Laos border crossing near Ubon

[landofsmiles]

Anyone gone into Laos at the crossing near Ubon Ratchathani? Presume with a couple of photos I'll get a visa on entering?

Probably going for 2 or 3 days next month so any recommendations on some real Laos culture to experience? Is it possible to hire a motorbike there?

[thai-babe]

It's pretty easy to cross at the border there.You first need to check out at the thai immigration and then go to the laos immigration. The visa for laos is about $30US give or take. I don't know about renting the motorbike but there are bus that go into a town called Pakse. But there is a man at the gas station that can take you if you don't want to ride the bus and his price is about 1600baht not including the gas. He's honest and he know his way around laos. And make sure you exchange your money before you go to laos. They also used thai baht and make sure you have plenty of small bills for store or the market. Laos is more expensive than thailand I think.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by thai-babe

The visa for laos is about $30US give or take. I

Do Thais also pay this amount?

[t0rn]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Do Thais also pay this amount?

No, they pay around 150baht if with an ID card - not sure it's anything with a passport.

Farang cost ( as of November) is $35.

[landofsmiles]

>>Laos is more expensive than thailand I think.<<

I don't believe that. Have you actually been to Laos? It's the poorest country in SE Asia.

[webner]

April fool???

[t0rn]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

>>Laos is more expensive than thailand I think.<<

I don't believe that. Have you actually been to Laos? It's the poorest country in SE Asia.

I'd give that 'prize' to Burma/Myanmar but yeah Laos is right up there - nice place for a short visit though.

[thai-babe]

MrDk your right about the cost of the visa. Thais do pay less than farangs.

[thai-babe]

landofsmiles yes I have been to laos.

[landofsmiles]

You have actually gone in at the crossing have you and got a visa on arrival?

The Foreign and Commonwealth office says visa on arrivals are only available at the Friendship bridge crossing and the 2 international airports.

[LivinLOS]

If she used a Thai ID card she may not have had the same regs..

[Trotter]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

>>Laos is more expensive than thailand I think.<<

I don't believe that. Have you actually been to Laos? It's the poorest country in SE Asia.

I was there a few months ago. I'd say prices were pretty similar travelling farang class. I guess local cost of living is lower based on income. There are lots of aid workers from funded NGO's which push up prices. I'd give Vientienne a miss but if you want some culture Luang Prahbang is wonderful. My favourite place on the planet. Don't expect though much in the way of entertainment. You can always find things if you look for it I guess but generally it is pretty calm.

[visa2003]

I used that crossing about a year ago for a visa run. I would suggest that the only thing that would change is the price!!
You cannot drive thru the crossing as the cars change from RHD to LHD wich would usually make things interesting but the Laotians use any side of the road that suits them at the time.
You need to walk to the top of the hill ( on the Thai side, so heavy luggage not recom.), check out of LOS then walk to Laos side, to immigration ( right hand side of road, on top of hill) having passport, money and photos at the ready. Fill out the forms (whilst sweating all over them, no pen supplied), hand them back, move to window on the right of the building and wait............ and wait...........until, finally someone gives you your brand new visa( Good for 14 days IIRC)
Walk past all the markets and you will find a parking area on the left. All manner of transport, from busses, Baht busses (pick ups), taxis and motorbikes. Carefull of the taxis as they are all LHD 1965 toyota corollas (left over from Viet war???), and the condition leaves a bit to be desired.
I paid 1000 Baht for a pick up to drive 13 of us to a village about 1 hour towards Pakse.
Hope this helps ....
Good luck!!!

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[LivinLOS]

You can take a car into Laos.. Its actually the easiest of the northern neighbours...

[visa2003]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

You can take a car into Laos.. Its actually the easiest of the northern neighbours...

Funilly enough, the only main road I saw was in wonderful condition, but the drivers were crazier than Thais!!!!
A nice little HUMMER would be my transport of choice over there!!!!

[visa2003]

From the Laos embassy website....
Lao PDR has 13100 km of road network, excluding forest and mining roads, consisting of national, provincial and local roads.
The 3390 km of national roads link major towns, provincial capitals and provide connections to neighboring countries. 1620 km of them are paved. The rest are mostly earth-surfaced, connecting towns and large villages within provinces.
The backbone of the road system is the National Road No. 13, 1370 km long, linking Pak Mong in the North with Khong in the South, passing through major urban areas of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasack.
National Road No. 9 leads to the Vietnamese border.


In the whole country, only 12% of the roads are paved!!!
Bring on my HUMMER!!!!!!

[visa2003]

The more I research Laos the stranger it gets ........ This is a site recommended by the Laos Embassy website!!!!!
Asiatour.com / travel guide to Laos - Vientiane, Luang Prabang, other destinations

From what little I read, it seems to be promoting a Forum, much like "phuket-info.com", but charging people for level 2 entry!!!

[landofsmiles]

Thanks for that....so you can get visa on arrival there. That's what I wanted to know.

[rufus123]

I live in Laos - have land and am building a house. I like it a hell of a lot better than Thailand where I lived last year. It is not as cheap as you might think, though alcohol, especially wine, is a lot cheaper than Thailand. Many of the roads in Vientiane are being resurfaced at the moment, and the traffic here has increased markedly increased as the country is slowly getting wealthier.
It is easy to get a visa on arrival. Kip, Baht and US dollars are the accepted currencies.
In contrast to the silly comment posted above, I would not give Vientiane a miss. There is lots to do and the Western food here is FAR better than in Phuket, (due to the French influence.)
PM me if you want more information.

[landofsmiles]

Thanks for that. Probably only going for 2 or 3 days so will stay around the Pakse area.

[landofsmiles]

Going up next week. Not going to venture very far into Laos but do you know if my mobile phone will still work there?

[landofsmiles]

Went to Chong Mek saturday. Only ended up staying 30 minutes on the Laos side. Long story but I'll do a trip report when I get back to Phuket.

VOA was simple for me...problem was with my Thai companions travelling with me.

Who knows how they work out the visa prices!!! It depends on which country you come from and ranged from US$30 up to US$42. If you're Canadian you pay the highest price!! Everyone else pays less. UK is $35 but hardly anyone will have US$ with them so you end up paying 1500baht.

[terrysteen]

Went to the friendship bridge, had to bus across. Wanted 2600 baht for the truck, visa at the border 1800 baht is what she took. Got 200 back from 2000.
Thai wife and dual kid carrying a Thai passport no charge except the entry exit 20 bht and busfare 30 baht I think! No fuss, no muss, standard baht grab

[landofsmiles]

The Freindship bridge is near UBon....not UDon.

[repeter]

Originally Posted by terrysteen

Went to the friendship bridge, had to bus across. Wanted 2600 baht for the truck, visa at the border 1800 baht is what she took. Got 200 back from 2000.
Thai wife and dual kid carrying a Thai passport no charge except the entry exit 20 bht and busfare 30 baht I think! No fuss, no muss, standard baht grab

What truck for 2600 baht?
Ill be going to Pakse and the 4000 islands In december. Has enyone been there?

repeter

[dogblower]

Yes. Fantastic stuff. Also went on down to the the Khmer border to see the freshwater dolphins, and went to see the falls on the Mekhong. Take some time to go and see Wat Po if you can too.