What should I know about completing a border run from Chiang Mai to Laos?

AteVChiang Mai border run to Chiang Khong/Huayxai completer. We found a private car service for about half the price of the organized Van trip. That way we could stop for snack and smoke breaks on the way. Fast exit and entry into Laos. We had Lao e-visas but still had to fill out an arrival and departure card. We waited about 20 minutes for the bus across the friendship bridge, ฿25 a person entering into Laos was smooth, but there was another ฿20 charge after we cleared immigration. We turned right back around and went back in. The Lao immigration person was very friendly, asked several times if we were sure we didn’t have to stay two days. We assured her that was not the case, hoping we were right, as we had been informed in this forum. It was a short wait for the bus back across the friendship, bridge, and our entry into Thailand was smooth and easy. The Thai immigration officer took our DTV’s, asked us where we lived, which was Chiang Mai, and stamped us back in through January 8, 2026. We had filled out the TDAC online and were prepared with the digital downloads I saved to my phone. However, just like the last time we came in at Chiang Mai airport, we were never asked for it. I imagine they just looked it up on the computer and saw that we had it, but no one ever mentioned it. thanks for all your help.