Entering Laos
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 – 10:10 pmVientiane - Feb 12, 2008
Laos was my real targeted country for tourism and because of the accessibility and complimentary reasons, Thailand also got added up. The words from fellow travellers who are returning from Laos on the way are multipling my expectation to go into Laos much earlier and also for longer stays.
This afternoon from the border town of Nong Khai, i almost cleared the Thai immigration. Well, why almost? Because as soon as my passport was stamped, i asked the officer a blasphemous question, “Can i come back?“. Thats enough to send the alarm bells ringing and the immigration official frantically checked my Thai Visa and said i didn’t have the “Re-Entry permit” eventhough i had a 3-month Thai Tourist Visa.
He quickly stricked out cancelling the departure stamp and asked to me get the “re-entry permit”. I do not know whether my act was a wise or stupid one. Anyway the Thai immigration office was only a km away, after filling a Form 8, one photo and 1020 bahts; i get the needed re-entry permit. The whole thing including the travel to and fro by a tuk-tuk took less than 30 minutes !
So i’m back to the same officer who smiling stamped me out of Thailand and a bus takes you across the Friendship bridge into Laos for 15baht. There was a long queue of fellow travellers waiting for Visa on arrival at the Laos side. Nevertheless i get my Lao visa for 30 days with a couple of forms, a photo and 1800baht(!!) visa fee. Another 10baht entry fee at immigration, i’m inside Laos !
Wasn’t some traveller told me that it was ALL about money with crossing borders!?
2 Responses to “Entering Laos”
Hey, Im glad I stumbled across your travel blog. I figured I would have the re-entry issue while crossing borders and have applied for a Double Entry tourist visa, which costs a little more. If it doesnt come through its good to know I can take the same course of action you did.
Iv got a few questions about traveling into Laos, if your upto it then maybe we can exchange a few mails so I can plan my travel better. Im headed into Laos this June
Continue writing you seem to have a flair for it !
By Dharmakaya on May 24, 2008
Hi, ofcourse a double-entry tourist visa could be ideal. Unfortunately i wasn’t much helped by the Thai VFS in India. So if you happen to miss, then it could be possible to get the re-entry permit in Thailand before entering Laos.
I would be very glad to entertain your questions to help your Laos travel. Just shoot me across. My email ID will reach you mailbox shortly.
By Naveen on May 26, 2008