From Udon Thani airport to Vientienne Thai Embassy

[chadimus]

Hi All,

 

If I arrive at the Udon Thani airport at 7:10am, would I likely be able to get to the Thai embassy/consulate in Vientiane in time to apply for a tourist visa?  

 

It seems like plenty of time given the early hour with less traffic to border and less waiting at border control, but maybe I'm missing some aspect.

 

I'm attempting to accomplish a two day, one night round trip to get a new visa.

 

Thanks!

[oxo1947]

Monday/Friday are quite busy...(saying that its been a while that I have done it)--I live Udon Thai, take the wife there quite often to stock up on the French wines etc, but don't cross---- you can get an agent to take you across (& probably all the way to the embassy) the agent cost is quite reasonable --last time I asked. Shops on the right hand side just before the bridge.

Have you arranged transport to Nong Kai ?

[ubonjoe]

You can do it.

There are vans that go to the bridge in Nong Khai from the airport in Udon.

[chadimus]

Should have added this flight is on a Wednesday.

 

I've done this trip many, many times but always 3 days, 2 nights to get it done.  

 

What would an agent do for me that would save time to ensure I get to the embassy from the bridge by 11am at the latest?

 

I've never pre-arranged any agents or transportation, so that's possibly an issue:

 

a ) will there be vans available at the airport at 7am

b ) will there be taxi/tuk tuk available at 8am from the border to the embassy

[ubonjoe]

Not sure how an agent would help.

a. Yes

b; Yes

[Lakegeneve]

The vans are 200 baht and take around 1 hr max. You should be able to arr at Friendship bridge by 9am at the latest but more likely a little after 8:30am.

 

Allow 30 mins total for crossing & visa. Then the public bus (6000 kip/lak) into Vietiane which runs every 15 mins and takes around 30 mins. Or your more expensive tuk tuk option. (There are also vans in the am for visa runners)

 

Even with max times you still arr around 10am in the city with plenty of time to get to the embassy.

[SirBuwanaDogbossKing]

Guys,

Can you advise if it's possible to obtain 1 year non-O (based on marriage) at Vientiane, if so what docs do they require?

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, SirBuwanaDogbossKing said:

Guys,

Can you advise if it's possible to obtain 1 year non-O (based on marriage) at Vientiane, if so what docs do they require?

They don't issue multiple entry visas.

You can get a multiple entry non-o visa in Savannakhet Laos. Marriage certificate, signed copies of your wife's house book registry and ID card.

[ChakaKhan]

Ok Im mainly directing this to UBONJOE as he seems to be in the know.

My already extended VOA(exempt) from landing at BKK will expire on

the 18th..as i was expecting the "free tourist visa" to still be active (ugh)

So now its do i want to haul all the way to Laos on a bus--kick up quite

a bit of money to fly as im reading about here (im not working) or as you

had mentioned before TRY to the debatable MAE SAI run with the TWO

allotted LAND crossings per year, which is all i need actually but a bit

nervous lately ready about all these crackdowns on $$$ and departing tixs

I do NOT have a fight out yet, though im looking to buy, and im not happy

about carrying 20-30k in my pocket to flash to corrupt officials at a border

 

SO-you had said its possible..will they sweat me for tix-$$$ bank--etc..

I have a US pp with no overstays but no visa either--im trying to see if

i can stretch this into the 5 months im here-then go home--Risky??????

[ubonjoe]

21 minutes ago, ChakaKhan said:

Ok Im mainly directing this to UBONJOE as he seems to be in the know.

My already extended VOA(exempt) from landing at BKK will expire on

the 18th..as i was expecting the "free tourist visa" to still be active (ugh)

So now its do i want to haul all the way to Laos on a bus--kick up quite

a bit of money to fly as im reading about here (im not working) or as you

had mentioned before TRY to the debatable MAE SAI run with the TWO

allotted LAND crossings per year, which is all i need actually but a bit

nervous lately ready about all these crackdowns on $$$ and departing tixs

I do NOT have a fight out yet, though im looking to buy, and im not happy

about carrying 20-30k in my pocket to flash to corrupt officials at a border

 

SO-you had said its possible..will they sweat me for tix-$$$ bank--etc..

I have a US pp with no overstays but no visa either--im trying to see if

i can stretch this into the 5 months im here-then go home--Risky??????

If it was me I would probably choose getting a tourist visa. 

For visa exempts it would be a border run, extension and another border run. Compared to a visa run for a tourist visa and one extension of the 60 day entry.

Where are you located?

If in Chiang Mai you might want to look for flights to Udon Thani where you take a van from the airport to the bridge in Nong Kai and then cross to Vientiane for the visa.

 

[lkv]

Yes i have done it myself 5:55 am Lion Air at that time from Bkk, landing in Udon i believe 7:05 or 07:10 then shuttle to Thai Border about an hour (8:15)then crossing the Border, bus Frienship Bridge ( allow one hour for exiting Thailand plus bridge plus entering Laos) i was in Laos i believe 9:15. You will find other people to share some tuk tuk with at 50 baht each. Drops you wherever you want i.e. in front of the Embassy. If I recall correctly I was there at 10:15 or 10:30 am.

 

It all includes waiting time for the tuk tuk to get 4-6 people to get moving towards Vientiane, and smoking a few cigarettes all along the way in various places.

 

Does not include checked in luggage on the plane (so no waiting time to pick any luggage), although I believe most people would only travel with hand luggage just like I have done. 

 

Finding vans at the airport at 7am and tuk tuks / taxis/ buses at 8-9 am is not a problem. I would recommend shared tuk tuk @50 baht as I mentioned before direct to Embassy.

 

So yes plenty of time.

[juice777]

If you want to speed things up a bit print out your visa form for loas before you go and fill it out. And once you get your visa you don't have to wait in line where you see all the Asian people. They don't have visas and are waiting to be stamped. You should already get your stamp when you get your visa. So just walk past that line.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[ChakaKhan]

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If it was me I would probably choose getting a tourist visa. 

For visa exempts it would be a border run, extension and another border run. Compared to a visa run for a tourist visa and one extension of the 60 day entry.

Where are you located?

If in Chiang Mai you might want to look for flights to Udon Thani where you take a van from the airport to the bridge in Nong Kai and then cross to Vientiane for the visa.

 

Yep in CM and that bus ride is a HAUL..and im living on saving so flying is

a bit out of my budget...agreed Laos is probably the best bet but i guess i

was hoping to gt away with a mae sai run--extend--then do last land crossing

but figured it was risky and certainly DONT want to get refused entry back..

[chadimus]

Thanks for the info!  Great tip on printing and filling out the Laos visa form in advance.  I think I can do the same for the Thai tourist visa application so that should save some time.

 

Hope no flight delays or other mishaps or I'll be taking the lovely night bus back to Chiang Mai...