Thread: Trip to Vientiane for Visa

Hi everyone,

I have to go to Laos soon to get a non-imm visa...I was just wondering if anyone knows what would happen if I got a bus direct from Thailand to Vietianne.. a standard bus...does anyone know the process...would the bus stop for people to get the Laos visa, or is it presumed that people already have that?

Cheers

cool...thanks for your quick and helpful response fred

cool, cheers.. any idea what size Laos are after?

Originally Posted by Thaitanium

Also if you're Canadian you get a couple more inches of shaft up the rectum compared to people from other countries...don't understand what Canada did to Laos to have to pay more for the same visa an American gets...were the Americans wearing Canadian flags on their uniforms as they bombed Laos?...

First time I went to Lao, about 10 years ago, this Canuck penalty made me curious, so off I went round the internet. Turns out the Lao government did a study of average daily spending by tourists of different nationalities. Tight-fisted Canucks came last. I was one of them... backpacking roun' SE Asia for 5 months on ESL teacher's salary meant I was not a spender. So I figured "fair enough".

Originally Posted by DanielG

I have to go to Laos soon to get a non-imm visa.

You can also catch a bus from Udon Thani direct to Vientiane but they require that you have a Lao visa first. I had an old one so they sold me a ticket and then got abandoned at the border by the bus, along with my luggage. If you want the direct bus, go to the Lao embassy in Chiang Mai or Bangkok first to get your visa. We had to take a tuktuk to the bus station in Vientiane to retrieve our bags along with several other people.

The bus from Nong Khai to Vientiane will usually require the Laos visa beforehand, because if you don't have it you will hold up the other passengers waiting in line to get your visa at the border.

So, if you don't get the Laos visa beforehand, just take a bus to Nong Khai, then hire a tuk tuk to take you to the border for like 50 baht; go through customs, get your Laos visa then take a baht bus to the bus station in Vientiane for another 50 baht or so. Ignore the Lao taxi drivers, just follow the locals and get on the gated truck (baht bus or whatever you wanna call it). This will take you to the morning market (talad sow?)/bus station in Vientiane.

At the market, get yourself a sandwich for 10,000 kip (20 baht). Then head east on Nongbone road for 1 km, turn right, Thai consulate is 400 meters down on your left, on the corner. Turn in your paperwork and fee at the consulate (time your trip so you arrive in Vientiane in the morning so you can do this). Then get a guesthouse outside the consulate. There are a number of cheap ones right near the consulate.

The next day, pick up your passport at 12:30, head back to the market/bus station, catch the bus back to Nong Khai for 50 baht and you'll be back in Thailand late afternoon.

that's great...thank you to everyone who has replied..

---Update---

Originally Posted by Beavis

The bus from Nong Khai to Vientiane will usually require the Laos visa beforehand, because if you don't have it you will hold up the other passengers waiting in line to get your visa at the border.

So, if you don't get the Laos visa beforehand, just take a bus to Nong Khai, then hire a tuk tuk to take you to the border for like 50 baht; go through customs, get your Laos visa then take a baht bus to the bus station in Vientiane for another 50 baht or so. Ignore the Lao taxi drivers, just follow the locals and get on the gated truck (baht bus or whatever you wanna call it). This will take you to the morning market (talad sow?)/bus station in Vientiane.

At the market, get yourself a sandwich for 10,000 kip (20 baht). Then head east on Nongbone road for 1 km, turn right, Thai consulate is 400 meters down on your left, on the corner. Turn in your paperwork and fee at the consulate (time your trip so you arrive in Vientiane in the morning so you can do this). Then get a guesthouse outside the consulate. There are a number of cheap ones right near the consulate.

The next day, pick up your passport at 12:30, head back to the market/bus station, catch the bus back to Nong Khai for 50 baht and you'll be back in Thailand late afternoon.

Quick reply to this message

Cheers mate,

Very helpful information.. thanks

Hi,

Another quick question. The address on my contract is different to the address that I have now..moved last week. The address on the contract is of a hotel.. When I hand in my application in Laos for the non-imm B, will it cause any problems that my address on the form is different to the one on the contract?

Also, the condo where I am staying now kind of isn't on a road..its more like a driveway/huge pathway kind of thing off a road.. Not worth asking the owners the exact address as they won't have a clue what I am on about..Do you think it will be ok just to put my condo number, name of the complex and the road that it is off? Do they even check these things?

Cheers.