Why is Sweden $31??? It's the only 31 on the list. Or is that a typo?
The other Scandinavian countries are all $35. They definitely do have something against the North...
11
anonymous
The visa on arrival fee likely has nothing to do with how Lao nationals are treated abroad. It's not like with such a tiny population and low incomes many can afford to go abroad anyway and even if they do, I don't see why the Lao government would give a crap about how much their citizens are charged; besides, at certain tourist sites in Laos foreigners are charged more than Lao citizens though the extra amount charged is not much and the maximum charged anywhere seems to be no more than 20,000 Kip or 80 Baht. Laos is an inbound tourism market, it wants to make it easy for foreigners to enter yet at the same time generate some income to the government coffers. That is the only reason why foreigners even have to pay for a visa on arrival anyway.
There are some visa exempt nationalities, except the ASEAN ones it is not necessarily (and probably not) reciprocal for Lao citizens:
Switzerland, Russia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Russia, South Korea, Japan: 15 days
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei: 30 days
Philippines: 21 or 30 days not sure which one
Myanmar: 14 days
12
Giora
The Swiss and the Japanese get visa-free entry to Laos?? That's not something I knew. Presumably some of the border posts try and sell them visas anyway?
13
flysheet
I wanted to take US dollars to the border which would have meant changing VND in Hanoi - I wish I hadn't heeded bad advice as I paid 900,000VND to cross the border into Laos. I have a UK Passport, so bear in mind do not take VND to the border, change it wherever you can get a decent price before.
14
anonymous
No they don't. But for a stay of 30 days they could still purchase these visas at the border. Alternatively, i think in-country visa extensions or a visa run are OK.
15
Giora
It's not only Vietnamese Dong. Try to pay for your Laos visa in any currency other than USD, and you'll end up paying more than you have to.
16
choudoufu
I wanted to take US dollars to the border which would have meant changing VND in Hanoi - I wish I hadn't heeded bad advice as I paid 900,000VND to cross the border into Laos. I have a UK Passport, so bear in mind do not take VND to the border, change it wherever you can get a decent price before.
you didn't do too badly this time. according to the online currency converter, that would be $41.50 at
official no-fee rates. i doubt the banks in hanoi exchange without a fee. you may have lost a buck or two,
about the same as the "tea money" you'd have to fork over anyway.
better than at the cambodian border where the dudes charge 1500 baht ($45) for a $20 visa if you
don't have dollars.
18
emmeff
What the discussion on that other site (shudder) reveals is that this is for VOAs at Luang Prabang airport, and a surcharge is included in some of the fees listed here.
There are some visa exempt nationalities, except the ASEAN ones it is not necessarily (and probably not) reciprocal for Lao citizens:
Switzerland, Russia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Russia, South Korea, Japan: 15 days
Yes, this is what I observed among the group crossing from Nong Khai by train in March this year. The Swiss, Japanese and Korean arrivals waltzed through.
19
Captain_Bob
a surcharge is included in some of the fees listed here
Not sure where you're getting that. It says the surcharge is in addition to, not included in the listed fees, as has been the case for years. The list looks pretty reliable if it was indeed taken straight of the posting at LPB. Just a couple corrections so far. Anyway good to get feedback and make some tweaks. Thanks.
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