Vietnam Visa Run

A Vietnam visa run means leaving Vietnam for a short time and then returning to get a new visa or extend your stay.

1. What is a visa run?

A visa run is when a traveler:

Exits Vietnam
Travels to a nearby country
Re-enters Vietnam with a new visa

Foreigners often do this when:

Their visa is about to expire
They cannot extend their visa inside Vietnam
They want to apply for a new visa
2. Popular countries for a Vietnam visa run

Common nearby destinations include:

Cambodia
Laos
Thailand

Popular border crossings:

Moc Bai Border Gate
Bavet Border Gate
Lao Bao Border Gate

Many travelers from Ho Chi Minh City go to Cambodia for a same-day visa run.

3. Example of a 1-day visa run

Typical steps:

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai Border Gate
Exit Vietnam
Enter Cambodia and receive an entry stamp
Return to Vietnam with a new visa or e-visa

This usually takes 4–8 hours if done by tour service.

4. Important notes

⚠️ Some nationalities may face restrictions or need extra documents before re-entering Vietnam.
⚠️ If you plan to use a Vietnam e-visa, you must apply and receive approval before returning to Vietnam.

5. Estimated cost
Visa run tour: 80 – 150 USD
Cambodia visa (if required): about 30 USD
Vietnam e-visa: about 25 USD