Chiang Mai has real magic and charm and so many of us just love it here. You can walk around the old city and see so much culture and history block by block. It's more manageable and affordable than Bangkok. Great deals on condos and rentals. Great expat community. Samui is mostly a vacation island.
Go to Vientiane. Make an appointment online for the date you want. Drop off your passport and documents say on a Monday, then pick it up on a Wednesday. Easy city to get around.