TRAVEL INFO
Mukdahan is 642km from Bangkok. You can get there by car or by bus. Alternatively, you can catch a plane to Nakhon Phanom to the north or Ubon Ratchathani to the south and take a public van or a taxi from there. Nakhon Phanom is about 100km from Mukdahan. Ubon Ratchathani is 30km further but has more flights available. If you’re really in a hurry, you can fly to Savannakhet and cross the river to Mukdahan. But it costs a lot more.
Thai and Lao nationals have two choices of crossing the Mekong, the Friendship Bridge and the ferry. Those who do not drive prefer the second choice because the pier on either side is located in the heart of the town. People of other nationalities are required to use the bridge and go through the full immigration process, but this does not take too much time. Thai passport holders can stay in Laos for 30 days. Those using a temporary border pass, which can be obtained from the tourist centre near the ferry pier, can stay in Laos for only three days and must return to the same check point. For those who do not have their own vehicle and do not wish to take the ferry, an international bus service to Savannakhet is available from the Mukdahan bus terminal. In Savannakhet, you can find buses to Hue in Vietnam as well as Thakhek and other destinations in Laos. Hiring a private van with a chauffeur who can drive on both left- and right-lane traffic is the most convenient way to travel. Local tour agencies can not only help you find such vans but can also help you with the immigration process. Thai vans (2,800 baht a day, petrol not included) can travel in Laos but cannot enter Vietnam. Lao vans (4,800 baht a day, inclusive of petrol) can take you through all the three countries. Mukdahan boasts a host of hotels and resorts for different tastes and budgets. Nakhon Phanom, Savannakhet, Thakhek also offer many choices for tourist accommodation, as do Hue, Danang and Hoi An. Thai baht can be used in Laos and sometimes in Vietnam, too. For more information, call Sajja Wongkittithorn on 081-051-2666. For bus timetables in Savannakhet, call +8564-121-3920.