What should I know about making a border run from Thailand, especially regarding transportation and visa issues?

ok, that might be true for people who have a reason to worry.

@Erik *********

haha are there good ones?

@El ******

I thought it was unlimited now for some passport holders...

While i agree with your sentiment I would never subject my toddlers to such torture. Responsible parents would fork out for a plane ticket or at least a private car or van with driver, assuming they don't own a car or want to rent a self-drive vehicle.

Or take the train to Vientiane. Or drive to the border, either self-drive or with a private van or car and driver.

@Billy ********

Donny didnt have toddlers in Russia ( or dont think ) they were mature hookers.

@Billy ********

Only heard story of Tramp in hotel in Russia there were gals, think 130 k apiece. Doubt if check cleared.

@Bill *****

Indeed, it's a fantastic way of traveling. You arrive in Laos in the early morning, when the first cross border train runs. With a dedicated immigration service, you don't have to queue with potentially dozens of other people like at the nearby land border. Train back leaves late afternoon from Thanaleng station, in time to connect with the Nong Khai-Bangkok service that departs around 8pm.

@Bill *****

where do these buses go from?

@Bill *****

second class with aircon, lovely way

Well, it's only 2 hours from Saigon to the Cambodian border. Done it many times but never as a border run. I only ever cross the border with the intention of going into Cambodia and then back into Thailand. Anyway, to do a border run from Vietnam, you're actually forced to do a visa run, unless you hold a multiple entry visa. This is because it takes the Vietnamese authorities 3 working days to process an e-visa so you can't come straight back. You'll need to leave Vietnam, apply for a new e-visa then wait at least 2 nights in Cambodia to come back.

@Gregg ************

yes best way would be to get on an international bus, preferably to Laos, which has at least 12 cross border routes now. You use the same bus to cross the border and they guide you through the process. Some border crossings might require a visa in advance, now that Laos has scrapped visa on arrival facilities at most of the less busy border crossings.

Other options include the Bangkok-Siem Reap or Bangkok-Phnom Penh buses. Or you could choose a Hat Yai-Kuala Lumpur bus (for those in the south or can fly cheaply to Hat Yai).

Finally, the international train to Thanaleng, Laos (with the Kamsavath station near Vientiane city to open in a few months) is a relatively quick and stress-free way of doing a border run. They have a dedicated immigration service just for train passengers and the train is never full. In fact, the vast majority of passengers are western tourists not local Thais and Laotians, who tend to use either the bus or go by private car.

What steve said 🙈😂🎃

@Gregg ************

agree, just dont sit above an axle.

Despite it being promoted by the Immigration office as a method of collecting Visa Exemption.

And being the format in several Southeast Asian countries.

You're as shortsighted as they come.

@Brick ******

How do you know his poor

@Brick ******

Judging what I see and know... Farangs living here are simply trapped. Lived and did business here 15-16 years ago. Currently in CM, never staying here again. Country gone to shits with scams, visa issues, and attitude of 3 years "catch-up up".

@Brick ******

A bit judgmental ,eh from a guy that's had his share of it i wager .

@Matthew *******

As a parent myself, I wouldn't Subject my toddler to such misery. I own a car and we drive everywhere. My toddler hasn't even been on the skytrain before.

I don't understand parents who torture their young children like this, going on long uncomfortable journeys with lots of strangers around them. However, I'm understanding and would never whine about them like you are.

I'm guessing you've never had children and please don't have any.

@Matthew *******

wow, so when you were that toddler once upon a time…..the problem and solution are inside you not what happens around you. Hope you helped those toddlers as others helped you at that age. Time to get away from self ……

@Alistair *********

I never understood why some people can't just make a trip out of it and spend a couple of days say in Siem Reap. It's a great town where you'll never get bored even if you've visited 10 times.

@Paul *********

I never understood these responses, a border run is purely transactional. He wants a new visa / stamp to stay longer in Thailand, no different than going to immigration yet people don't recommend making an "adventure" out of that.

I don't have time for that, so I can only recommend a border run by plane

@Viola *******

What did you do? Stay in the other country a while and go home? Or go straight home?

@Miki ******

some are just converted vans

I drive to these countries as it's much more fun with my own vehicle. For Vietnam, it's generally not possible to go by car, but if it's just a trip to Saigon you can drive as far as the Cambodian border then it's 2 hours in a nice, comfortable and cheap taxi for the last 80km into town.

@Debbie ****************

Please explain to us how you do it the legal way at the immigration office.

@Debbie ****************

you can’t read

@Debbie ****************

he is doing it the legal way.

@Debbie ****************

there is no way for him to just go to the immigration office to do what he needs to do. He has to leave the country and re-enter. Immigration can’t help anyone who’s in this sort of situation.

@Joe *****

Some people might be scared of flying, but driving is an option. If one can't afford the fuel for that, they really shouldn't be in Thailand.

@Geoff *******

what you can't afford to drive or take a short flight?

@Joe *****

NOT everyone has much money JOE..the Slow...

@Steve *********

yep, for me it'd te terrible drivers. Absolite a holes mostly. And the cramped seats. I'd rather get a train.... or defo at least fly out and train or BIG bus back.....

@Marc ********

Elite....4 sure..bs. Check in 90 days and cannot work..

Price 5 years one person they promote for 5.5 years and give deadline.

Say after this time price goes up..500k to 600k.

The economy was fxxxxxx and yet there trying to rip off the farang here as many scared if visa status. But discourage others from Thailand. ..

Same as per......Want forgien money but don't want us.

Cambodia or Bali or Vietnam I'm thinking...

@Randy *******

I've heard more people get questioned at airports than land border crossings. That stated, it depends on the border crossing and whether you are doing a border run (in-out same day) or spending a few days outside of Thailand. The latter is almost always trouble free unless you have a long history of visa exempt entries in short succession.

@Marc ********

if you have everything in order and the correct visa then you won't be denied entry ,I've flown in and out endlessly for decades.

Nadia Cristina Vecchione I wish you luck. Hopefully, you won’t need it. Enjoy your time in Cambodia.

Nadia Cristina Vecchione ok. Flying is always the better of the two. You’re less likely to be questioned. But still, they may ask you why you’re not on a proper visa. They may not say a word to you.

Nadia Cristina Vecchione by land? If so, you’re only able to do two land border bounces in a calendar year. Which I don’t think would be your case. Either way, back to back can cause problems. It all comes down to the immigration officer you’re going to face.

Nadia Cristina Vecchione if you haven’t had many stamps in a short period of time. If that’s the case, you’d have no issues returning to Thailand.

Nadia Cristina Vecchione It all depends on the border agent. 10 days is better than 2 days, but then again if you've done 45+30 days, 2 or 3 times you'll run out of luck someday

@Marc ********

stop it with the common sense. Most of these people can’t comprehend that!!!

Not sure what a "boarder run" is. I do however know what a border run is, which I've done before but haven't needed to for several years

@Eran ************

Flights are expensive, it's inflexible and some people are afraid of flying. It's not for everyone. What I don't understand is why someone who claims to own a car doesn't drive himself.

@Eran ************

Because we weren't born with wings

@Eran ************

read his responses 🙄. He was unsure if he’d get back into Thailand so he used a company.

Randy blocked me guys 😂 can someone post a screenshot of his last reply, and just let him know that feelings don't belong on Facebook 👌🏻

@Randy *******

Clearly that joke went waaaay over your head so congratulations! You immediately qualify for an American passport! 😂 Your American name will be Randy Marsh!

@Courtney *****

the amount of useless responses in this thread. Some of you lead a very sad life. It’s quite funny to be honest.

@Paul ******

Yes we know that, but it's commonly referred to as Poiphet border in these groups.

Lol, but it's actually Aranyaprathet, since the only cross border buses go all the way to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. If you tell someone at a train or bus station you're heading to Poipet, no one will understand you. The Thai town is called Aranyaprathet. Use the proper name. If that's a mouthful, you can also called it "Aran". Another name used is "Ban Khlong Leuk", referring to the name of the last railway station before the border or "Talad Rong Kluea", which is the name of the border market.

@Darren *****

exactly! or transfer them back again

@Rachel **************

retirement visa

@Randy *******

Just transfer 40k every month. That's what the smart people do.

@Randy *******

Not really. Why do you do that? I've got buddies on 12-month "married to Thai" visas. Just one visit to Immigration every twelve months to extend. No border bounce required.

@Rachel **************

Get a REAL visa is one option

@Rachel **************

elite visa is one way.

Yes and you have to spend 3 days outside Vietnam every time as that's how long it takes to process a new e-visa

@Mark ****

You found the answer to that

@Albert *******

sure and stay there and not go Thailand..

@Francesco *********

exactly drive across the border, spend a few days and you'll be fine.

mmm when they refused me to re-entry they told me that i should stay abroad at least 3-4 days, not only 1 day like that time... but yeah, who knows if it's really so... probably it just depend on the officer's mood......

I can still remember the guys load phone call quote " Ohh baby , just wait till I back back , I so horny , Im a gonna stick my C#ck right up , your A - hole , you gonna love it " ..

@David ********

You get what you pay for in Asia.

@Simon *********

if you have your own car, why not drive yourself? Only losers would catch public transportation when they own a vehicle of their own. Since I purchased my car, I haven't caught so much as a bus even once!

@Dylan ********

wow, what a constructive reply. If anyone, you’d be the sheep. Using words like “sheep” makes you a follower.

@Ivan **********

😴

@Cris *******

we actually just finished the trip there and it was absolutely good experience

@Av *********

Thank you for the info. Do you mind if I DM you, I would like to know more?

@Simon *********

not if u leave in the early fucking morning. 1 to 1500....lived here 25 years I know wtf I'm talking about old man

@Giorgio *****

wtf are you on about? You're romanticising a border run. Do you talk about how your trip to immigration is and how you go different routes and throw in the occasional Thai word to immigration officers so they know your a "real traveller"

@Giorgio *****

feel better about yourself now??? 🙄

@Giorgio *****

expats leave their brains in their own countries lol

@Roberto ********

just came back from Pakse, crossing at Chong Mek. Process is a bit disorganized on the Lao side as they've moved the immigration and customs process to the new building that has finally been completed. However, only one of the two planned buildings is complete, the other one hasn't started construction. For that, the old building needs to be razed first, meaning both arrivals and departures are done in the same building. A number of steps need to be followed to be stamped out with a car heading back to Thailand, or for that matter, getting into Laos (I entered at Vientiane), but it's not complicated, just a minor annoyance having to shuffle between 4 different booths.

Changing Kip back to Baht is a challenge as the official money changers are either closed, have problems with the system or they're only allowed to exchange foreign currency for Kip.

The Thai side is efficient and straightforward.

I've never walked through the tunnel as I always come by car. However, when I went with friends (Thai and farang) back in 2019, I sent them through the tunnel, while I of course drove my car across. I felt this would be faster for them, but they got confused about where to get stamped so they found me at the booth where I had to get a document stamped for my car and i guided them through the process.

Made some really good friends when I stayed in khong chiam, everyone is so friendly, the twandang we used to go to was closed and relocated

@Roberto ********

the glowing temple is not to be missed !

@Roberto ********

You forgot to mention - bring $40USD for the entry stamp into Laos. Otherwise, it’s 2K Bhat.

@Dada ***

totally agree, which begs the question, why are the parents such cheap Charlie's? They could have made it much easier on both themselves and their toddlers by using private transportation to get to a border. If they don't own a car (which, if you have children is pretty pathetic, I mean how many families don't own cars??) then at least rent one for these border runs. If not self drive, then a car or van with driver.

@Jeff *******

I can agree with you. Its annoying for sure but imagine being these two toddlers and their parents, I dont think it was a walk on a park for them either. I am sure it must have been worse for them…

@Simon *********

are you threatening me with a block? Don't do it! I'll be so sad.

just suck it up and take it in stride. You're traveling the world and others would love to be in your shoes.

@Simon *********

What's constructive about crying about toddlers? boo freaking hoo

@Simon *********

not every comment is going to fill your need for confirmation bias. Sometimes you just have to hear the truth.

@Son ****

where do you catch the train to and from?

@Pascal *******

Yes, do it that way or you can drive across. Actually, returning with a car increases your chances as the car is Thai registered. I've never heard of someone getting refused entry to Thailand while attempting to drive their car back into the country.

@Randy *******

Why didn't you or anyone else wake the driver up?

@Alistair *********

it's worse when they dont stop at all. I took a minivan from Thailand to Malaysia, and they did not stop for 3 hours, then finally stopped for 5 min. It was my second minivan that day and I had no food all day. They didn't stop for money exchange either.

HISO please explain

@Henrik *************

At the Nong Khai border, there's always some weird, young Vietnamese person who seems to have no idea how to cross the border. One guy asked me for a ride across the bridge, so I obliged. Most recently last week, a Vietnamese women didn't know that she doesn't need a visa for Laos and in any case you would get it on the Lao side of the border not the Thai side.

@Henrik *************

What’s the procedure like at Nong khai ?

@Mark *******

yes there's more to your story, which is your visa situation. You're married so get a marriage visa or extension. Problem solved.

@Mark *******

There is more to your story.

@Mark *******

same last year spent 13 weeks out the country 3 different times your not cumming back in had to show my bank accounts house / bussiness accounts in uk lol

@Marco ********

I'm here in Vientiane, took night train to Bangkok and another night 2 NonhKhai, fabulous new trains both times. Easy 2 buy Lao visa at border, cross the mekong by bus and then to Vientiane by local bus at border, easy, not expensive and drama free!

Laos is the best border to cross. Myanmar is second, mainly because of the one day system the Burmese side employs, so you have no choice but to return to Thailand. The border guards will check to ensure you're eligible before letting you out.