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What is the best way to return to Thailand for New Year's after spending an extended period there and visiting Laos first?
Thai immigrationtourist visavisa rulesre-entryThailandVietnamLaosvisa exemptionHCMC embassytravel advice
Dec 13, 2025
5 months ago
Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTERJust wanna say my experience to get a tourist visa in Vietnam. It took 4 working days applying from HCMC embassy. They asked me why I applied for a tourist visa and I said because last time I entered IO told me to apply for one. I used an outbound cheap ticket from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur.
Now my question is: I have spent 52 days in the beginning of the year in Visa visa extemp, came back home 6 months and 67 from October in Thailand for a total of 119 days on 2025.
At the moment I'm in Vietnam and I would like to back for New year in Thailand. My idea was to travelling to laos because I wanna visit there first and enter by land from nong khai or could be that a problem and better fly to bkk airport and use a safe entry? Or atill better to wait january to come back?
Thank you guys
Now my question is: I have spent 52 days in the beginning of the year in Visa visa extemp, came back home 6 months and 67 from October in Thailand for a total of 119 days on 2025.
At the moment I'm in Vietnam and I would like to back for New year in Thailand. My idea was to travelling to laos because I wanna visit there first and enter by land from nong khai or could be that a problem and better fly to bkk airport and use a safe entry? Or atill better to wait january to come back?
Thank you guys
TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster shares their experience of obtaining a tourist visa from the HCMC embassy and questions the best way to re-enter Thailand after spending a total of 119 days in the country this year, with plans to visit Laos before returning for the New Year. They are concerned about potential immigration issues due to their length of stay and the advice they received from immigration officers.
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Nicolas ***********
4 days at HCMC.., was it recently?
Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nicolas **********
this weekNicolas ***********
@Henry *********
how is it they asked you a question..? It’s an online application right ?Reply to
Nicolas ***********
Reply
John **********
In my view there isn't a huge difference between a single entry tourist visa and a visa exempt entry. When immigration says get a visa next time the generally mean one appropriate for the purpose of your stay
Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
the IO said clearly get a TOURIST VISA, because i will be there just 2 monthsGraham ******
@Henry *********
how would the IO know that next time you visit you will be staying just two months?Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
because I'm a tourist and I told him I spend here 3-4 months in the winter and working in Europe in the summer. So either single or multy entry visa is the right visa for a tourist. Not everyone is over 50 or married with a thai.Reply to
Henry **********
Reply
Frank **********
You are getting close to being denied entry but even with a tourist visa it is up to the Immigration Officer that you deal with.
Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frank *********
that's why I applied for a tourist visa, like the IO said me. Based on what you say this?Frank **********
@Henry *********
I say that because if you get a different Immigration Officer on the way back he may not have the same opinion as the one who told you to get a tourist visa.Reply to
Frank **********
Reply
Collywobble **********
it was not abuse because was within rules set by the thai government
Graham ******
@Collywobble *********
no, the rules were previously not enforced but now they are being enforced as there has been no change to the law/rules ;)Frank **********
@Collywobble *********
unfortunately the rules are only as good as the Immigration Officer decides.Collywobble **********
exactly
Reply to
Collywobble **********
Reply
Henry **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Collywobble *********
thanksReply to
Henry **********
Reply
Peter ******
Get a visa, stop trying to evade the rules
James ******
@Peter *****
Simmer down charm school. Second sentence of his post he said "it took 4 working days applying from HCMC embassy." Im with you, play by the rules! This guy has likely abused it up to now, but let's face it, the rules were once easily bent and broken. Many have taken advantage, but that is over now. Nonetheless, be helpful or don't comment. Most of all, don't be a knob.Doug *******
@James *****
“Be helpful or don’t comment.”It’s astounding how many people can’t grasp this super simple concept.”
James ******
@Doug ******
life's most simple kindnesses are often the easiest to overlook.Reply to
James ******
Reply
Peter ******
@James *****
ok, tell them all to just carry on as before, see how many like your version of charm !Reply to
Peter ******
Reply
Dave **********
@Peter *****
tell that to 1000s of ex pats and Russians that have abused the system for years!Reply to
Dave **********
Reply
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