Lao Bao Visa Run

I'm all ears.    Doing 'the run' (on a bike) very soon.

Heard a whisper you can get a Visa-on-application at the border gate.

True?   Both ways?  ..or only into Laos..?

Also, I am an anti-bus boofhead, the difference between a suicide bomber and a bad bus driver being the time it takes to die.  (Of heart failure)    What was YOUR experience like?

                 

Not much else to say ..
You enter Laos get your visa
Then turn around and walk back into Vietnam ..
Have all your paper work together and if all goes well
You can get the same bus back to Da Nang ..

In reference to your fear of the bus??
I saw a total of four motorbike accidents and
None of them looked good for the rider ...

I'm taking the bus .....

What!!???   ..a straight answer..??   ..after all the myth & mystery (and suffering)
from being on Expat excuses..(?)         Sacre' Bleu!!!

Never mind your Fame.   

It will be framed and on display henceforth in the Trophy room       

Not questioning your Integrity, but are you sure..?    I have had others suspect I'm from
another dimension too.   Maybe I am.  Or Uranus (at least)

Sure, I'm a doubting Thomas.   But having seen the queues lined up outside (all) the
border gates I have tried, I feel entitled to be suspicious.   The Viet Nam effect.
     ..and yes, I noted your qualifier: if all goes well...    Never for me?

Yeah.  Saw a few fatals on last trip.   Two 4wd rollovers, 2 headon bikers, one bike under a bus.   But I know God(?) hates me for outsmarting her (so far) so maybe this time will be my turn..?

50+ years of biking.   Better than good.   Maybe they'll put the body on a bus.

There's irony for you.       

It's really simple. I request a Visa letter and it states when and where I will enter Vietnam.  I get the letter, cross the border to leave Vietnam. Then come back in country and present the letter to get the Visa.  It's super simple.

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I curse my complexity

..my fear of being understood..?

I truly wish to be so simple. 

Even so, I do not dare ask where and when

Perhaps because of my peculiar past?    It rarely works for me       

Maybe if you put more effort into writing and speaking the Queen's English communication would improve. Or maybe the Vietnamese just don't like you.

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Is it possible to obtain a Vietnam entry visa at all land border gates?

My understanding was visa-on-arrival was only available at air and water ports. And at land gates it was necessary to already have a visa stamp, perhaps from a Vietnamese embassy. But things change frequently.

Is it being suggested that an approval letter is enough to obtain a Vietnam visa at land border gates?

I would be interested to hear which exact land border gates are offering this service. Also, what types of visas.

Why go thru the process/payment for a Lao Visa if you are just re-entering.  Exit then walk around in "no man's land" for 5 minutes and go to the entry officials for Vietnam? Are they checking for a Lao Visa at the Vietnam immigration?


No logical information has been disclosed in this message. 

The reason you get a Lao visa is that VN immigration will check to see if you have that visa in your passport. You can give it a try and just plead dumb when they find you haven't got one.

Try this website  www.tourismlaos.org  It gives visa types and international border crossings for visas.

Thanks Stumpy!

Having been refused entry twice before at 'National' Border gates, I'm extremely suspicious, skeptical and (even) cynical before these new advices.    So this time...

..I'll give Lao Bao a go.   And give a full report (if) I survive...

My disbelief system works for me.   But besides the CIA, others are watching...     

Dear Sir,
Great ! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd like to do the same. Please if you can advise me about Bus service from Vinh city to Laos border and approval letter, Is it required an original or just a print out copy !

Hi Tipp,

I'm going on a run myself to Lao Bao soon. So I just wanted to know, did you have to have the original approval letter posted out to you or emailed? I've heard rumblings that they don't accept a printout from an email attachment.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

FH

Never heard of a copy not being accepted. Sounds to me like the rumblings may be false informatiin which is quite common.

I agree with Colin ...
Long as you have a letter your okay ...
I'm going at the end of the month ..

Hi mate just wondering how did u go with the visa run we are thinking of doing it at lao bao and want to come back to vietnam.  We are on a tourist visa but we want to stay for a nother 3 or 6 months got priced 250 for 3 months and thats way to dear as it only cost me 55 to do 3 months wood like to see what people experience with both cheers

Not sure where your staying now but the
Lao Bao run is very straight forward and easy ..
Just make sure your paper work is in order and
the whole process can take as little as thirty minutes ..
As for a price ? .. You pay for your Laos visa then
turn a round (walk) back into Vietnam and pay for your
Vietnam visa ...The Vietnam visa is 25 US ...

ok cool thanks for that im guessing that a tourist visa you and 1 month visa were about did u get ur letter from we will get owe selfs there on owe bike and and we are staying at nha trang then going buon ma thout and making owe selfs to the boarder

I get the three month extension every time ...
You are further south than me ...
Not sure where you would go to get your extension ..

Good Luck

Rach & Pete wrote:

ok cool thanks for that im guessing that a tourist visa you and 1 month visa were about did u get ur letter from we will get owe selfs there on owe bike and and we are staying at nha trang then going buon ma thout and making owe selfs to the boarder

Put a post on Nha Trang Expats on Facebook, there are a few agents lurking on that site that can help.

woooo i just did that and people were getting up for some reason. thats facebook for u but thanks heaps for the info

Yeah, there are lots of idiots on Facebook.