The Lao Bao border checkpoint between Vietnam and Laos runs on a specific window worth knowing before you plan a crossing. It opens around 7:00 and closes somewhere between 19:00 and 22:00 depending on the day, but the fee-free processing window is 8:00 to 16:00 - outside that, both sides charge an overtime surcharge.

I’ve crossed here a few times while running visa trips out of Da Nang, and the number one mistake I see backpackers make isn’t paperwork - it’s timing. People either show up right at opening and wait around, or roll in at 17:00 and get hit with fees they didn’t budget for.

What time does the Lao Bao border actually open?

The checkpoint physically opens around 7:00 in the morning, Vietnam time, but arriving that early mostly means standing at a barrier for an hour. Standard, no-extra-fee processing runs 8:00 to 16:00 on both the Vietnamese and Lao sides. Closing time on the Lao side (Dansavan) tends to shift, so don’t plan a crossing right up against the edge of the window.

Buses parked near the Lao Bao border crossing area
The Lao Bao crossing area, where buses from Da Nang and Hue stop before immigration.

Why does arriving too early or too late cost extra?

Cross before 8:00 or after 16:00 - including weekends and Lao public holidays - and immigration on the Lao side typically charges an overtime or service fee around $2 per person, on top of the visa. You may also be asked for another $1-2 for the entry stamp itself. It’s not a scam, it’s standard border-post practice at Dansavan, but it does add up if you weren’t expecting it.

Second view of the bus stop near Lao Bao border checkpoint
Vietnam-Laos border crossing hours vary, so buses time their stops carefully.

How much does the Laos visa on arrival cost at Lao Bao?

A 30-day Laos visa on arrival costs $40 for most nationalities as of 2026. Budget an extra $2-4 for overtime and stamp fees if you’re crossing outside the 8:00-16:00 window, so plan for roughly $42-45 in cash per person to be safe.

Wide view of the Lao Bao border crossing zone from a third angle
Another angle of the Lao Bao border area near the Dansavan checkpoint.

Pay in clean, new US dollar bills if you can - officers on the Lao side are known to reject notes with tears or heavy creases. Thai baht is accepted but at a poor rate (expect to pay around $8 extra on a $40 visa), and Vietnamese dong is the worst option, running 20-30% over the USD price. Change, if given at all, usually comes back in Lao kip at an unfavorable rate, so exact change helps. We run this one start to finish — details on our Da Nang visa run page.

Step-by-step: crossing Lao Bao without wasting the morning

  1. Leave Hue or Da Nang early enough to reach the checkpoint between 9:00 and 15:00 - this keeps you inside the fee-free window with a buffer either side.
  2. Have two passport photos ready before you arrive; getting them done at the border costs an extra $2-5 and wastes time.
  3. Get your passport stamped out at the Vietnamese immigration counter - this step is usually quick, just a document check and a stamp.
  4. Walk the roughly 500 meters of no man’s land to the Lao immigration building at Dansavan.
  5. Fill out the Lao entry form, hand over your photo and cash, and get your visa stamped into your passport on the spot.
  6. Keep your visa fee cash separate from other money so you’re not fumbling for exact bills at the counter.
Sleeper buses lined up on the road leading to the border
Sleeper buses queued on the road to the Lao Bao checkpoint.

If you’re coming straight from Da Nang, the road to Lao Bao takes about 3 hours, and it’s the same route used by the Da Nang-Savannakhet sleeper bus. Timing your own departure against the 8:00-16:00 window matters more than the bus schedule itself if you’re driving or taking a private transfer.

Message me on Telegram if you’d rather someone plan the timing for you - I pick people up in Da Nang and pace the trip so we land at Lao Bao inside the fee-free window, no overtime charges, no standing around at a closed barrier.

What if I can’t reach the checkpoint before 16:00?

The border doesn’t close at 16:00 - it stays open into the evening - but you’ll be crossing outside the fee-free window and should expect the overtime surcharge on both the visa fee and the stamp. If you know in advance you’ll be crossing late, just carry a few extra dollars and don’t argue over the $2-4; it’s standard for the hour, not a shakedown.

Getting the timing wrong once is a lesson, not a disaster - worst case is an extra $4-5 and a slightly awkward wait. But if your Vietnam visa is close to expiring, don’t cut it against the closing hours: build in a buffer, because a closed gate or a full day’s delay turns a minor inconvenience into an overstay problem. I wrote more about picking the right month for a Vietnam visa run here if seasonal timing is also on your mind.

Send me your travel dates on Telegram and I’ll work out a crossing time that keeps you inside the fee-free window.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Laos visa in advance for the Lao Bao crossing?No, most nationalities can get a 30-day visa on arrival for $40 directly at the Dansavan checkpoint on the Lao side, as long as you bring passport photos and cash in USD.
Can I pay the Laos visa fee in Vietnamese dong?Yes, but it's the most expensive option - expect a 20-30% premium over the USD price, since the official fee is set in dollars and dong conversion runs at a poor rate at the counter.