Thread: Another Vientiane trip from BKK

well last week I needed to go and get a tourist visa so I thought I would try Vientiane - I normally pop down to Sing.

I thought I would take the bus to NongKhai for speed then take the train back

so first into a taxi for the run to the morchit bus station



then as I arrived at 0930 the next bus out was the Udon Air bus , got a ticket from booth 118 on the second floor - 450 baht and rushed off to the bus.

left morchit



took in the scenery



and arrived in NongKhai bus station at 1730 - an express run - then declining the generous tuk tuk fcukwits offers I walked down to the river and walked down to the Mutmee guesthouse which had an online presence. I did not book ahead but found when I got there the it was full. oh well , I had passed a few places walking to it so I turned around and stopped at another on the way back - the Chong Konh Guesthouse and got a 300 baht room. Basic , but more than adequate for me , and it was in town right on the waterfront. just across the street was a bar/resturant , apples bar , which had a fair western menu with reasonable prices and the food was good.

Chong Konh Guesthouse 17°53'3.42"N 102°44'40.96"E






view from the guesthouse to the Mekong



I went for a bit of a walk around and stopped for a beer at a couple of places - I ended up stopping at a hole in the wall bar whose music , though a little dated , was preferable to the other bars playlists , the beer was on ice and the women friendly

J-Lo Bar 17°52'51.65"N 102°44'51.21"E




morning over the Mekong



got up the next morning and discovered that a guesthouse across the road from mine had decent ground coffee via an expresso machine at 30 baht a pop - so got a couple of heart starters in me.
it looked a quite new concrete block building - so it might be worth trying if you have more class than I ( they might let you stay )



then 40 baht for a Tuk Tuk to take me to the bridge



on the other side , I was accosted by the standard and thinking I would be prepared to pay 150baht to get taken to the embassy , but ended up in the back of a Tuk Tuk with about 3 Laos Ladies and a price of 100 baht to go to the embassy first - no worries

got to the embassy at around 0945 and recieved number 226
got my paperwork in order and over heard someone saying that this embassy would issue a dual entry tourist visa if you just put x2 beside where you had ticked the tourist visa box - ok done

Thailand Embassy in Vientiane 17°57'53.46"N 102°37'27.70"E

watched the ebb and flow of the scrum around the application window marveling at how the fcuk people had made it this far with out being able to read simple instructions posted on a large board and masses of information on Teak Door - handed in my application , 2 mugshots , copy of main passport page and copy of TM card and stamp and went inside the main building to wait to pay the cash. when they asked for 2K baht I realised that they were issuing dual entry tourist visas.

now I though I would walk back to the Mali Namphlu guesthouse that had been recomended , so off I went in the general direction



it turned into a bit of a hike - but took a couple of happy snaps



arrived at the Fountain area but could not find the Mali with DDs precise directions so I asked at a couple of places for a room but they were either full or only had 1 room left ( yeah right ) so I kept looking for the Mali. I found it behind the fountain , but on enquiring they told me they were full - so I went into the place next door and took a 500 baht fan room. bit of a dive , but it would do

Mali NamPhlu Guesthouse 17°57'54.89"N 102°36'30.59"E

wnet to an Indian resturant on the street to the river opposite the fountian and got a good gutful for 200 baht - it was quite acceptable.

at around 1730 I headed along the river bank and chose a shack to sit and have a beer whilst watching the sun fulfill its daily obligation



and some boys netting the creek



then off to the Bor Pen Yang rooftop bar to sample some of this Beer Laos Dark you cnuts have been raving about

Bor Pen Yang Bar and Resturant 17°57'51.22"N 102°36'6.95"E



walked around and had a few more before heading back to the room at 1130 on streets that were quiet.

went for a walk around in the morning watching the hordes of backpackers



headed back to the embassy and arrived at 1220 and hopped into the small line - by 1 pm it was a fair length and it had been a hot wait. while I had been waiting I had had a chat to a seppo bloke there and he said that if I was heading to the bridge straight away that I was welcome to hitch a ride in a vehicle he had available and was all paid for - no worries.

recieved my passport back with a dual entry tourist visa - nice - and headed back to the border

Trains depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Udon Thani our nong khai every day. Call 1690, 0 2223 7010-20 for more information. The 8.30 p.m. Nong Khai Express (No. 69) from Bangkok arrives in Udon Thani at 6.33 a.m. on the next day. Rapid trains leave Bangkok on the Nong Khai line at 6.15 a.m. and 7 p.m. arriving in Udon Thani at 3.56 p.m. and 5.15 a.m. The first class fare is 569 baht, 2nd class is 457 baht and 3rd class is 95 baht plus applicable charges for sleeper and express services. In the reverse direction the No. 4 express leaves Udon thani at 7 p.m.
contact state railways of Thailand Tel : 0-2222-0175, 0-2621-8701, 0-2220-4567

info for getting to issan and beyond from bangkok

I must have been there same time Balders. I got there Monday morning 0715 and ended up No.15, by 0745 there must have been over a hundred there. My advice is get there early or if you see the fat cnut filling forms out for 100bt ask him if you can buy a number. Also said fat cnut who offers to fill out forms will say you need a copy of your Laos Visa which you dont need at all. No issues with using a downloaded form either.

I stayed at Phetmanyxay on Mahosot Rd which is 2 mins away from the bus station and about a 15 min walk from the consulate, 480bt A/C, hot water and cable TV but as mentioned in other threads it closes at 2330 sharpish. I thought of changing hotels as the room was small and a bit grotty but when I asked a few backpacker style places and they were asking 450 for their rooms I stuck with it.

Collecting the next day is the same, the consulate opens at 1300 but get there around midday and you should be in the first 70 odd punters. The collection is fairly organised for a Thai operation I was No.70 and got served by 1330.

There are untold muppets in the queue, one lad next to me was trying to apply in the afternoon so I sent him on his merry way, moron.

For my first time there I would say it wasnt too much hassle as long as you get there early to drop off and collect. I got a single entry Non Imm O which was 2000bt. I needed a copy of the wifes house book, a copy of her ID card, copy of marriage cerificate and a copy of my passport main page, copy of TM card and I threw in a copy of the last page with a Thai stamp for good measure.

According to someone I can get this Non Imm extended for 2 months, so over 5 months I have to do 1 visa run rather than 2 visa runs for 6 months if I had a double entry tourist visa.