# Soft Power - HCMC - 14 Working Days

Just thought I would give an update on Ho Chi Minh Approvals as it took a lot longer than expected!

Type: Soft Power - Cooking Class 6 Month with Arun Thai Bangkok.

Passport: Australian

Funds: 3 Months of Bank Statements, Had 1 Mill Baht so 2 x amount required and the money had been in their the whole time.

Unemployed: with < 20000 USD.

Submitted: 14th October 2025

Request Documents / Provided Documents: 17th October 2025

Pending Approval: 27th October 2025

Approved: 3rd November 2025.

Documents Requested:

1. Student confirmation letter from Cooking School.

2. All pages of passport

3. Proof of income and what I plan to do for the whole 5 years ( I showed some rental income that I earn plus mentioned that I had double the amount required that I would use)

All up it took 21 days ( 14 working days) for approval. If I was to do it again I would definitely have just locked in a months accommodation and relaxed instead of having to stress about whether it was approved and moving accommodation constantly!

Another thing is that I did email and send messages to Line about 3 times throughout this period. They didn't acknowledge them at the time, but today as soon as I got the approval I got a line message and email response which was great!

Very Grateful today as I am about to board my flight to Thailand!

‼️ SYDNEY ONLY ‼️ this may not be useful for any other consulates

I thought I’ll come here to share my experience with fellow Sydney-siders, very smooth experience.

I got a soft power DTV (cooking class)

it worked well.

I applied Thurday 11th at night, got approved Monday 22nd (today) at 10:30am

What I provided:

Over 25k in a bank statement, didn’t have to be in the account for 3 months or anything like that.

Proof of class by partnered DTV class, I only got the 6 month option.

All the details put in correctly.

Professional digital passport photo.

That’s literally it.

Hope this helps and goodluck

DTV application question: I plan to do it in Indonesia (Bali or Jakarta, not sure if it matters), is it risky if I apply myself or should I do it through an agency? How long does it take to process the visa from Indonesia? Whats the success rate if I apply under Muay Thai vs Cooking class (preferred for me, i actually love cooking)?

If I go with an agency, which ones are reliable and has a decent price? I talked to an agency and their price is more than other ones and they said I can only go do it in Vietnam (don't prefer to go bc it traumatized me a little in the past) and only apply for Muay thai bc they have a partnership and that cooking classes won't get approved. I feel like they just want me to do this so their partner gets my money for muay thai (my partner wants to do muay thai but I don't bc i am unable to do it physically due to health reasons and I've done it in the past when I was able to).

Also if I opt for a cooking class like do I have to look for a place that would agree that I would use them for a DTV visa? Whats the success rate for this? I'm actually serious about cooking though, how come muay thai always gets approved and cooking classes don't have the same success rate?

Let me know if you have successfully applied from Indonesia with a cooking class or muay thai option or any good agencies (not willing to spend a lot for this since I can technically do it myself).

Thanks

Just new to this so don't shoot me down if this has already been answered multiple times! But where is the best place to find out which organisation can be used for a soft power visa? Thanks

DTV (Cooking Class)

Approved in 4 Working Days

Submitted: 4 July evening,

Approved: 10 July afternoon

Location: Hanoi Thai Consulate

Hanoi is still fair & efficient.

1-500,000 THB settled for 5 weeks (SGD bank statement with a short explanation for why I used it)

2-Financial Declaration Letter explaining support from my husband

3-Submitted 6-month bank statements from my husband’s account.

So anyone have made a visa with an agent ? I want to apply for the dtv visa and i want to take an agent to make it for me he is doing it for 9 months he tell me can i trust them ? He tells me he will apply for me via cooking classes (i wanted to try via muay thai) but he told me many rejections by muay thai so should i trust it ? They ask 1000 euro for all costs of process and documents

Thank goodness my DTV approved using soft power cooking class.

23 March 2025 - Applied the visa online at Laos

24 March 2025

9.00am - Make the payment at the Consulate.

4.26pm - Ask for the Laos Stamp

28 March 2025

9.00am - Went to Consulate and asking my application

10.42am - Email (Ask about the DBD and Owner ID for the Cooking - must signed by the owner). Few round email.

5.00pm - Sent the right documents from the school.

31 March 2025

9.10am - Went to Consulate and asking my application

10.00am - Change status from Checking to Waiting for Approval

3.00pm - Went to Thailand and waiting for the bus

4.55pm - Email (Interview on 2 April 2025 after lunch)

5.30pm - Back to Laos

1 April 2025

2.10pm - Interview

2.15pm - DTV Visa Approval

When I crossed the border, I showed Thai Immigration my visa via phone. But she never bothered to look, because their system already showed DTV.

Hi I applied for the soft power route cooking class and I received feedback saying I need to send a 'detailed portfolio of applicant must demonstrate cooking past experience for no less than 6 months'

What is this? Has anybody received this request before and what am I supposed to send? I am not a professional cook as the school I paid for is to cook Thai in a fun group class setting. The school is DTV approved and sent me all the documents.

Appreciate any help

Thanks

hi, i want to apply for a dtv visa!

i have a business in my country, please tell me who applied recently?

from what country and city and what documents did you need?

Hi, I have an online vintage clothing shop on Depop which was pretty successful but it doesn’t make me that much money anymore. I have the 500,000 baht but I am wondering if there is a certain amount you need to be earning to get the Dtv?

Would I be able to apply using the shop as my portfolio?

Or is it better for me to apply though the Muay Thai/ cooking class route?

I’m worried about getting denied 🙃