I’ve been helping people plan their long-term stays in Vietnam for years, and the question I hear most is: “Can I really stay for three months without jumping through hoops?” Yes, you can - if you understand how the system works. Here’s the complete picture.
Your Starting Point: 45-Day Visa-Free Entry
Russia, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, and several other countries get 45 days visa-free in Vietnam. No paperwork, no fees - you land, immigration stamps your passport, and you’re in.
One thing worth knowing: the officer writes the exit date by hand. Sometimes they round down by a day or two. If you need the full 45 days, say so at the border. They’ll usually accommodate.
Kazakhstan gets 30 days visa-free, with a cap: no more than 90 total days in any 6-month period. That means continuous visa runs won’t work for Kazakhstani citizens.
Belarus was removed from the visa-free list in March 2025. Ukrainian citizens also need an e-visa - no stamp on arrival.
Upgrading to 90 Days: Vietnam E-Visa Explained
The e-visa gives you up to 90 days in Vietnam. You apply online before arrival - you can’t get it at the airport. Two versions:
Single-entry - $26. One entry, up to 90 days. Leave Vietnam for even one day and the visa is cancelled; you’d need a new one.
Multiple-entry - $51. Enter and exit as many times as you want within the 90-day validity window. If you plan any side trips to Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand, this is the smarter choice.
The official portal is evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Processing takes 3-11 business days, so plan ahead.
Payment is the tricky part if your card doesn’t work on the portal. Russian Visa/Mastercard cards don’t process there due to sanctions. If that’s your situation, danangvisarun.com can handle the full application - you just send your passport scan and photo, they submit and pay the government fee on your behalf. Same result, without the card headache.
The Visa Run Strategy: Extending Your Stay
A visa run means leaving Vietnam briefly and re-entering with a fresh visa status. It’s completely legal and thousands of long-term residents do it every month.
From Da Nang, the most popular route is the Laos border at Lao Bao - a day trip by bus, roughly $50-80 with transport included. Cambodia via Moc Bai or Ha Tien is another option. From Ho Chi Minh City, these borders are even closer.
When you return:
- On visa-free: you get another 45 days (for eligible nationalities)
- With a new e-visa: 90 days more
There’s no legal limit on how many visa runs Russians can make. Some people have been running this cycle for years.
Note: if you have a multiple-entry e-visa and you leave during its validity period, that’s just a trip - not a visa run. Your 90-day clock keeps ticking.
Country-Specific Rules to Know
| Nationality | Visa-Free | E-Visa Option | |— draft: false image: “/images/blog/how-stay-vietnam-90-days-2026_cover.webp” ———-|———–|—————| | Russia | 45 days | Yes, $26/$51 | | Kazakhstan | 30 days (90-day cap per 6 months) | Yes | | Belarus | None (removed March 2025) | Yes | | Ukraine | None | Yes |
The APEC Business Travel Card also works for Vietnam - 60 days for business executives who travel frequently.
What Gets People Into Trouble
Overstaying. Decree 282/2025 (effective December 2025) doubled the fines: 1-15 days late is 500,000-2,000,000 VND (~$20-80). Above 30 days, you’re looking at 5-10 million VND and potential entry bans. Not worth risking.
Counting days wrong. Check the date the officer wrote on your stamp - they write it by hand, and it’s sometimes hard to read. Photograph it right at the border.
Waiting too long to apply for e-visa. You need to be outside Vietnam when you apply. Processing takes up to 11 days. If you’re down to the last week of your stay, you’ve run out of time. At that point our Vietnam e-visa service can push it through in 24 hours so a late start doesn’t cost you the flight.
When the Application Gets Complicated
If your card isn’t working on the government portal, or you’re not sure whether single vs. multiple entry is right for you, or you want the expedited 24-hour processing - that’s where a visa service makes sense.
Message me on Telegram and I’ll walk you through the right option for your situation. WhatsApp also works: wa.me/84368214520.
