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Everything you need to know about Vietnam visa run (updated 2025)

Feb 11, 2025 924 Views

What is Vietnam visa run?

A "Vietnam visa run" refers to a trip to a nearby country to lengthen your stay in Vietnam if you wish to extend your time there. Whether you were initially granted a free visa or a visa stamp allowing a specific stay, once your visa expires, you need to leave Vietnam, get to a neighboring country (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, or China), then turn back around and re-enter Vietnam with a new visa. This process is commonly known as a Vietnam visa run.

Why should you choose visa run?

Save on Vietnam visa expenses: A much more affordable alternative is to take a visa-run trip to the border, where you can quickly exit and re-enter Vietnam.

Easy travel: Vietnam’s central location in the ASEAN region makes it easy and inexpensive to fly to neighboring countries. The overall cost of a visa run trip is generally low, and during peak season, you can easily find great deals with various airlines for your journey.

Explore a new place: A Vietnam visa run is also a great opportunity to explore the culture of another ASEAN country. This added experience can make your trip more exciting and enjoyable. Plus, you’ll be able to travel at a low cost, with affordable options for accommodation and food. All you need is a few days, a small budget, and you can enjoy a visa run to one of the nearby countries in the ASEAN region.

How to apply for Vietnam visa run?

There are two methods of getting a visa run which you either get a visa at the Vietnam land border or the airport.

Steps to get Vietnam visa run

Step 1: Finalize the closest and most convenient land border or airport you will pick for visa run. Don’t forget to decide which country to go to and when to leave Vietnam.

Step 2: Find an agency to apply for a new Vietnam e-visa. Send your Vietnam evisa request. Your Vietnam e-visa order will be submitted at least a day prior to your exit date.

Step 3: Go to the land border or airport to exit Vietnam before the visa expires. You need to share your exit stamp so that we can update Vietnam Immigration.

Step 4: Come back to Vietnam once your new Vietnam visa is granted.

Special note: You need to use emergency evisa services through an agency to get results quicker. However, this service does not apply to all nationalities. For prompt support, you can call or message us on WhatsApp at +84 969 255 515.

What documents should you bring on for a visa run?

Here is the list of documents for Vietnam visa run:

Original passport (valid for at least 06 months)
A new Vietnam e-visa/visa approval letter
Air ticket or bus ticket
Required documents to enter a third country when doing visa run Vietnam

Land borders to get Vietnam visa run to China
• Mong Cai / Dong Hung: Mong Cai border is located 176 km from Ha Long and 327 km from Hanoi. From Dong Hung on the Chinese side, you can get to the border within a short distance.

• Lao Cai / Hekou border: From Kunning on the Chinese side, you can get to Lao Cai and eventually Sapa. This border gate doesn’t offer a visa on arrival. Citizens from Australia or some countries in Europe can buy a one-month Chinese visa on the Vietnamese side. In any case, check your visa status before coming to the border.

• Huu Nghi Border (Lang Son, Vietnam) – Pingxiang (Nanning, China): this is the most popular crossing in the far north where travelers can reach there by bus or train from Hanoi.

Land borders to get Vietnam visa run to Laos

• Tay Trang Border (Dien Bien, Vientam) – Sop Hun (Laos): This border is frequently picked up by foreign visitors who are currently traveling around the Northern region of Vietnam when it comes to visa run through the land border. If you decide to start your journey from Sapa, it is easy to take a bus from Sapa – to Dien Bien Phu, and then from Dien Bien Phu you will take another bus to reach the border. It’s quite a long journey but trade off with beautiful and natural landscapes to enjoy.

• Cau Treo Border (Ha Tinh, Vietnam) – Nam Phao (Borikhamxay, Laos): It is convenient to get a bus to reach this border from the town of Lak Xao, then you can get to the other side within walking distance. This border crossing is so far the favorite choice for most travelers. From the border on the Vietnamese side, the nearest town, Vinh, is located 100 km away. And a Vietnamese visa needs to be arranged in advance.

Cửa khẩu Cầu Treo – Wikipedia tiếng Việt

• Lao Bao Border (Quang Tri, Vietnam) – Dansavan Border (Savannakhet, Laos): The Lao Bao border used to be the first and most popular border crossing that opened for international tourists in the Center part of Vietnam. Those who want to go to Hue and continue exploring Central Vietnam often choose this checkpoint to enter Vietnam. Also, foreign visitors can easily go for visas run by buses to the Lao Bao border from Da Nang because they go on a regular basis.

Land borders to get Vietnam visa to Cambodia

• Moc Bai Border (Tay Ninh, Vietnam) – Bavet Border (Svay Rieng, Cambodia): It is a popular place to get an instant visa on arrival from Saigon. Daily buses are available from Saigon to Moc Bai at a price of roughly $2 to $12. You can get visa on arrival at both Moc Bai (for those who want to enter Vietnam) and Bavet (for those who want to enter Cambodia).

• Kaam Samnor / Vinh Xuong: From Chau Doc, Vietnam, you will cross the Ving Xuong border to reach Phnom Penh on the other side. This riverine crossing offers both slow and fast boat service. Hang Chau and Blue Cruiser are the two most popular boat operators.

• Phnom Den / Tinh Bien: Tinh Bien is located in the middle of Ha Tien and Chau Doc. If you are not a fan of boats, heading to Tinh Bien is an alternative worth considering. Buses are leaving Ha Tien to the border and the price is affordable. On the Cambodian side, transport is a bit expensive and you should be careful not to get ripped off.

• Prek Chak / Xa Xia: You can enter Vietnam from the Cambodian side at the Prek Chak/ Xa Xia checkpoint with a valid Vietnam visa in hand. You can also get Cambodia visa on arrival at this crossing. From Kep, the nearest town, you can take a motorbike to the border and it costs around $7.

Vietnam visa run processing time

• 2-4 working hours service
If your flight is in just a few hours, it's best to call us at +84 969 255 515 (via Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber/WeChat). Please provide your nationality and flight details so we can recommend the best solution for you.

01 Working Day Service:
We guarantee that your e-visa result will be ready within 1 working day (Vietnam time).

02 Working Day Service:
We ensure your Vietnam e-visa result will be available within 2 working days (Vietnam time).

Note:

• The expedited Vietnam e-visa service (within 2-4 working hours or 1 working day) is only available if you’ve submitted your e-visa request at least one day in advance.
• If you haven’t submitted your e-visa at least a day in advance, same-day e-visa services are not available.
• We provide 24/7 assistance, but please note that Vietnam e-visas are only processed during Vietnam Immigration’s working hours.

Vietnam Immigration Working Hours:
• Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Vietnam time, GMT +7)
No emergency or expedited Vietnam visa services are available on weekends (Saturday, Sunday) or national holidays.

You will only be permitted to board your flight once your Vietnam e-visa or visa approval letter has been approved by Vietnam Immigration.

Costs for Vietnam visa run

The fees for express Vietnam visa or expedited Vietnam e-visa vary based on the urgency of your visa application, whether you have already submitted an e-visa via the Vietnam Immigration website, and the price policies of different visa agencies.

For expedited services, you can obtain a Vietnam visa quickly through our trusted visa agency Vietnamvisavoa.com:

02 - 04 working hours
Contact us directly at + 84 969 255 15 (Zalo/ Viber/ Whatsapp). Please note that this service is not always available, so it’s best to contact us for instant assistance.

Note: There are no extra fees upon arrival for Vietnam e-visas.

With a valid passport and correct Vietnam e-visa, you can enter Vietnam legally with an entry stamp on your passport granted by Vietnam Immigration on arrival.

Quick Tips to have a good journey for Vietnam visa run

Get your stamped out of Lao, Thailand, Cambodia, or whatever country you choose for the Vietnam visa run: To re-enter Vietnam, you have to show Vietnam Immigration on the way back a stamped visa which is a chosen country you do visa run unless you shall be denied.
Take a Vietnam E-visa if you re-enter Vietnam: it is compulsory for those who are planning to get back to Vietnam through the border. A copy of the visa letter is only accepted if you take a flight back to Vietnam.

How to apply for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand visas for Vietnam visa run

1. Thailand visa

Visa Exemption

Thailand’s visa exemption policy and bilateral agreements allow visa-free stay for -
− 90 days to nationalities of 5 countries (South Korea and others).
− 30 days to nationalities of 57 countries (US, UK, Japan and most of Europe).
− 14 days to nationalities of 02 countries (Cambodia and Myanmar).

Tourists eligible for visa-free stay must carry an original passport*, confirmed onward ticket, and financial means for stay in Thailand.

Visa on arrival

Thai visa on arrival
Thailand allows visas on arrival to citizens of 19 countries for stay up to 15 days for touristic purposes.

Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy

Nationalities who are not eligible to enter Thailand under visa exemptions, visa on arrival, and e-visa schemes are advised to obtain visas with the Royal Thai Embassy prior to their visit. Applicants can apply for 30 or 60-day, single or multiple-entry visa from the embassy.

Documents Required:

Passport*
Confirmed flight ticket for onward/return journey.
Proof of financial means (10,000-20,000 baht per person/40,000 baht per family).

Additional documents for Visa on Arrival or applying at the Embassy:

A copy of passport.
Application form
One recent 4X6 cm photograph.
Confirm hotel booking to notify the address in Thailand.
Visa fee of 2,000 Baht in cash.

E-Visa

For a single entry stay of 15 days, nationalities of 21 countries can obtain e-visa. In 2- days, the online visa will be sent to the provided email address, if the visa is approved. To get an e-visa, applicants must hold:

A passport* from any eligible country.
A credit/debit card.
An email address.

2. Cambodia visa

Visa Exemptions

Tourists holding a passport from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam do not need a visa to enter Cambodia for between 14 and 30 days depending on the country. However, while entering, tourists must carry their original passport (must be valid).

Visa on Arrival and E-visa

Cambodia visa on arrival

Citizens of all other nations apart from Afghanistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Sudan are eligible for applying Visa on Arrival or e-visa to enter Cambodia. Visa on Arrival or e-visa allows eligible tourists - a single entry stay for 30 days for touristic purposes only.
For visa on arrival, tourists are required to have a passport*, 30 $ in cash, and an immigration card.
For e-visa, tourists need to fill in the required details on the Cambodian E-visa portal and pay a fee of 36 $. Getting an e-visa takes 3-7 days.

Tourist Visa from the Embassy of Cambodia

One can apply for a tourist visa from the nearest Embassy of Cambodia if the applicant is ineligible to obtain an E-visa or Visa on Arrival.

Documents Required:

Visa application form
A passport*
A copy of the passport.
One recent 4X6 cm photograph.
Hotel bookings.
Return ticket out of Cambodia.
Visa fees: 36 $ in cash.

With this, the embassy may ask for a “letter of invitation”, so tourists are advised to confirm accordingly.

3. Laos visa

Visa Exemptions

Citizens of 10 countries including South Korea and Russia are allowed to stay visa free for 30 days in Laos. Citizens of Japan, Switzerland, and Luxembourg are allowed for visa-free stay of 15 days and Brunei and Myanmar are allowed for 14 days of visa-free stay. The only requirement, is to carry an original passport* while entering Laos.

Visa on Arrival and E-visa

Laos visa on arrival

Citizens of all other nations apart from few Asian countries and central African countries are eligible for applying Visa on Arrival or e-visa to enter Cambodia. Tourists who are ineligible to obtain visa on arrival or apply for e-visa can visit the nearest embassy of Laos to get a tourist visa. Visa on Arrival or e-visa allows eligible tourists - a single entry stay for 30 days for touristic purposes only.

For e-visa, applicant needs to fill in the required details on the Laos E-visa portal. Once again, the amount to be paid depends on the applicant’s nationality. Getting an e-visa takes 3 days.

To get a visa on arrival or from the nearest embassy of Laos, tourists are required to provide:

Application form.
A passport*.
Two recent photographs (3cmx4cm).
Visa fee in USD or Thai baht (amount depends on applicant’s nationality and place of application).
A copy of the itinerary.

While applying at the embassy, the applicant must confirm the required documents, processing time, and fees from the nearest Laos Embassy.

*For applying a visa, the applicant’s passport must hold at least 6 months validity from the date of travel and two empty leaves.

FAQs on Vietnam visa run

Should I use a plane, train or bus to do Vietnam visa run?

There are options to do a visa run by bus, train, or plane, but honestly, flying is just so much quicker and easier. Plus, you can find some super cheap flights that make it a no-brainer.

Can I get a visa run if I overstay?

When you overstay, you can't perform visa run crossing the land border or the airport. You need to guarantee you exit Vietnam before your visa expires.

What should I notice if I want to arrange a visa run?

It would be better to share with the agency your plan like your expected round-trip flight to ensure you get a visa on time and everything goes smoothly. Besides, authorities are tightening regulations on temporary residence registrations, so it's a good idea to confirm with your landlord or register on your own to make sure everything is in order.

Can I apply for a visa run while I’m in Vietnam on my current visa?

By law, Immigration won't approve your new visa order while you are still residing in Vietnam. You must leave Vietnam if you want to apply for a visa run.

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