New Petchburi Pete Posted October 29, 2001 Report Share Posted October 29, 2001 I need to go to either Phnom Penh or Vientiane, Laos to obtain a new tourist visa. I will be departing from Bangkok. Can anyone summarize the advantages of one over the other? Informative replies are appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2001 Report Share Posted November 1, 2001 I strongly urge you to go to Vientiane over Phnom Penh. Why? Cos Vientiane is lovely, one of the nicest cities in SE Asia while PP is a really grimey place: takes a lot of getting used to. You can also fly to (almost) Vientiane shit cheap (about 50 dollars return at the w/e). Get the plane to Udon Thani in North Thailand and bus it from there. Planes direct to Vientiane are fairly cheap too, but this is the cheapest way. I'd avoid Lao aviation though Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardinalblue Posted November 1, 2001 Report Share Posted November 1, 2001 Does anyone know or have experience if either of these two countries will give a double entry tourist visa? Respectfully, cardinalblue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 No problem getting a double entry tourist visa in Vientiane (600 baht). Submit your application before noon, and pick up your passport the following day (after 1.30 pm). I usually take the first flight to Udon Thani (around 6.30 am), and I'm back in BKK around 9 pm the following day. It must be one of the cheapest and quickest way to get a new (double entry) tourist visa... Flight ................... 3,030 baht (?) Other transportation ..... 400 baht Visa (Laos) on arrival ... 1,500 baht Tourist Visa Thai (Double) 600 baht Guesthouse Vientiane ..... 500 baht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashman Posted November 21, 2001 Report Share Posted November 21, 2001 I've been to laos twice to get visas, the first time a double entry tourist no problem. The second(I arrived back today) a non immigrant b also no problem but they would only give me single entry. This doesn't bother me as hopefully I'll get a work permit soon. However a friend of mine went there recently and was refused a double entry tourist visa and was only granted single entry. I think this was because his PP was full of Thai stamps from nieghbouring countries. It shouldn't be a problem if you haven't got too many consecutive Thai visas. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted November 21, 2001 Report Share Posted November 21, 2001 Vientiane is a lot more user-friendly than PP. Lovely? i don't know, but easy-going and definitely another pleasant experience outside of Thailand. I am surprised you guys quote the fare so low. Especially after the new hikes in domestic prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted November 21, 2001 Report Share Posted November 21, 2001 I would suggest Vientiane as well, though I have not been to Cambodia, and will try to make it there this May. A lot of guys are heading to Poipet Cambodia these days, some guy was trying to line up a van for a trip, I believe December 2. Do a search and see. Poipet is about 4 hours by van, then a quick Tuk-Tuk ride to the border, and the rest takes maybe an hour, bum around Poipet for awhile and 4 hours back, I think the trip was running around 2,000bht or so, maybe cheaper, depending on how many people are in the van, + visa expenses. You can also take a bus from Ko San Road, for fairly cheap, again do a search. But if you want a side trip as well, then I think Vientiane is your best bet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted November 22, 2001 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2001 My wife and I got back from Vientiane yesterday afternoon. We flew out on Lao Aviation to BKK for $80./person, plus a 900 Bt. 'departure' fee. We had taken the overnight train from BKK to Nong Khai(548 Bt/person for 1st class with sleeping berth), and then crossed over Friendship Bridge and took a taxi into town. Unfortunately, my wife was up all night on the train due to motion sickness. Luckily I was able to file my completed application for a double-entry tourist visa before noon upon the day of arrival. That enabled me to pick up my passport and visa at the Thai visa office on Thanon Lao Xang, almost across the street from a couple of Lao tourist offices, (west side of the morning market), at about 1:00 pm the next day. By the way, it is cheaper to get a tourist visa to Lao at the Lao Embassy in Bangkok (300 Bt for Thai wife and 1160 Bt. for myself) than paying for an 'on arrival' tourist visa. I should have listened to Coquet Islander about the guesthouse. Instead I stayed at the Asian Pavilion Hotel (found on the internet) ... disappointing to say the least. We did have a superb lunch at a nice place along the Mekong. Lao beer, well ... acceptable! The weather was perfect. An office worker at the Thai visa office did tell me that "next time" I would need to show a copy of a Thai bank statement in order to get a double entry tourist visa. A single entry would not de denied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted November 22, 2001 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2001 ... "next time"... 'hmm ... Cambodia or Vietnam ? ... any thoughts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted November 22, 2001 Report Share Posted November 22, 2001 Thanks Pete, for the info. If Lao Av. is 80 $ one way, hard to think THAI would the same round-trip, even to Udon. Also, the LAO-PARIS hotel in Vientiane, at 10/15$ a room with balcony and air-con, i find the best proposition in the center of town. It's on Samsenthai Rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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