The easiest and most comfortable way to get from Thailand to Laos and Vientiane is to fly by plane. The cheapest way is by night bus from Bangkok. We went this way and that way. Most tourists go to Laos for a Thai visa. In Vientiane it is easiest and cheapest to get it. We decided to combine business with pleasure, get visas and see the country.
How to get from Thailand to Laos
The fastest way. Direct flight with AirAsia or Bangkok Air
Train to Nong Khai and bus across the border
Night bus from Mo Chit Bus terminal to Vientiane.
Bus Bangkok - Vientiane
By plane from Bangkok to Vientiane
You can fly to Vientiane from Bangkok in just 1 hour by direct flight. Tickets currently cost 1500-2000 baht on AirAsia. We flew with Air Asia on a 12.40 flight from Don Mueang airport. Read how to get there and. Departure without delay. Travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes. We ordered lunch on the flight and paid in cash (400 baht for two).
Landing at Vientiane Wattay International Airport. To the right of the exit is a currency exchange with a good rate. We exchanged a couple of thousand baht for expenses in Laos, since it is more profitable to pay in kip than in baht. How to remember the kip to baht exchange rate - multiply the amount in kip by 4 and discard thousands. For example, 10,000 kip = 40 baht.
From the airport to the hotel in the city center you can take a bus for 15,000 kip (60 baht or $2) or a taxi for 60,000 (240 baht or $7). More details: . We stayed in the very center for 1200 baht including breakfast.
- Buy plane tickets Bangkok — Vientiane >
By train Bangkok - Nong Khai
We could also take the train to the city. Then by bus to Vientiane about 40 minutes. The train takes several hours longer than the bus, costs a little more, and you need to change in Nong Khai to a bus to the border with Laos. You can buy train tickets at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok or online:
- Buy train tickets Bangkok - Nong Khai >
Bus Bangkok - Vientiane
We also went 2 times by bus to Laos. We went to . We got there by bus 136 for 6.5 baht per person. We decided to buy tickets to Laos in advance 2 days before departure. At the bus station, we asked around in the windows where to buy and how much tickets to Vientiane cost. The cashiers speak fluent English, so we got tickets for March 5 without any problems. Now it is possible to buy a bus ticket online:
- Buy bus tickets Bangkok - Vientiane >
The cost of tickets to Laos today is 900 baht per person ($25). To purchase tickets you need a passport. We showed a copy. The bus leaves at 8 pm. The distance from Bangkok to Vientiane is about 650 km. Travel time ~10 hours. Estimated time of arrival in Vientiane is 7 am. Before departure, they collect 5 baht from all passengers without fail (tip, probably).
How was the night on the bus?
We arrived without any problems. The VIP bus is equipped with a toilet and is generally suitable for sleeping; there is enough space to unfold the seat and take a nap. There were several stops along the way where we could buy snacks. We were given a food box (box of food), this time there was a glass of coffee and 2 cakes. I took a chance and tried it. I have never eaten anything worse. This delicacy tastes and smells like black bread soaked in fish sauce and generously rubbed with onions and garlic. I don’t know who this is, but I almost puked.
Treats disguised as sweets
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.
At the stop where there was a hot meal in a cafe, they either tried to scam us, or maybe the ticket was somehow defective, but they didn’t give us a free meal, they demanded that we pay an extra 70 baht. Well, I didn’t really want to. It’s good that we took some normal food from home and bought peanuts and chocolate at 7-Eleven.
Thai-Laotian border
The bus arrived at the border around 7 am. We filled out the Departure card in our passports on the bus; there were practically no people at that time, so we received the stamps for leaving Thailand quickly. I remembered how we spent 2 hours in line at . We read that you need to pay a small amount if you cross the border early in the morning or late in the evening. To leave Thailand they paid 20 baht per person. The bus is waiting just outside the border. In 20 minutes, Laotian mosquitoes had already swooped in.
Then we load up and drive across the Peoples' Friendship Bridge. And then, after 5 minutes, the Laotian border appeared. We were given standard immigration cards, quickly filled them out and received a stamp to enter Laos. Laotian visa for Russians for 15 days is free.
How we got a little scammed at the Laotian border
You had to pay again for crossing the border early. The cashier said it was 40 baht per person. There was no small money, they gave us 100 baht. She gave us One way ticket cards to go through the turnstiles, and instead of 20 baht we received 1000 Laotian kip in change. We weren’t used to local money yet, we didn’t have time to count on a calculator, since there was a line behind us, and we didn’t expect deception from the border guards. Already near the bus, I checked the currency converter and it turned out that we were cheated by 16 baht, because 1000 kip is only 4 baht. In the future, I was even grateful to her, because after this incident I always kept the calculator in front of me and counted the change. It turned out that every second seller in Laos is trying to scam tourists, taking advantage of the fact that people pay in baht and do not understand local money.
Turnstiles on the border of Laos, for which you need to pay 40 baht to pass through
Arrival in Vientiane
Then, around 8 am, we arrive at the Khua Din Bus Station (dot on the map). At the exit of the bus, all arrivals are actively attacked by taxi drivers and tuk-tukers. Having fought them off, we stepped aside, picked up a GPS signal and walked to the Thai Embassy. We reached on foot in 20 minutes. After submitting our visa documents, we checked into a hotel across the street from the embassy. Then we went to a cafe, had a snack, drank beer and went to the station to buy return tickets.
Read:
Ticket office, Hua Dinh Bus Station, Vientiane
The way back. Bus Vientiane - Bangkok
Tickets in Vientiane, as we expected, turned out to be more expensive - 1000 baht per person. What to do, we bought it. At the same time, they clarified 2 times that this is a VIP bus, direct, and the departure time is at 18:00. It's good that the cashier speaks English.
Advice: buy return tickets only on your own and only at the bus station ticket office. The family and children we came with from Bangkok bought tickets at the reception at their hotel for 900 baht and were taken on an old bus through Nong Khai with a transfer.
Bus tickets Vientiane - Bangkok. They just called me Mr. VIA
The next day we got up at 6 am, walked around the city, then picked up our passports with visas at the embassy, ate in a cafe and went to the bus station.
VIP bus Vientiane - Bangkok
The inside of the bus was a bit cramped this time, when the passengers in front folded out their seats
At the Laos border we were again scammed for 10 baht. It was necessary to pay 40 baht for crossing the border during non-working hours. We only had a 100 baht bill, with which they gave change for 10 baht, instead of 20. When we asked why, the cashier began to say something about the difference in exchange rates. They didn't argue. While going through passport control, the Laotian border guard at the window began to stick up to Katya, asking all sorts of questions, like “Why is one so beautiful.” My appearance cooled his ardor and he immediately returned his passport.
There were no problems at the Thai border. We entered our double-entry visa number into the card and received all the necessary Thai stamps without any questions. By the way, in the next line, 2 impudent border guards tried to meet or scam two lonely girls out of money, asking them for return tickets and grinning.
We reached Bangkok calmly, we slept almost the entire way, since after 2 days in Laos we were pretty exhausted. We arrived at the Mo Chit bus station around 5.30 am. The bus, as always, was surrounded by taxi drivers. Somehow we fought them off and made it to the city buses. We found our route 136, the conductor was not there yet, and we got a free ride home. By the way, you can take the same bus to the metro.
Our costs for traveling to Laos by bus
On the road:
- Bus tickets: 900*2 = 1800 baht
- Return tickets: 1000*2 = 2000 baht
- Bus fees: 5*4 = 20 baht
- Border crossing fees: 200 baht
- Purchases in shops at stops: 100 baht
- Visa cost: 1000*2 = 2000 baht
- Copies of 2 pages of passport 5*2 = 10 baht
Other expenses:
- Housing: 800 baht
- Cafe: 1000 baht
- Shops: 300 baht
- Souvenirs: 160 baht
Total: 8300 baht or $245
Where to stay in Vientiane
If you are coming for a Thai visa, it will be more convenient to book a hotel near the Thai embassy:
- Douangpraseuth Hotel
- Grand Hotel Vientiane
If you want to see the city, go to the embankment, or do some shopping at the night market, then book a hotel in the center:
- Riverside Palace Hotel
- Vientiane Star Hotel
- Champa Garden Hotel
- Mali Namphu Hotel
ALL HOTELS in Vientiane →
Route Bangkok - Vientiane on the map
Distance from Bangkok to Vientiane: 630 km.
Getting to Laos from Phuket is much easier than it might seem. You may wonder: why go there? If you are vacationing in Phuket, you can easily change the atmosphere of the paradise island and go to Laos on your own. A couple of days will be enough for Vientiane and its attractions. Or you can travel throughout the country, visiting the party village of Vang Vieng, the UNESCO heritage site of Luang Prabang, the northern capital of Luang Namtha, the southern capital of Pakse or other places. In addition, in the capital of Laos there is a Thai consulate where they issue. This article will only talk about Vientiane and how to get to it from Phuket.
Golden Stupa in Vientiane
General facts about Laos
Laos is very similar to Thailand. Reminds me of his distant province. The Laotians are the real younger brothers of the Thais. In Vientiane, the capital of the country, you will find Thai banks Kasikorn, Siam Commercial, . You can even pay and not exchange them for bales.
They speak English poorly in Laos, so I have to switch to Thai. Both languages are similar, like Russian and Ukrainian. Laotians say hello "sabaidi", and for Thais this is a positive answer to the question "how are you?" In Thai, Russia sounds like “ratsia” with the emphasis on the first syllable, and in Laotian “latsia”. Sometimes even the signs can be read. The Laotian letters look like the Thai ones that had a big party yesterday and are now a little wrinkled.
Triumphal Arch of Patuxai in Vientiane
Visa to Laos in 2019
It is very easy for Russian citizens to travel around Laos; they will issue a free stamp at the border for 30 days. Ukrainians and citizens of Kazakhstan can obtain a visa for $30 or 1,300 baht upon entry into the country. It is set for 30 days and, if desired, can be extended to 60 days. You will need a photo and a completed application form, which is given out in a separate window at the border.
Wat Xieng Thong Temple in Luang Prabang
How to get from Phuket to Vientiane?
The easiest way to get from Phuket to Vientiane is by plane to Udon Thani, then by minibus to the border and by taxi or bus to the center of the capital. Phuket-Udon Thani ticket. It costs about 1000-2000 baht one way. Travel time is 1.5 hours.
Wat Xiengthong in Luang Prabang - photo like on the cover of Lonely Planet
There is a minibus from Udon Thani Airport to the border with Laos for 200 baht. Minibuses leave when they are full. I usually wait no more than 10 minutes, the journey is about an hour. The border is located in the Thai city of Nong Khai. The Mekong River flows between Thailand and Laos, across which the Friendship Bridge was built. The border is open from 6:00 to 22:00. If you fly from Phuket to Udon Thani on a Thai AirAsia flight, you can go through passport control on the same day.
Cross the Thai border first, completing all formalities. A bus runs along the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos every 10 minutes and costs 20 baht per person. At passport control in Laos, you fill out an entry card, receive a visa (if necessary), pay an entry fee of around 50 baht, its cost depends on the day of the week and time of day.
Wat Si Saket with hundreds of statues in Vientiane
From the Laotian border to Vientiane can be reached by city bus, tuk-tuk or taxi in half an hour. The advantage of the last two options is that you will be taken directly to your hotel. The cost is 200-400 baht per car. You can pay in baht. City buses are air-conditioned and operate during daylight hours. Bus stop No. 14 is located right next to the border, and you can take it to the station at Talad Sao (morning market) in the center of Vientiane for 40 baht.
Whiskey with snakes and scorpions in Vientiane
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane?
Where to live in Vientiane?
There are a lot of guesthouses, hotels and resorts in the capital of Laos. If your goal is the Thai consulate, you can safely stop in the center of Vientiane, without being geographically tied to the area, and then take a taxi or tuk-tuk. You can find a hotel on the spot or book in advance on the website, finding a better price. Accommodation costs start from 400-500 baht, for 800-1000 baht you can find good options in the center.
Statues in Buddha Park
How to get a Thai visa in Vientiane?
The Royal Thai Consulate is located on Rue Bourichane. I marked a point on the map. Don't get confused, because there is also an embassy not far from the Arc de Triomphe. Submission of documents for a visa takes place from 8:30 to 11:30, and you are given a number by which you pick up your passport the next day from 13:30 to 15:30. On Mondays and after holidays there are long queues at the consulate. No, huge queues! If you have a number 300-500, you will have to wait 2-3 hours. Check the documents required for a tourist visa in advance, they are usually required 2 photos on a white background, passport and its copy, and 1000 baht. Important: In Vientiane they do not issue an annual non-B visa. Copies of your passport and photographs can be made here for an additional fee.
In February 2019, a mandatory electronic queue was introduced at the Vientiane consulate. First you need to register on thaivisavientiane.com and log in to your account. The queue can be completed a maximum of 30 days in advance. Choose one of three one-hour periods. A total of 300 people per day can sign up. This rule applies to all types of visas - tourist, transit, work, study, guardianship and others. The Consulate does not accept visitors without an appointment.
Baguettes on every corner
What to see in Vientiane?
The sights of the capital of Laos can be explored on foot during daylight hours. In the center there are famous temples: Wat Inpeng, Wat Ong Teu, Wat Mixai smoothly turning into one another, the black stupa That Dam, the oldest temple of the capital Wat Si Saket with hundreds of Buddha statues, the former royal temple of Ho Phra Kaew with a museum, the picturesque Wat Si Muang . A little further away are the Triumphal Arch of Patuxai and the famous Golden Stupa Wat That Luang Tai. If time permits, head to Buddha Park, which has many interesting statues. In the evening, visit the Mekong waterfront night market, watch locals do aerobics outdoors, and get a glimpse of Thailand across the river.
What to try from local cuisine?
Laotian cuisine is very similar to Thai. Or rather, the Thais borrowed various dishes from the Laotians and now appropriated them for themselves. Be sure to try the Laab salad with minced meat, spices and mint leaves, Mok Pa - tender fish fillet steamed in banana leaves, Pha Khao - a set of different Laotian dishes in small plates. Another must eat item is delicious baguettes and BeerLao beer. It’s not for nothing that the French ruled Laos for 50 years. And if you want something exotic, go to the Talad Sao morning market. They sell various parts of pigs, huge beetles, buffalo fat with skin, and rat protein. Last time I found a decent Vientiane Center shopping center in Vientiane with a cinema, food court, local cafes and children's clubs. Decent in the sense that 10 years ago such a shopaholic’s dream did not exist at all, only provincial under-stores.
How to get from Laos to Phuket?
You need an international bus to Udon Thani, where you can fly from the airport to Phuket on Thai AirAsia. Tickets are sold at the station near the Talad Sao morning market. Buses run every 1-1.5 hours. Important: When purchasing a ticket, they ask for a passport (or Thai license). The bus travels for just about 2 hours and stops near the Central Plaza Udonthani shopping center. You can get to the airport by taxi.
If you plan to get from the consulate to Udon Thani Airport after receiving your visa, it is better to take a taxi. The bus takes a long time, there are long queues at the border at this time, and there are traffic jams at the entrance to the city. For example, if you leave by bus at 15:00, you will be at the Udon Thani bus station at 17:30. It's better to play it safe and book a plane ticket for the next day.
Lunch at Kung's Cafe, Vientiane
Next time I will write how to get from Phuket to . In the meantime, you can read about or. Have an interesting and educational journey!
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Dependence of the ticket price on the day of the week and time of day
Usually the most expensive plane tickets are sold 2 weeks before departure. Also, the price may vary depending on the day of the week and time of day at which the flight takes place. Tickets for Friday and Sunday evenings are more expensive than early morning midweek tickets.
— 20.00 . For some reason there are no daytime flights, although I wanted to take a ride during the day.
The ticket is worth it for one 900 baht, there are no options for classes and prices, only the following VIP tickets:
We bought tickets for the evening, left some of our things in the storage room and went for a walk around the neighborhood.
You can also buy a ticket online on this website. There are different options there - not only by bus, but also by train (albeit with a transfer), by plane - in general, see what is more convenient for you. With a child, for example, I don’t know how to take a night bus; it would be better to take a train then.
We spent half a day in, they are located just near the Northern bus station. We had lunch at Big C in the food court, and about an hour before departure we were already at the bus station.
Our VIP bus:
The chairs are very comfortable, there is a lot of legroom, there are 3 chairs in a row: 
We had seats on the 2nd floor, and films in Thai were shown on TV for 4 hours: 
IN 20.15
We left Bangkok. There were practically no stops, because... There is a toilet on the bus. As soon as we left, everyone was given water, juice, and buns.
The first stop was right at 00.30 . And we will remember this stop for a long time... Nothing was announced in English on the bus, so we didn’t even understand that this was a long stop for food. But then Vova finally went out to see what was there, and I stayed on the bus. He was gone for 5 minutes, 10, and then all the passengers had already returned, and the bus moved slowly! What I experienced at that moment cannot be expressed in words! This is just terrible! Stay somewhere at night in an unknown suburb, without money or documents! I had all the documents. Of course, I stopped the driver (it’s good that it was possible to go down to him, the door was open), about 10 minutes later Vova finally returned. It turned out that when he went to see what was there at the stop, he could not find for a long time whether they were giving out food somewhere (and usually if you are traveling on a VIP bus, there is a stop along the way where you can get some kind of dry ration with your ticket - cookies, juices). Then I saw that you can get coupons in exchange for tickets and buy something with them in the store (like about 30 baht per person, just enough for juice and cookies). In general, he bought everything, left the store, and there was a whole bunch of identical buses, but ours was not there (you could only find out by the bus number), and no matter who he asked, no one spoke English and could not answer anything . But then someone finally showed him that there were buses on the other side of the store (it turns out that the store has 2 exits, and he just went out the wrong door). Then he finally found our bus. Phew...that was a stop. Be careful! It’s better to ask again so as not to get lost somewhere without documents.
IN 5.00 there was a second stop - a toilet, a store, just to warm up.
Stop:
Nice swings at the bus stop:
We stood for about 15 minutes, we could run into Amazon Cafe for fresh coffee:
After the stop, they gave everyone a cup and a set of coffee (separately sugar, coffee, cream); you could brew coffee on the first floor of the bus.
IN 7.00 We arrived at the Thai border:
The line passed in 5 minutes:
We put an exit stamp and went to our bus:
IN 7.30 arrived at the Laotian border. We didn’t really know what to do there; it turned out that we first needed to buy a ticket to cross the border here:
The ticket costs 11 thousand bales or 48 baht, you need to use it after passing through passport control.
After purchasing the tickets, we filled out the immigration cards (it’s not immediately obvious where they are distributed, you need to ask):
Going through passport control: 
Since it is very early, the exchangers are not working yet: 
Transport passes here, it is strange that all large things (suitcases, large backpacks) remain on the bus, no one inspects them, they are not visible on the frame, in theory you can carry anything: 
After passport control we go through the turnstile, here you just need to lower your ticket (which you bought earlier) for the turnstile to open: 
Prices at the border (you can get to, even to Luang Prabang):
IN 8.14 finally the bus moved on, and in 8.45 arrived at the Vientiane bus station:
Many people in Laos wear these Vietnamese hats: 
There is plenty of all kinds of transport, there are even these small minibuses: 
We took a photo of the bus schedule leaving from this bus station: 
Here you can immediately buy a return ticket to Bangkok: 
Thus, the entire journey from Bangkok to Vientiane took us 12.5 hours. True, I still expected to arrive early, at 7 o’clock, but it turned out like this. The bus was generally comfortable, but the air conditioning was simply terrible, a stream of icy air blew constantly, and the air conditioner did not close at all. I had to cover it up with napkins, unfortunately there was no tape. So be sure to take warm clothes with you, even though they provide blankets on the bus, this is clearly not enough.
The easiest way to obtain a tourist visa to Thailand is in one of the neighboring countries, having previously lived for a month with an arrival stamp. I will tell you how to get a tourist visa to Thailand at the Thai Embassy in Laos in this article.
Here is a working diagram for how a Russian citizen can live in Thailand for 7 months on a tourist visa. You need to enter Thailand without a visa, live for a month under the stamp upon arrival, get a double-entry tourist visa to Thailand in one of the neighboring countries, activate it when you return, live on it for two months, extend it for a month at the immigration office, get a visa run, return , having reactivated the visa, live for another two months and extend for another one.
The cost of a single-entry tourist visa to Thailand is 2,000 baht, a double-entry visa is 4,000. The visa may be refused and the money may not be returned. They may give you a single entry instead of a double entry and also not return the money. This is normal practice, for example, I received a US visa in my blank passport only the second time. Russians do not need a visa to enter Laos; a two-week stamp is placed at the border for free.
Here I will talk about a visa to the capital of Laos - Vientiane. In addition to Vientiane, visas are issued in Laos by the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet. I talk about the visa run to Savannakhet in another post. Vientiane is a more popular place for a visa application and there are more interesting ways to spend time, but Savangkhet is less crowded and there are no queues at the consulate.
The visa-run route is simple. From Bangkok you need to get to Vientiane, preferably in the morning, so that you have time to apply for a visa before 12:00, then check into a hotel, spend the night, get your passport back with a visa in the morning and go back to Thailand the same day. We didn't come to see the sights.
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane
Plane from Bangkok to Vientiane. The fastest way to get there, however, is not optimal, in my opinion. I couldn't find any flights cheaper than 5,000 baht one way, which is too expensive for a visa run. Plus, the earliest arrival is 10:40, which makes it difficult to make it by noon, given airport formalities upon arrival.
Plane from Bangkok to Udon Thani. Not a bad option, promotional tickets from Nok Air cost about 850 baht one way, there is a flight with departure at 6:00 and arrival at 7:05. There are direct buses from Udon Thani to Vientiane.
Night train from Bangkok to Nong Khai. There are several night trains from Hua Lamphong Station to Nong Khai. A first class berth costs about 1200 baht, as far as I remember, and a second class berth costs between 700 and 800. Travel time is 12 hours. The second class is a fairly comfortable carriage with air conditioning; I found it much more comfortable than the Russian Railways compartment. There are buses from Nong Khai to Vientiane, but it is faster to take a tuk-tuk to the border, cross the Friendship Bridge by bus for 15 baht, cross the border into Laos and from there take a tuk-tuk or minivan to Vientiane. Tickets can be booked online.
Night bus from Bangkok to Nong Khai. From Mo Chit station there are several buses to Nong Khai, departing from 19:00, travel time is 10-11 hours. From the bus station in Nong Khai you can get a ticket for a direct bus to Vientiane, but I don’t know their schedule. We remember that we need to make it before noon!
They say that there are direct buses from Khao San to Vientiane, but since I don’t trust buses from Khao San, I won’t write anything about them.
My visa wound experience
I chose the train. Firstly, I haven’t traveled by train in Thailand yet, and secondly, a night train is in every way better than a night bus in terms of sleep comfort. I got to the station by BTS+MRT, which is very convenient. I got into the carriage, I didn’t see any lying space. Hmm... Ok, let's go.
Some time after departure, the conductor walked around the carriage and transformed the seated benches facing them all into lying down places and covered them. It turned out to be really comfortable to sleep. The toilets are similar to those on our trains. The air conditioning, unlike our trains, works fine.
The train was a couple of hours late. After getting off the train, I took a tuk-tuk for 20 baht to the border, it’s three steps to go there, I think, if you have time and a map, it’s not a problem to get there. I crossed the border, took a bus, drove to the next border, crossed it too, and ended up in Laos. Vientiane is 20 kilometers away, for some reason there were no people around, maybe because there were no Russians on that flight and everyone was delayed in applying for a Laotian visa, but I found myself face to face with a gang of taxi drivers who wanted to take as much from me as possible. In the end, I left alone in an air-conditioned minivan for 300 baht to the consulate and then to the hotel.
Near the consulate, as usual in such places, I was offered visa processing services. 4000 baht for a single entry visa. I refused, the price was reduced to 3000. I refused again and went to get a visa myself. It was crowded inside, the machine that issued numbers for the queue did not work, and two lines lined up - one for the numbers, the other for submitting documents. By the way, photos and everything necessary for submitting an application can be taken directly at the consulate.
Many French people received a Thai visa, which did not surprise me, but what surprised me was that they did not want to take documents from one English woman. I didn’t understand the reason, but she cried a lot and wanted to see her Thai husband. In general, I handed over the documents safely and found myself free without a passport.
Having told the driver the price category of the hotel, I sat down and we drove off. I am not picky about hotels, so the first room with breakfast, internet, and a pool in a small boutique hotel suited me. Take a shower and find something to eat.
Once on the streets of Vientiane, I was surprised at how deserted it was. Large electronics stores are completely deserted. There are not only no merchants on the streets, but there are simply no people visible, but there are only Beeline advertisements. I had a hard time finding a place to eat soup on the street. Food is more expensive than in Bangkok, but not significantly. The money is very unusual after the Thai baht, which is the size of a ruble. Even in the nineties we didn’t have so many zeros, although maybe someone did, we were just poor. Since I had already been warned that sex by foreigners with Laotian citizens, if they are not their wives, is criminally punishable, and the defendant is a foreigner, then the evening ended for me.
In the morning, breakfast, check out from the hotel, go to look at the triumphal arch of Patusai. There are a bunch of Japanese tourists there, nothing special. I saw pioneers, I didn’t have time to be a pioneer, but they are here in Laos, well done. From the arch to the embassy for documents, they gave you a visa, you can go home.
Take a tuk-tuk to the bus station, buy a ticket there to Nong Khai, it seems about 30 baht. While at the bus station, I thought what a poor country this Laos is, the World Peace Gong near the arch was given to them by the people of Indonesia, and the buses were given to them by the people of Japan. In Nong Khai, I immediately bought a bus ticket to Bangkok, which costs 450 baht for a second-class ticket in an air-conditioned bus. At the station there is where to sit, what to eat and drink, but I don’t know what to see in Nong Khai, so I whiled away the time at the station.
On the bus I was lucky with my fellow travelers; a large Laotian family, men and several women of different ages, began to take care of me. It has been noticed that Thai, Laotian and Khmer women want to take care of me and call me cute. I don’t remember where they got off, but they definitely didn’t make it to Bangkok. And I got there, got off at the Mo Chit bus station, took a motorbike to BTS, and from there I got home without incident.
