I did it a while ago. When you get your passport back jump in a tuk tuk outside the Embassy and go to Savannaket bus station- 3 minutes away. Get the 14:30pm bus to Mukdahan bus station, this will take you all the way from Laos to Mukdahan inc. stop for border crossing. The bus will drop you at bus station with a 4:30pm connection from Mukdahan to Mo chit.
Why do you need a new passport- you haven't done anything wrong. Why not apply for a TR visa while your in Canada, that way, if granted you know your good to go. Then, when you come back after your TR visa expires you can do 2 land border bounces this calendar year.
Yes great advice- poster should come in on Visa Exemption then get his passport renewed here. That's what I'd be doing. When new passport received look at getting METV.