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Is one night in Laos sufficient for re-entry into Thailand?
Feb 23, 2026
2 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI plan to leave Thailand through the Nong Khai land border to Laos.
I want to stay 1 night in Laos, then fly back into Thailand through Bangkok airport.
Is 1 night enough, or do I need to stay 2 nights outside Thailand?
I want to stay 1 night in Laos, then fly back into Thailand through Bangkok airport.
Is 1 night enough, or do I need to stay 2 nights outside Thailand?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The general consensus from the comments suggests that you can re-enter Thailand after spending a very short time in Laos, with some users mentioning they crossed the Nong Khai border and returned on the same day without any issues. However, there are warnings regarding the potential for complications at the border, especially when crossing on foot. Some commenters recommend checking visa requirements, particularly if you have a specific visa type like a DTV. While many have successfully returned after a one-night stay, caution is advised due to varying border agent attitudes and policies.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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Michael ***********
Edit....Nevemind......wrong group
Jon **********
@Michael **********
you have the DTV?Michael ***********
@Jon *********
no sorry.....I thought this was a group i am in. FB algorithm. I should have looked closer.Jon **********
@Michael **********
no need to apologise mate, when your not sitting regularly at the table of knowledge it’s easy to make such mistakesReply to
Jon **********
Reply
Chris *********
Huh? What exactly are you trying to achieve? What a useless post
John *********
Ai 🤦🏻♀️
Gabriel ********
AI is lame
Nick *********
In terms of the visa your able to return same day without issues and I literally flew to Malaysia for lunch and back without issues. Whether the land borders work that way without an agent or varying policies I guess varies.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nick ********
thank you so much ❤️Nick *********
Anonymous participant your most welcome. Wishing you the best of luck and good health on your journey into Laos.
Check out Vang Vieng while you're in Laos, place is fun and awesome and pretty lawless lol. Lots of hot balloon rides and happy bars.
Avoid buying weed from tuk tuks in Vientiane. A lot of people get setup that way
Check out Vang Vieng while you're in Laos, place is fun and awesome and pretty lawless lol. Lots of hot balloon rides and happy bars.
Avoid buying weed from tuk tuks in Vientiane. A lot of people get setup that way
Reply to
Nick *********
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James *******
Why are you promoting unsafe motorbiking?
CleverRa********
James *******
Just seen the inside of a Thai ICU unit that's all. Feel free to not wear one as you are clearly on the Darwin awards spectum.
Reply to
James *******
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Ron ******
Went across Nong Khai on Friendship Bridge in my own auto Christmas week , stayed for 7 days not a word on DTV, more hassles with car paperwork cause they want to f with you
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ron *****
I understand, yes. The car make a lot of mess.Reply to
Anonymous *************
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John **********
Do you have a DTV? If so you should be fine. If you are looking for another visa exempt stamp you might have an issue
Wojtek *******
Dude no chance ! I can send you hundreds of articles about Cambodia actually there are news every single day ! There are no scam hubs in Laos like in Cambodia !
Михайло ********
@Wojtek ******
are u sure?Wojtek *******
Sure about what ? There are news about crimes in Cambodia or about scam hubs ? Both legit. We can go back and forth like that but what’s the point. I’ve been many times in Laos nothing happened. Been in Cambodia once at the border to do visa run and they tried to rob me. Everyone might have different opinions but internet 🛜 is pretty clear about that ;) what’s going on in Cambodia is different state of mind ;)
Reply to
Wojtek *******
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERDTV
Михайло ********
Анонімний учасник please 🙏 be very careful in Laos
Wojtek *******
Laos is not Cambodia don’t worry ;)
Михайло ********
@Wojtek ******
************************************************
come to Laos and you will seeCleverRa********
@Михайло *******
big deal bro you saw a thief… can happen anywhere! I had my wallet snatched in Switzerland once.Михайло ********
CleverRadish5177 do they give you back your wallet within 24 hours like they did in Laos PDR with my stolen device?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Михайло *******
what happened?Михайло ********
Анонімний учасник you can clearly see in this video, thief feels like at own home around Laos PDR
************************************************
again be very careful it seem Laos now x10 times more dangerous vs CambodiaReply to
Михайло ********
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAt the Nong Khai land border on foot, they warned me that they would not let me enter if I try to return on foot, whether it’s the same day, the next day, or two days later.
Last time, they threatened and delayed me to stop me from doing it, and they did the same to a British guy who was crossing on foot at the same time as me.
Last time, they threatened and delayed me to stop me from doing it, and they did the same to a British guy who was crossing on foot at the same time as me.
Toni *******
Anonymous participant they were telling the same to my thai gf about me, until I paused them and told them I have DTV and showed it. After that they told me I can go back to Thailand, I dont even need a Laos stamp
Kim *****
Anonymous participant Did you go to Vientiane after that experience, or stayed in Nong Khai? I don't think this is related to having a DTV, did they check?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kim ****
get inside and stay for 2 nights.Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERInside Laos through Nong Khai
Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Kim *****
Anonymous participant This is a recent YouTube comment:
"We tried to visit Lao in january, we were told by a very angry looking border agent that we did'nt need to visit Lao and to stay in Thailand, he said we could go but might have problems getting back in.
I was with my 70yo mother my Thai wife and 3 elderly Thai family members, my mother and i were on tourist visa valid for another 4 weeks and we had return flights booked to Amsterdam in 2 weeks, but i wasn't about to argue my way out of the country so we spent the afternoon in Nong Khai and went home."
"We tried to visit Lao in january, we were told by a very angry looking border agent that we did'nt need to visit Lao and to stay in Thailand, he said we could go but might have problems getting back in.
I was with my 70yo mother my Thai wife and 3 elderly Thai family members, my mother and i were on tourist visa valid for another 4 weeks and we had return flights booked to Amsterdam in 2 weeks, but i wasn't about to argue my way out of the country so we spent the afternoon in Nong Khai and went home."
Kim *****
Late last year, an Australian citizen was told to fly out of Thailand from Bangkok. So he doubled back and had to buy a last minute ticket. A smoother exit is by the short train to Vientiane. It's only twice a day though.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kim ****
where cna I buy ticket to this train? Is it from Nonk Khai also?Kim *****
Anonymous participant yes, 70 baht at Nong Khai station.
Reply to
Kim *****
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERYes
Garrett ***********
Anonymous participant On the DTV?
Reply to
Garrett ***********
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Rhys *******
I went for a day trip on Saturday through nong khai. No issues at all. Out in the morning back in the evening
James ********
@Rhys ******
when did you do that? It seems to be more difficult now at that border crossing.NNan ****
@Rhys ******
may I ask , you do by yourself or against?Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@NNan ***
why do you ask this?Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Rhys ******
Did you cross from Nong Khai to Laos on foot?Rhys *******
Anonymous participant we went on foot. You’ll need to get the shuttle bus after you’ve passed immigration to get across the bridge.
Reply to
Rhys *******
Reply
James *******
Go out and come back in 10 minutes later if you want.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@James ******
Did you cross from Nong Khai to Laos on foot?Toni *******
Anonymous participant i did, nong khai and friendship bridge IV. 5minutes out and back in, no problems
Reply to
Toni *******
Reply
Mark ******
@James ******
I've done that without any problems.Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *****
Did you cross from Nong Khai to Laos on foot?Mark ******
Anonymous participant Yes, that's where I left and returned to Thailand.
James *******
Yes. You go though Thai immigration, wait for the bus that takes you over the water to Laos side immigration. Stamp in, you can then just walk around the corner and stamp out of Laos , wait for the bus again to take you over the water to Thailand immigration.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@James ******
I think my mistake was that I told the officer in the border I go out for renew my DTVReply to
Anonymous *************
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