international border crossing Thai -Laos

[mikem]

The crossing at Khok Phai, Loei is to be an official crossing. Doesn't say the date.

[papaguido]

Here are more details if anyone is interested...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_new ... ?id=120942

Pier, road to connect Laos and Thailand

In ceremonies Friday Thailand's Transport Ministry handed over a pier and a road, constructed by Thailand to Laos to facilitate transportation between the two countries.

Thai Transport Minister Admiral Thira Haocharoen and Lao PDR Deputy Minister for Transportation, Post and Construction Sommad Ponsena together presided at the ceremony to hand over the Banwentai pier and Route No.13 to Laos.

The project, agreed by the two countries, saw Thailand's Marine Department building the pier while the Department of Highways built the road.

The two projects cost about Bt63 million overall. The pier was finished in 2005 and the road construction was completed last year. The pier and the road link Thailand's Nakhon Phanom province and Laos' Kammuan province.

Meanwhile, Thailand and Laos have mutually agreed to upgrade the two countries common border checkpoints from temporary to a permanent basis, as well as to promote social and economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the seventh Thai-Lao provincial governors conference co-chaired by Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya and his Laotian counterpart Thongban Sengaphone in Phetchaburi, both parties agreed to turn a temporary border checkpoint at Baan Muang Jedton in Uttaradit and another at Baan Huak in Phayao into permanent border checkpoints, and upgrade the Khok Phai checkpoint in Loei to an international border checkpoint.

Cross border trade and daily shuttlings of Thai and Lao nationals are expected to become more bustling through the upgraded checkpoints.

As part of their bilateral security cooperation, Thailand and Laos agreed to conduct joint patrols on the Mekong River and to jointly combat cross border drug traffickers. In addition, both sides will see to it that sand dredgers will not cause the banks of Mekong and Huang rivers to cave in.

The Thai-Lao provincial governors meeting also agreed in principle to push for construction of a third Thai-Lao border bridge in Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai.
(TNA)

[arjay]

Does anyone know if a foreigner can get a Lao Visa on arrival at the Heuang River bridge border crossing (Tha-Li, Loie - Sayabouri province, Laos), or indeed have practical experience of doing so?

The Lao Embassy, Bangkok website does not list it, which means "no". Several other old Forum blogs said "no" but that was in 2005 when it first opened, but.... the Laos Tourism Administration lists it as a "yes" you can.

[tigerryan]

I was told no last week but I cant speak to the officialness of the no or who she even spoke with. I ended up going to Mukdahan and crossing to Savankhet laos it was painless and not that bad of a drive.

[jingjai]

Tigerryan, is there anything of interest in Savankhet, Laos?

[wokkawombat]

The lovely Nina was posted to loei so any outcome may depend on how good her memory is and whether you may have had any run ins with her.

[tigerryan]

I wish I could give a complete post about Savanakhet I just did not see enough of it to be fair. I took a three hour speed walk around the city. I never felt like I was in the good part of the city, I got really tired as the sites seemed to not change so much, you get a lot of that cold socialist stare I don't thinks its intentional, a few times at night i thought about picking up the pace and breaking into a sprint, (stories of the pathet lao in the back of my mind) but it's not like UT. Lots of folks will wave you in to have a cold beer its kind of nice. (everyone has a cousin in Miami:). I hired a truck and took highway nine to the Vietnam Border it was a long drive but the roads were great and almost no traffic. Its a great country with lots of potential and really a lot of people with big hearts. I look forward to a longer trip.

[jingjai]

I hired a truck and took highway nine to the Vietnam Border it was a long drive but the roads were great and almost no traffic. Its a great country with lots of potential and really a lot of people with big hearts. I look forward to a longer trip.

I've heard the countryside around the Laos/Vietnam border area on highway nine is very beautiful. As well a very good road.
What was the cost of the truck hire and did it include a driver, gas etc.?
Also, is there a safe and secure area to park ones car in Mukdahan?
Thanks .

[tigerryan]

Highway nine East from Mukdahan is flat and dry slightly rolling unitl you get to a town call Maung Pine this is where you start to see the mountains along the border with Viet Nam the last 30 miles or so to the border from Tchepone/Sepone towards Khe Shan is really cool lots of 500lbs UXO bombs stacked up on the side of the road. It was the where operaton Lam Son 719 went down. I guess if you had a Vietnam visa you could just keep going to Danang . I am not sure if you could get that on arrival or not? There is a car park on the Mukdahan side I dont know the details but the bridge area is sort of a no mans land and looks pretty well secured or consider calling the Ploy hotel and see if they can look after it for you. The round trip truck cost from Savanaket including gas and driver was 4000BT I thought it was a bargain.

[jingjai]

I've been told there is a ferry which travels from either Nong Khai or Vientiane to Savanakhet.
Anyone know about this? Where to book?

[FrazeeDK]

I don't think there's any river traffic passenger boats with complete runs from Vientiane to Savannakhet. If you googlemap the river where it turns southwards (north of NKP) you'll see some heavy rapids and reefs.. They extend westward from that southern dogleg too..
You can get from Vientiane up to Luang Prabang either slow-boat or fast-boat from the Vientiane passenger port which is about 12-15km west of the city (maybe 4km dead west from the airport on the river road.. To get
there just go past the airport and keep going straight where the main road
bends sharply right...

[arjay]

The thread below, from Thai Visa Forum, gives some useful information about the crossing between Thai Li (Loie) and Sayabouri province (Laos). They seem to think that one still cannot obtain a visa on arrival, and that it has to be obtained in advance.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php ... pic=112680

[parrot]

Bus travel Vientienne-Udon due to resume 15 June
https://www.matichon.co.th/economy/news_3370137

[tamada]

Here's the news in English from the Lao side.

https://laotiantimes.com/2022/05/30/tha ... m-15-june/

[Fuzzy Ken]

Has anyone very recently used the bus service from Vientiane Morning Market bus station to Udon Thani Bus Station or visa versa. Any information much appreciated.

[mak]

What are the hours for the Nong Khai bridge crossing into Laos. My friend has an appointment at the US Embassy at 0830. The plan is to cross the day before, stay in a hotel, then the next morning go to the embassy. Any hotel recommendations in Laos.

[Whistler]

Has anyone very recently used the bus service from Vientiane Morning Market bus station to Udon Thani Bus Station or visa versa. Any information much appreciated.

My step daughter used it 2 weeks ago, everything smooth and easy

[the-monk]

Good day,
Is she a Thai National ?
What about non-Thai travelling from Lao to Thailand and vice versa ?
Thanks
Stay safe.

[Whistler]

Good day,
Is she a Thai National ?
What about non-Thai travelling from Lao to Thailand and vice versa ?
Thanks
Stay safe.

Yes, Thai National

[deankham]

Good day,
Is she a Thai National ?
What about non-Thai travelling from Lao to Thailand and vice versa ?
Thanks
Stay safe.

My understanding is you can now travel from Thai to Laos and back again as a foreigner. Can someone confirm in case I got this wrong?

Thanks