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*NEWS* |
LAOS VISA
RUN INFORMATION Some divers do not have the chance to gain a visa prior to arrival here in Thailand. This is not ideal but can be managed in a number of ways. Recently Mermaids had a diver head up to the wonderful country of Laos and gain an education visa from the Thai embassy there. The following is information from the diver on the pro's and cons and some tips in gaining a visa once here in this fashion. Please note that it states "Visa Run" but the purpose was to actually obtain a visa for Thailand from Laos - not just gain a visa extension. The following was written by an internship diver at Mermaids, Pattaya. General Considerations: If you choose to make a visa run to Laos (gain a visa from Laos), there are two methods of doing so, each with their advantages and disadvantages. "Package” Visa Runs: The primary advantage to the “Package” Visa Run is that everything is arranged for you. A reservation for such a run can be made through Malai or Kaew (Mermaids Dive Center secretaries) at a cost of approximately 10,000 Thai baht. A bus like the buses used for visa runs to Cambodia picks you up in the late evening at your residence and drives you to the Laos border at Nong Khai. The people running the visa service assist you in obtaining your visa to enter Laos as well as assist you with obtaining your visa to re-enter Thailand. Accommodation in Laos is also arranged as you must spend at least one night in Laos while your Thai visa is being processed at the Thai embassy Laos. The primary disadvantage to the “Package” Visa Run is lack of flexibility and potential lack of availability. Packaged visa runs, unlike runs to Cambodia, do not occur on a daily basis. Thus, if your Thai visa runs out on the 25th of the month but the “Package” Run is on the 20th, you are shorting yourself 5 days, or risking a “visa overstay” with its consequential fees if you choose to wait for the next available “Package” Run. Further, if you desire to stay in Laos longer than the single night provided for by the “Package” Run organizers, you will either have to find your way back to Pattaya by another method, or perhaps attempt to arrange a ride back with the organizers on their next scheduled run. Package visa runs are slightly more expensive than independent visa runs, but only slightly, and as with everything, this depends on your personal spending habits as well as your choice in accommodation. Finally, travel with the “Package” Run organizers is on a bus whereas travel on an independently organized run is primarily via train. Whether this counts as an advantage or a disadvantage depends on your personal preferences, but bear in mind that the bus trip is shorter by approximately two hours, but on the downside you are seated and not lying down as you would be in a train. Independent Visa Runs: The primary advantage to the Independent Visa Run is flexibility; you can go to Laos when it is most advantageous for you in terms of the expiration date of your visa, and, if you choose, you can more easily spend more time in Laos and/or in Bangkok or other Thai cities in the North. The primary disadvantage to the Independent Visa Run is that you are on your own and must deal with Laos border crossings, transportation bookings, and negotiating transportation and accommodation within Laos. Conclusion: Ultimately, if your goal is solely to renew your Thai visa or gain a new Thai visa, the “Package” Visa Run is most likely your best bet as it is only slightly more expensive, is more rapid, you have the assistance of the organizers, and the advantage of having a sleeper car on the train is, for most, outweighed by the shorter travel time and the above mentioned advantages. However, the below information is for travelers who choose an Independent Run whether because they want to travel more extensively, stop in Bangkok or other Thai cities, or because they were unable to get a reservation with a Package Visa company that coordinated with their schedule. Train Reservations: Train reservations can be made with the assistance of Malai or Kaew or through a travel agency. Request reservations as soon as you know your departure date, as space (especially in First Class seating) can be limited or unavailable. For example: I requested a round trip First Class ticket from Bangkok to Nong Khai 5 days before my departure date. While there was First Class availability for my departure date, a Tuesday, there was no availability in First Class for my desired return date, a Friday. A One-Way, First Class ticket costs approximately 1,300 baht. A One-Way, Second Class ticket costs approximately 700 baht. In First Class, you are in a sleeper compartment with one other person. There is a door that separates you from the corridor where people walk so it is relatively quiet once that door is shut. Shortly after departure from Bangkok, a conductor will come in and turn the “couch” upon which you and your fellow passenger are sitting into two bunk beds, as in a standard European sleeper car. At that time, if you wish, you can also order a simple breakfast to be delivered the following morning for approximately 150 baht. In Second Class, seats line either side of the train car. When the conductor turns these seats into beds, the only thing separating you from the corridor up and down which people walk in order to use the restroom, etc. is a curtain, thus it can be a bit noisy at times. If at all possible, get a lower bed as the upper beds are closer to the train car lights, and despite the curtain, the light can be disturbing. In either Class, bring long pants and a long sleeved shirt or light jacket as it can get quite chilly and you have no control over the air-con. Departure from Pattaya / Arrival in Bangkok You can get to Bangkok from Pattaya by taxi (anywhere between 800 and 1500 baht) or by air-con bus, 121 baht. If you take the bus, go to the North Pattaya Bus Terminal. Buses depart nearly every half hour, and the trip takes about 2 hours. The Eastern Bangkok bus terminal at which you will arrive if you take the bus, is adjacent to the Ekamai stop on the Skytrain (hence why the bus terminal is often referred to as “Ekkamai Station"). In order to get to the train station, Hua Lamphong, you can take the Skytrain in the direction of Mo Chit for three stops to the Asok stop (approx. 20 baht.) At the Asok stop, transfer to the Metro in the direction of Hua Lamphong (approx. 20 baht) the train station is the end of the Metro line, 6 stops after Asok. In the alternative, you can take the Skytrain from Ekkamai in the direction of Mo Chit to the Siam station (approx. 30 baht.) Here you can do some shopping, get food in one of the many food courts, or just kill time if you have it. Then, board the Skytrain again, this time in the direction of Saphan Taksin. Ride the Skytrain for two stops and transfer to the Metro at the Sala Daeng station (approx. 20 baht.) At Sala Daeng, board the Metro in the Hua Lamphong direction for two stops (approx. 20 baht). Hua Lamphong train station is a disappointment after the clean and modern Skytrain and Metro systems. The waiting area isn’t particularly pleasant, so if possible avoid spending too much time here. Arrival in Nong Khai / Friendship Bridge After having boarded your train in Bangkok and hopefully after having gotten some sleep, 12 hours later you will find yourself in Nong Khai train station. As you get off the train you will see several Tuk Tuk drivers waiting to take people to the border. Actually, they are trying to get you to these visa centers to get your Laos visa because the drivers get a commission. Insist
on going to the border. Tell the drivers
you already have a Laos visa, or simply repeat “Border, border, border” and
“Friendship Bridge”
over and over. The cost for the trip to the border is approximately 50 baht. This price should be lower if you are sharing the Tuk Tuk with others, however, the other tourists may be headed to the unnecessary visa offices and the Tuk Tuk driver may wait with them, thereby slowing you up. Crossing Border Into Laos / Laos Visa Once
you get to the Thai side of the Friendship Bridge via Tuk Tuk, make sure that
you have your departure card (it should be stapled in your passport), and
make sure that they stamp your passport when they take your departure card
so that you have proof that you left Thailand. After getting stamped, purchase a ticket for the bus that takes you across the Friend Ship Bridge from the person sitting at the desk curbside. Price 15 Thai baht. Once
you get across the bridge, get the 1 page application for the Laos visa, fill it
out and go to the Visa On Arrival window. Submit
your application with one passport photo, and pay for your visa. Prices for Laos visas vary depending on which country you come from, but range in general from 30 to 40 U.S. Dollars. If you pay in baht it will be more expensive as the exchange rate they offer is terrible. So, it is wise to purchase U.S. Dollars prior to leaving Pattaya. You will notice that many prices on gift purchases and on restaurant menus are in dollars. Using dollars may also give you an edge when bargaining for gift purchases or transportation, though many Tuk Tuk drivers, shops, and restaurants gladly accept baht as well. (See also the “Money” section below). Once they take your passport, application, and money, you will have to wait for a few minutes to get your passport back with the Laos visa and your change. Hang around near the window to the right of the Visa On Arrival window and keep your eye out for your passport as they don’t a public announcement system they just hold out the passports as they are processed. Cross into Laos. They will stamp your passport, and then, at the following kiosk you will pay an Entry Fee of 40 baht. Proceed past the Entry Fee kiosk and you will see a sign with rates for transportation to Vientiane (Laos Capital) posted. Choose your method of transportation and pay the person at the desk to your left. The person at the desk will assign you your driver. Prices for transportation to the Embassy (or your hotel if you are too late to get to the Embassy in time to submit your application) are: Tuk Tuk 250 baht; Taxi 400 baht; Minivan 600 baht. It should be noted here that you should not expect to arrive in time to make it to the Thai Embassy before they stop accepting visa applications at noon. It is hit and miss and depends on several factors including whether or not your train arrived on time and the processing of your Laos visa. Travel from the Laos side of the Friendship Bridge to the Thai Embassy is approximately 40 minutes by Tuk Tuk (taxis are probably faster). Based on that, decide whether or not to go directly to the Embassy or directly to your hotel. Thai Embassy When you arrive at the Thai Embassy in Vietienne, ignore the people out front who want to “help” you. Again, these are people who are trying to get money from unsuspecting tourists. You do not need their “help.” Just walk through the gate and proceed to your left. Ideally you will have a completed application for the Thai visa already. If you do not, get an application from one of the people behind the desk and fill it out. Attach your two passport photos if you have not done so already. (There should be a glue pot on one of the tables to affix your photos). Wait in line and submit your application with your passport. Proceed to the building directly across the courtyard and wait inside. They will call your name and hold up your passport. Go to the window to pay. The cost is 2,000 baht for a single entry visa (or 5,000 baht for multiple entry – though I am unclear at this time as to how one obtains the multiple entry visa). After paying for your visa, you must wait until the following day to pick up your passport with your new Thai visa. The following day, people begin lining up outside the gate at about 12:30pm. The gate opens at 1:00pm and the passports are distributed. This process was relatively quick. Travel from the Phonepaseuth Guesthouse (see below) to the Thai Embassy takes about 10 minutes and I paid 100 baht by Tuk Tuk. (Tuk Tuk drivers wait outside the Embassy.) While I may have paid too much, my driver offered to pick me up the following day from the Guesthouse at 12:30 so that he could take me back to the Embassy in order to pick up my passport. I agreed, and he was on time (actually he was early!) the next day and got me to the Embassy at 12:30 and waited for me to pick up my passport and then drove me the 40 minute drive to the Friendship Bridge. For this service, I paid him approximately 350 baht in Laos Kip. Accommodation Many visa runners from Mermaids stay at: Phonepaseuth Guesthouse 97
PangkhamSt XiengNyeun Vientiane Cap.
The Tuk Tuk drivers outside the Thai Embassy know where it is. The rooms are simple but clean. I paid 600 baht for one night in a room with a television and air con. (I paid in baht and do not know how much it would be in Laos Kip or in U.S. Dollars). Up the street about 100 meters is a square around which are several restaurants including a good Italian restaurant. Across the square from the Italian restaurant and down the street a bit is a restaurant called Chop Jai Deau which is also recommended. Money As mentioned above, the currency in Laos is the Kip. Kip are worthless outside of Laos so be sure to use up or exchange all of your Kip before leaving the country. There are no currency exchange places on the Laos side of the Friendship Bridge. As also mentioned above, U.S. Dollars and Thai Baht are widely accepted in Vientiane. It should be noted however that the U.S. Dollars must be in very good condition. (I had a bill with a slight tear in it which was rejected at the border and later when I attempted to exchange it for Kip at a bank I had to argue with 4 different people before they finally took it). Visa/Mastercard are accepted at many shops and restaurants in Vientiane. Be forewarned that ATMs are hard to find and are finicky about what cards they will accept so you may want to bring extra Baht or extra Dollars, especially if you wish to shop. Finally,
do not assume (as I did) that if you have a Thai bank account, and that Thai
bank has a branch in Vientiane, you can withdraw money from your account.
As mentioned, the banks and ATMs are finicky. LIST
OF THINGS TO BRING
It should be noted here that this author is not accomplished at the art of bargaining, and that prices quoted may possibly be negotiated lower. |