Can someone explain the purpose of this document. Thanks!

Just another Border Run Experience

(Chiang Mai → Chiang Khong / Laos)

Hey everyone, border run stories are nothing new – but I figured it’s always helpful to have an up-to-date report. Btw, if you prefer to read the story in German, head over to my FB page.

In little twist in my story: I told the officers straight away that I planned to come back to Thailand the same day (even though many say not to). And it turned out to be the best decision!

🚌 The trip

I caught the 8:30 AM Greenbus from Chiang Mai (Bus Terminal 3 near Central Festival) to Chiang Khong and about six hours later, around 2:30 PM, the bus dropped me and some travellers off at the junction near the Friendship Bridge to Laos. Tuktuks were already waiting for passengers and it was just a quick ride to the border (50 THB). Easy start!

🌏 The border crossing

Thai side? Super smooth – the officer joked a little and even spoke some German. Then I hopped on the border bus across the Mekong into Laos (25 THB). At the Visa-on-Arrival counter, I was upfront and told the officer I wanted to return the same day – and it worked like a charm. She stamped me in and out in one go – no photos, no forms, no fuss. The only catch: It cost 45 USD instead of the usual 40 USD if you stay in Laos. Since I didn’t have enough USD on me (I brought 40 but not 45), I just paid 2,000 THB. Yes, you can pay in THB and don’t need USD! A few minutes later I was already heading back to Thailand. The return trip cost another 25 THB. Just be advised that, coming from the Visa-on-Arrival counter without entering Laos, the ticket counter is a bit hard to find. Look for the exit where people entering Thailand come through and you can find the counter on the left hand side. On the Thai side, again super friendly – a bit of small talk, a smile, and I walked away with a fresh 180-day stamp. 🎉

🏙️ Chiang Khong

By then it was late afternoon (~4:30/5:00 PM), so I grabbed a tuk-tuk into Chiang Khong. Officially it’s 60 THB per person in a shared ride, but I paid 120 THB so the driver would take just me and 1 more woman without waiting. The town itself is small but really charming – I stayed the night, strolled the riverside boardwalk along the Mekong, and enjoyed good food with a cold Leo. 🍺 Perfect way to end the day.

🚌 The way back

Next morning at 10:30 AM, I hopped on the Greenbus again and was back in Chiang Mai by 4:30 PM – easy and stress-free.

💡Tip

Bring a warm jacket (the AC is *freezing* 🥶) and pack some snacks & water. The bus doesn’t stop for lunch – only a quick 10-minute toilet break in Chiang Rai – and there are no food options at the border.

📊 Facts & Figures

* Bus (Chiang Mai ↔ Chiang Khong): 870 THB (VIP ticket)

* Tuk-tuk to border: 50 THB

* Border bus over Mekong (return trip): 50 THB

* Laos visa/stamp: 2,000 THB

* Tuk-tuk to Chiang Khong: 120 THB

* Hotel: 1,000 THB

* Dinner: 235 THB

Total: ~4,325 THB (<120 EUR)

Can anyone please let me know if they have had the Digital nomad visa accepted from the London embassy with savings in your bank account for a short period of time?

Hi all

I've been coming to Thailand twice a year regularly on a visa-exempt entry as I usually stay for a few weeks or a month there. I have an Australian passport.

For the next visit, I would like to stay longer, for around 3 months, and think it's better to get a tourist visa offically before flying out and to extend it for 30 days when I'm there. Is this better than arriving visa-exempt again and then applying for 30 day extension? Or is there no difference between getting a tourist visa officially or arriving without a visa to get that 30 day extension?

Cheers

Hi. I am applying for the cooking classes 12 month course with the Canberra Embassy on an Australian passport. I will be quitting my job in 2 weeks, is it okay to put unemployed with zero income as I will be living off my 600k I’ve got saved for now. Thank you in advance.

I have a non o 90 day visa and will be flying out to Thailand on the 14th October. My intentions are to open a bank account and then apply for a yearly retirement visa. What I need to know is will I have any problems with immergration when I land at Bangkok airport as l do not have a return ticket to leave.

Hi. Here's a question about applying DTV in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Should I stay only in Hanoi until I get my visa approved?

Or I can travel near Hanoi?

FOR SYDNEY ONLY

Hi everyone,

Has anyone here applied for the DTV visa through the Thai Consulate in Sydney and had success when the 500,000 THB wasn’t sitting in their account for the full 3 months?

I do have a 3-month bank statement with the required funds, but the money hasn’t been there for 3 months straight. When I was enquiring to the people who were sorting out my Soft Power course, they mentioned it was recommended to hold it for 3 months but not a strict requirement.

Just wondering if anyone has been approved in the same situation. Appreciate any advice from people who’ve gone through it in Sydney!

Hello asking if i am going out at 92 days

Grace period

I am on dtv

It will be a problem or fine?

Thank you before

Like many people my Bangkok Bank was frozen and after 2 weeks it was working again.

I decided it would be prudent to open another account so I went to Kasikorn and opened an account very easily.

I thought I’ll just open 1 more for luck, so went to SCB, the lovely gentleman started the application and then advised I already had a bank account open with them! 23 years ago one hungover morning I opened a bank account whilst in Pattaya with my friend and his Thai girlfriend, deposited some money and carried on with my holiday. Got back to the UK, lost the book and didn’t come back to Thailand for another 13 years. I couldn’t remember the bank name so wrote it off as a loss.

Today he re activated my account and I had 27,000 in it 😂😂