I get that flights to Yangon are dead cheap from CNX at the moment (1490 was the price I saw recently) but you're not considering that most who go to Vientiane fly to Udon Thani and bus the difference. Also you can get a VOA for Laos, you need to apply for a Myanmar visa in advance.

Cheapest destination direct without requiring a visa would be Kuala Lumpur. There are cheaper flights to Yangoon but a visa is required to even get on the plane.

So long Promenada, we hardly knew ye.

Ive just filled in a new TM30. Had no problems with it being accepted.

Four characters appear to English - Mi8h maybe?

yes

we're trend setters in the north :)

They were always planning to - they're building a multi story building on the land they own near the airport. The only question is whether they move all or some of the services into the new building and when.

A survey of Thaivisa dot com readers, not exactly a repesentative sample.

In theory won't be a problem - been there, done that with slight variation out of CM (language ED to visa exempt to TR to self-defense ED), however, anywhere but Penang in between times at this point of time for a TR given the ongoing reports of drama.

You might be better off in KL if you don't want to go to Vientiane for the TR - you still need to have your paperwork in order but they're not being quite as picky/pedantic. Alts are Vietnam (Hanoi or HCMC) remembering that you can fly direct from CNX. I priced HCMC the other day, <2k one way and it's great place if you haven't been.