Temporary Low Cost Travel Cafe

[onebir]

A 2000km highway via Laos & Chiang Rai is set to link Kunming & Bangkok, with a journey time of 20 hours.

See http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/kunming/news/578

The Chinese portion has recently been reported to be complete (again, after it was reported to be complete over a year back in the above :s). If the Lao & Thai portions are completed this year, the road could well be open before Thai Airasia - currently devoting much of it's incoming fleet to replacing gas-guzzling older planes - gets round to offering the flight.

But there's a wrinkle. At the moment, Lao tourist visas cost USD30 and transit visas require a third country visa & evidence of a *flight* out of the Laos - factors which could scupper the "attractiveness" of the 20 hour ride.

What are the chances the Lao immigration officials will realise this and pave the way for a convenient affordable overland route?