Escort across 4th Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge
 

I came across this bridge the other day from the Laos side to Thailand and am still trying to work out if what happened was a scam or not.

I got stamped out of Laos but then they said that motorbikes need to be escorted across the bridge by a car from the immigration department. Of course I needed to pay for it - first it was 400 Baht, then 100,000 kip, then 1000 Baht, then $35, then 250,000 kip, later on 500 Baht - all of which just reeks of bullshit so I refused to pay. After wasting huge amounts of time they let me go without paying anything but they actually did come across the bridge with me which makes me think that maybe there is a regulation about motorbikes needing an escort. But I can't really find any good information about it.

Anybody else know anything? Is it actually required to have an escort across the bridge? What about coming from the Thai side? And what about the price - where they trying to line they own pockets or did I refuse to pay an official fee?

There has been a lot of fuzz about letting motorbikes cross these friendships bridges spanning over Mekong between Laos and Thailand. In general the authorietis dont like motorbike on the bridges at all. Maybe understandable to a certain extend as 98 % of all thailenders own one and quite many laotians also. So there is a potential for heeps of traffic there.

As I can read on the GT-rider forum it seems to be the norm nowadays at bridge nr 4 that one need escort over the bridge and need to pay for it as well. Its not exactly a busy crossing so its hard to understand why.....

Read more aout it on the GT-rider forum thread about this bridge..

4th Mekong Friendship Bridge Houei Xai - Chiang Khong Opening. - Touring Forums | GT-Rider

At which point did you entry Laos by the way?

There is also alot of talk about it on Ride Asia Motorcycle Forum
They are sometimes a bit funny about letting bikes go across there at all! They also mention about having to be escorted.
I am going to try and cross later on in the year so I can post another update, I am hoping to cross from Thailand to Laos

Wayne

Wow things change so quickly. I crossed there in 2013 but there was no bridge. Had to catch a dodgy barge across with 2 fuel tankers. Was pretty hectic but a good laugh.

I crossed the 4th Bridge, update as promised

Info and a bit of video in my RT page 7

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-laos-79478-7

Wayne