Crossed the border into Laos for a trip again. Decided to try via Nong Khai since it better suited my plans coming from BKK. On Thai side I got all prepared, but Thai officers kept rejecting me, sent me from one box to the other. Was annoying, they just didn’t want to do the work but I kept coming back. Prepared TM2 and TM4 forms for each departure and arrival, and the officer just kept the arrival ones and didn’t hand them back. Stupid me that I passed them over. On Laos side I turned right for the "foreign departures", a smaller crossing compared to the main one. Went straight to the customs box to see if I can get the temporary import declaration. The lady quickly checked in the system, couldn't find my bike and gave me a form for first timers to get cleared at box 105. I knew that will create trouble and had to insist another couple of times to please check the system again, until she finally found my bike and processed it. Paid around 130 Bt into a modern ticketing machine and got the green paper for a stay of 14 days. Unfortunately, she got the exit port wrong with "Chiang Khan" while I said "Chiang Khong". Must sound similar in Thai. Only after receiving that document I went to the other side for my visa.
Exiting Laos at Huai Xai border all boxes were empty, so I approached the customs box first, which was a mistake. He kept that green form and sent me to the immigration officer, who eventually showed up. Of course he wanted to see that import form but customs refused to hand it back to me. Developed into an awkward situation me standing there and not having anything to produce. Took a while to get one of them out of their boxes and speak to each other! Immigration officer also wanted to have "immigration papers", I had no clue what he meant, I thought of my visa but apart from my passport I couldn't show anything. Maybe he referred to the TM2/TM4 from Thailand? But that shouldn't have to do anything with Laos? Before I got my OK and could pass he nicked 200 Bt from me, was not sure if I should refuse or not. Maybe could have created another issue. Apparently exit port on import document doesn’t matter, they didn’t mention it at all. On Thai side I approached the first box, he checked documents, asked questions, and sent me to immigration building. There checking of documents again, questions, copying, and handing me back my arrival forms I have completed again. Not necessary apparently! With the stack of paper I went to the box again, checking again, questions again. Why there is no Lao stamp on my departure forms, he asked. I never had that before on any border, never got a foreign stamp on my Thai documents. Is that necessary for Chiang Khong crossing? Guess he realized too much of a hassle to send me back again. Customs was straight forward fortunately.
Interestingly, met there a German couple on their GS650s, doing a world trip. They told me they even didn’t have that green import paper for Laos, after they had issues at a border, they just crossed through the jungle from Thailand. Obviously had a bit of a discussion at Huai Xai crossing to come back, but also passed it eventually. Playing stupid helps. Sometimes.
