Visa Run

My 90 day eVisa was up so I had to leave Vietnam to renew it. A popular option is doing a regular visa run by van to the border with Laos, crossing over, and coming back all on the same day.

I considered this, but figured I’d use the time to return to northern Thailand and cross into Laos from there, before flying back into Vietnam.

Thailand

Managed to get a cheap flight from Da Nang to Chiang Mai, with a bit of a layover in Bangkok. While in Bangkok airport I immediately went about applying for a new eVisa, which came within a few days thankfully.

A beauty about Da Nang and Chiang Mai is they are both very accessible airports, about 15 mins taxi from the centre.

One thing I didn’t expect was it to be so wet once I returned! This did put a bit of a dampener on things, but it was fun being back. I returned to the same central Old Town hotel and met some mates from January. The place is far less busy in May, but still really nice.

Zoe in mellow

I got an early bus to Pai on Thursday for a few nights. This is even more of a ghost town, but it was good to bump into my new mate Bill before he returns to Europe.

I went along to Paradise but was a bit late and missed the fire show smh. The vibe generally is very cliquey and full of Israelis so wasn’t as much fun as I was hoping, and I overcompensated by getting steamed as per. Debated the tipsy tubing but glad I gave it a miss in the end, and just headed back to CM.

Miss the crew I was with last time

On Monday I went out to the university for a run – something I didn’t know about during my first visit there but is a great place for a run.

Chiang Mai University – a great place for a run

I also used the opportunity being back in CM to head to the night bazaar and get some clothes.

Thailand Chang jerseys in all the colours of the rainbow!

Laos

Not to be confused with Laois – a common mistake made only by me. Definitely the least travelled and less understood places in SE Asia, albeit arguably the most beautiful. I can’t confirm this as I never made it over.

The plan always looks so straightforward on paper but when I got to Chiang Mai, I realised it would be a big effort to actually go through with the plan of Chiang Rai -> Luang Prabang -> Vientiane, so I just hung about Chiang Mai for a few days instead.

Always next time… I tell myself.

All in all, it was nice to visit CM again, and check out the auld haunts. The place has been a real highlight for me and I’ll definitely return one day. Maybe with more of a gang!

I used the chill time to write and send a bunch of postcards… although I probably should have read the post office reviews beforehand, as it looks like they may never arrive!

But at least I arrived back to Vietnam safe and sound with a direct flight from Chiang Mai to Hanoi.