Vientiene airport to Udon Thani airport by land. How long?

[mockingbird]

I'll be flying into Vientiene airport next week, arriving at 17.50. I'm planning on gettng a taxi to the border, and and then a taxi on the Thai side to Udon Thani airport.

At what time should I expect to arrive at Udon Thani airport? The reason I ask is that the last flight to bkk is at 21.50.

 

 

 

 

[AlexRich]

I just watched a video on You Tube, the channel is Bangkok 112 ... and it was of him going by bus from Vientiane to Udon Thani Airport ... I might be wrong but I think it was slightly less than one hour, so a taxi should be a better and slightly faster way to go. 

 

Go on to the channel and try to find it. In fact, I did:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MarcB]

You're not gonna make it  ????

 

It's going to take you 1hr from the airport in Laos to the thai border.

That is if they drive decently, no jams or hickups.

 

Then you lose let's say 30 minutes to check out

and check in into thailand.

 

You should get a taxi fairly easy, as they surround you like flies attracted to shoney

the drive is normally 1hr.

Expect traffic jams around that time, especially in the city

so it's gonna be a stressful ride...watching your watch all the time

 

If you are luck, and there are no delays in finding a taxi, checking out etc....

you would have 30 minutes left before the check-in counter at the airport closes

 

I would reschedule my flight

and spend a night in Udonthani

have some good restaurants there

????

 

Good luck

 

 

[Seth1a2a]

For future reference, you can usually type in just about "any" driving distance request at google.com

 

 

[mockingbird]

41 minutes ago, MarcB said:

You're not gonna make it  ????

 

It's going to take you 1hr from the airport in Laos to the thai border.

That is if they drive decently, no jams or hickups.

 

Then you lose let's say 30 minutes to check out

and check in into thailand.

 

You should get a taxi fairly easy, as they surround you like flies attracted to shoney

the drive is normally 1hr.

Expect traffic jams around that time, especially in the city

so it's gonna be a stressful ride...watching your watch all the time

 

If you are luck, and there are no delays in finding a taxi, checking out etc....

you would have 30 minutes left before the check-in counter at the airport closes

 

I would reschedule my flight

and spend a night in Udonthani

have some good restaurants there

????

 

Good luck

 

 

Yes,  I figured it would be touch and go.  I was guessing that there wouldn't be any queues at both immigration points at that time of the evening.

 

Anyway,  a night in Udon Thani isn't a bad idea. 

 

[Matzzon]

28 minutes ago, Seth1a2a said:

For future reference, you can usually type in just about "any" driving distance request at google.com

 

 

Yes, you can. Not if you want a correct time given, but just for fun it´s ok.

Google is good for many things. Distance and time as well as translate is not any of them, I am afraid.

You can not use your time for anything, because you do not know how easy it will be to get transportation, how many times you need to stop and change, as well as time for Immigration out of Laos, waiting for bus over bridge and Immigration time for entering Thailand. 

To the OP: Read and listen to @MarcB and chose to stay one night in Udon Thani. It´s gonna be hard to get everything working in the time you want.

[Matzzon]

6 minutes ago, mockingbird said:

Yes,  I figured it would be touch and go.  I was guessing that there wouldn't be any queues at both immigration points at that time of the evening.

 

Anyway,  a night in Udon Thani isn't a bad idea. 

 

You never know the amount of people at that border. Last timne I went about that time it took me over 1 hour just entering Thailand. it was huge ques.

As you post, take a night in Udon.

[ScottBooth]

you could just make it,including allowing time at both immigrations points in 2:30 hours but  more like, traffic will be light at that time.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by ScottBooth

[ubonjoe]

I think you can make the 21:50 flight. About two hours for the trip and 1 hour for the border crossing at the most.

[BritTim]

If your flight arrives on time in Vientiane, and you are using taxis, you would make the 21:50 flight quite comfortably actually. However, relying on a late afternoon flight arriving on schedule is optimistic.

[MarcB]

Depending on what time they close the check-in counter

You could go for it.

If not, the airport is like 15 minutes from the center and the worst that can happen is that you have to buy a new ticket to bkk and a hotel.

Maybe 2.000 baht loss including some good food

????

good luck and enjoy

[Moonlover]

I agree with 'no camp'. I've had a couple of frightening rides on route 2 to Udon Thani and that was in the daytime! When I was last up that way there were big hold ups at the Udon northerly bypass intersection where they're building a flyover, but that might be finished now.

 

From my experience of that trip, I'd go for a night stop in Nong Khai which is a pleasant place to stay, It's easy from there to get a 'flight plus shuttle' from a local agency. All much less stressful.

[Pilotman]

I have done that journey a few times, never made it under 2 hours 30 minutes, but I was never rushing.  Interestingly, at least for my wife and I, I met my wife on just such a journey, stopping off for a break and a drink in one of the many villages I passed through and there she was, that was 22 years ago,  and the roads have improved a good deal since then

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, MarcB said:

Depending on what time they close the check-in counter

He could get his boarding pass online and not have to worry about it.

If he got to the airport a half hour before his flight he would not have a problems since it is a domestic flight,

 

[UdonRoy]

I have done this trip dozens of times and you will comfortably make it, arriving at Udon airport between 20:00 and 20:30 would be my guess but if it’s going to stress you then probably best to do the overnight stop.

[KhunBENQ]

5 hours ago, MarcB said:

 

You should get a taxi fairly easy, as they surround you like flies

There is worse than a night in Udon

 

And:

my only visit to Vientiane was a day time trip just did some sightseeing and have a big Lao beer.

From what you find on the net they now have some decent places to hang around. No reason to hurry.

Edited November 24, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[Nong Khai Man]

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I agree with 'no camp'. I've had a couple of frightening rides on route 2 to Udon Thani and that was in the daytime! When I was last up that way there were big hold ups at the Udon northerly bypass intersection where they're building a flyover, but that might be finished now.

 

From my experience of that trip, I'd go for a night stop in Nong Khai which is a pleasant place to stay, It's easy from there to get a 'flight plus shuttle' from a local agency. All much less stressful.

there were big hold ups at the Udon northerly bypass intersection where they're building a flyover, but that might be finished now.....It IS Now Open.....

[spiekerjozef]

You got 4 hrs in total, plenty of time

[mockingbird]

Thanks for the replies.  To speed things up I'll get an evisa for Laos. 

 

Ill probably make it,  but if I don't,  then a night in Udon Thani is no big deal. 

[spiekerjozef]

Taxi from the border to udon airport is 45min

[edwardandtubs]

Another thing to bear in mind is that the late night flights from Udon to Bangkok are very frequently delayed so as long as you do online check-in, even if you're cutting it fine there's a good chance of getting on the plane.

[bendejo]

17 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I agree with 'no camp'. I've had a couple of frightening rides on route 2 to Udon Thani and that was in the daytime! When I was last up that way there were big hold ups at the Udon northerly bypass intersection where they're building a flyover, but that might be finished now.

 

From my experience of that trip, I'd go for a night stop in Nong Khai which is a pleasant place to stay, It's easy from there to get a 'flight plus shuttle' from a local agency. All much less stressful.

I also like Nong Khai, a number of times I took the bus up to NK and spent the night there to cross into Lao the next day. 

One night had bbq at the place set up on the street and met a Mexican guy who was a naturalized US citizen married to a Thai woman, they were visiting her family.  I asked him "am I in Nong Khai or Tijuana?"

 

 

[Harveyg]

22 hours ago, UdonRoy said:

I have done this trip dozens of times and you will comfortably make it, arriving at Udon airport between 20:00 and 20:30 would be my guess but if it’s going to stress you then probably best to do the overnight stop.

I would have thought the same.  Should arrive border by 6:45( if plane on time-yes maybe big if).  Done w immig by 7:30. Arrive airport by 8:30 barring any construction I don’t know about. 

[DJ54]

OP UdonThani is an easy in/out airport 10-16 minutes from curb to the gate... Make sure to check which terminal... will save walking 

[Max69xl]

On 11/24/2019 at 5:45 AM, Seth1a2a said:

For future reference, you can usually type in just about "any" driving distance request at google.com

 

 

Or do the same using Google maps.

[lagavulin1]

Should be ample esp in taxi's as Udon Airport is on the northern ring road. 

The new tunnel/bridge complex is open now. Make sure the taxi driver is aware or you'll end up in the City. 

[landosmiles]

Thank you for this topic!

I'm guessing the above estimates presume an international flight into Vientiane and that the Laos visa-on-arrival process isn't long.


Unfortunately it looks like the 21:50 flight out of UTH isn't available on the date I want next month (Dec 30), with the last flight out of UTH being at 21:35. Additionally, I'm scheduled to land from China into Vientiane at 18:10, so 20 minutes later than the original poster (it was late - 15 minutes - once in the last 10 flights).

 

Based on the very-helpful replies here, it seems likely I'd arrive at UTH by 20:50, 45 minutes before the flight. I have no issue accepting a stressful connection. It sounds as though navigating the airport is fast, but Nok Air (and Air Aisa) close check-in 45 minutes before departure so it seems unlikely it would work in my case. Regardless, thanks to everyone who shared their experience!

[mockingbird]

A follow up to anybody that's interested.. 

 

Flight arrived in on time at 17.50. I had an evisa so flew through immigration, and was in my taxi to the friendship bridge at 18.00.(560 baht).

 

Arrived at the Laos border at 18.40. No queues. Got a taxi on the Laos side for 1700. No queues at the Thai border,  and through at 19.00. (immigration officer couldn't have been friendlier)

 

Arrived at Udon Thani airport at 19.55.

 

So 2 hours and 5 mins from plane landing in Vientiane to Udon Thani airport.

Edited December 1, 2019 by mockingbird

[BritTim]

On 11/27/2019 at 6:23 PM, landosmiles said:

Thank you for this topic!

I'm guessing the above estimates presume an international flight into Vientiane and that the Laos visa-on-arrival process isn't long.


Unfortunately it looks like the 21:50 flight out of UTH isn't available on the date I want next month (Dec 30), with the last flight out of UTH being at 21:35. Additionally, I'm scheduled to land from China into Vientiane at 18:10, so 20 minutes later than the original poster (it was late - 15 minutes - once in the last 10 flights).

 

Based on the very-helpful replies here, it seems likely I'd arrive at UTH by 20:50, 45 minutes before the flight. I have no issue accepting a stressful connection. It sounds as though navigating the airport is fast, but Nok Air (and Air Aisa) close check-in 45 minutes before departure so it seems unlikely it would work in my case. Regardless, thanks to everyone who shared their experience!

If using taxis, you would likely be able to make the connection. Will you have checked baggage? If not, your chances would be even better as you will not need to handle the bags, and can use online check-in (so arriving at Udon Thani airport 25 minutes before the flight would be just about OK). All this assumes that your flight into Vientiane is on time. It is reassuring that past history suggests an on time arrival.