Nong Khai to Vientiane Visa Run

[mia farang]

Sorry if I'm missing something here but can someone just clear up the return journey from Laos into Thailand for me.

My husband and I want to cross the bridge from Thailand into Laos in the morning spend 1 day and 1 night in Vientiane then come back the next afternoon. I understand the bit about the visas to enter Laos.

I want to come back into Thailand on a tourist visa (I am aware this will be 15 days) using a British passport. Do I get my tourist visa at the Laos side of the bridge before crossing to come back into Thailand?
Do I have to pay for the tourist visa to return into Thailand?
My husband has a Thai passport, his ID card has currently ran out as he has been living in the UK with me for 2 years. Will they want to see that in addition to his passport? (If so we will need to arrange to get that re-validated before we go to Laos).

[peterpan]

Originally Posted by mia farang

Sorry if I'm missing something here but can someone just clear up the return journey from Laos into Thailand for me.

My husband and I want to cross the bridge from Thailand into Laos in the morning spend 1 day and 1 night in Vientiane then come back the next afternoon. I understand the bit about the visas to enter Laos.

I want to come back into Thailand on a tourist visa (I am aware this will be 15 days) using a British passport. Do I get my tourist visa at the Laos side of the bridge before crossing to come back into Thailand?
Do I have to pay for the tourist visa to return into Thailand?
My husband has a Thai passport, his ID card has currently ran out as he has been living in the UK with me for 2 years. Will they want to see that in addition to his passport? (If so we will need to arrange to get that re-validated before we go to Laos).

Do I get my tourist visa at the Laos side of the bridge before crossing to come back into Thailand?
No, you get it on entry to Thailand after you cross the bridge from Lao.

Do I have to pay for the tourist visa to return into Thailand? No

My husband has a Thai passport, his ID card has currently ran out as he has been living in the UK with me for 2 years. Will they want to see that in addition to his passport? No

Hopefully someone will explain the difference (again) between tourist visa and whatever is the term for what you get at the border.

[melvbot]

Originally Posted by mia farang

I want to come back into Thailand on a tourist visa (I am aware this will be 15 days) using a British passport. Do I get my tourist visa at the Laos side of the bridge before crossing to come back into Thailand?

You dont need a visa, when you go to immigration they will just stamp your passport for 15 days. Visa's are what get issued through embassies and consulates which you apply and pay for, the stamp you will get is permission to enter for 15 days not a visa.

Do I have to pay for the tourist visa to return into Thailand?

Its not a visa that you get, so no . Arriving without a visa doesnt cost anything.

[mia farang]

Thanks guys

Thats cleared that up so we can cross into Laos as explained on this post then come back across the bridge and my passport will be stamped for a 15 day visit upon return into Thailand.

I was worried I'd get some abuse for asking a silly question but you have been really helpful.

Cheers

[Rigger]

Well they got me coming into Thailand this time after 7 years of 35 days in 35 days out They told me no more and only gave me 15 days. So I am over in vientiene doing the marrige visa thing.

[lom]

You arrived by air ?

[stroller]

^^
I'll be up next with a potential visa prob, keep your ears and eyes open if 2 months tourist visa are given without too much fuss, if you can, please!
Or I'll do me first Malaysia visa run and stop by in Narathivat which I almost did this month.

[Spin]

Originally Posted by stroller

2 months tourist visa are given without too much fuss

yep very easy in Vienteine for tourist visas

[ChiangMai noon]

Has anyone been booted out of the country?
I have yet to see a "they booted me from the country" thread yet.

Will we all be here forever?

[dirtydog]

I know quite a few people that have only been given a few days on arrival, they just fly out and get a visa, well apart from one who just went and bought an elite card

[Rigger]

Well I think Vientiene is nice place I did find it a bit strange at first as all the motorcycles here have number plates and they even wear helmets ???
Driving is very relaxed no screaming bikes or cars flying about and hardly anyone uses their horn.
If you are looking for a nice quite place to stay with friendly staff try the Mongkol hotel its on the river and has all you need here unless you dont bring the wife then you will have to walk 500m up the road to get a gobbal.
The hotel is 800bht a night with fridge and UBC TV and the food is good.
Also if you have a 12 call switch your phone to manual find server and to AIS then you can use your phone as normal if you are close to the river

[peterpan]

Originally Posted by Rigger

unless you dont bring the wife then you will have to walk 500m up the road to get a gobbal.

Please enlighten us dear Rigger, WTF is a gobbal ?

[Rigger]

Originally Posted by peterpan

Please enlighten us dear Rigger, WTF is a gobbal ?

I dont know how to spell the foking thing I am lucky if I get one me self anyway PP its when you get your knob polished.
The Mongkol hotel
Ban Sithan Neua
025 Fangum Rd
Vietiane loa PDR
856-21 216232, 216059
Thai mobile 085823914, 0845179914

And found a nice place just up the road testerday called the spirt house that sells some really good meat pies and make any cocktail you want at a good price. Just walk out the Mongkol hotel and take a left down the river also plays good old 70s/80s music.
Anyway it was must have been good as I am still pisst and the wife aint talking to me

[peterpan]

Originally Posted by Rigger

Anyway it was must have been good as I am still pisst and the wife aint talking to me

Thats how I tell that I have had a good time the night before, so its not a bad thing.
So Gobbal = Gobble, I got that one now, but thought that naughty stuff was not allowed in Laos ?

There are one or two nice places on the road by the river, one I went to had to go up 4 floors, top floor was a relaxing bar, good food and good beer, got well pissed there and my (then) 4 year old daughter had to lead me home.

[kevpola]

I have to do a visa run on Monday because Immigration at Bung Kean stuff up my visa extension application.
I was wondering if anyone would know if the consulate is open in vientianne? It is a public holiday in Thailand! If it is not open would the visa run people at Non Khai be working? I have to cross the border on Monday (7th) as my current visa runs out then.

[stroller]

And where exactly is the Mongkol, or rather the "gobbal" place?

[ChiangMai noon]

Originally Posted by peterpan

Thats how I tell that I have had a good time the night before, so its not a bad thing.
So Gobbal = Gobble, I got that one now, but thought that naughty stuff was not allowed in Laos ?

How did the marriage visa application go?
Did you have to show 400,000 or 40,000 a month income?
I'm confused.

[Rigger]

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

How did the marriage visa application go? Did you have to show 400,000 or 40,000 a month income? I'm confused.

No probs all I showed was a marrige cert and the kids pass ports for a 3 months visa. I think it is the only the one year where you show the 400k. Anyway if I understand it right next time I come in it should have started a new 6 months and I will go back to the normal 30 on arrival with a couple of days extention

[stroller]

The borders will be open, the consulate most likely be closed.

Not sure what you mean by "the visa run people at Non Khai", but it's easy enough to go yourself, $30 visa for Laos on arrival.

[kingwilly]

or u can do the marathon run!