A Vietnam visa run in 2026 costs $50-70 all-in if you take the overnight bus to Lao Bao. Flights to Cambodia or Thailand cost more but cut out the 8-hour night ride. The border procedure itself takes 2-3 hours regardless of how you get there - and there are unofficial fees most guides skip over.
What is a visa run and when do you need one?
Russia is on Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free list since August 2023. When that window closes, you have two exits: apply for an e-visa for 90 days ($25 single-entry / $50 multiple-entry at evisa.gov.vn), or do a visa run - leave Vietnam, get a border stamp in a neighbouring country, re-enter for a fresh 45 days.
Most expats on longer stays cycle through both: a few visa runs, then an e-visa when they want stability. The key rule is not to overstay - Vietnam charges $8 per day for each overstayed day and marks your passport, which complicates future entries.
Which border crossing is closest to your city?
The right crossing depends entirely on where you’re based. For Da Nang-specific options and schedules, see visa run services from Da Nang.
From Da Nang, Hue, or Hoi An - the closest option is Lao Bao, Vietnam’s border with Laos in Quang Tri Province, about 200 km from Hue. Sleeper buses leave Da Nang in the evening and reach the crossing by 6:30-7:00 AM.
From Ho Chi Minh City or Vung Tau - Moc Bai (Cambodia border) is the practical pick. Morning buses depart Saigon around 5:00 AM and arrive at the crossing by 7:30 AM, with return buses leaving around 1:00 PM.
From Nha Trang or Mui Ne - both Lao Bao and Moc Bai are 7-8 hours away, so the schedule matters more than the geography.
Flying works from any of these cities: Da Nang to Bangkok or Phnom Penh runs under 2 hours. More expensive, but you skip the overnight entirely.
How much does a Vietnam visa run cost in 2026?
Budget $50-70 all-in for a standard overnight-bus run from Central Vietnam:
- Sleeper bus round trip (Nha Trang - Lao Bao): ~1,150,000 VND ($45)
- Sleeper bus round trip (Nha Trang - Moc Bai): ~1,200,000 VND ($47)
- Unofficial border fees at Lao Bao: 50,000 + 20,000 + 50,000 VND = ~120,000 VND ($5)
- Travel insurance: check your policy - a visa run technically takes you outside Vietnam
From Saigon the numbers are lower: the Moc Bai round trip runs around 500,000 VND ($20) per person.
This is the step where most people get stuck - figuring out the Da Nang departure, what to book in advance, and whether the e-visa is actually cheaper long-term. If you’d rather have it handled - pickup in Da Nang, the border crossing sorted, and a fresh e-visa the same day if you want one - what that needs from you is your passport nationality and the date your current visa runs out, and the rest gets mapped around it.
What happens at the Lao Bao crossing - step by step
The border opens at 7:00 AM. The full procedure takes 2-3 hours. You’ll walk about 4 km total - bring comfortable shoes. If you have kids or heavy luggage, motorbike taxis wait at the gate (100,000-300,000 VND per person).
Step 1 - Exit Vietnam. Passport check at the first booth, then 500 m to the control building for your exit stamp. Guards will ask for 50,000 VND - unofficial but standard. Pay it; holding out slows the whole thing down. Change is given.
Step 2 - Enter Laos. Walk 700 m to the Laos checkpoint. Fill out a short form on-site (no need to prepare in advance), pay 20,000 VND, get your entry stamp.
Step 3 - Exit Laos, re-enter Vietnam. Turn around, get your Laos exit stamp at the same building (different window), then walk back to the Vietnamese side. Another 50,000 VND for the re-entry stamp, and you’re done.
Cards are not accepted anywhere at the crossing. Bring small-denomination dong bills - 50,000 and 20,000 notes work best.
Should you fly instead of taking the overnight bus?
The overnight bus is genuinely fine for most solo travelers. Vietnamese sleeper buses are among the most comfortable in Southeast Asia - reclining pods, curtains, a blanket, sometimes a bottle of water. The rough part is the mountain road before Lao Bao: if you get motion-sick, bring medication.
Flying makes more sense if you’re traveling with kids, have a meeting the next morning, or just don’t want to sacrifice the night. A Da Nang to Bangkok or Phnom Penh flight takes 1-2 hours; budget $80-160 round trip depending on timing. Airline miles partially offset the cost if you have them.
One thing that catches people regardless of transport: make sure your travel insurance covers the day of the crossing. A Vietnam-only policy may leave you unprotected during the Laos leg.
That insurance gap is exactly the kind of detail worth double-checking before you commit to a date - danangvisarun.com keeps current schedules and border updates for both crossings.
