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

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.

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.

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.