If you have a longer validity license from another Asean country that is valid for longer than 1 year (Thai ones are now 2 and 5 years, not 1 year anymore) then use that instead.

While I haven't heard of any issues with using a Thai temporary license in Laos, ideally it should be a 5 year one.

Laos is fine for sure with a Thai, 5-year license. In theory, all other Asean countries should accept a Thai driver's license too..mine has been accepted everywhere in Cambodia but downtown Phnom Penh, where corrupt police want to see an IDP (you can get one from the Land Transport Department if you already have a Thai DL).

It's valid for 5 years, so enter anytime within that validity. Should be obvious really.

@Dca ****

Also, don't trust Thai timelines. I am confident end of 2025 is more likely. Anyway, very few farang will be interested in this crossing unless you happen to live in Beung Kan.

@Charles *********

More and more countries have stopped stamping passports

@Andy ***********

They can't even enforce tax on their own citizens. They certainly don't have the capability of tracking down a farang who withdraws money from an ATM in Thailand and tries to steal part of it from them. Besides, they already take 220 Baht from every withdrawal.

Being Thailand, if they ever did enforce this, you'd simply need to bribe the person doing the enforcing and then it would be problem solved.

@Andy ***********

Doubtful they'll be able to enforce it. It will destroy tourism and the economy so they won't.

@Dca ****

I read sometime in 2025, but Songkran would be optimistic. On schedule would have been end of 2024 or around December, so it's definitely delayed.

Anonymous participant Of course, if you want to explore these towns, it would make sense to catch a bus only to the first destination.

Nong Khai is nice, but might be more convenient to head directly to Udon Thani on the international bus, explore a bit then fly out (since the airport is located there; there's no airport in Nong Khai).

@Dca ****

The bridge construction is delayed; it was supposed to open end of this year, but now looks like it will be another 6-12 months.