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Is living in Laos and visiting family in Thailand feasible?

Apr 18, 2025
a year ago
Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
so just a thought, has anybody thought about living in laos and just coming across the border to visit the family once or twice a year,
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses the practicality of living in Laos while occasionally visiting family in Thailand. It highlights challenges such as the lack of long-term visa options unless married to a Laotian, the idea of starting a business in Laos, sightings of Western expats in Vientiane, and the comparative costs of living in Laos versus Thailand. Participants express skepticism about the long-term viability of living in Laos under current visa regulations and suggest exploring other options, like Cambodia, for long-term stays.
Jim ********
Don't quite understand this. So you have a family in Thailand but don't want to live with them? Interesting
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Henry *********
@Jim *******
I live with my Lao wife and our son in Thailand.
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Jim ********
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Henry *********
@Jim *******
Just replying to your point as you misunderstood what I wrote.
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Jim ********
@Henry ********
The only thing I didn't understand is what your post has to do with the original question
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Jim ********
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Tee *****
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Henry *********
@Tee ****
Village life is too primitive and yet the cost of living too expensive.
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Henry *********
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Baz *********
Long term Visa requirements maybe a problem for Loas..

Cambodia could be a better option..

You should focus on the easiest of those 2 for you to stay long term as that's what will be an issue for you in the long term.
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Julian *******
@Baz ********
Cambodia

Is a complete dump with high crime
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Julian *******
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Sean *******
Savannakhet Lao had some really nice old French colonial homes that could be fabulous homes/ air B&B. Of course needing rehab and updates but might get you a year round business visa and nice home. I've thought about it.
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Jim *******
I know of a man who married a Lao woman, happy to live in Laos.

He had lived in Bangkog before.

What is the difference? Isan (25 million people) are actually Lao, only that the country was cut out by the French.
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Tony *********
There’s western people live in Vientiane.
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Julian *******
It’s more expensive than Thailand in many respects.
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Mark *******
And in many aspects not! 😊
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Shannon ********
@Mark ******
rent def is more expensive, just less options. Food, beer , etc depends on u
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John *********
@Shannon *******
Plenty of beer in Laos :-)
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Shannon ********
@John ********
yep, cheap, good beer
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Shannon ********
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Henry *********
My family are Lao and we have a house there. But we don't want to live there!
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Benjamin *********
Why?
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Jonathan ******
@Benjamin ********
Thai visa center should not be a problem. You’ll pay more but get the job done!
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Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin ********
because I'm finding it very hard to get a bank account,for a Thai via and even agency's are refusing to open a back account for you, it's just to hard even for then,
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Brandon ************
@Paul *******
Why would you get a bank account for a Thai visa? Apply for the visa from a Thai embassy, the way it's supposed to be done. No Thai bank account required. Then you use that visa to open a bank account in Thailand.
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Brandon ************
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Brad *******
There’s no long-term visa option unless you’re married to a Laotian
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Stuart *********
Not really sure of your point here. There may be people that do that.
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Jim *******
@Stuart ********
Isan, 25 million people, Thai, are the same people as Lao.
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Donald **********
@Jim ******
- my wife would disagree and gets most offended when I stir the pot. There is also a distrust of Lao people crossing the border in their own vehicles. Driving standard on the opposite side of the road. Vehicle condition etc.
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Jim *******
@Donald *********
You would know that. The name (half derogatory name for all foreigners, "farang" is a deformation of Thai pronounciation of "French". Thais never forgave the French cutting the state of Laos out of Thailand.

Indeed, Thailand is not a reper of democracy but Thai people are much richer, well off and happier than Lao people.

My daughter, a Thai national, can barely understand Thai in Wang Nam Yen (near Cambodia) or in Korat or Udon Thani.

She would say "I know what is being talked about and what is happening around me".

Isan, instead of calling us "farang" say "buksida".
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Donald **********
@Jim ******
- Isan people may well be more Lao genetically but majority, I’d say, prefer to be Thai. Even then, those in the South are more likely to be Kymer origin rather than Lao. As for language? For examples, Spanish is not exactly the same throughout Spain or within the former Spanish colonies in Central and South America. I’ve been told by Norwegians that people from various regions in Norway converse in English as they don’t understand each other when speaking Nynorsk or Bokmal.

My Thai is so far almost non existent and I can’t say the prospect of having to come to terms with two languages (dialects) fills me with much pleasure!
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Jim *******
@Donald *********
Thai is 2,200km long point to point state.

What is this?

"South are more likely to be Kymer origin rather than Lao."

Is it "Kymer" or Khmer (Cambodia)? My wife can peak Khmer.

Europe, the same distance, like from Stockholm to Rome and you fly over many countries, languages (mutualy unintelligable) , legistratures and cultures.
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Donald **********
@Jim ******
- If you read what I dictated. The reference of South is to Isan and not Thailand as a whole. I am aware that Cambodia lies to the South of Isan and the typo is due to unfamiliarity with referring to it. Teaching in Thailand were you? BTW I’ve travelled extensively in Thailand over more than a decade and actually worked out of Songkhla for a while, so am no neophyte. Recently drove from Ubon Ratchathani province to Udon Thani province for a family wedding. Stretching it a bit with the reference to 2,200km and irrelevant to someone currently working and travelling in Kazakhstan. Drive as far to go to and from some work sites.

Nice short flight of only 6-½ hours from Almaty to Bangkok.
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Donald **********
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Keith *********
@Jim ******
I think Issan people would respectfully disagree.
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Joseph ****
@Keith ********
They sure would. I've had this conversation with not a few Thais from there. He's being a simplistic foreigner throwing them all together just because there were some shared roots.
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Joseph ****
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