13 Jan 2008

To/from Nong Khai by road (work in progress)

Nong Khai is in Isaan (northeastern Thailand), on the banks of the Mekong. It’s 615km north of Bangkok.

It’s 25km to Vientiane in Laos over the Friendship Bridge, which is just outside Nong Khai (and visible from the Bridge bar, of course). More information on travelling from Laos here.

Udon Thani, site of the nearest big airport in Thailand, is about 56km away by road.

Taxi

If you’re coming from Udon Thani, cabbie touts at the airport will ask for 800 baht to take you the hour's trip to Nong Khai. Cars are air-conditioned and the drivers usually speak some English.

To go straight to the Bridge, ask for “Nong Khai, Rimkhong, Suki Vientiane”. The bar is about 30m upriver from this well-known restaurant.

Taxi might be the only option back to Udon airport if you want to catch one of the early morning flights. Try the guy on 08-9940 3825, who will (with notice) take you the 50-minute trip to Udon. English is limited but reliable. Round trip (e.g. to collect someone) should cost only slightly more than one-way. If not available, ask Carsten at the Thasadej Cafe by Thasadej market (see map).

Bus

From Udon Thani airport, four buses run per day to Nong Khai and the Friendship Bridge. If you miss one you can get a ride into Udon town and pick up one of the frequent buses (until about 9pm) to Nong Khai. Either option is cheap as chips. (But see minibuses below.)

From Nong Khai, several services run to Bangkok Morchit station/Kao San Road (about 9 hours).

One first-class bus goes daily to/from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.

Several buses run daily to Vientiane (30 baht or so).

In Nong Khai, the BKS station is on Prajak road, to the east of (and on the other side of the road to) Wat Sri Khun Muang. See where it is on our map. 

Minibus

The best way to get from Udon airport to Nong Khai is by minibus. They take everyone door to door, saving you the trouble of an additional tuk-tuk ride. Departures coincide with flight arrivals, so you’ll get one. Buy a 200 baht ticket from the booth on the right before exiting the air terminal. Remember to specify where you’re going before you get to Nong Khai - they won’t retrace their steps if you overshoot your destination.

Minibuses do a dropoff for Laos at the Friendship Bridge a few minutes before entiering Nong Khai. Don’t get off at the bridge unless you’re going straight to Laos.

Tuk-tuk

If you’re coming from Laos, a tuk-tuk from the Friendship Bridge immigration control into town costs farangs about 50 baht per person, more if you’re travelling alone.

Car

Eh? Car?

OK, our location is here on Google maps and here on Yahoo maps (the latter has better satellite pics of Nong Khai).

Transport        By air        By rail        Getting around Nong Khai