Vietnam 90 Days

Border runs in Vietnam: how to leave and come back

Checked 18 Oct 2026. Prices and times are rough. Anything we could not confirm says check before you go.

A border run means leaving Vietnam and coming back on a new e-visa or a new visa-free stay.

Most people do one because a stay in Vietnam has a hard end. An e-visa covers up to 90 days 1 and, according to the guides we read, cannot be extended inside Vietnam 30. A visa-free stay, 45 days for many European passports 14, cannot be extended either 28. If you want more time, the usual answer is to cross a border, spend an afternoon or a night on the other side, and come back.

This page covers the common routes, what they cost, and the mistakes that cause trouble at the border. Times and prices are rough. Anything we could not confirm is marked "check before you go".

When you need one

  • Your e-visa is ending and you want to stay. An e-visa lasts up to 90 days. Once it ends, you need a new one, and you apply for it to come back in 1.
  • Your visa-free stay is ending. Passports such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and Russia get 45 days 14. A run starts a new 45 days. Our visa checker shows what your passport gets.
  • You want a short side trip. A multiple-entry e-visa lets you cross out and back inside its dates without a new application. See "The multiple-entry e-visa" below.

You do not need a run if your plans fit inside one stay. Other visa types, such as business or work visas through a sponsor, can be extended. That is a different path with its own paperwork.

How a border run works in five steps

  1. Apply for your next e-visa at least 3 working days before you cross. Name the crossing or airport you will come back through as the entry port. Weekends and holidays do not count as working days. Real waits are often longer, so a week ahead is safer 28. Visa-free passports skip this step.
  2. Leave Vietnam before your current stay ends. Aim for a day early. Make sure you get the exit stamp.
  3. Enter the neighbor country. Have a passport valid for 6 months or more, a photo, and US dollars in small bills. Get the visa on arrival or show your e-visa 910.
  4. Come back. Return through the port named on your new e-visa and show the printed copy. Visa-free passports show the passport and anything else the officer asks for.
  5. Check the new stamp. Look at the entry date and the number of days. Put the last day in your calendar.

Check before you go: some agencies say the e-visa site only takes applications filed from outside Vietnam 27. We could not confirm this. If the site blocks you, apply from the other side and wait there for the approval before you return.

Which crossings take the e-visa

Vietnam does not issue visas at land borders, so you need an approved e-visa or a visa-free stay before you cross back in 15. The e-visa works only at the ports on its list, and only at the port you named on the form.

The list has 83 ports since a resolution dated Dec 2, 2025: 17 airports (15 open today), 27 land crossings and 39 sea ports 23. The crossings below are all on it.

Crossing (Vietnam side)NeighborOn the e-visa list?
Moc BaiCambodia (Bavet)Yes, since Aug 2023 3
Ha Tien, also called Xa XiaCambodia (Prek Chak)Yes, since Aug 2023. The list says "Ha Tien". Check the exact name on the form 3
Lao BaoLaos (Dansavanh)Yes, since Aug 2023 3
Cau TreoLaos (Nam Phao)Yes, since Aug 2023 3
Tay TrangLaos (Pang Hok, also written Sop Hun)Yes, since Aug 2023 3
Nam CanLaosYes, since Aug 2023 3
Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Phu Bai (Hue), Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Lien Khuong (Da Lat), Phu QuocAirportsYes 3

Other Cambodia crossings on the list include Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, Xa Mat, Le Thanh, Binh Hiep, Tan Nam, Thuong Phuoc and Dinh Ba. The newest ones came in with the December 2025 resolution 2.

At a glance

You stay inUsual runRough time one wayRough cost
Ho Chi Minh CityMoc Bai to Bavet by bus, or a flight2.5 to 4 hours to the border$14 to $20 by bus to Phnom Penh
Phu QuocFerry to Ha Tien, then Prek Chak4 to 5 hours to Cambodia$16 to $20
Da Nang or Hoi AnLao Bao to Dansavanh by bus or carAbout 5 hours to the border$20 to $35 by sleeper bus to Savannakhet
HueLao Bao to Dansavanh3 to 4 hours to the border$5 to $8 to the border by bus
HanoiA flightAbout 1.5 hours to Vientiane (our estimate)From about $130 one way
Nha TrangA flight, or go to Ho Chi Minh City firstCheck the timetableCheck before you go
Da LatA flight to Kuala Lumpur, or go to Ho Chi Minh City firstCheck the timetableCheck before you go

Runs by city

Ho Chi Minh City: Moc Bai to Bavet, Cambodia

  • Route. Take a bus on National Highway 22 toward Tay Ninh to the Moc Bai gate. Walk across to Bavet on the Cambodian side. Buses to Phnom Penh stop here too 1517.
  • Time. About 2.5 to 4 hours from central Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai 17. Queues at the gate can run 30 to 60 minutes at busy times. Plan a full day if you come straight back.
  • Rough cost. A bus seat to Phnom Penh runs VND 350,000 to 500,000, about $14 to $20 one way 15. Ask about a border-only ticket. Add the Cambodia visa.
  • You need. A passport valid for 6 months or more. A Cambodia visa: $30 on arrival, or an e-visa 911. A photo and US dollars. Your new Vietnam e-visa with Moc Bai as the entry port.
  • E-visa. Moc Bai is on the Vietnam e-visa list 3. Cambodia's e-visa is accepted at Bavet 12.
  • Check before you go. The gate is reported open 6:00 to 22:00 15. Some bus companies charge $35 to $40 for the Cambodia visa. The posted price is $30 13.

Phu Quoc: Ha Tien to Prek Chak, Cambodia

  • Route. Take the ferry from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien, then a short ride to the border gate and across to Prek Chak. The gate sits in the Xa Xia area, so many guides use that name. Check the exact name on the e-visa form 1526.
  • Time. About 4 to 5 hours to reach Cambodia, including a 90 minute ferry 15. Listings show the last ferries between 13:15 and 14:00, so most people stay a night in Ha Tien, Kep or Kampot 26.
  • Rough cost. The ferry is VND 250,000 to 350,000, about $10 to $14. All the way into Cambodia is about $16 to $20 15. Add the Cambodia visa.
  • You need. A passport valid for 6 months or more. A Cambodia visa on arrival, $30 posted. Your new Vietnam e-visa with Ha Tien as the entry port.
  • E-visa. Ha Tien is on the Vietnam e-visa list 3. Cambodia's embassy table shows no e-visa entry at Prek Chak, so plan on the visa on arrival 1213. One guide says otherwise 15. Check before you go.
  • Check before you go. The gate is reported open 7:00 to 18:00 15.
  • Good to know. If you fly into Phu Quoc straight from abroad, you may stay on the island for up to 30 days without a visa, whatever your passport 1. It does not cover the mainland. Check before you go.

Da Nang and Hoi An: Lao Bao to Dansavanh, Laos

  • Route. Take a bus or a car west to the Lao Bao gate, cross to Dansavanh, and go on to Savannakhet if you want a bed and a bank 18.
  • Time. About 5 hours each way to the border from Da Nang. Hoi An is 278 km, also about 5 hours by car 20. A sleeper bus from Savannakhet to Hue or Da Nang takes 8 to 11 hours 18.
  • Rough cost. A sleeper bus to Savannakhet is about $20 to $35 one way 18. A private car costs more.
  • You need. A passport valid for 6 months or more, with 2 blank pages 10. A Laos visa on arrival at Dansavanh. It is reported at $30 to $45, cash in US dollars, with two photos 16. Another guide says $40 for most passports 1429. Your new Vietnam e-visa with Lao Bao as the entry port.
  • E-visa. Lao Bao is on the Vietnam e-visa list 3. The Laos e-visa is not valid at Vietnam land crossings 16.
  • Check before you go. Lao Bao is the only Vietnam crossing reported to give a Laos visa on arrival 16. Weekend and after-hours stamps can cost a little extra 29.

Hue: Lao Bao to Dansavanh, Laos

  • Route and rules. Same as Da Nang. Hue is the closest big city to the gate.
  • Time. 163 km, about 3 hours 10 minutes by car 20. A bus to the border takes about 4 hours 16.
  • Rough cost. About $5 to $8 by bus to the border 16. A sleeper bus through to Savannakhet is about $25 to $32 18.

Hanoi: fly, or take a long bus

  • Flights. Hanoi to Vientiane is a short flight, about 1.5 hours (our estimate, check the timetable). Fares in a listing start around $130 one way 22. Laos gives a visa on arrival at Vientiane airport, or you can apply for an e-visa ahead 1016.
  • Land: Tay Trang to Pang Hok. Bus to Dien Bien Phu takes 10 to 12 hours and costs $10 to $15, then about 1 hour to the gate 16. No Laos visa on arrival was reported here. Get your Laos visa first. Check before you go.
  • Land: Cau Treo to Nam Phao. Bus to Vinh takes about 6 hours and costs $8 to $10, then on to the gate 16. The same visa warning applies. We found no time for the last leg. Check before you go.
  • E-visa. Noi Bai, Tay Trang and Cau Treo are all on the Vietnam e-visa list 3. Most people from Hanoi fly.

Nha Trang: fly out, or go to Saigon first

  • Flights. Air Cambodia flies Cam Ranh to Phnom Penh twice a week since Jan 17, 2026 23. A Siem Reap route was planned for mid 2026. We could not confirm it started. Check before you go.
  • Otherwise. No land crossing is close. Many people go to Ho Chi Minh City first and use the Moc Bai run.
  • E-visa. Cam Ranh is on the Vietnam e-visa list 3.

Da Lat: fly out, or go to Saigon first

  • Flights. Lien Khuong airport reopened on Aug 19, 2026. The only international route we found is AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur, four flights a week. Singapore is planned for December 2026 24. Check before you go.
  • Otherwise. Go to Ho Chi Minh City first and use the Moc Bai run.
  • E-visa. Lien Khuong is on the Vietnam e-visa list 3.

Flight runs

A flight run is simple. Fly out, land, turn around and fly back. Your new e-visa must name the airport you land at in Vietnam. Airlines check your visa at check-in.

Rough one-way fares, all of them snapshots. Check your dates.

  • Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok. Under VND 1.9 million, about $73, for Aug to Sept 2026 21.
  • Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore. About $54 to $115, depending on the airline 21.
  • Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur. About $95 to $115 21.
  • Ho Chi Minh City to Vientiane. From about $89 22.
  • Hanoi to Vientiane. From about $132 22.
  • Da Nang and Kuala Lumpur. From about $69 one way, seen for the Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang direction 22. Thai Airways starts flying Bangkok to Da Nang on Dec 1, 2026, two a day 25.

Add the other country's entry rules for your passport. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore each have their own. Check before you go.

The multiple-entry e-visa

The e-visa costs $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entry. Both can cover up to 90 days 1.

A multiple-entry e-visa lets you leave and come back inside its dates without a new application. That makes a side trip to Cambodia or Laos easy. It makes a Phu Quoc to Ha Tien trip easy too.

It does not add days. The 90 days are one window, not 90 days per entry. When the window ends, you need a new e-visa. One guide says later entries can use any port on the list 27. Check before you go, and make sure the port you plan to use is on the list.

Visa-free passports

If your passport gets 45 days, a run starts a new 45 days from the day you re-enter 4. You cannot extend a visa-free stay inside Vietnam 28.

The 45 day rule runs to Mar 14, 2028 for 12 countries and to Aug 14, 2028 for 12 more 1431.

There used to be a rule that you had to wait 30 days after leaving before a new visa-free entry. A law that took effect on Jul 1, 2020 dropped it 56. We found no source saying it came back, and the 2025 resolutions list no waiting time 4. We could not read the law's full text. Treat this as very likely, and check before you go.

Border officers decide each entry. Some guides warn that they can refuse entry 27.

Pitfalls

  • Wrong entry port on the e-visa. The e-visa works only at the port you named. If you name Moc Bai and fly into Tan Son Nhat, an airline can refuse to board you 28. Check the port before you pay.
  • Overstaying. Fines are high and a removal from the country is possible. See the FAQ.
  • The exit stamp. Get the stamp when you leave Vietnam. It shows you left on time. Keep your printed e-visa and tickets with it.
  • The neighbor's visa. Rules differ by passport. Cambodia and Laos want a passport valid for 6 months or more 910. The Laos e-visa does not work at Vietnam land crossings 16. Some crossings give no Laos visa on arrival. Laos has an online arrival form, but only four checkpoints use it and none is on the Vietnam border 19.
  • Holidays and weekends. E-visas are processed on working days only. Around Tet the site can pause for days. Tet 2027 falls near Feb 6, 2027 (an estimate) 28. Other crowded days are Apr 30, May 1 and Sep 2. Some borders charge extra on weekends and outside office hours 29.
  • Border hours. Gates close in the evening. Arrive early.
  • Printing. Print two copies of the e-visa. Land crossings often want paper 18.

What we could not confirm

These stay as "check before you go" on the page.

  • Whether the 30 day wait between visa-free entries is gone for good. We read reports of the 2020 change, not the law's own text.
  • Whether the e-visa site takes applications filed inside Vietnam.
  • Whether Laos gives a visa on arrival at Tay Trang, Cau Treo and Nam Can. Reports say no.
  • Whether Cambodia's e-visa works at Prek Chak. Sources disagree.
  • The Cambodia e-visa total price. The e-visa site shows USD 30. Some guides say USD 36 1115.
  • Travel times for the last leg from Vinh to Cau Treo, flight times (our estimates), and bus fares to the borders from Da Nang and Hoi An.
  • Flight fares from Da Nang, Nha Trang and Da Lat.
  • The overstay fine bands beyond the first one or two, and the claim that they doubled.
  • Whether a multiple-entry e-visa lets later entries use any port on the list.
  • The exact name of the Ha Tien gate on the e-visa form (Ha Tien or Xa Xia).
  • The Phu Quoc 30 day stay, which we read on one encyclopedia page.
  • The e-visa extension ban and the visa-free extension ban, which come from guides and agencies, not from the rules themselves.

Before you plan a run

Find out what your passport gets, and how many days you can book, in the visa check. When you need an e-visa for the way back in, the guide shows both ways to apply, and how long it takes says when to start.

Check my visaHow the e-visa works

Questions about border runs

Is a border run allowed?

Leaving and coming back on a new e-visa or a new visa-free stay is how most long-stay travelers restart a stay. Border officers decide each entry. Some guides warn that they can refuse it 27. Carry your printed e-visa and your tickets.

Can I extend my e-visa or my 45 day stay instead?

Not inside Vietnam, according to the guides we read 2830. A few agencies advertise extensions. We could not confirm how they work. Check before you go. A business or work visa through a sponsor can be extended, but that is a different path.

How early should I apply for the next e-visa?

At least 3 working days before you cross. Weekends and holidays do not count. Real waits are often longer, so aim for a week 28. If you want to apply from the other side, see the note under the five steps.

Can I come back the same day?

With a new e-visa that is already approved and valid from that day, yes. For a visa-free stay, the rules we read set no waiting time, as explained above 45. Most people still stay a night, because queues and bus times make a same-day trip long. Check before you go.

Does a multiple-entry e-visa give me 90 days each time?

No. It is one window of up to 90 days. You can cross out and back inside it. For a new window you need a new e-visa 1.

How much does a run cost?

Add three things. The e-visa, $25 or $50 1. The trip itself: $28 to $40 for a bus both ways from Saigon, or about $40 to $70 both ways to Laos from Da Nang, or a flight from about $55 each way. And the neighbor's visa: about $30 for Cambodia, about $30 to $45 for Laos 1316. A land run comes to roughly $85 to $140 in all, before a night's stay. These are rough sums.

What if I overstay?

Fines changed on Dec 15, 2025 under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP 7. Under 16 days: VND 500,000 to 2 million, about $19 to $76. 16 to under 30 days: VND 5 to 10 million. 30 to under 60 days: VND 10 to 15 million. 60 to under 90 days: VND 15 to 20 million. 90 to under 180 days: VND 20 to 25 million. 180 days to under a year: VND 25 to 30 million. A year or more: VND 30 to 40 million, about $1,500. You can also be removed from the country 78. One outlet says the new fines are double the old ones 8. We could not confirm the old figures. The bands come from one news report. Check before you go.

Which crossing should I use from my city?

Ho Chi Minh City: Moc Bai. Phu Quoc: Ha Tien. Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue: Lao Bao. Hanoi: fly. Nha Trang and Da Lat: fly out, or go to Ho Chi Minh City first.

Sources

All pages were read on Oct 18, 2026 unless the line says otherwise. "Seen in search" means we saw the text in a search result and the page itself would not load for us.

  1. Wikipedia, Visa policy of Vietnam (exemption lists, e-visa fee and validity, land crossings, Phu Quoc 30 days): en.wikipedia.org
  2. Vietnam News Agency, "Viet Nam expands list of ports for e-visa", published Dec 3, 2025 (Resolution 389/NQ-CP dated Dec 2, 2025, 83 ports, 41 added): en.baochinhphu.vn
  3. Our e-visa port list, verified Oct 18, 2026 (Resolution 127/NQ-CP of Aug 14, 2023 and Resolution 389/NQ-CP of Dec 2, 2025)
  4. vietnam.travel, "New Visa Exemption Policies Effective From 15 August 2025" (Resolution 229/NQ-CP of Aug 11, 2025, 45 days, Aug 15, 2025 to Aug 14, 2028, no waiting period listed): vietnam.travel
  5. vietnam-visa.com page on the 2020 rule change, "Last update Dec 05, 2025" (the 30 day wait "will be removed" from Jul 1, 2020): vietnam-visa.com
  6. luatvietnam.vn, English summary of Law 51/2019/QH14, in force Jul 1, 2020 (the visible text has no waiting rule; the full text is behind a login): english.luatvietnam.vn
  7. Tuoi Tre News, overstay fines under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, published Dec 26, 2025: news.tuoitre.vn
  8. Vietcetera, tighter rules and higher fines, dated Apr 19, 2026: vietcetera.com
  9. UK Foreign Office travel advice, Cambodia, entry requirements (e-visa apply 4 days ahead, visa on arrival at airports and land borders, 6 month passport rule): gov.uk
  10. UK Foreign Office travel advice, Laos, entry requirements (30 day tourist visa since Jan 1, 2025, e-visa apply 5 days ahead, 6 month passport rule, online arrival form): gov.uk
  11. Cambodia's e-visa site, tourist visa page (USD 30, valid 3 months, 1 month stay). Seen in search: evisa.gov.kh
  12. Cambodia's embassy in Berlin, checkpoint table (Bavet takes e-visa entry, Prek Chak does not). Seen in search: recberlin.mfaic.gov.kh
  13. Wikivoyage, Cambodia (visa on arrival USD 30, bus companies charging more, Prek Chak e-visa note from May 2024): en.wikivoyage.org
  14. Wikivoyage, Laos (visa on arrival USD 40 as of Jan 2025, crossing names): en.wikivoyage.org
  15. vietnamtourism.com, Vietnam and Cambodia crossings, updated Aug 21, 2026 (hours, bus and ferry costs, visa notes): vietnamtourism.com
  16. vietnamtourism.com, Vietnam and Laos crossings, updated Oct 16, 2026 (hours, Laos visa notes, bus times and costs): vietnamtourism.com
  17. tanvanlang.com, Moc Bai border guide, updated 2026 (2.5 to 4 hours from the city, e-visa port rule): tanvanlang.com
  18. goasia.cc guides, including Savannakhet to Hue, updated Oct 3, 2026 (bus times and fares, border tips, printing the e-visa): goasia.cc
  19. Tilleke and Gibbins, Laos online arrival registration from Sep 1, 2025, published Aug 29, 2025 (four checkpoints, none on the Vietnam border): tilleke.com
  20. vietnamvacation.com.vn, road transfers to the Lao Bao gate (Hue 163 km, Hoi An 278 km, Da Nang about 5 hours). Seen in search: vietnamvacation.com.vn
  21. Tuoi Tre News, airfares from Ho Chi Minh City to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, published Aug 12, 2026: news.tuoitre.vn
  22. Expedia route pages, fares from: Hanoi to Vientiane (expedia.com), Ho Chi Minh City to Vientiane (expedia.com), Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang (expedia.com). Seen in search, 2026 snapshots
  23. routesonline.com, Air Cambodia Cam Ranh to Phnom Penh from Jan 17, 2026. Seen in search: routesonline.com
  24. VnEconomy, Lien Khuong airport reopens after the upgrade, Aug 2026, and a report of the AirAsia Kuala Lumpur route. Seen in search: en.vneconomy.vn
  25. Da Nang Fantastic City, Thai Airways Bangkok to Da Nang from Dec 1, 2026. Seen in search: danangfantasticity.com
  26. Phu Quoc ferry guide, Ha Tien to Bai Vong in about 1.5 hours, fares and timetable. Seen in search: blog.premierresidencesphuquoc.com
  27. authentiktravel.com, Vietnam e-visa from inside Vietnam, Jul 4, 2025 (an agency claim, not confirmed): authentiktravel.com
  28. Our own research notes (3 working days, real waits, entry port rule, no extension, Tet pause). Written from agency reports, so treat it as a lead and check before you go.
  29. nashaplaneta.net, Laos visa in 2026 (visa on arrival about USD 40 in cash plus border fees, extra fee on weekends and outside working hours). Seen in search: nashaplaneta.net
  30. Guides that agree an e-visa cannot be extended inside Vietnam. Seen in search: vietcetera.com and intentionaltravelers.com
  31. EY Vietnam alert, Aug 2025, on the exemption resolutions 44/NQ-CP (to Mar 14, 2028) and 229/NQ-CP (to Aug 14, 2028). Seen in search: ey.com