Urgent Update August 2024: Day Crossing to Laos (Huay Xai) from Thailand Chiang Khong (Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge 4) is ‘Not Allowed’.
As of August 2024, there is an enforcement from the Thai border of ‘2 night minimum stay inside Laos’.
Chiang Khong Border Bus Bounce! What to Expect from this remote Northern Thailand-Laos Friendship Bridge?
Who doesn’t love the excitement & thrill of a good ol’ Thailand border-bounce to get the blood flowing and save a few pennies…
I know you do… or you wouldn’t have landed on my little guide here now, would you? :D
There wasn’t a lot of recent information before I took this little trip myself this year, so I thought I’d share some of the ‘good-to-know’ stuff, photos & documents guides to make your trip a little easier!
(I won’t SPAM this article with things to do in Chiang Khong or Huay Xai, let’s be honest their both backwaters with not a lot going on except visa runs and a boat trip everyone regrets.)
As always, if you’ve got any questions just leave a comment at the end. And if you’ve got any tips or your own experiences from the Friendship Bridge 4 crossing, sharing is caring!
Visiting Chiang Mai?
- Crossing the border – What to expect? (Thai Side & Laos Side)
- What forms, documents & information you’ll need?
- Can you take your vehicle across? (Scooter, Motorbike or Car)
- How to get to Chiang Khong Border crossing from Chiang Mai?
- How to get to Chiang Khong Border Crossing from Chiang Rai?
- Do you need to spend the day in Laos?
- The best way to get to Chiang Khong Border Checkpoint?
My trip to this border was all a bit of a last minute scramble, so I didn’t end up going into Huay Xai, instead I headed straight back over the bridge and then to Chiang Rai.
Crossing the border (Chiang Khong Border Post to Huay Xai Border Control) – What to expect? (Thai Side & Laos Side)
The immigration building for the Chiang Khong (Thailand) side is 1.7km away from the Thai Laos Friend Bridge Number 4. If you’re travelling to the checkpoint yourself, you can’t miss the turn off from the 1020.
It’s a dedicated road towards the Thai Immigration buildings. You’ll find the free shaded parking area on the left side as you enter (See Photo). If you’re using a visa service, you’ll get dropped off a little closer at the entrance.
The whole complex, on the Thai side at least, is modern and well signed in both Thai and English.
Once you’ve parked (a short walk to arrivals) or have been dropped off at the entrance to the building, you’re straight into Departure Passport Control/Immigration. You can’t miss it, through the glass screens and then pick a booth to show your documents to the officer.
I was asked for my eVisa, which I showed a print-out. I was told ‘your eVisa runs out soon, but it’s okay’. Then Stamped out of Thailand.
You’ll then walk past the Passport Control booth, and on your right-side you’ll see a little hole in the wall where you can buy tickets for the bus.
Then it’s just a case of waiting. I think we’d just missed a bus, as it took around 30 minutes before we were let on. The Bus was about half full at this point
There are toilets if you follow the pavements around to the right from the bus waiting/seating area. But that’s about it, no shops, no hawkers, either side of the immigration controls. Luckily, that changes once you get to Huay Xai border control.
The bus itself was pretty old and dirty, as you couldn’t see clearly as the windows were filthy, there was Aircon though and it’s a short journey under 10 minutes.
The Huay Xai side
You’ll be dumped out on the Laos side without much instruction of what or where to go next.
If you have a Laos eVisa and are planning on visiting Huay Xai town, you’ll head straight and through to the immigration arrivals booths.
For Visa-on-arrival
- Head to the right: You’ll find a table with the following forms (See Document Photos).
- Application Form for Arrival Visa
- Arrival & Departure Slip
Once these are filled in you can head to Visa on Arrival ‘Window 1’.
Laos Visa on Arrival Forms
Here I was asked if I wanted to Enter Laos, or wanted to head straight back to Thailand, I chose the latter. Handed in my documents and Paid 2000 in Thai Baht for one UK Visa and 1 Thai entry and was told to wait.
I’ve heard mixed stories on paying with USD. Even though it’s the official currency of the Visa applications, I’ve heard stories of USD not being accepted. Better to have Thai Baht or Laotian Kip, just in case.
After around 10 minutes I collected my Passport from Window 2 where I has been stamped in & out of Laos.
All pretty straightforward. If you’re planning on visiting Laos, the process is the same but with a ‘Visa-on-arrival sticker’ in your passport, you can then head through to the immigration booths and enter Laos.
Grab yourself a return bus ticket from the little booth in the wall, on the opposite side to where you apply for the visa, then sit back and relax.
Time to get a cold beer at the shop and wait for the bus back across the friendship bridge. Around 30 minutes later, the bus was ready to set off back to Thailand.
Huay Xai Immigration Laos ATM Cash Withdrawal
I forgot to get a photo, but the ATM machine was completely bust during my trip. While I was sipping on my cold beer, I watched many backpackers try and fail to get money out, before finally a maintenance guy had the whole machine open.
Maybe this was a one-time event, maybe this happens a lot?
Don’t sabotage yourself and take some cash with you. Nobody wants to be stuck between countries with no way of paying for a bus ticket or visa.
Re-entering Thailand via Chiang Khong
After being dropped back off on the Thai side of the river, you’ll head to the left side of the building (Arrivals) where you’ll need to fill out of TM9 departure card.
I was the only person entering Thailand via the bus back, and the Immigration Police were professional and polite but enquiring into my life in Thailand. Also mentioning that my eVisa would be ending soon, before stamping me in to Thailand for 60 days.
Entering Thailand Checklist
If you’re planning on entering Thailand via the Chiang Khong land border it’s a good idea to have the following:
- 10,000b Cash (20,000b via Air)
- Onward travel document leaving Thailand within the Visa-exempt stamp expiry date.
- Booking/ Address in Thailand. (Hotel, Accommodation Contract, etc)
In my experience entering Thailand, I’ve only ever been asked to show my onward travel details. There are countless stories online of Tourists with a history of entering Thailand visa-exempt being denied for not being able to provide the 3 proofs above.
Can you take your vehicle to across the bridge to Laos from Chiang Khong?
On my trip to this border crossing, we were told that we wouldn’t be able to take our Car over the boarder to Laos by the Immigration Police.
All of the vehicles we sore queuing up for the bridge crossing were large work transport vehicles, not tourists.
That being said, I do know that it’s possible to take motorbikes and scooters over to Laos with an ‘Exit Permit’, but I’m not experienced enough to give that advice needed for a smooth crossing here. Currently, the Chiang Khong and Nong Khai borders are known to be fairly trouble free for vehicle crossings with the right docs.
My advice, unless you can get confirmation on exactly what you need from both sides of the border, you’re playing with fire.
How to get to Chiang Khong Border crossing from Chiang Mai?
There’s a few different options when travelling to Chiang Khong Border Point from Chiang Mai: Motorbike/Scooter, Minibus & Hire Car.
If you want to take public transport, you’ll first need to head to Chiang Rai which will add a few hours onto your journey.
Motorbike/Scooter
If you’re a confident rider, and don’t mind a sore ass after the 4h30min ride, follow the Sat-Nav and off you go. The roads are fairly straight, some nice scenery, plenty of stopping points and in good condition.
Related: Thailand Scooter Noob Guide!
Car
For this trip, I took a Honda CRV, and it took just over 4 hours’ drive. It worked out at around 2500b in petrol for the trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong, then Chiang Rai and finally back to Chiang Mai. The roads were fairly empty, and the ride was stress free if a little long.
Visa Transport Service
There’s a few different companies in Chiang Mai that offer shared transportation to the Chiang Khong Immigration and then back to Chiang Mai. I’ve posted links to them below, but I’ve never used either service or have any affiliation.
Update: Lanna Transport will arrange the 2 nights now required in Laos for you as well.
Bus
You’ll first need to get a bus to Chiang Rai, then change to bus to Chiang Khong (See below). Worth it if you’re planning a bit of sightseeing and travel.
How to get to Chiang Khong Border Crossing from Chiang Rai?
Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong is much quicker as it’s only 100km and will take around 1h30m on via the 1020 road with either car, scooter or motorbike. You can easily rent either in Chiang Rai.
Bus
The Bus to Chiang Khong from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 runs every 1 Hour or 30 Minutes depending on the day. It takes around 1h30m to reach Chiang Khong.
Sometimes the bus driver will take you to the Immigration building for an extra 50b. Otherwise you’ll have to arrange local transport for the last small stretch.
Bus costs: 90b + (50b to border)
Key Takeaways from the Chiang Khong to Huay Xai Border Crossing
This crossing is a bit of a ghost town, not many people, not much going on, plenty of time for anyone working there in bad mood to scrutinise your travel history to their hearts content.
It’s a far shout from the busy Mae Sai to Tachiliek crossing that used to be very popular in the north of Thailand.
My experience was smooth, everyone on both sides was polite and efficient, but I didn’t feel safe… even with a Multi-entry Tourist Visa.
As always, if you’ve got any questions just leave a comment at the end. And if you’ve got any tips or your own experiences from the Friendship Bridge 4 crossing, sharing is caring!
