How can I get a Non-B visa in Vientiane on my own?

If budget is an issue or you do not like flying.

The train ( sleeper) is great, comfy. AC 2nd class sleeper is very good, but an issue on timing or delays. ( Under 900 Baht )

Bus is also great NCA to Nong Khai or Air Udon , both are very comfy and good leg room Air Udon about 500B, NCA about 750 B.

Just an alternative , I use them both and have done for more than 8 Years.

I have done it. Flew there with Air Asia. Booked a very nice hotel through Booking.com. organised an airport pickup through the hotel. Then had them take me to the consulate there. They dropped me off. I went and stood in the queue. Waited about an hour. Handed in my passport and paperwork. All done. Collected the following afternoon. It is less stressful than going in the minivan for sure

You can with Bangkok airways about 5490tb for the round trip

Fly to udon thani then take bus to laos border, walk across border & catch #14 bus in laos arrives every 15 min..catch the one heading into Vientianne, only 6000 kip

There is a train from Bangkok but you will want a 1ST Class ticket for the sleeper then get a tuk tuk when you get of to the border.

If you fancy a adventure. ..

For a 90 day single entry Non-B you need to have all the correct documentation from where ever you're going to be working for.

Whether you use a visa run company to lug you up there or you find your own way won't make a difference.

Most people from bangkok that don't use a company fly to Udon Thani in the morning, take the mini van outside the airport to the Nong Khai border, cross into Lao and take some transportation to the thai consulate in vientiane to turn in their paperwork. Then the next afternoon they pick up their passport, hoof it to the border, cross into thailand and make their way back to to the Udon airport to fly back to bangkok.