. you received when you submit you application is not used for collection. For collection, it’s first come first serve.
6. Office hours, contact no., location and map, click here >> The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannkhet

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SAVANNAKHET TRIP

• Adaptor in Laos is like in Thailand.

• You can use THB or USD in Laos, most places accept THB including Tuk – Tuk but they usually round the exchange rate up to 5 baht : 1,000 LAK.

The easiest way to convert LAK to THB in case you need to pay in THB, is to cut last 3 digits and multiple by 5 or 4.60 (depend on the rate they want to charge you).

i.e. 20,000 LAK cut last 3 digits, 20 x 5 = 100 baht

• There is nothing much in Savannakhet, Staying in town is probably best idea.
• Transportation in Savannakhet is by Tuk – Tuk, fares vary and will usually charge per person. You can bargain with the price and pay in either THB or LAK.

• Most places in Laos will require you to take shoes off before getting into their place/restaurant.

• Cost of living in Laos is not expensive, similar to Thailand.

• Talat Yen (number 1 on the map) is where they sell food in the evening. You can surely find food from there.

Hope this information is useful for you.

Just so people know.... it is possible to get a Laos visa on arrival in the airport in SAVANNAKHET if you arrive by air.There are daily flights from Bangkok

However, those flights arrive to late to get to the Thai consulate in time to turn in your application that morning....so it will require another day stay in SAVANNAKHET by air.

However, it is possible.

some opening post, very useful information, i am going to read it over a few days.

thank you

Great info and thanks for sharing. I'm sure many people will find this very useful

Very well detailed. Thanks.

Great work, most useful. Thank you very much!

Thanks for sharing. That's great.

excellent report, thanks for taking the time to share it.

just one point. am i right in saying that you can only get on the international bus from mukdahan -savannakhet

if you already have a valid loas visa i.e. you did not get one before hand in bangkok.

as is the case if you want to board one in either khon kaen, udon thani or nong khai when heading to vientiene.

there is also a loas consulate in khon kaen, usualy in and out in 15 mins, if you happen to be in the area.

Yes OP, Thanks for taking the time to post such a well put together report.

Just one question..i am right in reading you now have to have copies of EVERY single passport page?

Or just the info page, current visa stamp etc?

Also maybe you could give some idea of the plane ticket cost?

Seeing S'Khet is a bit closer to BKK,

for the sake of saving a few hours, i think id rather just chill in an aircon bus all the way to Mukdahan, instead of the trouble of going through Udon airport and then having to arrange travel the Mook another 2.5 hours

Just one question..i am right in reading you now have to have copies of EVERY single passport page?

Say it ain't so. I have a 50 page passport..

Edited June 9, 201610 yr by csabo

One of the recently rare, positive, informative and intelligent Posts. Thanks.

Excellent Report. Thanks. There is also a flight to Savannaketh with Lao Airways from BKK. Roundtrip is around 210 U$. Rounttrip from CM to Vientiane is around 280U$.

Thanks for the info...........Very useful.

I did not think 3 months bank statements were required for a SETV. Can you confirm if they are in Savannakhet or if you submitted them just in case they were required? Similarly, as someone asked above about copies of pages of passport stamps; Were they required or did u submit them just in case?

Can anyone confirm if u can get on the International bus at Mukdahan without a Laos visa and buy it at the bridge as u can at Nakhon Phanom for Thakhek but cannot from Udon Thani for Vientianne?

Edited June 9, 201610 yr by SunsetT

thanks good info...very well done ,,,

3 months bank statements are a requirement for the METV which, I believe, may only be applied for in ones home country.

Where did you get the information that they were required for an SETV?

Certainly don't require bank statements for SETV.

A Laos visa on arrival can also be paid for in US dollars for example 35 dollars for a UK citizen, which can trim a couple of hundred from the border price of 1500 baht .

The 40 baht Laos border fee is not compulsory its just a little add on they try for and can be donated or not at your own discretion.

AWESOME POST! Thank you very much.

Yes, good contribution thanks.

As far as I know at this stage bank statements are not required in Laos (Savanakhet or Vientiane). The OP went prepared with everything "just in case". The fact that they took them does not mean everyone should have them.

In a previous review about getting a visa in Hong Kong, the OP also went prepared with bank statements, but they did not take them. So did I, when i applied in HK, had one "just in case", but they did not want it either.

I follow the same logic. I have some extras available that I can show if being asked for, in case they become funny at some point and tell me I do too much tourism. However, those should be used as a backup only and not volunteered, unless being asked for, in my opinion.

Edited June 9, 201610 yr by lkv

excellent report, thanks for taking the time to share it.

just one point. am i right in saying that you can only get on the international bus from mukdahan -savannakhet

if you already have a valid loas visa i.e. you did not get one before hand in bangkok.

as is the case if you want to board one in either khon kaen, udon thani or nong khai when heading to vientiene.

there is also a loas consulate in khon kaen, usualy in and out in 15 mins, if you happen to be in the area.

Thank you Jerrybeirne.

As far as we know, the international bus only operate from Mukdahan - Savannakhet.

SunsetT, on 09 Jun 2016 - 15:13, said:

Thanks for the info...........Very useful.

I did not think 3 months bank statements were required for a SETV. Can you confirm if they are in Savannakhet or if you submitted them just in case they were required? Similarly, as someone asked above about copies of pages of passport stamps; Were they required or did u submit them just in case?

Can anyone confirm if u can get on the International bus at Mukdahan without a Laos visa and buy it at the bridge as u can at Nakhon Phanom for Thakhek but cannot from Udon Thani for Vientianne?

Yes you can get the Mukdahan bus station to Savannkhet bus station bus and buy your visa at the border which is cheaper if you pay in US dollars can save the price of a meal and a couple of beers............... in the many times I have done this trip this cross border bus always waits.

But as you mentioned the international buses from Khon Kaen and Udon etc do normally require you to have a visa already as they don't want to wait about.

Information About Travelling From Bangkok – Mukdahan by the bus

• The journey from Bangkok to Mukdahan is about 645 km or 400 miles, 10 hours approximately.

Bus companies who operate the route Bangkok – Mukdahan

1.) Bor Kor Sor (Transport Co., Ltd.)
Contact No. 02-8721777

Email : [email protected]

How to pay : Counter Service at 7-11

2.) Nakhonchai Air

Contact No. 1624 (Call Centre)

Online Booking To change language, click top right of your screen

Note : For online booking you will have to book within 12 hours before departure and make a payment within 3 hours after receiving a code.

3.) Sombat Tour

Contact No. 1215 Or 02-030-4999

Note : You can book a ticket up to 1 year in advance but will need to book via call centre, Sombat Tour Company or Sombat Tour Agents.

Or you can visit TTM (Thaiticket Major) for more options.

(Please note that the reviewer did research for information only but did not travel by the bus to Mukdahan, you should re-check the fare, timetable with the bus company again)

Edited June 9, 201610 yr by jellybunny

Yes OP, Thanks for taking the time to post such a well put together report.

Just one question..i am right in reading you now have to have copies of EVERY single passport page?

Or just the info page, current visa stamp etc?

Also maybe you could give some idea of the plane ticket cost?

Seeing S'Khet is a bit closer to BKK,

for the sake of saving a few hours, i think id rather just chill in an aircon bus all the way to Mukdahan, instead of the trouble of going through Udon airport and then having to arrange travel the Mook another 2.5 hours

You don't have to have copies of all pages, they didn't take those documents but we prepared them, just in case.

But they took copies of data page, Laos immigration stamp and Laos visa page.

The return tickets (BKK-Ubon Ratchathani-BKK) cost about 1,8xx Baht.

Please check more information about travelling by a bus from BKK - Mukdahan we just posted.

Thanks for the info...........Very useful.

I did not think 3 months bank statements were required for a SETV. Can you confirm if they are in Savannakhet or if you submitted them just in case they were required? Similarly, as someone asked above about copies of pages of passport stamps; Were they required or did u submit them just in case?

Can anyone confirm if u can get on the International bus at Mukdahan without a Laos visa and buy it at the bridge as u can at Nakhon Phanom for Thakhek but cannot from Udon Thani for Vientianne?

Bank statements are not required but we prepared them just in case and they took them.

See attached official document, 2nd page, 4.2, from The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet. They do not require bank statements for SETV.

Regarding to a Laos visa, you can buy the international bus ticket and get on it without a Laos visa. When you are at Laos immigration, you can get visa on arrival there.

Laos_SVK_VisaForm.PDF

3 months bank statements are a requirement for the METV which, I believe, may only be applied for in ones home country.

Where did you get the information that they were required for an SETV?

They do not require bank statements for SETV but we prepared them, just in case. When we submitted the documents we prepared, they also took bank statements that's all.

Awesome post with lots of great detail, thank you a lot!

Questions:

1) I hear a lot about people taking the bus over. But I also hear one can fly. Is the reason to take the bus to avoid staying an extra day? (In which case, I guess they are on the super early first bus out of Ubon Ratchathani)? If you were happy to spend a few days there anyways, how does the route via flying look? (Anyone have tips / trip report on that).

2) Can you get an SETV instead of an METV without being a Laos? (I'm presuming not, but just want to check)

Thank you.

Thanks for the info...........Very useful.

I did not think 3 months bank statements were required for a SETV. Can you confirm if they are in Savannakhet or if you submitted them just in case they were required? Similarly, as someone asked above about copies of pages of passport stamps; Were they required or did u submit them just in case?

Can anyone confirm if u can get on the International bus at Mukdahan without a Laos visa and buy it at the bridge as u can at Nakhon Phanom for Thakhek but cannot from Udon Thani for Vientianne?

Bank statements are not required but we prepared them just in case and they took them.

See attached official document, 2nd page, 4.2, from The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet. They do not require bank statements for SETV.

Regarding to a Laos visa, you can buy the international bus ticket and get on it without a Laos visa. When you are at Laos immigration, you can get visa on arrival there.

Thank you.

One point......It would not be wise to give Thai bank statements as your status as a 'Tourist' could be questioned.

Yes OP, Thanks for taking the time to post such a well put together report.

Just one question..i am right in reading you now have to have copies of EVERY single passport page?

Or just the info page, current visa stamp etc?

Also maybe you could give some idea of the plane ticket cost?

Seeing S'Khet is a bit closer to BKK,

for the sake of saving a few hours, i think id rather just chill in an aircon bus all the way to Mukdahan, instead of the trouble of going through Udon airport and then having to arrange travel the Mook another 2.5 hours

You don't have to have copies of all pages, they didn't take those documents but we prepared them, just in case.

But they took copies of data page, Laos immigration stamp and Laos visa page.

The return tickets (BKK-Ubon Ratchathani-BKK) cost about 1,8xx Baht.

Please check more information about travelling by a bus from BKK - Mukdahan we just posted.

thanks..all very helpful

I was in Savhannaket in April...

Visa application submission starts at 8:30. NOT 9. If you get there at 7, you will be the first one and you can sit under a roof, to avoid sun or rain. If you come at 8:30. There will already be 100 peoples waiting on the street without any protection from the sun or rain and you will wait a looong time... So better go there at 7 so you can sit and wait under a roof (small roof near the outdoor door).

They asks only for 1000 bahts... and the passport, the completed form, a single copy of the passport (name page) and 1 or 2 photo(s).

The officer check very quickly EVERY pages of your passport. Just to check how many Thai visa you already got. That's my guess. Because he got through ALL the pages and very quickly, just allowing him to see the color of the Thai visas to count them.

NEXT DAY passport collection. NOT same day.

Starts at 14:00

Don't bother going there early.

Just go at 15:00 and you will be alone.

If you go at 14:00 you will wait 30 minutes with the crowd.

At 15 you'll be alone...

A lot of wrong information in this post. Or did it change in 2 months?? ...

PS: Also, a funny thing. I always paid 1200 bahts for the Laos On Arrival Visa. If they ask 1500, tell them that you read on Internet that it is 1200. They will say no. But insist... And then the guy will start to say "oh yeah, it's because there are 2 prices..."... or whatever he spoke... Then I explained to my Thai gf that the 300 bahts would end into his own pocket... the officer heard and said "no... no... no......". Anyway I saved 300 bahts. I guess a one day work salary for him...

Edited June 12, 201610 yr by alexlm

"PS: Also, a funny thing. I always paid 1200 bahts for the Laos On Arrival Visa. If they ask 1500, tell them that you read on Internet that it is 1200. They will say no. But insist... And then the guy will start to say "oh yeah, it's because there are 2 prices..."... or whatever he spoke... Then I explained to my Thai gf that the 300 bahts would end into his own pocket... the officer heard and said "no... no... no......". Anyway I saved 300 bahts. I guess a one day work salary for him..."

You have a French passport, that is why your visa for Laos was cheaper, the officer quoted you the price for USA/UK passport holders.

Sorry but giving bank statement when Savannakhet does not require it, makes it extra difficult for the next person who did not take them.

Also a Lao visa is 1000 THB and not 1500 if you prepare you fee in dollars.