car travel via Mukdahan to Laos

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Anyone taken their vehicle over for a day trip to Laos via the Friendship Bridge near Mukdahan?
Advisable or take a taxi??
We would just stay there for a look say 8 am, grab a lunch and then head back at 1 or 2 pm.
Cheers and thanks for any help.

[cookmanchef]

You would need the ownership book for the car, otherwise should be fine.

[poosmate]

Check insurance also - most will only be valid in Thailand.

[Hobiecat]

I was just up there the other month and was planning on doing the same thing. Unfortunately we had left our book of ownership for the truck at home. I understand that if your vehicle still has financing on it they won't let it across. If your planning on only a day trip your better off taking a bus or taxi with all the screwing around getting your papers in order. Unless you do it the day before.

[Spitfire]

I looked into it from the Nong Khai crossing to Vientiane and you need to go to the Thai offices and get documents, plus provide a few too yourself, and stipulate when crossing and for how how long etc etc etc, at least a days notice too. You can do it but I thought it was better to just leave the motor in LOS and just go over on foot, rent a car on the other side.

A foreigner driving in Laos with Thai plates is a magnet for problems imo, plus if it got nicked then you can expect zero help for the Laos authorities, even worse than here in LOS and you would then have to go through the hoops with the Thais on the way back if you're not bringing a car back with you, they might think you have sold it to a crim, happens all the time, hence the drama to go through the crossing in it in the first place, plus you would need special insurance too as the normal Thai insurance sure as hell wouldn't cover you for a jollies trip to Laos.

Don't bother imo, a drama waiting to happen and once you get away from Savannakhet and drive into Laos then you are into the southern districts with silly/petty commie local officials that hardly know the law and only understand/care for the law of the pocket. There is even less law in evidence in Laos that there is in Thailand, you're on moving groung in LOS but it's way worse in the 'Please don't rush' republic, and they always only just see you as a easy target. You are OK in the touristy areas, but if you venture to the 'paths less trodden' there then it's probably better just to rent a car in Laos.

When I have gone to the border I have just left my wheels on the Thai side and gone across, no dramas. In Nong Khai, there is somewhere to leave a car/pickup whilst you venture over, there will be one in Mukdahan too someplace even though I'm not sure where it is as haven't been to Mukdahan for about 3 years.



However, up to you man.

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Ok, great. Thanks for the warnings. There is financing on the car so do not want all the Foo Fah involved in that. Never thought of the insurance ange either.

For sure less hassel by arranging transport on the Lao side.

Cheers all