THAI-LAO INTERNATIONAL BUS SERVICE:
FIRST BUS SERVICE BETWEEN
THAILAND
AND LAO PDR LAUNCHED
The governments of
Thailand
and Lao PDR concluded an agreement in March 2004 to jointly inaugurate a Thai-Lao International Bus Service in April 2004 to facilitate travel between Nong Khai &
Vientiane
and Udon Thani &
Vientiane
and promote cross-border travel and tourism between
Thailand
and Lao PDR.
The routes will operate from the Thai
province
of
Nong Khai
to the Lao PDR capital of
Vientiane
, and from the Thai
province
of
Udon Thani
to
Vientiane
. Both will go across the
Thai-Lao
Friendship
Bridge
, the first to be opened across the
Mekong
River
in 1994.
The Nong Khai -
Vientiane
route is about 30 kms and will be covered in 30 minutes. The Udon Thani -
Vientiane
route is about 80 kms and will be covered in a little more than an hour, excluding the time that will be spent at the border crossing.
One-way fares for the two routes are 30 baht and 80 baht respectively.
The state-owned transport companies of
Thailand
and Lao PDR will each operate two round-trip services a day on both routes.
Thailand
's Transport Company Limited will operate 45-seat air-conditioned buses.
CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL BY INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Foreign visitors holding valid visas and travel documentation will be able to travel by public transport buses back and forth across the border.
Important:
While visa-free and visa-on-arrival facilities are accorded by both
Thailand
and Lao PDR to citizens of various nationalities, getting the necessary visas in advance will save considerable time and effort in doing paperwork at the border checkpoint.
APPLYING FOR A BORDER PASS:
FOR TRAVELLERS AND TOURISTS OF THAI NATIONALITY
Individuals of Thai nationality will be able to apply for a 3-day/2-night Temporary Border Pass valid for a travel within Vientianne, while Thai residents of Nong Khai province will be able to apply for an Annual Border Pass.
Application forms are available from the Nong Khai Provincial Administration Centre (Sala Klang Changwat) open daily from 06.30 - 16.30 hours.
Application fees
Temporary
Border
Pass
: 30 Baht
Applicants are required to submit the completed application form together with a signed copy of a valid identification card and 2 two-inch photographs.
Annual
Border
Pass
: 200 Baht
Applicants applying for the
Annual
Border
Pass
are also requested to submit a signed copy of their house registration documents in addition to the above.
Applicants of Thai nationality with children between the ages of 12-15 are required to attach a signed copy of the household registration or birth certificate together with the application form.
Contact information:
TAT Northeastern Office: Region 5
Tel: +66 4232 5406 - 7
Fax: +66 4232 5408
E-mail: tatudon@tat.or.th
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