Entering Laos with a Carnet de Passage

Last Updated:

2019-05-24

Captured:

2019-05-18 ~ 2019-05-18

Border Control, Nongnokkheane, Laos

Entering Laos with a Carnet de Passage is a painless experience.

After departing Cambodia without a temporary vehicle permit, I was very relieved that Laos was far more organised than Cambodia, but with a few extra twists.

Read on to learn more.

Introduction

Arriving at the Laos border at Nongnokkheane, the border guard at the gate has got a rope tied from the gate to his window, so that he doesn't have to get up whilst he's busy on social media. Today he was so engrossed in his day to day streaming that he didn't see me waiting there at the gate. So I had to be the one to make the effort and walk over to tap on his window. Actually he didn't lift the gate until he saw a car coming up behind me, so he seemed to expect I was going to do the limbo because I was on a motorcycle, which doesn't make sense since I'm sitting higher than a car.

Anyway Nongnokkheane is the type of border control I love, because it's a one stop shop in 3 easy steps, no one around, bar the officials, who are not stressed and are happy to help.

Immigration

But they are happy to help for a reason, they are getting extra kickbacks. Even though there is a list of "visa on arrival" fees right above the window, they add $1 to the visa price, and when you move on to get your entry stamp, that's another $2.

Customs

Oh wait that was the twist, because bizarrely the customs guys are not trying for a squeeze, and just stamped the Carnet no questions asked.

Insurance

But there is a third step, that required waiting a few minutes for the insurance guy to arrive. Yes, you need vehicle insurance in Laos, but at least it's available for you at the most sensible place, at the border of course. Even the sign crazy bureaucratic Australians can't figure this one out, where you might have to drive several hundred kilometres from a state border before you can get road legal. 1 month third party motor vehicle insurance in Laos, for what it is worth, cost $14.

Tree House Overlooking Mekong River

Whilst these document images are not boring for overlanders, they are intensely boring for the rest of the world, so time to get moving down the road to my first stop over in Laos, the island of Don Khong and the Sabaidee Tree House,

from where I am writing this post, overlooking the Mekong River.

Overlooking Mekong River from tree house

This largest island has very little tourist activity on it compared to some of the other smaller ones, so I'm happy to hang out here and watch the fishing boats go by as the full moon rises.

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