On November 29, 2014 we ended and our next country for research was planned to be Laos. Today we want to tell you about our journey from Thailand to Laos, namely from the city of Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang through the border cities of Chiang Hong and Huaisai (Bokeo province). We present a detailed report on how to get to Laos on your own, how much money you have to spend, and how to avoid unnecessary waste and rip-offs!
To get to Laos on your own from the city of Chiang Rai in Thailand, you need to follow a path consisting of several stages:
- Arrive by bus from Chiang Rai to the Thai border town of Chiang Hong.
- Drive to the border checkpoint from Thailand.
- Get to the border in Laos.
- Find yourself in the city of Huaisai, at the bus station, at the ferry terminal, etc. depending on the subsequent goals.
In fact, everything is "put on stream" and the process of moving from Thailand to Laos did not cause any difficulties. But we were faced with a whole bunch of accompanying "amenities".
Bus Chiang Rai - Chiang Hong to the border in Laos
At 11.00 we left Chiang Rai by bus to the border Chiang Hong (departs from the central station every hour from 6.00 to 17.00). A ticket worth 65 baht is purchased directly from the driver. Photographed the bus schedule from Chiang Rai, maybe someone will need it (if necessary, I recommend saving the image to your computer in order to better view it):
Usually buses in Thailand are not bad, but this one was very ancient, with a wooden floor, instead of an air conditioner - fans that do not turn on, but the doors are left open. We drove along with boxes, parcels, bags. The journey is 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Modern bus Chiang Rai - Chiang Hong We settled down pretty well in the back seats, and Marinka even made a mini-office on boxes. In the process, it turned out that a rooster was riding in the package that housed our laptop! And then we sinned at each other when it smelled of cocoa from time to time 🙂.
Our road office Before reaching Chiang Hong we were dropped off at the bus stop, where tuk-tukers were already waiting. Local tax is 50 baht per person 3 km from the Thai border.
3 km by tuk-tuk for 50 baht to the Lao border From Thailand to Laos: The Thai Side
On the Thai side of the passage from Thailand to Laos, we were asked to show our passport, after which we were worried if we had dollars for a visa. Upon learning that they were not there, they instructed them to purchase from the cashier without fail. It so happened that we did not buy the enemy in advance (in several banks in Chiang Rai there were no dollars to sell). The mischievous aunt Cashier on the Thai side said that a visa to Laos can be bought for either 30 bucks or 1,500 baht (and 1,500 baht is $ 45). Dollars can be purchased from her, but at the rate of 40 baht for a green piece of paper. She also said that I would not find a single exchanger nearby, and even more so in Laos. I am Belarusian, and I have no habit of distrusting civil servants in uniform. I bought 60 dollars for 2,400 baht (exactly for 2 visas), the rest of the money at this rate did not change. And only then, standing at the exchanger on the border on the Lao side, I realized that I was a loshara for 450 baht. 🙁 The same not quite decent woman had to buy a ticket for 25 baht for a bus that took us across the bridge to the Lao border checkpoint.
Bus between the borders of Thailand and Laos From Thailand to Laos: Lao Border
As I already wrote, the first thing I did on the Lao side was an exchanger. At the same time, the course was very good. I changed all the baht here for the local currency and how I became a millionaire at home. 🙂 The course, by the way, was 248 kip for 1 baht. The dollar was worth 8068 bip.
Visa on arrival in Laos We traveled from Thailand to Laos on Saturday, for which we had to pay a local tax of 10,000 kip (for working after hours). It can be paid with a dollar, and one (it's cheaper), but we didn't have it.
It is worth noting that the border guards made us happy. These are just darlings! Not that they smile at you, no. They were in a good mood, they laughed and joked. This is the first time I've passed border control with such a positive attitude!
How to get to Huaisai city, and from it to Luang Prabang
From the Lao border town of Huaysai to Luang Prabang (aka Luang Prabang), there are four ways to get there:
- on a slow boat in 2 days (with an overnight stop in one of the settlements... We read not flattering reviews about bedbugs in the overnight place and about the path itself, we decided that this was not our option).
- on a fast boat in 6 hours (here they warn that not everyone will be able to get there, because speedboats often turn over).
- by bus in 14 hours.
- on a minivan (we know about their existence only theoretically).
We decided to go straight from Huaysai to Luang Prabang (which we later regretted - there is also something to see in the border town). We were inclined towards the option with a bus, but were ready to consider other methods on the spot.
So, we figured out the visa in about 20 minutes, left the building of the border checkpoint, and I already mentally prepared that tuk-tukers would immediately attack us (as it was) with offers to take us to the city of Luang Prabang. But, surprisingly, Marinka and I were of no interest to anyone. There were several tuk-tuk and minivans, the drivers crowded together and smoked. Some tourists are already seated in vehicles.
I told one of the tuk-tukers that I needed to go to Luang Prabang. He replied that he would drop off at the bus station, which was located on the way to the city center of Huaisai. The driver asked for 80 baht per person. I gave 40,000 kip for two, which is basically the same thing.
Bus station in Huaysai (Bokeo) They took us to the bus station in about ten minutes. In general, it is difficult to call this place a train station - several seats, a ticket office and one bus. From the Huaisai bus station you can get not only to Luang Prabang, but also to Vientiane and other cities. We photographed the schedule, suddenly who will come in handy:
Buses leave for Luang Prabang from the Huaisai (Bokeo) bus station 2 times a day: at 10.00 for 130,000 kip and at 16.00 for 120,000 kip. What is the difference, we do not know, we went in the evening for 120,000. A ticket can also be purchased for Thai baht (here 120,000 kip = 500 baht). By the way, if you choose our option, then you need to leave Chiang Rai no later than 12.00, otherwise you will have to choose between superboats. 🙂
Way from Huaysai (Bokeo) to Luang Prabang
There was still an hour and a half left before the bus left for Luang Prabang. We bought tickets and got on the bus in our favorite front seats. We got the tangerines and got ready for the 14 hour adventure.
We did not have time to drive away from the station, as we turned to a gas station. Was it really impossible to refuel earlier, given that the bus stood at least 1.5 hours, and the pump is 10 meters from the station? Then we began to pick up everyone and everything every 100-200 meters. As it seemed to us, the bus also served as a carrier of various kinds of boxes, a postman and a taxi (some people were taken only a couple of kilometers). Although the windshield of the bus bore the inscription VIP, it felt like it did not even reach the Thai second class. The front door did not close tightly, and once even pinched the hand of one of the drivers. The air conditioners didn't work, but that's for the best, as it's cool at night in the mountains. There were even blankets! But this is for those who do not hesitate 🙂.
The road by bus Huaisai - Luang Prabang A few words about the drivers, of whom there were four. They drank energy drinks all the way, throwing empty cans right out the window. At the same time, only one steered. 🙂 Thais are considered to be very sociable and talkative people. But where are they to Lao! They "chirped" so much that for the first time we regretted the chosen front seats. 🙂 They also did not hesitate to stop the bus at the side of the road when they needed to relieve themselves. They did it stupidly, turning away from the windows. The worst thing in this regard was for the girls: if the guys could still quickly run out with the carriers and relieve themselves, then the parking lots were very rarely designed for the women's toilet.
The path had to be done through the mountains. Accordingly, the entire road was a continuous serpentine. The bus did not pull up the hill, and on the descent our driver got up to such a thing that some people began to stir up trouble. I thought before the trip that the bags were distributed for garbage. 🙂 The apogee was practically a departure into a ditch on the opposite side of the movement (traffic, by the way, is right-hand in Laos)! And this with four drivers! The few roads in Laos are ugly, in many sections the main "highways" of the country are not even paved, and the width was often not enough to pass the oncoming traffic, which, fortunately, was extremely rare. It shook in places so that my backpack fell off the top shelf, although initially it was stuffed there with great difficulty. The most unpleasant part of the road was on the Houay Khoun - Pakmong section.
The road users themselves were surprised. It is common to put 4 trucks downhill on a narrow road at a bend in the mountains. Bike drivers do not use light in the dark either in principle, or they regret it, or it is simply not provided (as well as rear-view mirrors). Many people drive at night using a hand torch. 🙂 Dogs, chickens and other brainless creatures constantly run out on the road. Lao people walk along the road, of course, without reflectors.
By six in the morning we reached Luang Prabang. I couldn’t sleep, but I don’t find fault. Brought - and that happiness! Then we had a difficult choice of housing, but that's a completely different story!
Traveled from Thailand to Laos
While memories are fresh, I decided to describe our trip to Laos for a visa.
The visa issue worries all foreigners living in Thailand, those who decide to stay longer than a month in the Kingdom.
Last year we also went to Viantiane (Laos) for a student visa, you can talk about that.
As you probably already heard, since November 13, 2015, a double-entry visa to Thailand, which made it possible to stay in the Kingdom for up to six months with one departure, has ordered a long life.
In its place came a multivisa, which can be obtained ONLY in Russia, alas.
It is not entirely a pity, because in any case, it is very difficult to get a multivisa (statements with the movement of large amounts on the account within six months, etc.),
so for our family a multivisa to Thailand was not considered as an option.
I will add that with single-entry visas, which make it possible to stay in Thailand for up to 3 months without leaving, everything is still, they give, the visa itself costs 1000 baht,
with a tour to Laos from Pattaya with a company - 5000 baht all inclusive.
For a study visa to Laos from Pattaya
Since our option is a student visa, we went to Laos for it.
Most likely, your school will offer you an option for such a trip, well, you can either go on your own, or choose the company that accompanies you yourself.
For the second year in a row, we are traveling with the same Thai company, which is not satisfactory, everything is fast, clear, people are being transported as a "blockhead",
from which nothing is required except the presence and a couple of signatures.
Go to Laos on your own or with a group?
Here the question is not at all for me. Of course with the group. I don't understand this romance, nag on the bus or
by car to the border, fill everything yourself, poke around at the embassy, look for a hotel, bargain with Lao taxi drivers
(which, by the way, are brutalized and are racking up crazy money), and then, still looking for transport on their own, go again to the embassy, and then to the border, and go through, fill out all the entry cards on a new one.
From Pattaya to the border point in the city of Nong Khai, 650 km. If you decide to go by car, and the car is on gasoline, then you will have to spend a lot.
A trip to Laos for a visa is such a difficult event, never a walk at all. Imagine 12 hours on the road, at night, to be at the border by 6 a.m. (otherwise it makes no sense if you want to turn around in a couple of days),
A couple of hours at one border, a couple at the second, an hour and a half, two at the embassy.
This time we were lucky, the queue for the dock supply was 5 times less than last year (those who remember the Thai Embassy in Vientiane - last year the queue flowed out the gate, and this one ended in the middle of the seats)
And at 11 am we are already at the hotel. Total, 17 hours on the road, 17, Karl! I don’t know about you, it’s boring for me.
And if I still had to decide something, then I would have revealed myself altogether.
By 5 in the morning I was so sick of a sleepless night that I did not want anything but to get to the hotel and to bed as soon as possible.
The second reason in favor of traveling with a group, and by the way the decisive one, is that ALL the group was given visas.
Even the malicious overstayers, who were quite a few in our company.
Imagine, you are being escorted everywhere by hand, the officers at all border posts, at the embassy, are kind and welcoming.
When you are driving yourself, why should they show you some kind of affection, huh? Maybe there is an inaccuracy in the documents,
and you don't like your face, and in general, you know that letting you into Thailand or not is at the discretion of the border guard, and explain why not? !!!? He doesn't owe you at all.
So the groans and the pumping of a wave that someone was not given something, comes only from those who decided to save a couple of hundred baht and go themselves.
And by the way, about the savings. Knowing myself, it would be more expensive for me to travel on my own. I would definitely overpay somewhere.
Hotels in Vientiane are awful and they fight for some unfunny money.
The hotel in which we stayed, Phonethip costs from 1600 baht per night. Without food. We were fed 5 times. I'm afraid to imagine how much I would pay for him if I went myself.
The hotel is about nothing, not even a pool. Last time we lived in Daokham, this time we also settled in it by the way.
I liked the Daokham better, but on our arrival until the night there was a wedding, right under our room, which spoiled the impression of staying in Daokham.
in thailand the beds are quite high, for the baby to fall high
Many are interested in what they feed in Laos.
Well, the same as in Thailand - rice with chicken, vegetables, instant coffee, juice, etc.
Everything was cold and tasted bad. The only thing that was great in Laos was the baguettes, which are sold everywhere here. French heritage.
Everything else is terrible.
And if in the hotel they fed us so badly for a couple of thousand baht, then I'm afraid to imagine what they feed in the guest houses for 600 baht.
How everything works in Vientiane, impressions
It's an incomprehensible mystery to me what people in Laos, Vientiane, who describe their stay there with enthusiasm, might like.
Here are my impressions and observations:
Except for hotels, I did not observe buildings higher than one floor. No condos, no decent houses, nothing.
One-story huts and a bunch of assorted hotels, the price of which reaches 80,000 baht, yes, for a villa.
No attractions. Some kind of dregs.
There is a promenade along the Mekong River, on which the night market is located.
The things there are so crafty that there is nothing to buy even as souvenirs.
Except perhaps purses-purses with embroidery, but we also come across these on Tepprazit.
There are cafes and restaurants along the boardwalk and side streets. The run-up in prices is large.
Food prices start at 10,000 bales for rice in sakashnits (bale is about 23-25 baht, depending on how you change)
And it goes up to 100,000 bales for a pizza in a restaurant that never has anyone.
We chose something in between, a coffee shop with a decent menu and average prices.
From the long journey, lack of sleep, my mood was not very good and here the waiters did not let me down!
Are you still chasing the Thais? Yes Lao will take first place in the competition - the worst staff of the year.
Firstly, no one is ever in a hurry.
Menu with pictures and inscription in English and local language, it would seem, what's the catch?
As a result, they brought me coffee and an omelet correctly from the order.
The waitress felt that it was not at all necessary to write down the order, the husband did not wait for his pasta.
Masha was brought not at all what she ordered, and I ordered soda with syrup (I say to mine - just not strawberries, but it doesn't matter), I ordered blue curaçao.
They brought strawberries. How, kaaaak ??? !!! How can you confuse blue with red ??? !!
Well, everything is in a similar spirit.
Those who say that everything is cheaper in Laos seems to me to buy only cigarettes and drinks. Because they are, yes, really cheaper. Everything else is more expensive.
In the center, there were a couple of chain Thai cafes - dairi queen and amazon, the prices in them are higher than in Thailand.
For 3 km, local tuk tukers want 300 baht, while you can barely leave for 150.
And they do not count the trip, but the number of people. If a lonely tuker is sitting and you think that he will chase you, if you do not agree on the price and leave him as a client, then no, it will not.
They don't give a damn about everything here.
What surprised me in Laos?
A very wide variety of car brands. Here you can find Kia, Toyota Land Cruiser, Porsche, Hyundai and even Daewoo.
Lots of expensive cars in different colors.
Who does not know, cars of three colors drive around Thailand - white, black, gray.
And most often Toyota, Honda, Isuzu or Nissan. There are also a limited number of car models. Large import duties, expensive.
The new BMW costs 4,000,000 baht in Thailand.
It's dusty in Laos. Very dusty. Poorly paved roads, dust everywhere, dirty.
Chain stores are missing as a class. Everywhere there are only some kind of rural storage, which cannot be called a store. The assortment includes cigarettes, water and all kinds of crisps-snacks.
Last year, I had some difficulties about what to feed the one-year-old Dasha.
What a state of oppression. Nobody trades in anything. There are no mobile fruit carts, no children with mothers on mopeds,
there are not enough people in general, and the whole Vientiane as a whole looks like something more worn out than Pattaya.
Great social stratification.
In short, what did I like about Laos? Nothing. All the time I was waiting for the moment when it would be possible to get out of here quickly.
How can you WANT to go and live here, well, I don’t know.
The whole Vientiane panorama reminded me of the village “Bright Pole”, where my grandmother lived. When you get there, you don’t understand what year is in the yard, 1965 or 2015?
How to go to Laos (Vientiane) for a visa with a group. Step by step.
Since last year we drove our car, which was thrown at the border, and then joined the group, I did not know which mini-bass would take us in.
I was afraid that people like the Pattaya van were taking them to Bangkok.
Thank God no, because in those days I could barely sit for 2 hours, I could not straighten out.
They are driven to Laos in a comfortable minibus with 9 seats. The clearest seats in front (there is where to stretch your legs) and 3 in the back (you can fully recline the back), the backrest folds out in all seats and even sleep comfortably.
The traditional tip for Thai land transportation is to bring a blanket or cape, it can be cold.
Stops on the way to Laos from Pattaya for a visa occur every 3 hours. Only 3 stops at gas stations with shops.
Departure from Pattaya to Vientiane at 6 pm, pick up in turns from the condo, arrival at the border at 5 am.
Until 5:30 you can buy food and drink at 7/11 at the border, it is big and there is even brewed coffee there.
Then you quickly pass the Thai border, and get stuck in front of the entrance to Laos. For 2 hours.
Take benches in the shade, the sun beats down mercilessly in the morning. Yes, buy your own water and snacks at 7/11. There is no 7/11 in Laos.
Then they take you to the embassy, give out passports and filled docks.
Those who receive a tour visa immediately go to the hotel, after the 1st queue, where the aunt will check their correctness.
We spent 1.30-2 hours at the embassy. We got to the hotel at 11 am.
You can rent a bike in the hotel for $ 3 per person, which is probably a good idea, my husband tried to persuade me to ride,
but in flip flops, after the road, I did not want to pedal at all.
And she was also afraid that our pepelazz would not be stolen somewhere in the center.
Tuk tukers are on duty at the hotel (arrogant and expensive) and they are easy to catch right on the street. What can I tell you - bargain.
I don’t like to bargain, but I don’t like to overpay to impudent faces even more, so I just showed the piece of paper that I was going to pay, okay? Let's go. Not? Go away.
In the morning you will be fed again (from 7 to 9), and then again, at 11 in the morning. At 12 noon, everyone goes to the border, and already at 15:00 we got on the bus for the return trip.
Now I am on my way and in order not to waste time, I am writing this article.
Those who were tired of waiting for these 3 days of replies to comments - alas, the Internet in Laos is so lousy that it was not possible to post your comments or reply to them.
Yes, here's another, about dyuti fries. 1 block of cigarettes per person, 1 liter of strong cigarettes per person. It's not worth taking the risk and taking more, we know my uncle that he paid a fine of 10,000 baht.
At the same time, he offered to throw out the extra blocks, but the officer answered him - I don't care, throw it away, just pay a fine of 10,000, and with that do whatever you want.
Frames and x-rays are worth it, so it's not worth cheating. Give it to someone who is unlucky, if they take it.
All alcohol is 2 times cheaper than in Pattaya. According to my feeling. Well, for example, we have a martini a liter costs 900 baht at Foodmart, here it is 500 baht.
Local aklogol is generally cheap. The famous beer birlao is also 2 times cheaper.
Cigarettes are many times cheaper and the choice is large. There are even exclusives like Vogue or dunchill.
A Vogue block costs 550 baht.
Esse block - 250 baht. In Pattaya, a block of 1000 baht or 700 on Beach Road.
About money in Laos. Should I exchange baht for kippah?
There is no point in exchanging baht for bales at all. Why do you need them? This time.
Change from baht you will still be given in bales, that's two.
Everywhere we paid in baht, at the normal rate. Almost everywhere there is a price in baht including.
In the duty free you can buy something for the same dollars.
The most neat and largest dyuti fries, at the Saaam end in the direction of the movement of the people, once on the spot you will understand.
It is very gratifying that such trips take place once a year. Traveling to Laos more often, more than a day on the road in 2 days, does not smile at me at all.
Here is such an article, not too vanilla, but true to my feelings, which would be very useful to me myself, before the trip.
So I wish you luck, I hope the information will be useful to you too!
How to save money on a hotel or vacation apartment?
I'm looking for Rumguru on the website. It contains absolutely all discounts for hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. I often find very profitable options, it turns out to save from 30 to 80%
How to save on insurance?
Overseas insurance is needed. Any admission is very expensive and the only way not to pay out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. For many years we have been making out on the site, which give the best prices for insurance and the selection together with registration takes only a couple of minutes.
P.S. - I don’t send company contacts (!!!), please do not write about this. There are more cases when they can not give a visa, so I do not want to take responsibility for an unsuccessful trip.
Many people travel from Pattaya to Laos for visas - tourist, study, or visa-run. It is believed that in Cambodia and Malaysia, a tourist visa to Thailand is given only for three months, and in Laos - for six. So the route from Pattaya to Vientiane is in great demand. I will tell you how to drive it at the lowest cost (not taking into account such methods as hitchhiking, hijacking and teleportation).
This was our first visa run in our life. Before that, we only went to once. We did not like this business: it was expensive and tiring, although the nature along the way is beautiful (but in Thailand there is no other way). Therefore, having settled in a language school in Pattaya, we went from Thailand to Laos for a Thai study visa. And they successfully found it (on the pros and cons of a student visa to Thailand). During the trip, I got a lot of impressions - ambiguous, I must say))). But today we will not talk about how to get a study visa to Thailand, but about the cheapest way to get from Pattaya to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
Border between Thailand and Laos, Thai side. It is much more pleasant to pass it in the opposite direction.
There are no direct buses from Pattaya to Laos (read: Vientiane) - you have to go through Non Khai (or Nong Khai) - a city in the north of Thailand, almost on the border with Laos. The only one bus station from which you can leave Pattaya to Nong Khai, located on Sukhumvit Road, just north of its intersection with Central Street. If you exited Central Road or Pattaya Klang, then you need to turn left. After passing the pink school building, right in front of the mosque fence, turn left again. After 50-100 meters you will see a nondescript pavilion on the left. This is the bus station.
Bus station from which you can leave Pattaya to Nong Khai.
The bus station from which you can leave Pattaya to Laos on the map:
On the left is the cash desk, on the right is the waiting room. Bus 407 Rayong - Nong Khai departs from this bus station every day at 20:00. There are many who want to travel from Rayong and Pattaya to the north of Thailand, so it is advisable to buy a ticket either in the morning or a day or two before the departure date.
There are two types of tickets: regular and VIP. But since we are talking about the cheapest way, we are interested in the usual ones. The cheapest ticket from Pattaya to Nong Khai costs 551 baht. The seats are very comfortable, a massage chair, reclining 45 degrees, beauty!
The cheapest ticket Pattaya to Nong Khai costs 551 baht.
The bus arrives in Nong Khai early in the morning. Going out at the Nong Khai bus station, many catch a taxi to overpay the driver, then give the extra money for crossing the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos ... bus schedule from Nong Khai to Vientiane(the picture is clickable):
From Nong Khai to Vientiane there are several buses per day. You can also go directly to the Lao town of Vang Vieng. You will love it there if you are a connoisseur beautiful nature, a fan of the TV series "Friends" or just a drug addict.
As you can see, a bus ticket from Nong Khai to Vientiane costs 55 baht... Another 5 baht must be paid for something there related to crossing the border between Thailand and Laos.
I duplicate just in case bus schedule from Nong Khai to Vientiane: buses leave every day at 7:30, 9:30, 12:40, 14:30, 15:30 and 18:00. Buses Nong Khai to Vang Vieng (Laos) depart every day at 10:00.
Bus Nong Khai - Vientiane... A ticket for it costs 55 baht + 5 baht, it is not clear why, but necessary.
The first bus from Nong Khai to Vientiane departs at 7:30. Therefore, having arrived from Pattaya to Nong Khai early enough, we managed to buy a ticket for it without any problems. The bus driver Nongkhai-Vientiane is the most lovable person, he helped us in everything. It makes a stop on the Thai side of the Thailand-Laos border, you get an exit stamp, then it transports you across the Friendship Bridge and stops again. By the way, if you have a question whether Russians need a visa to Laos, I answer: Russians do not need a visa to Laos... Thus, having passed the Friendship Bridge, you go through border control, get a Lao stamp in your passport and pay 5 baht for it in a special window. Then get on the bus, which is already waiting for you on the Lao side (by the way, do not forget to remember its number). And he will take you to the Vientiane bus station, from where you go about your business.
Travel to one of the least economically developed, but at the same time the most mysterious country from the adjacent Kingdom of Thailand.
Historically, Laos was a French colony, one of three located in Indochina. At first, colonial oppression, civil strife, and then ardent adherence to the canons of socialism led to a very sad economic situation in the 70s of the twentieth century and this was the reason for the mass emigration of the population, which, according to the most conservative estimates, reached 10%. Aggressive actions on the part of the United States and its allies against the socialist countries of the region, which affected the territory of Laos, had a very negative effect. For nearly two decades, Laos was virtually isolated from the outside world. Currently, this still very poor and landlocked country is in a state of peace and relative prosperity, aims to stabilize political and economic structures, and also welcomes the entry of foreign tourists.
In spite of everything, any trip here organized by us is a rich excursion program, comfortable hotels, developed infrastructure and excellent service. And the almost complete absence of Western influence will make it possible to see the traditional way of life in the region. As a rule, tourists who have visited Laos conclude that this is indeed one of the most interesting countries in Southeast Asia.
Laos is quite remote from Pattaya and Bangkok (about 700 kilometers), so the best solution to get there is by air. We offer both one-day and two-day (or more days) trips. Below we will consider options for an excursion from Pattaya to the capital of Laos - the city of Vientiane.
To Laos from Pattaya for 1 day
If your choice is on a one-day excursion to Laos, then it will be built as follows:
- At 4:00 am, pick up from the hotel, transfer to the airport.
- At 6:00 we will fly to the city of Udon Thani in the north-east of Thailand.
- By 8:00 you will be met at the airport, transfer to the border checkpoint.
- 9:00 cross the border, transfer to Laos along the Friendship Bridge.
- 11:00 Visit to Buddha Park. Lots of statues from Buddhist and Hindu religions.
- 13:00 Lunch at a national restaurant (buffet). Wonderful Lao beer and wine included.
- 14:00 Sightseeing tour of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Inspection of the following attractions: Wat Sisaket - the black stupa, the temple from which the city was founded, Ho Prakeo - the former Royal Palace, That Luang - the Big Stupa (the most important national and religious monument of Laos), the Patusai monument - the Arc de Triomphe, a monument to those who died in wars. We also inspect the Presidential Palace.
- 17:00 - 18:00 free time. You can walk along the beautiful embankment of the Mekong River, visit the souvenir market.
- 18:00 transfer to the airport, visit the duty-free shop.
- By 01:00 you will arrive in Pattaya.
To Laos from Pattaya for 2 days
The first day:
- 4:00 Departure from Pattaya hotel to the airport. Flight to the north of Thailand 50 minutes.
- 9:00 Departure to the Thai-Lao border to the Friendship Bridge. Passing the border.
- 11:00 Visit to Buddha Park, where we will see many statues of Buddhist and Hindu themes.
- 13:00 Lunch - buffet with beer and wine included.
- 14:00 Sightseeing tour of Vientiane - the capital of Laos. We will inspect: Wat Sisaket (Black Stupa) - the oldest city temple, Ho Prakeo Museum - the former Royal Palace, That Luang (Big Stupa) - the most important national and religious monument in Laos, Patusay monument (Arc de Triomphe) - a monument to those who died in wars, Presidential Palace, etc.
- 17:00 Check in at the hotel.
Second day
- 9:00 Breakfast.
- 12:00 Transfer to the airport for the flight to Bangkok.
- Meeting at Bangkok airport, transfer to Pattaya hotel.
- 19:00 Arrival in Pattaya.
As in the case of Cambodia, it is better to take dollars here for personal expenses. But you can also pay with Thai baht. The Russian ruble is not changed in Laos. The local currency (Lao kip) has a very weak exchange rate against the dollar and baht, it is almost impossible to exchange it on the territory of Thailand.
note
Prices are given for a group of 2 people and bookings a week before departure! In other cases, there may be differences. Rates for children can vary greatly.
A one-day excursion is possible only if there is a minimum group of 4 people - check on WhatsApp or Viber by clicking on the links!
Important information
- The cost of the flight includes only luggage up to 5 kg (hand luggage).
- The tour price is indicated only for citizens of the Russian Federation and others who have the right to visa-free entry to Thailand and are on its territory with a 30-day entry stamp. Anyone who entered Thailand on a visa of any type other than "multi" must apply for a reentry permit (freeze the visa so that it is not closed when leaving Thailand). The cost of this procedure is 1300 baht, you also need passport-size photographs. It is better to do it in advance, at the Pattaya Immigration Service (when booking a tour, you will be advised in detail about this procedure).
- For citizens of some states, entry into Laos is a visa. Specify when booking a tour.
- When ordering an excursion, you must send a photo of passports (page with your last name) to
All about a trip to Laos from Thailand for a visa through a company. Where to find the cheapest visaran in Laos. Report on the trip to Laos for a visa and more.
Why go by visaran from Pattaya to Laos?
Only Pattaya and Hua Hin winterers travel to Laos. From Phuket it is easier to get to Malaysia, and not to. Because in Laos, everyone is given a 3-month visa, and you no longer have to go to the border run every month.
This article describes only the cheapest visa options from Thailand to Laos for a visa through a company, and there are separate articles about what to see in Laos, how to get from Pattaya to Laos on your own and how to independently apply for a 3-month Thai visa.
Most cheap option visa to Laos for a visa: 3250 baht per person... But they do not come from Pattaya, but from Bangkok. Organizer's phone number: 0844478280, name is Mikhail. They leave from the Tesco Lotus parking lot at the BTS On Nut BTS Skytrain Station, this is the place where all transport from Pattaya passes, so you don't have to run and look. We got off the bus from Pattaya and immediately got into a minibus to Laos.
If you still have a Russian number in Thailand, and you do not know how to call a Thai phone number, then read our article. At the End you will find how to call Thai numbers.
A trip for a visa to Laos from Pattaya costs from 6,500 baht to 12,000 baht per person. You can order it at any school that teaches foreign languages (and there are many in every district). Moreover, the price / quality ratio can vary greatly.
Contacts of the cheapest Visaran in Laos from Pattaya: phone: 0912800080. You can register either by phone or at the Siam Sunrise Foreign Language School at Theprasit Road, Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand, Chon Buri, Thailand
Is it profitable to travel to Laos on your own?
We drove on our own, it turned out 6,000 baht per person, but this is completely for everything, and even with excesses: Taxi from the border to the Embassy and back, entrance to all museums (it seems more than 10), lunch with wine at the fountain, Vip bus from Pattaya.
If you choose a company, then you need to find out:
- On what you will be taken to Laos. The bus is much more comfortable and more convenient than the minimabs, since the minibuses often go very dead, so that every bump is felt. The drivers drive very fast, they are Buddhists - they are not afraid. The drive is at night (about 12 hours one way), so a good sleep is very important.
- Where will the hotel be. In the capital of Laos, Vientiane, you will have a whole day, because all documents will be submitted by 12.00, and the visa will be issued only the next day. Although the location of the hotel does not play such a key role, it is still important. It is better if he is by the Mekong River - it is there that all the sights are located, and Lao people walk in the evenings. In other places, there is nothing to do in the evening. To get to the center on Tuk-tuk costs 50 baht per person (if the hotel is near the embassy) and 100 baht if the hotel is on the outskirts.
- Is Power Included. Laos is more expensive than Thailand. An elementary (but famous) baguette in Laos can cost 500 baht.
- Are visa fees included. Is the visa fee included? For tourist visas it is 1000 baht per person, for student visas it is 2000 baht per person.
- You will live in room alone or with someone. Recently, it has become the norm to settle several people together, even if they are unfamiliar.
Multiple entry visa (Tourist or Student visa obtained for several months) is bad because you cannot leave Thailand. You either need to go to the Immigration Office and arrange your exit from the country, or as soon as you leave the territory of Thailand, the visa will be considered canceled and you will be given a regular tourist stamp at the entrance.
P.S. (meaning that you received a visa in Laos, entered Thailand and should not leave it for all 2 months, inside the country you can travel as you like and fly domestic flights).
What documents need to be prepared to get a Thai visa in Laos.
If you are going through a company, then only a passport. Everything else will be given to you, photos will be taken, copies will be removed, the documents will be filled in. But see the entire list in the article: Thai visa in Laos on your own.
How is the trip going.
- You are picked up from your accommodation
- 12 hours you travel through the mountains and bumps to the border of Thailand and Laos in the city of Nong Khai
- About an hour to cross the border
- 30 minutes to the embassy
- You are seated on chairs and you sit while documents are handed over for you.
- You are delivered to the hotel until 12.00, then you have free time to walk around the capital of Laos
- The next day, early in the morning, you are taken to the embassy, you also sit on chairs while you receive a Thai visa.
- They are taken back the same way. You arrive in Pattaya from 23.00 to 03.00 - depending on traffic jams.
Report on the trip to the visaran in Laos through the company.
Price: 9000 THB
They are taken to Laos in such minibuses. The man did not manage to sleep, tk. the driver drove hard and constantly accelerated and slowed down.
There are several stops along the way, at one of them the drivers fill out the documents for you 
You can watch movies on the way. Sometimes even in Russian, but films, and especially in Russian, are very rare in Thailand. 
The hotel in which they lived. Was on the outskirts 
Restaurant at the hotel. Breakfast and dinner were included for 9000 baht. 
Hotel room. Placed for 2 people, those. if you eat alone, then you may be accommodated with someone 
