What are the best options for traveling to Vientiane for an ED Visa application?

@Anne ******

from Chiang Mai the bus option is the only one where you don't spend a couple extra days in Vientiane because of the airline time points.

Ahhh. In that case I'd suggest just arriving 3.30, book into a hotel, get to embassy nice and early the next day, pick up visa the day after and fly back.

They actually give out the visas in the same order that they are applied for from the day before so the earlier you arrive on the first day, the earlier you get out the day of pickup.

Can't remember off the top of my head but fairly certain it's air Asia. If you aim to arrive for 7.30am you have plenty of time!

I usually fly from Bangkok and there are some nice early flights that get you there with plenty of time, it also helps to print the visa on arrival form off for Laos so you can avoid the first queue at window 1!

There are four flights a day from CNX to UTH but the first one is at 9:25 so probably too late to get to the consulate same morning. I am in Chiang Mai and fly to Udon each time, but I go the previous night.

@James ******

no it's not the group, this is the visa advice one, but the O/P said she was doing the visa run from Chiang Mai in an earlier post.

I didn't see what group this was in, I usually fly from BKK, but as I said somewhere else it's worth spending 2 nights, arriving late the first night and getting up nice and early the next day!

From Chiang Mai?

You have to spend 2 nights there if flying from CNX but accommodation is not THAT expensive, like you can get a private room for 350-400B, or if you are really strapped for cash a dorm for half that. I would not get the bus personally if you can get a flight for under 1,000. It's a LONG way on the bus.

@Anne ******

this is why I took the bus instead. I couldn’t find flights that matches up without having to spend 2-3 nights in Loas.

Bus from Vientiane airport to the morning market is quite cheap. It's a 15 min walk to the embassy from there

Plenty of time and $500 later

I may have been lucky the two times I've done the trip, but neither time have there been long lines - 3 deep max on both sides.

This is true but the agencies help get you to the front of the line at the border, etc.

Unfortunately since they have little competition in town (no competition?) their customer service isn’t great. It was nice to be with a group, but we were all sometimes confused about the process, together. One Korean girl in our group left Laos without getting a stamp out, and had to go back. The Aya staff are minimally helpful on what you need to do/which forms you need. They helped us get to front of lines. But otherwise were just there for transport. I saw some other higher end groups that had agents do everything for them (photocopies, standing in line) and they included a nice accommodation. I don’t think that would be worth it though. If I ever had to do it again, I would do it on my now that I know where to go. Aya goes Sunday night to be at Consulate Monday morning, which is the busiest day of the week. I’d go on my own a different day.