@Ray ****
There is. One agent is charging a whopping
*****
Baht (including hotels and transportation for 3 days and 2 nights), or
*****
Baht without.
This is still a bargain compared to the most famous agent, who's charging 60,000!
I think the only reason to use Vientiane and pay an agent is if you can't wait 3 months for funds seasoning and need the visa now and for some reason don't want to get on a plane to a consulate further afield.
However, for this price (even the lower one) you can fly business class to Yangon, Ho Chi Minh etc, stay in a 5 star hotel and still have money leftover compared to using an agent.