Anyone been over the Mekhong from Nong Khai to Vientiane recently? If so I'd like to ask a few questions for some current info.

hi bobmac made that journey in early december not sure i can help you as it was my 1st time and all a bit daunting if you ask me.
but please fire away i might suprise myself.

Made this crossing last month. All was pretty easy, go through customs on the Thai side and take a bus across the bridge. There you can get your Laos visa on the spot by paying 30 USD (there is even a currency exchange booth). All was very relaxed.

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It's been 3 years since I made the trip so I just want to check a few points.

Take a tuk-tuk from Nong Khai town to the bridge - current cost?
At bridge take bus to Vientiane - current cost?

Recommend nice middle-standard hotel with AC, cable TV, central location. Not 5-star nor backpacker, somewhere clean and comfortable with a bit of atmosphere? A pool and attached restaurant would be nice but not essential.

Is the floating restaurant in the evenings still going? - current cost?

Any other tips for things to do? Night markets? 5 best sightseeing/things to do?

Any tips on short daytrips outside Vientiane?

Wouldn't mind renting a motorcycle for a couple of days. Anything good or bad to say about that idea?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

too easy Bob, especially since the laos embassy is in KK. Get your visa in advance and take the thai-laos bus from kk, if there is one, if not, take it from udon thani, 80 baht from udon, 50 from nong khai i think, but must have visa before boarding bus, or you might get left at border, do to time to get visa at border, they won't wait sometimes. though actually, still not a bad way to get to border. bus is usually full, so will probably have to get ticket night before, if they will sell, or wait for next one. go have breakfast then come back. udon runs about 5 a day, same as NK. not sure about KK. if not, hop the train to either udon or nong khai, actaully udon better, you can walk to the bus station, plan it right and i can pick the ticket up for you, maybe.

bus takes you right to the morning market, downtown, no hassles with tuk tuk / taxis at bridge, the best way to go.

little research, apparently there is one from KK.

links below
Bus From Khon Kaen To Ventiene (laos) - Thailand Forum

Bangkok Post Breaking News

as mentioned, also from udon and nong khai, 5 day r/t.

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LA
http://www.geocities.com/laphanphon/hp.html

Hey Bob,

I stayed at a great place in Vientiane, around 20 USD per night with nice clean rooms and very central. Only problem is I forgot the name of the place, let me ask my travel buddy if he remembers.

I recommend the restaurants along the river for your dinner but not the ones at the beginning of the road. If you head from the city towards the river turn right and when the road turns to the right again keep on going straight into a dirt road. At the end are some great local restaurants.

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Currently traveling around E-sarn so don't have time to get Lao visa in advance, will go over the river on 21st this month, plan to take tuk-tuk from Nong Khai to immigration at bridge (quoted 40Bt each for ride) then after immigration/Lao visa will take local bus or songtaew into Vientiane. This all seems simple enough. Also cheaper as visa at border = 30USD (about 1000THB) but visa at Lao emm/consul = 1,600THB. Correct?? At Vientiane will check out Phornthip guest house, I think that's where I stayed last trip (3 years ago) and it was cheap and very nice and good situation. Hope the floating restaurant is still running as that was fun. Also will take missus to morning market. Think I'll pass on the Buddha garden as I've been to Wat Khaek in Nong Khai several times and that's the same.

think the visa is 35 usd now. that lao emb is in KK.

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LA
http://www.geocities.com/laphanphon/hp.html

Thanks for the tips guys, especially LA. Only 5 days to go and I'll be drinking Beer Lao by the bonny banks of the Mekhong.

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