How can I perform my VISA RUN?

A comprehensive guide to performing a Vietnam visa run to Laos in 2023

If you wish to prolong your stay in Vietnam but can't obtain a visa extension as at the moment the tourist visa cannot be extended in anyway, you might want to consider a Vietnam visa run instead.

Travelers can use a Vietnam visa run to extend their stay in the country by applying for a new visa and receiving a stamp at the border/airport. This involves leaving Vietnam and then returning on the new visa.

Crossing the borders is the most convenient method for completing a Vietnam visa run. This article will provide a detailed guide with step-by-step instructions on how to perform a visa run to Laos/Cambodia through the three most commonly used borders.

Steps to get Vietnam visa run

Step 1: Collect all the essential documents, which must include the following:

1. Your passport (which must be valid for a minimum of 6 months)
2. Vietnam visa: passengers can choose to apply for an E-visa or Visa on Arrival, depending on their nationality. ​

• For E-visa, applicants should provide accurate information and a clear passport photo at the government website https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/. It typically takes 5-7 days for processing, and applicants should avoid errors or inaccuracies since they can't be corrected after submission. To have a smooth and hassle-free experience, travelers can consider using a travel agent to handle the visa application process. Urgent Vietnam e-visas can be obtained from visa agencies for an extra fee.
• For those whose nationality is not on the list of 80 countries, they must apply for a Vietnam Visa on Arrival. Tourist VOA applications can only be submitted through a travel agent, and more information on how to apply can be found at the provided link.

3. Laos Visa/Cambodia visa: travelers should obtain one if you are not exempted from visa to those countries.

• Laos Visa: Visa on Arrival for Laos is only feasible at Lao Bao Border Pass. For travelers to perform visa run in other land ports, it is required to apply for Laos Visa at the Embassy/Consulate of Laos. 

To provide you with some helpful details, the usual cost of a Laos visa is approximately $42 per person. Applicants would be able to get the visa done within 1 working day and available urgent services are provided with extra costs. For more precise information on the cost regarding your nationality, please get in touch with the Laos Embassy.

Laos Embassy in Vietnam:

Address: 40 Quang Trung, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

The official website: http://laoembassyhanoi.gov.la/).

E-mail: laoembassyhanoi@gmail.com

Visa and Consular Section

Phone: + 84 4 39424576 _ 113

Consulate General of the Lao PDR in Danang, Vietnam

ADDRESS12 Tran Quy-Cap, Danang, S.R. Vietnam

PHONE (+84 51) 821-208

 

• Cambodia Visa: Runners can obtain Cambodia e-visa easily through its government website: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/ . Cambodia E-visa is possible to go through Moc Bai border pass (Bavet - Svay Rieng).

 

Step 2: Reaching the Border Crossing

Below are some instructions for travelers to travel from their city to the border crossing:

FROM HANOI CITY

To Lao Bao Border and Cau Treo Border:

By bus: Foreigners can purchase bus tickets (priced at around 16-24 USD for Lao Bao and 8-12 USD for Cau Treo) at Nước Ngầm Bus Station in Hanoi. There are two buses daily to both borders, and the journey takes about 10 hours to Lao Bao and 5 hours to Cau Treo. The bus stops at Dong Ha Quang Tri for Lao Bao/Vinh Nghe An for Cau Treo, and travelers need to book a taxi (at a rate of around 10,000-13,000VND per kilometer) upon arrival to reach the border.

By train: From Hanoi Train Station, there are three trains per day to Dong Ha (Quang Tri province). The remaining distance to Lao Bao is 81.5km and requires booking a taxi. Alternatively, travelers can book train tickets to Yen Trung (Ha Tinh province) at a cost of US $8-24 (twice daily) and then book a taxi (66.3km) to the Cau Treo Pass Border.

Hiring a private car/driving motorbike: Another alternative is to hire a private car, which is more expensive but convenient. If you choose this option, the distance from Hanoi Nuoc Ngam bus station to Lao Bao is approximately 638.7km, and to Cau Treo is 377.5km. Another possibility is to drive a motorbike, but it's important to note that the trip will take 1-2 days round-trip. Make sure your motorbike is in good condition before starting your journey, and plan to depart early in the morning if you go with this option.

To Na Meo Border

In case you choose to use a motorbike for your visa run, we suggest taking the Na Meo Border Pass way, which is only 274km from Hanoi and can be reached in 5 hours. Don't forget to bring your motorbike's registration papers, as the border official will need to check them.

FROM DANANG CITY

To Lao Bao Border

By bus/train: To travel from Da Nang to Lao Bao, the most economical way is to take a bus or train from Da Nang station to Dong Ha Quang Tri, which costs between 6.5 and 10 USD. Alternatively, travelers can purchase a bus ticket from a tourist agency that offers transportation from Da Nang to Dong Ha. Once in Dong Ha, you can hire a taxi to the Lao Bao border, which is 81.3 km away. If you prefer to travel by private car or motorbike, you can cross into Laos by going to the closest border, Lao Bao, which is 244.1 km away.

To Cau Treo Border

Runners also have the option to take a train ride from Da Nang Station to Yen Trung Station (Hà Tĩnh), with three departures daily and a cost ranging from 9 to 28 USD. After arriving at Yen Trung Station, runners can hire a taxi to go to Cau Treo Border which is approximately 13 kilometers away. Another option is to take a bus from Hung Vuong Park in Da Nang to Vinh, Nghe An with three daily departures and a cost ranging from 12 to 19 USD. From there, runners can take a taxi to Cau Treo Border, which is approximately 40.3 kilometers away. One can also either hire a private car or drive a motorbike to Cau Treo Border, which is 463km away for a total ride.

To Nam Can Border

At present, it is not possible to travel to Nam Can from Da Nang by train or bus, and the distance is quite long if you choose to drive, about 691 kilometers. It is not advisable for foreign travelers to go to Nam Can Border for their visa run from Da Nang due to the long distance and the inconvenience it may cause.

FROM HO CHI MINH CITY

To Moc Bai Border Pass

Moc Bai is actually the closest Border Pass from Ho Chi Minh City to do visa run from. The distance is only about 70km which is ideal for traveling there by private car/motorbike or booking some visa run service from a travel agency who are specialized in arranging visa run buses for travelers (ranging from 20USD~38USD).

Otherwise, runners can catch a public bus from Park 23/9 to Moc Bai Border which is one of the most affordable choices to get there.

To Lao Bao Border Pass

To get to Lao Bao Border pass, visitors can choose to take a train from HCM train station to Dong Ha (Quang Tri). The train leaves three times a day and the cost ranges from $19 to $55. Once they arrive at Dong Ha, they can take a taxi to Lao Bao which is 82.8 km away. Another option is to take a bus from Miền Đông Bus Station to Dong Ha which departs twice a day and costs from $30 to $50. Then they can transfer to a taxi to get to Lao Bao.

Step 3: Complete your visa run at the Vietnam-Lao Border.

The process for going from Vietnam to Laos starts by going to the Vietnamese immigration building at the border and obtaining your VIETNAM EXIT STAMP. Then, exit Vietnam and go to the building on the left to get your LAOS ENTRY STAMP. At this point, you can either stay in Laos or return to Vietnam using the following instructions:

To go from Laos to Vietnam, begin by visiting the LAOS EXIT STAMP counter and presenting your passport and visa to the officer. After verifying your information, the officer will place a Laos exit stamp on your passport. Then, proceed to the VIETNAM ENTRY STAMP counter located near the officer who stamped your Laos exit and submit your passport and e-visa. The officer will then provide you with the necessary entry stamps, and you can continue your journey.

 

Congratulations! You now have all the necessary information to complete a Vietnam visa run to Laos via popular checkpoints near your current location. It's important to ensure that you have either a Vietnam E-visa or a Vietnam visa approval letter to successfully complete the visa run. If you need assistance with obtaining a Vietnam visa quickly and easily, the knowledgeable team at evisavn.com is available to help. Contact us at +84.343.989.086 (WhatsApp/Viber/WeChat) or support@evisavn.com for further support.