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What is the experience of a DTV border bounce at the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai?

Sep 8, 2025
2 days ago
Wannikea *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Border bounce at Golden Triangle report.

Just completed a DTV border bounce at Sop Ruak crossing at the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai. Not Chiang Saen, nor Chiang Khong. Completed the whole process within an hour including waiting 10 minutes each way for a boat to cross the river. Visa on arrival fee in Lao was $40USD cash perfect condition notes scrutinized carefully, dunno what they would have asked in baht. The Laos side of the crossing is called SLK. Big beautiful building but empty. The boat ride across was 100 baht one way for the Thai boat or you could spend 150 baht for the Chinese speed boat, I don't know why you would since it's only a 5-minute crossing. Zero questions asked either side and a seamless process.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user provided a detailed report about completing a DTV border bounce at the Sop Ruak crossing in the Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai. They described the process as seamless, taking about an hour which included a 10-minute wait for a boat each way. The Visa on Arrival fee in Laos was $40 USD. The Laos crossing area is referred to as SLK, and the user noted a choice between a Thai boat for 100 baht or a Chinese speed boat for 150 baht, emphasizing that no questions were asked during the crossing.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
How **************
Thanks for the report! I am about to do the same. One question: Did you get a Visa on Arrival in Laos? Or did you have eVisa?
James ********
Thank You for your helpful reply 😊
Ian **********
Thanks for that detailed report