It takes almost 2 days from Nan for the journey.
I spent the first night in Khon Kaen and moved on to Nong Kai in the morning.
30 bt per person for a shared Tuk-tuk to the border from the bus-station.
15 bt for the shuttle service over the bridge between the checkpoints, 20 bt during 'overtime' - evenings and weekends.
Laos visa:
$40 for 'merkins
$35 for poms and a few other nationalities
$30 for most other countries, including Krauts (because we are such nice people)
Additional $1 if you haven't got a passport pic for the visa application, and another $1 for overtime. 10/20 bt Entry fee further down the string of little booths to call on, and we're in the People's Republic.