@ alex the Australians did kill a lot in Vietnam.

Apologies to Australia. Didn't realize they were part of the Vietnam War. Good allies are the ones that help you, even in the crappy battles.

since the thread has off topic already. :-) i just can not resist stirring the pot with my own 'shxt-stick.' :-)))))

the fact that, the koreans, both north and south, participated in the Vietnam war. the south korean troops in particular were implicated in atrocities. it would be 'logical', according to the derived 'theory', that the south korean would have to pay visa fee like the Yanks would. however, in reality, it is the poor North Korean who have to pay visa fee while their southern cousin can enter Vietnam free. :-) the world is full of irony. :-)

It's likely that the only North Koreans going to Vietnam would be government or military officials. They don't pay it out of their own pocket!

Americans are (usually) viewed as being rich, so VISA fees in many countries are higher for Americans (Thailand charges almost 4 times as much for Americans as for Canadians).

Well so much for my efforts to avoid the conversation turning into this. I guess now that its beyond repair... It should be added, Canada was somewhat complicit with the Vietnam war as well.

I find it hard to believe Canadians pay 1/4 the price for a thai visa compared to Americans. But if that's true, and its based on the perception of wealth...the logic really starts to break down.

I don't think the economic level of your average Canadian/American is all that different. If anything I tend to think Canadians might enjoy a higher standard, lest people forget how concentrated wealth in the states is.

Canada was officially neutral during the US involvement in Viet Nam. Canada, Poland and India comprised the International Control Commission (ICC) which was supposed to regulate something or the other.

I lived quite close to the Canadian ICC villa in Saigon. They had a few pretty good parties. I doubt that visa fees are based on which side was friendly to Viet Nam or not. The US charges everyone high, if not the highest, visa fees and most countries reciprocate. So we US citizens pay for expensive visas due to the policies of our shitty US government.

I don't think "officially" means all that much. But my knowledge is based on what I've read, sounds like yours is a little more tangible.

I agree with you about reciprocity, which I guess I can thank for my $220 Chinese visa... I got sidetracked making a separate point about all Americans being branded as rich.

I will need to do a visa run soon, as my Chinese student visa expires on March 23rd, but I wish to stay in China for another two months (maybe three), researching my thesis. My school which does some shady visa business offered me a two month student visa without having to attend class for 1900 yuan (including the 400 yuan visa fee), but to me that feels like a bit much for a two month visa which I won't be able to extend like a tourist visa (I'm guessing there might be other Kunming language schools that have the same type of offer for a cheaper price though?). I'm thinking going to Vietnam and applying for a new visa would be a better option, since I don't need a visa to Vietnam if I stay for less than 15 days (and also I've been dreaming of seeing northern Vietnam ever since reading L'amant). People say it's impossible to get a Chinese visa at the embassy in Hanoi unless you're a Vietnamese resident though, but at the embassy's website I found nothing stating this, they only write that non-Vietnamese applicants need to supply a copy of their Vietnamese visa, so it's all a bit confusing, I'm not sure which information to trust. Anyone with recent experience in the matter? Would I have to go to Ho Chi Minh City? That seems a bit far, then I might as well go to Hong Kong. I also hear that normally you can only get a one month tourist visa in Vietnam or Hong Kong, not a two or three month visa, is this so? Thanks in advance for any help on this matter!