I was thinking the same thing, just because I read Amornrat Mattioli’s warning about Vientiane and my school. The next visa will be a simple tourist visa, so what are everyone’s thoughts on Ho Chi Minh city versus Hanoi? I’ve never been to Vietnam, so I’ll be deciding based on how interesting the cities are and the relative ease of getting my visa done.

Mark Stanley well, I'm not pleased with them right now, but calling them bastards is a little strong for me. They're not terrible people, this is just the way bureaucrats are.

But I appreciate your support, my man.

Mark Stanley yeah they ignored me when I pleaded with them

Ok I'm back. I'm in a stopover in Bangkok, went through immigration and got my 30 day without a hitch (even though I lost my departure card from when I left. I'm really batting 1.000, aren't I?).

Thanks for all the advice and conversation everyone, gonna sit down with a professional and determine the next move. See you soon, Chiang Mai'ers!

I think he meant me. I fly back tomorrow afternoon

@Tod ********

I wonder if I can get Thai baht here

@Tod ********

I’ve never gotten a 30 day exempt before. I have to show them cash on hand when I do? How much do I have to have? They do realize that there are ATMs in Thailand, right?

@Jay *****

just to clarify, I’ve never had a 30 day exempt visa. I had a 6 month metv, a 1 year ed visa, a 60 + 30 day setv, and now this denial.

Yeah, I will. I had all of those now, but it didn’t help.

@Daniel *************

since I can renew my exempt visa for an additional 30 days, then that should be enough time, right?