Just did a visa run to Savannaket and taking the board advice avoided the bridges. Leaving Thailand at Nakhon Phanom was a painless 20 minutes. The Immigration and customs are in the same building at the ferry ramp and were very helpful to get everything done as a ferry was waiting to go, this was 4 PM. At 100B for the bike and myself I was probably overcharged for the ferry. My bike was the only vehicle on the car ferry and the Lao visa was done just as all the duty free shops closed and only cold beer was available. The customs asked if I was going to Vientiane and as I said no they just stamped the I.T.P and I was away to Savannaket for the night.
While wasting time waiting for a visa a couple of trips around the local lakes etc were completed. The guy running (owner) of Cafe Chez Boune was quizzed about the bikes only being allowed on the bridge one way (ie. Lao to Thai only) and he checked with the guy in charge of land transport as said yes this was how it is. Further trip to the bridge to question the customs, don't know,go there, police, don't know, go there, Information,don't know. I finally got to the arrival side police and the responsible guy said "no problem".
So next day leaving Lao via the Freedom Bridge 2. The Lao side was a painless couple of minutes, quick blat across the river and into Thailand. Immigration done, and customs is helped by a young customs lady who runs my documents to her boss to sign. Her English is pretty good so try again to ask the Thai version of bikes across the brige from her boss. He is insistent that it is no problem for a Thai registered motorcycle with the correct Thai paperwork to cross across the bridge into Lao. So I say are you sure? Yes, no problem. I am tempted right then to turn around and ride back into Laos across the bridge but it is 3PM and I still have to ride to Korat. I leave with an agreement to come back and try to cross the bridge at a later date.
Maybe someone with a bit of time up their sleeve can attempt a crossing across the Freedom Bridge 2.
Harri.XR650R.
While wasting time waiting for a visa a couple of trips around the local lakes etc were completed. The guy running (owner) of Cafe Chez Boune was quizzed about the bikes only being allowed on the bridge one way (ie. Lao to Thai only) and he checked with the guy in charge of land transport as said yes this was how it is. Further trip to the bridge to question the customs, don't know,go there, police, don't know, go there, Information,don't know. I finally got to the arrival side police and the responsible guy said "no problem".
So next day leaving Lao via the Freedom Bridge 2. The Lao side was a painless couple of minutes, quick blat across the river and into Thailand. Immigration done, and customs is helped by a young customs lady who runs my documents to her boss to sign. Her English is pretty good so try again to ask the Thai version of bikes across the brige from her boss. He is insistent that it is no problem for a Thai registered motorcycle with the correct Thai paperwork to cross across the bridge into Lao. So I say are you sure? Yes, no problem. I am tempted right then to turn around and ride back into Laos across the bridge but it is 3PM and I still have to ride to Korat. I leave with an agreement to come back and try to cross the bridge at a later date.
Maybe someone with a bit of time up their sleeve can attempt a crossing across the Freedom Bridge 2.
Harri.XR650R.
