Vientiane to Nong Khai, the cheap bus
Right Vientiane has 2 bus stations, if you want the cheap coach to Thailand they got 2 places they goto, Nong Khai and Khon Kean, the bus station you want is in the East of Vientiane, ie not the one near the airport, this one is opposite the Morning market on Mahosot Road, ie near the Thai embassy, Victory Monument area, to travel from Vientiane on these buses into Thailand you do have to show your passport and they don't take pre bookings for the afternoon runs, Vientiane to Nong Khai is 55baht or 15,000kip, Vientiane to Khon Kaen is 180baht or 50,000kip.
The bus to Nong Khai will only take you to the bus station there, if you want to go to the train station once you have cleared Thai immigration you can get a tuk tuk or just walk 500 meters down the road, turn left and walk a couple of hundred meters more, then turn right at the railway tracks, you will see the train station down there.
If you have driven to Nong Khai and need somewhere to park your car there is a place about 100 meters before immigration on the right behind the shop houses, 80baht per night if memory serves me correctly.
Going into Laos if you need to apply for a visa they will also now give you the entry stamp at the same time as the visa so no need to queue up twice.
This is where you buy your tickets in Vientiane to Thailand.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...visa_run_5.JPG
This is your bus, it has sign writing on the back of it saying it is the Thai Lao international bus so you don't get on the wrong one.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...visa_run_3.JPG
31inch inside leg and your knees are up against the chair in front, aircon is slightly too weak.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...visa_run_4.JPG
Bus times to Khon Kean;
08.15am
14.15pm
Bus times to Nong Khai;
7.30am
9.30am
12.40pm
14.30pm
15.30pm
18.00pm
Takes about an hour from Vientiane to clear Lao and Thai immigration and get to Nong Khai bus station.
If you are in Nong Khai and already have a visa to go into Laos then the buses leave Nong Khai to Vientiane as follows.
7.30am
9.30am
12.40pm
14.30pm
15.30pm
18.00pm
Again only 55baht but they will not take you unless you already have a visa to go into Laos.
From this bus station you can also get buses to different parts of Lao, some of them maybe a bit small though :)
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...ong_khai_3.JPG
The station has quite a few restaurant and food type places, this ham and brown stuff roll cost 5,000kip, not sure what the brown stuff was, maybe broken up carpet or something.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...ong_khai_4.JPG
Also has other junk for sale like pirate cds and that, not sure what the monk was buying or selling.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...ong_khai_5.JPG
Here we are at the Vientiane end of Friendship Bridge.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...ong_khai_2.JPG
Loads of shops and duty free, got to be a bit quick though if you want duty free as they aint gonna wait forever for their 55baht customer.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...ong_khai_1.JPG
