FB1 @ Friendship Bridge Nong Khai.
18th July 2023.
Parked in the wrong spot on the wrong side of the building.
I crossed yesterday 18th July using an agent.
I was advised you cannot enter without an agent at FB1 now David.
I was prepared to try and bluff my way through but my Vte contact said no, we will do the paperwork for you David
And so it was....
Exiting Thailand was no issue, once I told both immigration and customs that I had prior approval to enter on the Laos side.
25 minutes and I was cleared on the Thai side.
Having your bike data in the customs computer from previous trips is a huge help.
I arrived on the Lao side slightly before the agent and already had my Lao visa and stamps when he arrived.
The next step was to clear police and customs.
Police were no problem once the documents were presented.
However the all important official made us wait 2 hours for a signature on a "yellow stick me note", before we could submit the documents for customs.
Once the all important signature was given, it was relatively simple as my bike data was already in the computer from a couple of weeks ago.
Total time from start Thai side to exit Lao side was 1.30pm - 4.45pm. The delay being
2 hours waiting for the Lao customs signature.
We believe the delay on the Lao side was because there was no commission being paid for the signature. The all important official involved was in a claimed meeting for 2 hours, and no one else could sign an import approval?
This person is a cousin of Lotus Travel who are preparing most of, if not all, the bike import papers at the FB1.
Is this a racket and monopoly being set up?
Complaints and questions that have been made in Vientiane are currently being ignored, but more complaints will be made. This is not the way to facilitate entry, travel, and tourism in Laos.
If you can use another entry port into Laos please do. Don't support this scam if possible.
You can enter Laos at Bokeo, Tha Khek and Vang Tao easily enough at the moment. Savannakhet maybe ok once again, if you can exit from Mukdahan.
Entry from Thailand through Xayaboury province is problematic because there are No Visa on Arrival facilities, Elisa accepted, at any of the 4 Xayaboury ports of entry.
When you enter Laos at the FB1 bridge, note that there is a new private car section on the extreme right behind the row of buildings on the right.
The new "hidden" private vehicle section.
It is a bit confusing the first time, but it is a bit easier now that they've separated public buses and private vehicles.
Total cost for the paperwork on the Laos aide was approximately 150 baht.
Cheers everyone.
laoevisa.gov.la
