GT Rider

Thailand / Laos Border Notes

Entering Laos


1. Friendship Bridge: may or may not be open to bikes. After several years open to motorcycles, Lao authorities in Vientiane “closed” the bridge to motorcycles without warning in Feb 2005. Watch this GT Rider forum for the latest info. The bridge may be open to non-Thai registered bikes & only closed to Thai registered bikes, but probably not.

If it is not open to any motorcycles then go to Bun Kan (120 kms downstream from Nong Khai) / Pakxan (150 kms from Vientiane) where it is still possible to enter Laos. Note too that if you gain entry to Laos at another border crossing it is possible to leave via the Friendship Bridge. Weird isn’t it?

Friendship Bridges across the Mekong. There are two:
1. Nong Khai (T) / Tha Dua (L)
2. Mukdahan (T) / Savannakhet (L).
The same rule applies at both bridges – no entry into Laos, but departure ok.
A 3rd bridge is being built from Nakhon Phanom (T) to Tha Khek (L) & once this bridge is operational expect the same rule to apply. Then with a 4th bridge scheduled at Chiang Khong (T) / Houei Xai (L) life could get really tough entering Laos by motorcycle. Tip = go to Laos now!

With the Friendship Bridges across the Mekong the problem appears to be the cross-border agreements managing the bridge, where the authorities don’t want to encourage hundreds of local riders on their Honda Dreams from going backwards & forwards every day.
Once you understand this it is not so bad, but whatever, please don’t abuse the bridge authorities as they are only following the policy set by their government bosses. Abuse them & you are doing all of us a disservice

2. The Mekong Boat Trip: The Mekong Boat Trip to  Huay Sai – Pak Beng, the Mekong river in this section is arguably the most beautiful of the ‘Khong between Jinhong in China & Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. It can be a perfect start / finish to any motorcycle trip in Northern Laos. Highly recommended, hire a boat & do the ‘Khong, you won’t regret it. Getting your bike on & off the boat is enormous fun too. See this 2nd Mekong Boat trip report.

3. Nam Hueng / Tha Li. Entering Laos at the new Nam Hueng crossing is a relatively new crossing. Permits & visa are now available on arrival.

4. Pakxan (L) / Bun Kan (T). Downstream from Vientiane & Nong Khai. Use this crossing to enter Laos & go to Vientiane when you can’t enter Laos via the Friendship Bridge.
Note that there is no visa on arrival for Laos at Pakxan, so you must have a visa in your passport first. Get one from the Lao consulate in Khon Kaen.
Note too that the border is generally not open for vehicle crossings on weekends & public holidays, because the Customs do not work, so you cannot get any paperwork done to allow the import / export of your motorbike. You’ve been warned.

5. Note Mekong River Crossings by boat: The vehicle ferry service normally only operates on regular work days Monday – Friday. Unless someone has booked & paid for the ferry service & customs to work on weekends or public holidays you cannot cross the Mekong by boat on non-working days. Border crossings with bridges – Nong Khai / Tha Deua & Mukdahan / Savannakhet – are open 7 days a week; usually from 7AM – 9 or 10PM.

6. Note Laos Entry: You are normally granted a 1 or 2 week bike entry permit. A maximum of 1 month is possible on arrival but seldom given, but you can always ask. The overstay fine is 200 baht a day, but this is not always collected when you leave.

7. Entering at Houei Xai: Go here Houei Xai from Chiang Khong, Thailand for info entering Laos at Houei Xai. The hardest part is finding the right office (200 metres from your bike) to start from, the paperwork is easy.

8. Departing from Chiang Khong: FIRST get your immigration docs TM 2 & TM4 from the immigration office down town, not at the boat landing. Customs can issue the temporary import / export paper from the town office, or at the Port, but they prefer the Port. For me I prefer to get it from the town office, before heading down to the port & hanging out in the sun on the big hot slab of concrete. Please yourself.

Insurance is compulsory when entering Laos so make sure you get insurance from AGL Insurance. Skip out on the insurance & you could end up on the run & / or be in jail for awhile as Asian Motorcycle Adventures found out.

See the GT Rider Laos forum for the latest info on entering / leaving Laos.

GT Rider