Turns out my visa for Vietnam was going to run out 2 days before I wanted to leave. I asked a few people and they said it would be no problem, I'd just have to pay $5 for each day I went over. That seemed like a better option than paying $20 for a visa extention.
I took a trip through the Mekong Delta as I was leaving the country, so I passed through customs at a riverside border. In the morning as we got on the boat I told the guide that my visa was 2 days over. She said "OH NO. That is a big problem." I thought she as joking at first, but she wasn't. She said the people who say $5 don't know what they are talking about. It's 50,000 dong a day, unless you get someone corrupt who wants more. 100,000 dong works out to $67. Damn!
So we get to the crossing and I am really nervous. I was prepared and wearing my nicest skirt, and I put on a nice clean button down shirt, fixed my hair, etc. Basically I tried to look like a nice, respectable girl, not a dirty backpacker. While most people went to eat lunch the guide dealt with our passports, and I sat in the chair behind her and tried to smile and look a little nervous, which wasn't hard. Eventually one uniformed man got up and the guide said we had to go talk with him now. She had lied on my behalf and told them I was very sick which is why I stayed too late. Luckily I didn't have to lie; he never asked me why I stayed late. I don't remember exactly what we talked about at first, but he was quite friendly and joking around. After a few minutes he said, why don't you stay in Vietnam longer! And I knew I was in the clear.
Best part? He didn't charge me at all!! But I think my name is on the computer in Vietnam and next time I'm in the country they will be watching me.
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