Vietnam visa run – Complete guides and updates!

Your Vietnam visa is about to expire, and you want to stay longer in the country while don not want to extend the visa or cannot extend, what to do now? In this situation, a Vietnam visa run is one of the most optimized solutions. This article will provide you with A-Z information about Vietnam visa run including what is visa run, why should you get a visa run, how to get a Vietnam visa run. Let’s check it out!

What is Vietnam visa run?

A Vietnam visa run is a method that foreigners use to continue or lengthen their stay in Vietnam when their Vietnam visa almost expires and they do not want to do visa extension due to some reason.

A Vietnam visa run means a quick trip from Vietnam to the neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, China, or Thailand where foreigners will stay there for just a few hours or a few days and then return to Vietnam on a new Vietnam visa. However, please remember that this trip must be carried out before the visa expiry date.

Why Vietnam visa run?

Although the whole journey takes time to exit Vietnam and re-enter to get a new Vietnam visa and a new stay duration, many still choose visa run thanks to its following advantages.

• Easy, simple procedure and low cost: In fact, extending a visa requires a Vietnamese sponsor or local agency which may cost a lot of money and include some complicated administrative procedures. While with visa run, travellers can take the trip with lower cost and experience no administrative practices.
• Various options: If extending a Vietnam visa could be limited in times of entry and duration of stay, visa run can give you with a new visa which validity of 1 to 3 months with single or multiple entries.

Type of Vietnam visa run

At the moment, there are 02 types of Vietnam visa run including Vietnam visa run via airports and Vietnam visa run via land borders.

Vietnam visa run via airports

Getting a visa run by air means that you exit Vietnam and return back the country by air. If you are staying in the Noth of Vietnam or in the city or province with International Airport, this method is much convenient for you. Espcially, those staying in Hanoi will normally get the visa run via Noi Bai International Airport to one of the neighboring countries like Singapore, Thailand, or Cambodia.

Here is the list of 08 International Airports that you can choose for a Vietnam visa run.

1. Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
2. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
3. Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong)
4. Da Nang International Airport (Da Nang)
5. Cam Ranh International Airport (Khanh Hoa)
6. Lien Khuong International Airport (Lam Dong)
7. Phu Quoc International Airport (Phu Quoc)
8. Can Tho International Airport (Can Tho)

Vietnam visa run via land borders

As its name, Vietnam visa run via land border means that you need to exit from Vietnam to a neighboring country through the land border gate with Vietnam such as Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China, and then re-enter through that land border gate.

If you are staying in the Central and the South of Vietnam, this method is the top choice. Especially, those living in Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces will get a Moc Bai visa run, Lao Bao visa run, or Cau Treo visa run which is considered the cheapest, quickest, and the most simple way compared to others.

Here is the list of 16 Vietnam land border gates for Vietnam visa run by road.

1. Bo Y – Kon Tum (neighboring Laos)
2. Cha Lo – Quang Binh (neighboring Laos)
3. Cau Treo – Ha Tinh (neighboring Laos)
4. Huu Nghi – Lang Son (neighboring China)
5. Ha Tien – Kiên Giang (neighboring Cambodia)
6. Lao Bao – Quang Tri (neighboring Laos)
7. Lao Cai – Lao Cai (neighboring China)
8. La Lay – Quang Tri (neighboring Laos)
9. Moc Bai – Tây Ninh (neighboring Cambodia)
10. Mong Cai – Quang Ninh (neighboring China)
11. Nam Can – Nghe An (neighboring Laos)
12. Na Meo – Thanh Hoa (neighboring Laos)
13. Song Tien – An Giang (neighboring Cambodia)
14. Tinh Bien – An Giang (neighboring Cambodia)
15. Tay Trang – Dien Bien (neighboring Laos)
16. Xa Mat – Tay Ninh (neighboring Cambodia)

How to apply for a Vietnam visa run?

What to prepare before applying for Vietnam visa run?

Please make sure that you got all following documents before applying for a Vietnam visa run.

• Original passport (valid for at least 06 months after your re-entry date, and have at least 02 blank pages);
• A valid documents to enter Vietnam: Certificate of Vietnam 5-year visa exemption, Vietnam e-Visa, or Vietnam visa approval letter;
• Round-trip air ticket or bus ticket;
• Valid documents to enter the 3^rd country (e.g. visa);
• Stamping fee;
• 02 passport-sized photos (4x6cm, taken within 6 months, straight looking, not wearing hat or glasses) (for visa run by road)
• Vietnam visa application form (if required);
• A pen (blue or black ink) to fill in the form;

👉 Notes:

• If you do the visa run with Vietnam visa exemption, you don’t need to prepare Vietnam visa or stamping fee;
• If you do the visa run via land border, you are required to show the original Vietnam visa approval letter with the red stamp and signature, a copy, scan, or photo is not accepted. If you do visa run via International Aiport, printed version of visa approval letter is accepted;
• Make sure your photos meet the Vietnam visa photo requirements and sizes, and remember to bring physical photos which you can get it done at any shop in the city;

How to apply for Vietnam visa run?

Once all documents are well prepared, please follow the procedures below to get a visa run.

Step 1: Exit from Vietnam

• Complete the exit procedure by getting the exit stamp and moving to the 3^rd country by plane, bus, or train.

Step 2: Enter the 3^rd country

• Show the required documents to complete the Immigration procedure to the 3^rd country, and get the entry stamp to the 3^rd country.

Step 3: Exit the 3^rd country

• After entering the 3^rd country, you can choose to stay in that country for a few hours or a few days depending on your needs, as long as you have valid visa of this country or you are exempted from visa to stay for a period of time in this country. OR, you can choose to exit the 3^rd country and return to Vietnam immediately.
• Remember to get your exit stamp during the check-out procedure so that you can re-enter Vietnam.

Step 4: Re-enter Vietnam and complete the process of Vietnam visa application

• Present documents such as an original passport, Vietnam visa application form, 02 passport-sized photos, Vietnam visa approval letter or Vietnam e-Visa and stamping fee to have new Vietnam visa stamped on your passport at the airport or land border gate of Vietnam.

Processing time & fee of Vietnam visa run

Processing time and fee of Vietnam visa run is varied based on your needs and the method you choose.

However, the whole process should be around:

• 3-7 working days to get a Vietnam approval letter or Vietnam e-Visa (with approval letter, you can choose urgent Vietnam visa processing to get in 4 or even 2 working hours in some cases);
• 3-7 working days to get a visa of the 3^rd country (if any);
• a few hours or a few days staying in the 3^rd country for the Immigration/exit procedure or a short trip based on your plan.

The visa run fee may include the fee for Vietnam e-Visa or visa approval letter and the stamping fee depending on the type of visa run you take.

• Vietnam e-Visa: US$25 for a single-entry visa, US$50 for a multiple-entry visa;
• Visa approval letter: differ from agencies;
• Stamping fee: US$25 for single entry, US$50 for multiple entries;

👉 Notes: 

• You can apply for Vietnam eVisa directly via the portal of the Immigration Department;
• Visa approval letter can only be obtained via agencies like Vietnam Visa VME;
• Visa approval letter is applicable for those entering Vietnam by AIR only. You will need to pay online when applying to get this letter first, and then pay the stamping fee in cash to the Officer at the aiport uopn arrival;

👉 For swiftly assistance of getting Vietnam visa, please reach out to us via +84 86 517 8972 (Hotline/ WhatsApp/ Viber/ Zalo) or email sales@vmetravel.net.

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Disclaimer: While we put an effort to ensure that the provided information is correct and up-to-date, there are probably changes which we are unaware of.