gobbledonk Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 CTO, I know hardy backpacker types walk across that bloody endless bridge to save a few baht, but I cant remember anywhere else in Thailand where the tropical sun beat down so hard on me as it did over the Mekong on our day trip from Udon. I gladly paid a guy with a bus to deliver us through Customs - he queue-jumped everyone and had us in Vientiane in record time : worth every baht IMO. I'm not a fan of the train : the tracks seem to have been laid by epileptics. There were times when I swear our driver was negotiating something resembling a 90 degree right angle : all at a stately 40km/h for much of the night. Add the afore-mentioned chain smokers in the corridor, and it didnt take much to have me at the Nok Air counter at Udon Thani airport on the return leg. Gobble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Encore Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 >Really? The return trip from Vientianne markets to Udon needs no visa beforehand < That's because you don't need time to wait for a Thai visa, just get your passport stamped. Udon to Vt if you don't have a Lao visa can take 15-45 minutes wait at the border for a visa, depending on time of day, and the bus doesn't want to wait that long. can't blame them. Last time I did it it was empty and still took 15 mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 True - but how long to get a Loas Visa before hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobbledonk Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 OK - I suspect that CTO means 'how long to wait at the border', but I got my visa in under an hour at the Laos Embassy in BKK. Its a 15-30 minute cab ride from Suk Soi 22, but it was great to have one less hassle when I got to the border crossing. Gobble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 So travelling 30 minutes to a Embassy - then an hour - is btter than 15 minutes wait at the border crossing - which (as I am organizizzized) I spend eating Baguettes and drinking the first Beer Laos of the day - secret is to have wife go ahead - but the Beer and baguettes walk back through the border with them. And no one has ever said anything most porous border I have ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Encore Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Including the most porous duty free. Vt residents frequently go there to buy teir grog, without actually crossing the border. Mind you, duty is so low it is hardly worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 5 5 5 5 very true - the whole duty free area is beside not part off the passport control area. Hence why the wife wonders over and buys the beer and bread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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