Hi all,
Just a bit of a blog as a Laos trip report. I'm an American tourist riding a brand spanking new (read painfully slow during break-in) KLX 250 purchased in my name in Chaing Mai. (details for purchase here https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t5068.html). Here are some observations so far:
No problems for me crossing at Chiang Khong/Huai Xai. Steps for me were:
a) Go to Thai customs in CK about 1/2 km past the Police Station on the right to get the "Simplified Customs Declaration Form". I was asked to identify my port of reentry. Fair English spoken.
b) Took two copies of this form, two copies of pasport and two copies of green book's relevant pages and a completed (or not in my case) TM2 form back to the Thai immigration office which is on the right (as you come in to town) just before the police station. The guy I dealt with was very friendly and spoke excellent English. He said that as a single rider, no TM3 or TM4 is necessary, which makes me nervous.
c) Took these to the immigration check at the river (end of the road on the right, down the hill. Departing office is on left side). Nice guy here as well checks papers and stamps me out of Thailand.
d) Walked down past the gate across the road and up the stairs to the building on the left. Lao official logs me in a book, but no new forms.
e) Allowed past gate to river bank where dozen or two long boats are waiting. Worked out a crossing for 400 baht with my bike lifted into and out of the longboat at the endpoints.
f) Up stairs at Lao side to main window, then room on right to pay (I can't remember how much, 200 baht?) then to the left for computer room #7 for "Customs Declaration for Temporary Imported Passenger Vehicle". About 15 min, and a few more baht (30?) for the form, then back down to the river to get a sign-off. Not very much english spoken here. As a side note, I didn't notice until later that I had only been given 7 days on this form. I went back to room #7 later and asked for more. A different officer with essentially no English proposed 15 days, I suggested 30, which he accepted and changed only the dates on my copy of the form in pen. He acted surprised when I asked him to sign something stating that he changed the dates, but did so without much reluctance.
g) Down through town to the foot passenger entry to buy visa (1,500 baht or 35 USD & one photo). ATM just across the main street.
Staying at Oudomp(h)one 2 per David's advice. They wheeled my bike inside the shop last night before I returned from dinner. They said that I could keep the bike inside, but I was still a little surprised to see my bike "missing" when I returned. Nice big room. No TV, but I don't care.
Just a bit of a blog as a Laos trip report. I'm an American tourist riding a brand spanking new (read painfully slow during break-in) KLX 250 purchased in my name in Chaing Mai. (details for purchase here https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t5068.html). Here are some observations so far:
No problems for me crossing at Chiang Khong/Huai Xai. Steps for me were:
a) Go to Thai customs in CK about 1/2 km past the Police Station on the right to get the "Simplified Customs Declaration Form". I was asked to identify my port of reentry. Fair English spoken.
b) Took two copies of this form, two copies of pasport and two copies of green book's relevant pages and a completed (or not in my case) TM2 form back to the Thai immigration office which is on the right (as you come in to town) just before the police station. The guy I dealt with was very friendly and spoke excellent English. He said that as a single rider, no TM3 or TM4 is necessary, which makes me nervous.
c) Took these to the immigration check at the river (end of the road on the right, down the hill. Departing office is on left side). Nice guy here as well checks papers and stamps me out of Thailand.
d) Walked down past the gate across the road and up the stairs to the building on the left. Lao official logs me in a book, but no new forms.
e) Allowed past gate to river bank where dozen or two long boats are waiting. Worked out a crossing for 400 baht with my bike lifted into and out of the longboat at the endpoints.
f) Up stairs at Lao side to main window, then room on right to pay (I can't remember how much, 200 baht?) then to the left for computer room #7 for "Customs Declaration for Temporary Imported Passenger Vehicle". About 15 min, and a few more baht (30?) for the form, then back down to the river to get a sign-off. Not very much english spoken here. As a side note, I didn't notice until later that I had only been given 7 days on this form. I went back to room #7 later and asked for more. A different officer with essentially no English proposed 15 days, I suggested 30, which he accepted and changed only the dates on my copy of the form in pen. He acted surprised when I asked him to sign something stating that he changed the dates, but did so without much reluctance.
g) Down through town to the foot passenger entry to buy visa (1,500 baht or 35 USD & one photo). ATM just across the main street.
Staying at Oudomp(h)one 2 per David's advice. They wheeled my bike inside the shop last night before I returned from dinner. They said that I could keep the bike inside, but I was still a little surprised to see my bike "missing" when I returned. Nice big room. No TV, but I don't care.
