Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO LAOS: SOUTHERN BORDERS
Mukdahan to Savannakhet
This crossing can also be used as a relatively convenient corridor to Vietnam. Note that, since the con-
struction of the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 2 in 2006, non-Thai and non-Lao citizens are no longer
allowed to cross between Mukdahan and Savannakhet by boat.
Getting to the border Buses to Savannakhet (50B, hourly from 7.30am to 7pm) depart from Mukda-
han's bus terminal and the trip will take from one to two hours depending on the length of the immig-
ration queues.
At the border The border is open from 6am to 10pm; Lao visas are available on arrival.
Moving on Savannakhet's airport has connections to Vientiane (895,000K, 55 minutes), and its bus
terminal has connections to Vientiane (75,000K, eight to 11 hours) approximately every 30 minutes
from 6am to 11.30am, and a sleeper VIP at 9.30pm (120,000K, six to eight hours); otherwise you'll
have to catch buses from Pakse that also stop at Tha Khaek (30,000K, 2½ to four hours) until 10pm.
There are also buses bound for Vietnam, with destinations including Dong Ha (80,000K, seven
hours), departing at 8am on even-numbered dates; Hue (90,000-110,000K, 13 hours, 10.30am and
10pm); and Danang (110,000K, 10 hours) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10pm, continuing to
Hanoi (200,000K, about 24 hours).
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .
Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse
Getting to the border Almost every traveller coming through the Chong Mek/Vang Tao crossing uses
the direct Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse buses (200B, three hours, 9.30am and 3.30pm), which wait long
enough to buy Lao visas at the border. Otherwise, Chong Mek's little bus terminal serves sŏrngtă aou
from Phibun Mangsahan (40B, one hour, frequent) and minivans from Ubon (100B, 1¼ hours, every
30 minutes) via Phibun (50B). It's nearly 1km from the bus station to the border: motorcycle taxis and
tu ́ k-tu ́ k charge 20B.
At the border The border is open from 6am to 8pm; Lao visas are available upon arrival.
Moving on If you're not on the international bus, Pakse is about an hour away in one of the frequent
sŏrngtă aou that run there until 4pm (10,000K). Pakse's five bus stations have relatively frequent con-
nections to most other parts of Laos, and the airport has connections to Vientiane, Savannakhet, Siem
Reap (Cambodia) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .
Nakhon Phanom to Tha Khaek
Passenger ferries cross the Mekong to Tha Khaek in Laos, but they're for Thai and Lao citizens only.
All others must use the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 3, north of the city. This crossing can also be used
to access Vietnam.
Getting to the border Buses from Nakhon Phanom's bus station to Tha Khaek run between 8am and
5pm (70B to 75B, two hours, eight daily).
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