Getting From Nong Khai to Vientiane Thai Embassy & City

I have made this trip more than a few times, and it’s one Thailand border crossing that involves jumping on various forms of transport.

It’s a peculiar trip when taken the first time, but like most of these border hops and visa-running adventures, it all makes sense after following the crowd in front of you and arriving at the destination.

Most travellers coming from Thailand head over the Thai/Laos friendship bridge from Nong Khai for a Thai visa from the Vientiane Thai embassy or as part of their travel adventure of Southeast Asia, with Laos being the next country to explore.

You will arrive in Nong Khai either by train (as covered in the Bangkok to Nong Khai train article here), from a flight ‘Bangkok to Udon Thani’ and then transport on to Nong Khai, or you could have stayed in Nong Khai town overnight or even came down from Chiang Mai.

Whichever way you arrive, you’ll need to get across the border. The process is easy enough, and it’s less than 2 KM to the border from the train station and less than 4 KM from the town.

I cover going straight to the Thai embassy (Vientiane) or the city after the border crossing and immigration in this article, then onward travel.

Border Opening Times: Crossing times are between 6am and 10pm. During Laos holidays, weekends, and before 8am or after 4pm weekdays, you’ll pay a $1 overtime fee.

Nong Khai town: If you’re staying in the town of Nong Khai then you will just need to get a Tuk Tuk (costs 60 – 80 THB per person) to the Thai/Laos friendship bridge. Your hotel should be able to book you one.

Nong Khai Train Station to Thai Border (Thai/Laos Friendship Bridge)

If you are arriving on one of the trains from Bangkok to Nong Khai (most likely the overnight sleeper), then the start of your journey is getting from the train station to the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.

The Friendship Bridge Border is approximately 3km from the train station.

The most common option from here is to take one of the Tuk Tuks that will be shared with other passengers who are waiting outside the train station. The Tuk Tuk costs 20 or 30 THB to the Thai/Laos bridge border.

You can also take one of the taxis outside, but they will cost considerably more, around 200 THB.

The Tuk Tuk will drop you off at the bridge border, where you stamp out of Thailand and then take a short bus ride across Friendship bridge to do the Laos immigration.

When you have stamped out of Thailand and purchased a bus ticket to cross the Friendship bridge for 20 THB. You’ll get a view of the Mekong river here, crossing the bridge.

Warning: You may get approached and offered a visa on arrival to pay for at a particular office, which I imagine involves paying more. You don’t need it, as you’ll get the visa at the correct counter section further along.

Nong Khai to Thanaleng Train

Another option once arriving at Nong Khai train station is taking the 15-minute train journey across the Friendship Bridge.

In the picture below you can see the platform for the Thanaleng (Vientiane) and the immigration checkpoint. You’ll need to purchase a ticket inside the station if going to Vientiane via train which costs 20 THB.

This can be quicker than following the rest of the pack across the road border, but you are at the mercy of drivers charging more over in Vientiane (sometimes the extra 100 baht or so is worth paying for less hassle). Other times it is not the quickest option because many people are waiting for tickets and the train is quite crowded.

Only two trains are running daily from Nong Khai to Laos – 07.30 and 14.35. The sleeper train 26 arrives from Bangkok at 06.25, so you might not want to wait until 07.30 –when the first train leaves Nong Khai.

You’ll stamp out of Thailand at Nong Khai station after buying a train ticket and take the short train ride to Thanaleng station. When you arrive over the bridge, you’ll need to go through the Laos visa process and then pay for a tuk-tuk into Vientiane city or to the Thai Embassy, once immigration is settled.

The local bus number 14 goes from the Thanaleng to Tha Deua/Talat Sao (market) bus station. These operate every 30 minutes or so and cost around 40 THB.

Laos Immigration Checkpoint

At the Laos border you will need to get your Laos visa form from the counter, and they will give you an arrival and departure form. There is plenty of room and seating for form completion, which is a bonus at any border.

Laos Visa Tourist Requirements:

• Passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and a blank page for a visa (they use a whole page).
• A Visa application form, filled out and signed by the applicant.
• One recent passport-type photograph.
• Visa fee (in cash USD, Kip or Thai Baht). 35 USD or less that depends on the country you’re from.

Once completed – hand the completed forms in at the first window with your 35 USD (or Thai baht) then the next window will call you to give you your passport back with a 30-day on-arrival Laos visa inside.

If you do not have US dollars and have to pay in Thai baht, the fee will be quite high in comparison (200THB extra). Usual border stuff to make a little extra money – nothing new there.

All very painless and easy enough.

Transport from Laos Border to Embassy or City

Once immigration is cleared, there are tuk-tuks and other options available to get you into the city or to the embassy. I would not pay more than 150 THB here unless there were no other options. I paid 100 THB for a ride in the local songthaew (two-seater truck) to the Thai embassy.

The cheapest way to get to Vientiane is with the local bus number 14, which goes from the Friendship bridge to Tha Deua/Talat Sao (market) bus station. These operate every 30 minutes or so and cost around 40 THB.

If you get transport into the city, it may drop people off at the Thai embassy first.

If you are going to the Thai Embassy first, then after submitting your visa application you can take a tuk-tuk for around 150 THB to the city and hotel from outside the Embassy.

— Thai Visa at Vientiane Thai Embassy Guide