Trip to Laos

Post by **BobHelm** » November 20, 2006, 10:04 am

I've got to make a visa run to Laos on the 26th. of this month.
I thought about catching the bus from Udon but have noted this in the "Getting Here" section.

Important:
While visa-free and visa-on-arrival facilities are accorded by both Thailand and Lao PDR to citizens of various nationalities, getting the necessary visas in advance will save considerable time and effort in doing paperwork at the border checkpoint.

Where do I get a Laos visa from? How much is it?
I would be interested to hear from any other member that has gone this route.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » November 20, 2006, 10:45 am

unless from bkk, you get when arriving in laos. 30 USD or 1500 baht, 2 pics, forms at border, fill out large one first and hand back in w/$$ and pics, then fill out other one while waiting. after you get passport back, must write in visa number on arrival/departure card. don't worry about hotel, just put anything if you don't have already. don't use visa services in nong khai, as they overcharge, it is too easy to do yourself at border. do use them for pics if you don't have, if not taking bus from udon, if taking bus, have pics before you leave udon. they would prefer you have visa before taking bus (udon - vientiane bus), up to you, if you take bus and you get delayed going thru check point on laos side, they will leave you. which is no big deal, just get a taxi or tuk tuk. coming back, you get the bus at morning market, and you should have no problems returning as same as everyone else. so you may just want to take local bus up, then as soon as the bus turns in nong khai at first red light intersection, get off, and tuk tuks will be waiting, they will take you to visa service, so get you pics, then head to border to do visa yourself. i may have forms for you before you go, i'll check and get back to you. save you some time at border. 30 baht should be enough from intersection in nong khai to border via service shop. pics are 2, 3 or 4 for about 80-100 baht. it is extremely easy to do visa yourself, so don't do at visa service, they have a tendency to charge 50 bucks and simply say it was raised, with a straight face.

don't forget to bring some alcohol back, 2 liters, to offset that laos visa expense. such as bailey's, which is half price in laos. 2 large bottles, 1300 baht saved, and the visa is paid for.

if you drink wine or liquer not found here, you may find it there, and cheaper.

you check out of thailand, buy a bus ticket, i think up to 15 baht now, wait for bus, muscle your way on

which simply takes you to the other side of bridge, then as you exit bus, hard to miss, big sign, ON ARRIVAL VISA 30 USD, 31 for weekends/holidays, then the rest is above.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » November 20, 2006, 11:30 am

LA,I was talking to a guy with a Lao wife yesterday.He told me the fee had been raised to $43.This just hearsay for me ,but I thought I would pass it on,so be prepared!

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » November 20, 2006, 12:17 pm

That's an odd number, wonder if he used a service and they charged him 40 + 3 service fee

. I had heard they extended it from 15 to 30 days, which is verified by site below.

http://www.retire-asia.com/lao-visa-on- ... days.shtml

Hey Bob, I do have extra laos visa application form, Pm me and let me know where you are staying and I'll drop it off.

I check the bkk Laos embassy site, but it hasn't been updated since July 2004.

Post by **BobHelm** » November 20, 2006, 3:14 pm

Sorry LA my R&R in Udon finished yesterday, so I am back home just outside Bangdung nursing a sore head & trying to type with a dose of the shakes

Thanks for the offer tho....

Post by **Prenders88** » November 21, 2006, 8:27 am

Bob,
Are you in Bandung "City" or one of the surronding villages?

We have another place in Tampol Omko, village Number 5 Non Hom. Seems to be more and more farangs moving in around these parts.

Post by **BobHelm** » November 21, 2006, 9:22 am

Surrounding village - banchai (banana city)

Yes, you are right. This is a village of 180 houses. When I first came here (about 2 and a half years ago) there was 1 other Falang here - an American who had been here about 10 years from what I recall. Since I have been living here full time (about 1 year) I have met at least 10 Falang who came here to meet the girlfriends family. At least 3 of them said to me that they were serious about moving here in the foreseable future. 1 other (a German guy who I haven't met yet) has had a house built here as well.
Whenever I pop into Bangdung for anything it is extremely rare that I don't meet at least a couple of Falang.

Post by **Dakoda** » November 21, 2006, 9:23 am

BKKSTAN wrote: LA,I was talking to a guy with a Lao wife yesterday.He told me the fee had been raised to $43.This just hearsay for me ,but I thought I would pass it on,so be prepared!

I paid 1700 baht about 2 months ago, which at todays rate converts to $46.47 usd.

On the Lao visa, thought someone had said you could get one here in Udon, maybe at one of those travel places

Post by **BKKSTAN** » November 21, 2006, 9:37 am

I want to reinterate that the $43 is not my experience,only what I was told.It would be nice to be prepared with the proper amount of American dollars,than be surprised at the bridge

Post by **lee** » November 21, 2006, 10:23 am

I would imagine that the higher rate mentioned is from the visa offices before you get to the bridge. I haven't traveled to Laos for quite a while but I doubt it's been raised that much, although I could be wrong!

Post by **Dakoda** » November 21, 2006, 10:30 am

Hello anyone reading. Paid at the Lao window in Lao 1700 baht, before it was 1500 baht, so it went up a whopping 200 baht. Cheaper if you have dollars. Was 35 usd now 40 usd.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » November 21, 2006, 10:57 am

yikes, must of been a while since i went there, last time was 30, didn't know it went toe 35, let alone 40.

Post by **lee** » November 21, 2006, 11:09 am

Earlier this year Laos visas on arrival were $30 weekdays and $31 weekends. Maybe they've changed the baht/dollar exchange rate, before they were basing it on 50 baht to the dollar, now it looks like closer to 56 baht to the dollar.

Make sure you change your baht into dollars before you travel over the bridge. There is a mobile foreign exchange bank on the Thai side.

Post by **Dakoda** » November 21, 2006, 11:30 am

laphanphon wrote:yikes, must of been a while since i went there, last time was 30, didn't know it went toe 35, let alone 40.

Guess so, been going almost every 90 days for last two years (missed once and went to Mayla (free)) and it just went up on my last trip in Oct, I did try to give the man 1500 and he pointed to the printing on the paper, sorry after the first time (where it said 35 usd, 1500 baht) did not bother to read the fine print.

Ok, to be honest always paid in baht, and can't really remember what the dollar amount was, but using the exchange rate, seems right.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » November 21, 2006, 11:57 am

as long as i can remember, 5 yrs, it's alway been 1500 baht, even when it was 30 usd.

Post by **jingjai** » December 6, 2006, 6:58 pm

Lao consulate in Khon Khaen:

19/1-3 Phothisan Road, Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen 40000
Tel: (043)221-961, (043)223-698, (043)223-473 Fax: (043)223-849

Post by **Prenders88** » December 7, 2006, 12:35 am

I got my visa from the Lao consul in KK, all done in ten mins.
I thought by getting the Lao sticker at KK, proceedings would be quicker, alas no it wasn't.
You still have to queue at the border while the Lao passport officer types all the details of your passport, into the immigration computer. (Slowly)

Post by **sl1ppy** » December 24, 2006, 7:47 am

crossed over a few weeks ago, now US$35/1500baht but the amount varies based on nationality (sorry, can't remember the details - most western countries were $35)

Post by **BKKSTAN** » December 24, 2006, 9:21 am

Friend of mine went yesterday.It cost him $40 because he didn't have change!This is the second time he has made that mistake

Post by **arjay** » December 24, 2006, 10:56 am

It's certainly better (less expensive) to pay in dollars, as if you pay in baht they charge quite a bit more - make up their own exchange rate!!.

Also don't forget your photos, or that's an extra dollar (though cheap at today's exchange rates!

)