Mukdahan, Thailand/Savannakhet, Laos, along Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II.
Posted by: 
Ianatlarge
N 16° 36.000 E 104° 44.970
48Q E 473279 N 1835322
The central/south western border crossing between Thailand and Laos.
Waymark Code: WMCC80
Location: Laos
Date Posted: 08/21/2011
Views: 1
In 2007 the Japanese funded 'Laos-Thai Friendship Bridge II' was completed. The 1600m long bridge links Thailand and Laos just north of the two cities of Mukdahan (Thailand) and Savannakhet (Laos). Due to the slowly growing prosperity of Laos, and the new presence of a casino in Savannakhet (gambling is illegal in Thailand, thus the communist countries bordering Thailand have constructed casinos at every border crossing), the bridge is now a busy concern. In comparison, when I crossed in 2008, before the casino was operational, my bus was the only vehicle on the bridge. In 2011 there were a dozen or so, filled with Thais clutching their day trip tickets and travel documents, generously ready to give their money away.
There is a busy ferry service directly linking the two cities, but westerners are not allowed to take a ferry across the river (it would be a pleasant trip).
The crossing consists of a Thai checkpoint on the Thai side of the bridge, the drive across the bridge, and then the Laos checkpoint. Here a foreigner can obtain a visa on arrival for 1500 Thai baht (Thai money is widely used in Laos), plus a 40 baht service fee to the Laos officials. Have your money, and a single passport photo of yourself ready. Many many expats living in Thailand cross into Sav as there is a Thai embassy here, something needed to deal with some of the paperwork the Thai government generates.
Security is minimal crossing into Laos. Coming back into Thailand requires a pat down search and a scan, to guard Thailand against illegal drugs. As you wait for this to occur, hoping that the X-ray gadget (or which ever radiation emitting thing it is) has been calibrated since it was installed, you can gaze out onto the Mekong River, where dozens of boats plied by locals move back and forth unimpeded across the river.
Welcome facilities, on the Thai side nothing, but on the Laos side there is a small tourist office in the immigration complex. Also lots of buses and tuk tuks on the Laos side ready to offer you a ride into the city. Overall, it is an efficient service, as these things go. Waymark made at the Laos side of the river.
Type Of Crossing: Country
Where is the border located?: Water/Ferry
Welcome Center/Facilities: Yes
|
Visit Instructions:-Your own picture of the signs or area. Discussing why it is you are crossing this border gets you bonus points.
-No one likes to read ‘TFTW’ and other unimaginitive visit logs.
-Armchair finds can be deleted by the owner or management group.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|