Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting to Vientiane from the airport, taxis are supposedly mandated to collect a standard
fee. In reality, that won't stop them from trying to get more. Tuk-tuks will charge 40,000
- 50,000 kip to reach the city's walkable center, but there's a cheaper option. Walk to the
front gate and cross the street - you're looking for a group songthaew or a bus. You may
need to ask around, as it isn't marked.
Going from Vientiane to Vang Vieng is a several-hour trip, made easier by minivans. Look
for these along a street near Vientiane's in-town bus terminal - these are more comfortable
and spacious than the minivans found across Thailand, for what it's worth.
Arriving and leaving Laos
From Nong Khai (Thailand): use the shuttle bus to cross the kilometer-plus bridge to the
Lao Immigration office for 20 baht.
Tourist visas are good for 30 days, and cost between $25 and $42 USD, depending on your
passport's nationality. While you can extend your tourist visa in Vientiane or Luang Pra-
bang, it's probably easier - and cheaper - to run across the border and obtain a new tourist
visa.
When entering Laos, aim to have US dollars for your visa-on-arrival fee. You won't have
had the chance to get any kip at this point, and while you can also pay Thai baht, you're
basically paying a penalty if you do. Also, have a passport-sized photo for every person - a
rather basic setup near the public bathrooms before leaving Thailand charges 100 baht and
takes about 5 minutes to print and cut. No passport photo? Pay a $2 fine - not a huge deal,
but something that's easily avoided.
While overstaying your visa isn't going to send you to jail, you will have to pay a fine - $10
USD per day at the immigration checkpoint before you leave.
Save some kip until the very end! You will need a 'one way ticket' to leave the country
through a modern set of turnstiles. This is 10,000 kip (or 45 baht), and can be obtained
before going through Immigration. If you don't get it, you'll have to sidestep your way
through the road to your right and head to the first booth.
Going from the Lao side of the border to arriving in Thailand, the shuttle bus costs 4,000
kip or 20 baht.
Once on the Thai side of the border, await your bus, hire a tuk-tuk, or look for the group
songthaew to the left.
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