Wanna try crossing a bridge and taste Beer Lao.....

[brake034]

After talking about it we decided to do it, today!
A young friend of us, Art from Chiang Mai on his D-Tracker and my wife and me went by pickup to Chiang Khong, Art tried crossing solo over the bridge, no luck! We waited for him at the coffee shop and loaded the D-Tracker on the back of my old Isuzu.

So back to the border crossing and it was "no issue", however quite a lot of paperwork was needed and staff seemed a bit confused. When at the customs booth it was said they never did this kind of combination yet.

At the crossing I ran into forum member Lipmeng, all the way from Malaysia with his Africa Twin, we had a very pleasant conversation as he is a cheerful and friendly, but unfortunately he was also not allowed to cross the bridge solo and went to cross at Nan.

Over the bridge and into Laos, less paperwork but slower at work, in the end all done and into Houei Xai. Picture time and some boxes of Beer Lao later we went back over the bridge.

Again process at Laos side not many questions but slow and at some costs.
Thai side smooth but unfriendly, in all 4 hours up and down.

Total costs about 1000 baht for my car up and down, 1000 baht for the bike and 1400 baht for my visa.

 

[lipmeng]

Thanks for the advise pertaining the route to avoid the unpleasant roadworks. I was unable to ride to Nan as it was late and the route seems to be hilly so I detour to Phayao and stay overnight.

Looking forward to meet up sometime and will stay in touch in the forum.

Warmest regards

Lip Meng

 

[brake034]

Good to see that you are on your way to Nan Lip Meng, I believe Phayao is a lovely place to do an overnighter at the lake.
Ride safe and hope you make your way to Boten soon!

As I said, I live 4 KM north of Thoeng on the 1020, if you pass by on your way always welcome for a Doi Chaang coffee and a good talk.

If I can find a forklift we could even piggyback your Africa Princess on the Isuzu to do a bridge shuttle.
It is just getting her off in Laos that would be a challenge.

After our initial paperwork challenge all went pretty smooth, after a couple more runs I am sure it will work well and opens the opportunity for individual riders to cross.

 

[bigntall]

Brake - I ran into Art at the Charin restaurant on the 118 during his commute to Thoen. Art SMS'd me and let me know his situation after your attempt.

A couple pics a day before you guys got there. Coming back into Chiang Khong from the Lao side.

On the bridge.

I wish I could say I wheelied across the length of the bridge but my name isn't Mark Rossi so the wheelie only lasted 70 yards.

 

[brake034]

Today we went back to Chiang Khong to see how things have panned out.
First we passed the exit to the bridge and drove into Chiang Khong, apart from less ferries life seems little changed and we even saw a new hotel being built?!

Than we went back to the Chiang Khong "New City" area, just ahead of the bridge and Thai customs and immigrations offices.
What a change, all the little shops that were in the market area there are now gone by at least 80%!!!
Only one little foodplace was open and we decided to push back home instead of having lunch there.

I do not know what happened, it is low season but I cannot imagine the shop owners close down during this period to reopen in the high season?!?! For sure we will be going back in the high season to see how things pan out.

The investment in all these new shophouses is even more strange, will they even get rented out?

Fortunately no one decided to set up a support point for bikers there, they would too have soon been out of business?!?!

 

[Tanarthur]

Last dec I enter Laos from the bridge by my bike. No issue. Only pay and pay... Total to and fro... About 3k baht...


Let's just ride....

 

[bsacbob]

Wow 3K baht return, last time i crossed in April this year it cost me 500 baht for the escort and that was it, even the greedy buggers at Thai immigration didn't demand tea money, guess it's luck of the draw but i think they have become more relaxed since the bridge has opened.

 

[Tanarthur]

This is roughly the amount I pay for the whole process...

Laos entry procedure and payment.

Entering Laos
Thai side
1- 200 baht for passport
2- 500 baht to escort to Laos

Laos side
1- 100 baht to custom

Exiting Laos
Laos side
1- 100 baht to custom
2- 1000 baht to escort to Thai

Thai side
1- 300 baht for passport


Let's just ride....

 

[prince666]

You only need to pay the laos side the same amount you pay the Thail side? so if you pay 500B the Thail side then tell the Laos immigration this is the rate and pay no more ????, remember what is happening is not legal and I can confirm Chinese riders only pay the correct Toll money which is about 100 B one way but have their ass slapped on the Thial side by "Thail immigration helpers" and pay 1000B per rider to help them fill in the immigration slips and other documents ????


I tried to help my Chinese friend out and was told by the helpers it was nothing to do with me and to sort out my own paperwork ?

 

[Tanarthur]

Well the reasons that gave was "That side is that side. Now this is our side" what can you do if you want to get out?


Let's just ride....

 

[prince666]

It worked for me ok hope you have better luck next time

 

[Tanarthur]

The Toll if I remember correctly, I paid 50baht...

Anyway, don't think I should be making anymore trips up to Laos in these few years time. If am going then might be Vientiane. Will see how's the situation by then.


Let's just ride....