Review : SETV - SAVANNAKHET, LAO PDR

[ubonjoe]

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.

The fee paid for a Lao visa on arrival depends upon your nationality. At today's exchange rate 1000 baht for most nationalities would not be enough to get the dollars required.

The fees can be found here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/visa-on-arrival.html

[Caps]

Great info, thanks for sharing

[jellybunny]

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...

Thank you for sharing your experience, alexlm.

Regarding to your comment about visa application submission time, they start to accept application at 9 a.m.

We were there before 8.30 a.m. but the officers didn't accept any visa applications until 9 a.m. so everyone had to wait outside.

Please also see the picture attached below from The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet website about submission period, it starts at 9 a.m. which was the time we were allowed in on that day.

People can go there anytime before they start to accept the applications just there is nowhere to wait except opposite of the Royal Thai Consulate-General or in the tuk-tuk.

The collection was the following day after submission.

We provided information here based on our experience from this trip for people as a guideline for people who are interested in going to Savannakhet.

Checking information from The Royal Thai Consulate-General and Laos immigration or other sources before you travel are always necessary.

[aneliane]

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.

The fee paid for a Lao visa on arrival depends upon your nationality. At today's exchange rate 1000 baht for most nationalities would not be enough to get the dollars required.

The fees can be found here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/visa-on-arrival.html

There are 196 countries in the world.

29 are not illegible for Lao visa.

7 are listed as a given price.

That means that the 'other 160 countries" are paying 30 dollars for a Lao visa on arrival.

30 US dollars is 1060 THB

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=opera&q=30+dollars+to+baht&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

it means that 160 countries are saving 440 THB by paying in Dollars for just visiting the bank

That is over a day work for a Thai person on minimum wage, and I know some Thai for whom it's rather 2 days work.

That is one night in my favorite Savanakhet pension by the river with magical lush garden and scrumptious food.- 420 THB.

Thats one way ticket Bangkok - Mukdahan 400 THB aircon

Edited June 16, 2016 by aneliane

[ubonjoe]

You wrote1000 baht and then admitted in your post that it would really be 1060 baht (today 1066).

By many I meant those that pay 30 dollars or more. A few get a visa exempt entry (including Thais) and some pay less than $30.

There is another problem and that is getting the dollars at some places in the country. No problem for those living in Bangkok or other tourist areas.

[aneliane]

What's 60B fluctuation exchange when you get 440THB ?

All airport have currency exchange.

in addition many towns have exchange such as

Phuket http://www.phuketcurrency.com/contactform.html

Pattaya http://pattayaguide.org/exchanging-money

Chiang Mai http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/money_exchange

[SunsetT]

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.

The fee paid for a Lao visa on arrival depends upon your nationality. At today's exchange rate 1000 baht for most nationalities would not be enough to get the dollars required.

The fees can be found here: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/visa-on-arrival.html

There are 196 countries in the world.

29 are not illegible for Lao visa.

7 are listed as a given price.

That means that the 'other 160 countries" are paying 30 dollars for a Lao visa on arrival.

30 US dollars is 1060 THB

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=opera&q=30+dollars+to+baht&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

it means that 160 countries are saving 440 THB by paying in Dollars for just visiting the bank

That is over a day work for a Thai person on minimum wage, and I know some Thai for whom it's rather 2 days work.

That is one night in my favorite Savanakhet pension by the river with magical lush garden and scrumptious food.- 420 THB.

Thats one way ticket Bangkok - Mukdahan 400 THB aircon

So what is the name of your recommended favourite pension Aneliane? I like to stay near the river.

[SunsetT]

What's 60B fluctuation exchange when you get 440THB ?

All airport have currency exchange.

in addition many towns have exchange such as

Phuket http://www.phuketcurrency.com/contactform.html

Pattaya http://pattayaguide.org/exchanging-money

Chiang Mai http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/money_exchange

........and any bank that does exchange......I use BKK bank......In Nakhon Phanom branch they will also now exchange any Laos Kip you have left over when you return. Im not sure if they exchange kip now in all Thai branches of BKK bank.

[ubonjoe]

What's 60B fluctuation exchange when you get 440THB ?

All airport have currency exchange.

in addition many towns have exchange such as

Phuket http://www.phuketcurrency.com/contactform.html

Pattaya http://pattayaguide.org/exchanging-money

Chiang Mai http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/money_exchange

........and any bank that does exchange......I use BKK bank......In Nakhon Phanom branch they will also now exchange any Laos Kip you have left over when you return. Im not sure if they exchange kip now in all Thai branches of BKK bank.

Just try getting anything other than $50 or $100 bills at some banks outside tourist areas (been there done that). All those you mentioned are tourist areas.

Since Nakhon Phanom is where there is a bridge to Laos it might have smaller bills available.

[SunsetT]

What's 60B fluctuation exchange when you get 440THB ?

All airport have currency exchange.

in addition many towns have exchange such as

Phuket http://www.phuketcurrency.com/contactform.html

Pattaya http://pattayaguide.org/exchanging-money

Chiang Mai http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/money_exchange

........and any bank that does exchange......I use BKK bank......In Nakhon Phanom branch they will also now exchange any Laos Kip you have left over when you return. Im not sure if they exchange kip now in all Thai branches of BKK bank.

Just try getting anything other than $50 or $100 bills at some banks outside tourist areas (been there done that). All those you mentioned are tourist areas.

Since Nakhon Phanom is where there is a bridge to Laos it might have smaller bills available.

Yep! I always get dollars for Laos visa runs. Never had a problem getting the small bills from BKK bank NKP or Udon Thani in 10 years. I have forgotten banks r closed a couple of times at the weekend but then a local travel agent has obliged for me. I have never tried it but Im also told that some gold shops will exchange currency at very favourable rates in Udon Thani.

[thaitero]

Good post, thanks

I am going to be there next thursday for SETV. Question about timing. Is it best to go there about 10 or 10:30 to avoid unnecessary waiting and hassle or should i go there in the morning like everyone else? I am flying there wendsday and staying avalon or some name like that..

Another one,, Are copies of lao visa and stamps needed?

[alexlm]

I was there on July 21, 2 days ago.

I was ALONE.

I came at 9:30am.

Done in a few minutes (paperwork and copy included)

For 180 bahts, the shop in front of the embassy will provide you with all the necessary paperwork (copy of passport photo page, copy of passport Laos visa page, Thai visa application form completed (with fake address in Laos, they write Avalon Residence actually although I was at Savan Vegas Hotel, fake Thailand address... They just write "Bangkok").

You just have to sign the form.

You go in the embassy, give your passport, paperwork, 1000 bahts and it's done in 3 seconds, the Thai officer don't even check your passport and give you a ticket immediately, ticket that you will use on the next business day to get your passport back, which will be much more faster.

[thaitero]

Thanks for info, Alexlm

[alexlm]

2 day ago, I paid 1,600 bahts for my Laos Visa on Arrival.

Is it normal?

I said that I didn't have a photo for the form. The guy said "it's ok" and he didn't take any picture of me as well. Just the paperwork and printed out my visa in front of me...

I read from ubonjoe that France fee is 1200. So did I get scammed 400 bahts?

I said him "NO, it's 1200 for France". Said it 2 times. But he kept saying that it changed... so I gave up... just wanted to get out of there ASAP after hours of travel.

Edited July 23, 2016 by alexlm

[alexlm]

Others useful informations about your next Savannakhet Visa Run:

What hotel to stay in?

I would recommend Savan Vegas Hotel.

It's the best hotel I found in Laos.

They do EVERY transportation for you for FREE. From the Thai border to the Laos border (through the bridge). From Laos immigration to the Hotel. From the Hotel to the embassy (or anywhere you want, if you want to visit the city... LOL... but staying in the hotel is better for me).

Rooms are quiet and very confortable.

The hotel has hundreds of rooms so you can always get cheap prices (around 1700 bahts a night via Agoda.com.

However, it's Laos, and Internet can sometimes not be the best. But I had my own router in the room so it was great with almost no interruption (20Mbps download speed).

The air conditioning inside the whole hotel was not really working 100% but it was OK. They offered us FREE Spa Massage to compensate about that.

To get the best from their services, it's better to talk directly via email (find it on their website). You can talk to the managers and they write a good English, while the normal staff don't really...

How to go to Savannakhet from Bangkok?

I used NCA (Nakhon Chai Air) from Mo Chit Bus Station to Mukdahan (the city on the Thai border, near Savannakhet)

Buses are confortable with air and toilets.

Food, snack, drink and water provided.

Very quick.

You take the bus from Bangkok Mo Chit at 19:50

Yoo are in Mukdahan at 04:00

Then you can take a tuk tuk to the bridge (100 bahts per person appears to be the normal price).

3 minutes walk before the bridge, there is the Savan Vegas welcome center. There you can wait, even sleep, on confortable couches, until the bridge opens and the first bus leave the Savan Vegas center. You take the Savan Vegas bus and it's totally free. You don't have to pay the bridge bus. You don't have to pay a tuktuk from the Laos immigration to the hotel...

You now stay in your confortable hotel room...

How many nights to book for the hotel?

One night.

On day 1, you take the bus from Bangkok at 19;50.

On day 2, you stay in Mukdahan at 4;00. You stay at the hotel at about 9 or 10am. After checking in, ask them to give you a lift to the Consulate. Pay 180 bahts to the small shop to provide you with all the required paperworks for apply to your SETV. Give your passport and documents to the Thai Consulate in front of the "paperwork shop".

Take the hotel transportation back to the hotel.

Relax.

Sleep.

Day 3. Enjoy your free beakfast buffet in the morning.

Check out at 12:00

You can give your stuff to the reception at book a lift to the consulate at 14:00.

From 12:00 to 14:00, you can enjoy the Spa, eat, or whatever you want to do in the hotel (which is also a casino).

Then take the free hotel transportation to the consulate. Get your passport with the visa in it. Get the transportation back to the hotel. Then take the bus from the hotel to the Savan vegas welcome center on the Thai side.

Tuk tuk to the bus station.

Bus to Mo Chit leaves Mukdahan at 18:45

If you have any question, just ask

Edited July 23, 2016 by alexlm

[ubonjoe]

2 day ago, I paid 1,600 bahts for my Laos Visa on Arrival.

Is it normal?

I said that I didn't have a photo for the form. The guy said "it's ok" and he didn't take any picture of me as well. Just the paperwork and printed out my visa in front of me...

I read from ubonjoe that France fee is 1200. So did I get scammed 400 bahts?

I said him "NO, it's 1200 for France". Said it 2 times. But he kept saying that it changed... so I gave up... just wanted to get out of there ASAP after hours of travel.

If you don't have US dollars (30 for you) the fee is 1500 baht for most nationalities. I suspect you did the crossing after normal working hours and paid for overtime or they charged you for not having the required photo.