Mukdahan - Savannakhet

(visa)trip to the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet Laos.

Mukdahan

The very cold 1st class VIP night bus in Satuk depart at 3.00 AM and will arrive at 7.00 AM at the busstation in Mukdahan , where you can take a special local bus to the new "friendship bridge II", that will cost you 45 baht.

The local bus stops at the Thai-Laos border on the other site from the Mekong River, a Visa for Laos will cost you 35 USD (depends on nationality), the same bus continues his way from the border to the busstation in Savannakhet, there you have to get a Tuk-Tuk to the Thail consulate for 50 baht, or you take at the border a Tuk-Tuk to the Thai Consulate for 50 baht.

By the way, before that the friendship bridge was open there was a Mekong River Ferry with on the Laos side a real Customs specialized in Farangs..... they moved the office to the bridge, so only Thai can use that ferry now.

Savannakhet

The NEW! Thai Consulate will open his doors at 8.30 A.M., be on time there, overloaded busses with farangs will arrive about 10.00 A.M. This busses are also the reason that you have to wait 1 night in Savannakhet, the next day at 2.00 PM your visa is ready. Dont forget to bring 2 pictures and a photocopie from your passport.

Restaurant

You can find perfect restaurants near the consulate: turn right to the Mekong, when you turn left at the Mekong river you will see a couple of restaurants at 150 meters from the corner. The view over the Mekong is supurb and the fish is very fresh. With Thailand on the other site from the Mekong river you can use your Thai Telephone, what is not possible in the center of the town.

Guesthouse

There are 2 hotels and at least 3 guesthouse in Savannaketh, I can recommend guesthouse "Leena", the price for a double room with Aircon is 250 baht, with television it is 300 baht. There are cheaper rooms, but then you don't have hot water for the shower.

The staff at the guesthouse speaks understandable english. Ask your Tuk-Tuk driver for "Guesthouse Leena" when they dont know, they can ask other tuk-tuk drivers. I told my tuk-tuk driver that my darling was waiting for me in the guesthouse otherwise I'm sure that he bring me to a overpriced hotel.

But, there are also 2 other guesthouses on the mekong river side, dont know the price and if they are good/clean enough, from the outside they look ok but I have never been there.

Cow Chi Paté

In the center you will find a lot of old French architecture and a lot of good restaurants where you can have a good BBQ (Sukiaky), and very good sandwiches with real French bread (baguette) with Pate (Cow Chi Paté). Be prepared that in Savannaketh are tourists who stay there some longer. Hopefully this new Thai law brings Laos in the future into a little bit higher economy....

Shopping

After receiving your pasport (the next day) its time to go back to Thailand. You can go by tuk-tuk to the border or to the busstation and from there with the bus to the border.

At that busstation in Mukdahan the yellow bus wil leave in the direction of Pattaya around 5.45 PM and a VIP bus at 6.30 P.M.

Near the Mukdahan busstation is the Tesco, go there by a 30 or 40 bath tuk-tuk and you can do your shopping and have a good meal before you go back home.

But, when you like to stay a couple of days in Mukdahan, ask a tuk-tuk driver to bring you to the immigration buro, 50 meters from there is a nice and good hotel for 300 baht a room.

Kaeng Ka Bao

When you like to make a holliday from your visa run it is absolute a good idea to stay a couple of days in the Kaeng Ka Bao resort what is located near Mukdahan in a very nice spot at the Mekong river. They offer a pick-up service from the Friendship Bridge II and from the Mukdahan busstation.

Important locations:

Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet, Laos

Guesthouse in Savannaketh:

Leena Guesthouse, Chaokeen Road, Savannakhet, Lao P.D.R. tel: +856 41 212404

Kaeng Ka Bao resort, Kaeng Ka Bao. http://www.kaengkabao.com/

Same story in short:

Go to the busstation in Mukdahan

Take the bus to the Laos border.

Buy your visa for Laos at the border.

Take a Tuk-Tuk to the Thai consulate.

Have a good breakfest in a restaurant near the Mekong.

Find yourself a good guesthouse.