Which bus is better for a visa run: arriving in Nong Khai at 9 am or Udon Thani at 6 am?

SETV visa run Nong Khai Udon Thani visa application Thailand expat advice travel tips

June 11, 2018

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi! 

I'm buying a bus ticket on June 26th for my visa run. I'll be applying for a SETV tourist visa in Vientiane on the 27th. Is it best to buy the bus arriving to Nong Khai at 9am or to Udon Thani at 6am? I don't want to miss the cutoff for visa application in case the line is long. I'll have passport photos and all photocopies in advance (as well as visa application form if I can download and fill out the current form in advance) so will just get in line when I arrive.  I'm just not sure which bus to take and if the bus to Nongkhai is cutting it too close. Thanks!! 😊

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on which bus to take for a visa run to apply for an SETV tourist visa in Vientiane. They are considering options of a bus arriving in Nong Khai at 9 am or Udon Thani at 6 am, worried about potential long lines and time constraints. Comments suggest considering punctuality, staying overnight in Udon, or taking a flight from Bangkok to optimize the trip.

Tod *********

I'd say get the bus to Nong Khai that gets there at 9AM.

BUT heed

@Li**

's advice. :O

You can't have ANY screw ups crossing the border, getting into Vientiane and to the consulate or you'll miss the cut off time. It can be done and people do it all the time but you gotta have your wits about you and not lallygag or dawdle around at the border crossing.

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

It should be pretty easy to get a cheap enough ride from Udon Thani bus station to the border right? I've only done this trip once before from Phayao for a non b while I was working but I think I went straight to Nongkhai

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

yeah I'm thinking I could be at the border around 7:30-8? I think I'll end up doing that just so I'm not pushing it and worrying for nothing. I'm leaving the Friday open in case I can't get it done in 2 days but Is rather be back in Chiang Mai Friday 😊 thanks for your advice!

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Ama***

, that might work out better, the Udon bus station is about 60KM from the border crossing. so if you get in a 6 there you could be at the border sooner than 9.

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yeah I'm not sure if I trust the bus to be there on time 😂 I'm probably just being paranoid thinking I should take the one arriving in Udon Thani at 6 am for that reason 😀

6 years ago

Reply to

Amanda ***********

Graham *********

go up to udon stay there 1 night..get the van in the morning to loas..job done

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Amanda **********

it can be done

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

And I much prefer night buses to day buses 😃

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'd love to do the whole thing in 3 nights if possible. One on the bus from Chiang Mai, one night in Laos and one night in the bus to Chiang Mai 😊

6 years ago

Reply to

Amanda ***********

Liam *****

If you're going from BKK, why not just take a 6am flight to Udon? You can easily make it an spare yourself a night on the bus...

6 years ago

Liam *****

@Amanda **********

The border is open until 10pm, so you can.

You can also make it from the bus that arrives at 9am, but there are a few caveats to that - a) the bus would have to be on time (not by any means guaranteed), b) you'd have to avoid any faff at the border. It's usually hassle free, but there can be long queues on the Laos side, c) Once in Laos, you'll need to take a taxi straight to the consulate, which will cost you 300b. However, if all of the above works out, there's no reason why you can't make it to the consulate for 10.30. I think they stop accepting applications at 11.30, but someone may correct me on that.

6 years ago

Amanda ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Oops, should have said I'm going from Chiang Mai! But I don't mind the night bus so much 😊 I found a cheap flight but it arrives at 5pm on the 26th so not sure if I can still cross the border then. Think I'd rather the bus

6 years ago

Reply to

Amanda ***********

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