What is the process for applying for a DTV soft power visa in Thailand, based on recent experiences?

There are some really helpful people in this thread, and I truly appreciate it!

US Passport applied Ho Chi Minh DTV soft power cooking just approved today

* 26 January: Applied for DTV soft power in Ho Chi Minh City

* 3 February: Additional documents requested

* Photos of all pages of my passport next to a device showing the current date and time

* Additional financial information clarifications

* A letter outlining my intentions for the next five years

* 12 February: Application approved

My finances were a bit complicated, as I needed to show funds across four different accounts to meet the required amount and in different currencies. I decided to use an agency (Issa Compass), which helped me with organising and presenting the financial documentation, and they caught a few errors I made in my initial app. For me, using an agency was worth it given these complications and bandwidth issues.

For the activity requirement, I applied under the cooking option and used Arun Thai Cooking. I would recommend taking photos of yourself cooking for the application, as I think this was helpful.