What are the best visa options for a short trip from Chiang Mai for an Australian passport holder?

Thailand Visa Australian Passport Tourist Visa Visa Exempt Entry SETV (Single Entry Tourist Visa)Visa Application Process Chiang Mai Travel to Southeast Asia Air Travel Options

Jul 26, 2018

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Howdie folks. 

Need a bit of advice. I've got to fly out mid-September from Chiang Mai, I'm flying direct flights only as I just don't have the time to fly to Bangkok. From what I've looked up, my choices are 

Kuala Lumpur - Singapore  - Hong Kong - Hanoi - Ho Chi Min - Yangon - Luan Prabang 

So my choices are fly in, spend 24-48 hours there and fly back and get a 30 day on arrival visa (Australian Passport) 

or stay a few days, and get a 60 day SETV. 

What would be my best options here in terms of ease and time factors and everything else? 

Thanks

347

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks advice on the best visa options for a short trip from Chiang Mai in mid-September, primarily considering destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Yangon, and Luang Prabang. They are weighing the choice between a quick stay (24-48 hours) to obtain a 30-day visa on arrival or an extended stay for a 60-day SETV. Comments suggest that destinations like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer easy visa application processes for Australian passport holders, highlighting that a visa on arrival is not available for Australians.

Tod *********

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Yangon and Singapore are all places where if you meet the requirements you'll have no problem getting a single entry tourist visa from the thai consulate there. Singapore you apply for the visa online BEFORE you fly there and they tell you when you can come get it.

FWIW: you don't get any visa on arrival entering the country on an Australian passport. IF you didn't buy a visa from a thai consulate before you came here you'd get in on a free 30 day visa exempt entry stamp

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Tod

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Koren ********

, so get a cheap throw away bus ticket from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap or Luang Prabang, or something to show as proof of onward travel

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

But I can extend that tourist visa by another 30 days no?

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Koren ********

you're gonna hafta leave when the tourist visa is up by some means, get a cheap ticket to another place with a thai consulate so you can get another tourist visa.

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Damn, my issue is I've already done the two land border runs. Only option is fly I guess

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Koren ********

ALL of them require proof of onward travel, proof of 20K baht in a bank account and most require proof of a hotel booking too.

If you want to use a consulate that doesn't require those things you need to go to the thai consulate in Vientiane Lao

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry, yes that's the one. Which of those don't require an leaving flight ticket?

6 years ago

Reply to

Koren ******

Iñigo ************

To Ho chi minh usually are cheap flights and getting a thai visa there is easy and quick if you have all documents ready. The cost of staying in Ho Chi Minh is similar to Bangkok.

6 years ago

Iñigo ************

***********************************************************************************************

*****

**********

-For-Non-Vietnamese-passport-holder-%7C-D%C3%A0nh-cho-ng%C6%B0%E1%BB%9D.html

6 years ago

Koren ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

What docs do I need? I know there's still plenty of time, but I like to sort these things out way ahead.

6 years ago

Reply to