Here is something I wrote on another forum. The information should be current.
In July this year my son visited me in Udon Thani on route from Hong Kong to home in Australia for a few months away from business pressures in HK.
After a few days in BKK doing whatever it is sons do in BKK he arrived in Udon.
He travelled by train to Udon purely to see the scenery and to mingle with Thais. He came off the train with a lot of phone numbers and a desire to never see another rice field in his life.
After a few days and nights in Udon we decided to visit Laos. There is a bus from Udon that goes direct to Viangchan (Vientiane) however take no notice of those who tell you that you can use this bus and get a visa at the border. They will not sell you a ticket unless you already have a visa for Laos. Apparently you can get a visa at the Laos consulate in Khon Kaen but we decided on visa on arrival. Weekdays US$30 and weekends US$ 31 (overtime fee) or 1500 Baht, plus either one or two passport photos.
The bus trip from Udon to Nong Khai was about 1 hour, must have been comfortable as we both slept. As the bus pulled into Nong Khai bus terminal it was chased by masses of taxi and tuk tuk drivers all wanting our custom. We ended up paying 60 baht for tuk tuk to the Thai side of the friendship bridge. Fill out TM6, get stamped and exit Thailand by a shuttle bus over the bridge, 20 baht.
Just a formality to get a Laos visa, good for 14 days, a couple of more charges of 20 baht for something and then in Laos. Just past the immigration are masses of taxi drivers all wanting your custom but nor really open to bargaining. We decided on a mini van @100 baht and went into duty free. A good range of liquor, cigarettes etc but only take US$ or baht, not interested in kip. Son bought his cigarettes and I bought a 6 pack of ice cold Beer Lao for the trip in to Viangchan. Beer Lao is an excellent beer and if it was available in Thailand would be my preferred drink.
The road into the Lao capital is the same quality as most roads in Laos, extremely poor, plus due to the French influence they drive on the wrong side of the road.
We booked into Mali Namphu Guest House in the centre of town, (Tel 856 21 215093, 856 21 263298, Fax 856 21 26397,
www.malinamphu.com ,
malinamphu@comcast.net ,
malinamp@laotel.com) in the centre of Viangchan. At the time this was a good choice at US$15 per night. We booked in for 2 nights.
Viangchan was to host some sort of SE Asian ministers meeting in a few weeks so the roads that mattered were being upgraded. Not too much of a problem as we walked almost everywhere.
The hotel staff warned us against bringing Lao nationals back to our rooms as the police have a habit of raiding hotels, throwing falangs over the border and subjecting the Lao national to what could amount to a considerable jail sentence.
Viangchan had the feel of a small town not a capital city, there are a few nice bars around the Nam Phue area but it is definitely not Pattaya or even Udon for that matter. I think if we had scratched the surface a little more there would have been a bit of mongering available but as the son met a Norwegian backpacker who wanted somewhere nice to sleep he was set. It did me good to be celibate for a few days.
The Australian Embassy employees club has a clubhouse complete with pool about 4 km out of town on the road back to Thailand. Open to all but non members pay a fee of perhaps US$1 to use the pool. It is on the banks of the Mae Nam Khong and the view looking west into Thailand at sunset is great. We watched the final game of the Australian rugby league State of Origin match there. Cold Beer Lao at US$1 a big bottle, hot meat pies, a room full of Australians and Australian rugby league on the TV, sheer heaven.
We stayed in Viangchan for 2 days then flew (US$105 return) to Luangprabang from Viangchan international airport. A large concrete, Russian styled building that would not be out of place in Poland in the mid 80
Gurgle, Gurgle...
At night I like to get quietly drunk and talk B***cks 
, you know...Old times...In my day etc...! Till I get bored with that and have to shake a leg!! (was it mine?) when suitably oiled 
! I also chomp spicy food with great gusto so if you have any suggestions for good nosh houses/Night venues over in Vientiane please let me know.
I found this site after 'Googling' for Nazim.
