steveandlesley
backpacker
Posts: 16

#1 Posted: 28/3/2007 - 22:25


We are soon to undertake an eight week trip in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thialand. I am trying to find out if it is easy to get from Pakxe to Ubon Ratchathani (then catch a train to Bangkok). I understand there is a border crossing near to Pakxe. Is it easy to cross at this point. We will need to get Thai visas at the border crossing, but I understand this shouldnt be a problem as we are already booked on a flight out of Thailand. Any help, advice etc, would be much apreciated.


Steve

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2589

Located in:
Indonesia

#2 Posted: 29/3/2007 - 09:12


Hi Steve,

It's very easy to cross there -- here's the relevant text from the Pakse transport section:

"The Chong Mek/ Vangtao Border
The Thai side of the border is a short, 20B songthaew ride from the Chong Mek bus terminal, and is open from 06:00 to 18:00 daily. Vangtao, on the Laos side, has regular working hours from 08:00 to 16:00, Monday through Friday. From 16:00 to 18:00, weekends, and official holidays are all considered 'over-time,' and an additional 70B fee is levied. People are constantly pitching fits when they find out about the extra charge, but there's absolutely nothing you can do about it, so just smile, pay it, and move on with your life

One-month visas are now standard: US$35 or 1,500B for most foreign nationals (Canadians pay more apparently). Keep walking down the road from the border into Laos, and songtheaws and taxis are available at a small, dingy terminal 200m down on the left. Both leave when full -- 50B for a songthaew, 12 passengers, 70B for a taxi, 5 passengers. The trip is 45km and takes about 40 minutes. All vehicles drop off at the Daoheuang Market which is 2km from most of the guesthouses near the river -- where we found only tuk-tuks and no samlors available -- should cost about 20B per person after bargaining. You won't have to worry about any of this if you book a through ticket to/from Ubon Ratchathani for 200B."

steveandlesley
backpacker
Posts: 16

#3 Posted: 29/3/2007 - 20:19


Thanks Somtam,

Sounds like the easyest thing for us to do is to book a through ticket to Ubon Ratchathani, as thats where we are heading.

regards

Steve