Non O visa in Laos

[Spitfire]

Flying would also be an option WL, a bit more expensive, Nong Khai is about 60-65km from Udon Thani, and you may be right about there ultimately being little difference. I suppose you would then be taking a taxi/limo service from the airport to the Friendship Bridge, and so, on the way back too. Also the timing of the flight may be restrictive. Perhaps more hassel free in a way but would be more expensive, horses for courses. I suppose what would influence my decision about how to go would depend upon who was coming with me or whether I was going on my own.

If I was taking family/wife etc then would spend the extra to make it a conducive time for all. If it was just me, and I suppose some of the big post I made earlier, was assuming I was on my own and time was restricted, then I would get into a different "mode" and adventure and "rough it" to enjoy the wonders of not having anything to worry about and feel like I did when I first got here. Don't get many chances to do that properly now.

The train, sleeper/1st class, would be the most acceptable/cost effective/harassment free option if you were traveling on your lonesome. If I had the Mrs or kids with me then I would probably drive or rent a car, staying at a few places along the way and make it an enjoyable family trip.

If on my own then I would just "rough it", get it done, get pissed along the way, enjoy myself within parameters, get back home to where I belong. Shhhhhhhh

It's a pitty you can't fly from HH to Udon Thani, that would be the answer.



Many thanks DM, but not in HH till next month, will PM you when. Chok dii

[Zidane]

They even have this on the main site,

Visa Types & Fees :


Non-Immigrant
(3 years): 10,000 Baht (Multiple Entry)

Blimey,3 year Non-Immigrant.I've never heard of that one before.That would solve a lot of guys problems !
If you fly Bangkok to Udon then Air Asia is your cheapest option.Minibus from Udon Airport to Friendship Bridge,Nong Khai is 200 baht.
After you cross the bridge into Laos plenty of people offering you transport to Vientiane.Its only 25 kms away so dont get ripped off on the price.
Some decent hotels in the centre of Vientiane from around 600 baht.Plenty of saamlaws to take you to the Thai Embassy.

[Spitfire]

Yes Zidane, does seem strange and surprising, but,

Half-way down the page, read for yourself, might be good to take a copy of this web-page with you for proof.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/co ... es_en.html

[lomuamart]

I'm not 100% sure about this, but the only Non Imm O visa that was valid for 3 years that I can recall was for investment. You had to have 3 million+ invested in Thailand (I think most people bough a condo) and then you could get the visa.
If I've got that right, then I'm pretty sure that the investment visa was abolished in 2006. Vientiane's information may well be out-of-date. Would be interesting to find out.

[lomuamart]

Just a small point, Spitfire, about Vientiane giving OA visas. I'm not doubting you at all, I'm just surprised that they can do this. I was of the firm impression that AO's can only be issued by The Thai Embassy in your home country. You need a health check and police report for that. You also have to be over 50 and have income of 65k a month minimum or 800k in a bank account (dosn't have to be in Thailand for the visa. That only kicks in when you apply for an annual extension).
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

[Takiap]

Many thanks to everyone who has posted. So, it looks as though I'm off to Laos next week Actually looking forward to it as I've not been there for about eight years now.

3 year Non O visa- 10,000..........?

They have the same posted at the embassy in KL but when I asked about it nobody could tell me anything. As mentioned, I think this refers to investment visa. If so then the requirement is now either 7 or 10 million baht invested and owning property doesn't count.


Wanderlust........KL want to see 400k in the bank before they'll issue a 1 year visa(thai wife), or at least that was my experience three months ago.

Oh yes............thanks Spitfire, a great post and very informative. As always, I'll report back on here with regards to the upcoming challenge...lol

[Spitfire]

You might be right there Lomuamart in those last two posts aswell, but if their info is out of date on the main embassy site then nobody has been arsed to change it for 3 years......... ........sorry, perhaps..........

[barrys]

Just got back from Vientiane yesterday.
Went with a friend who needed a non-imm B visa.
About a year ago. I'd previously helped another friend get a 1 year multiple-entry non-imm O from Vientiane.

On this occasion, we phoned the embassy about a week beforehand (phone numbers on their website, already stated in this thread) and made sure they actually do issue such visas.
They were very forthcoming and referred us to the list of documents required. We simply downloaded the list from the site and compiled the paperwork.

We drove to Nongkhai and parked directly at the bridge.
Took an air-con minibus on the Laos side to Vientiane - they wanted 300 baht for the 2 of us, settled on 250 - had the minibus to ourselves.

Booked into the Mekong Hotel in the centre - large, well-equipped, clean, comfortable rooms - they wanted 30 US per room/night - settled on 25 US (approx. 900 baht). Unlike most lodgings in Vientiane, they don't mind you taking a guest back to your room.

The going exchange rate at the moment is +/- 250 kip for 1 baht.

Got a tuk tuk to the new Thai Embassy next morning - haggled and got the fair down to 120 baht.

Arrived at the embassy a bit late (just after 9 a.m.)
Nice new embassy with covered seating area outside and air-con seating area inside. They have a new computerised numbering system, which means you can see and hear your number being called out wherever you're sitting.

Took queue number from machine and collected visa application form - simple one-pager.
After 1 hour, we were called to the window to present documents - they checked them and put them in the right order.
If you need any further photocopies, they have a facility for this on the first floor.

Waited for one more hour and were called to pay the visa fee (2000 baht for 3-month single-entry non-imm B).
Left the embassy at 11 a.m. Applications can only be made in the mornings.

If you get a bit bored with waiting, go out of the embassy gates, turn left and there's a small bar/cafe a few doors down on the left-hand side with a pool table - friendly staff and good baguettes.

Collection of visa is the afternoon of the following day.
Got there the next day just after 1 p.m. and there were 110 people in the queue before us.
Were called to collect visa at 2 p.m.
Had minibus waiting outside to go back to the bridge for 250 baht again.

Stocked up with duty-free (Franzia wine 575 baht for 5 litre cask, Jack Daniels 720 baht).

Job done!!

Very easy and extremely efficient.

So, simply phone well beforehand and make sure they do issue the visa you want. Then ensure from their list that you have all the required documentation.

What to do in Vientiane between handing in your application and collecting your visa?

Plenty of nice restaurants - can be a bit pricey though.

We went for an Indian meal at NaZims on the road by the river:
Excellent food and service - we had vegetable samosas (2 pieces), garlic nam bread (large), 1 vegetarian dish with peas and spinach, 1 chicken dish with ginger, pilao rice and 1 large bottle of Bier Lao - equivalent of 280 baht for the lot!

Then went to a restaurant, bar, snooker/pool complex called Bor Ben Nynag. There's a bar and roof restaurant on the 4th floor.
Nice, friendly atmosphere, prices very reasonable - e.g. glass of red wine 60 baht and draft Beer Lao also cheap.
It's a place where a lot of people meet, including Lao women (alone and in groups) looking for company.

When it closes at midnight, the same/similar people then go to another bar called Samlo (about five minutes walk away) until 1-ish.

After that, everyone moves on to the disco in the Dan Jan Hotel, about 5 minutes away by motorbike, which is open till 3 a.m. with a roof terrace outside.

The local girls all have their own motorbikes, so getting a lift to the next pub/disco/back to the hotel shouldn't be a problem.

If anyone wants any more detailed information, just let me know.

[Takiap]

[quote="barrys"]

Unlike most lodgings in Vientiane, they don't mind you taking a guest back to your room.quote]



Nice post, thanks. Looking forward to making the trip.