Guide · 6 min read
How to Do a Visa Run from Da Nang or Hoi An
A practical plan for a visa run from Da Nang or Hoi An: when to start, why Lao Bao, what to apply for, and what happens on the day.
For foreigners living in Da Nang or Hoi An, a visa run almost always means the Lao Bao border with Laos. Here is how to plan one without stress.
Start with the end of your permitted stay
Everything depends on the last day you are allowed to stay in Vietnam, shown on your entry stamp or e-visa. Write it down and plan backwards from it. Aim to travel at least two or three days before it, not on the last day.
Why Lao Bao?
It is the closest international land border to Da Nang, about 260 km away, and it is on Vietnam’s list of e-visa entry gates. Most passports can get a Laos visa on arrival at Dansavanh on the other side. The alternative is flying out of Da Nang to another country and back, which costs more and depends on flight times.
One to two weeks before: apply for your new e-visa
Apply on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, or let us do it. Choose Lao Bao as the entry gate and check every detail. If you are short on time, ask about express processing.
A few days before: get the small things ready
- Clean USD notes for the Laos visa on arrival, unless you are visa-exempt.
- A passport photo, in case the Lao counter asks for one.
- Mobile data, so you can send photos of your stamps.
On the day
Expect an early start (around 04:00–05:00), 5–6 hours on the road, an hour or two at the border, and a return in the evening. The order is: Vietnam exit, Laos entry, Laos exit, Vietnam entry. Don’t leave the border area until your new Vietnam entry stamp is in your passport and you have checked it.
Could you extend instead?
Sometimes. It depends on your visa type and sponsor. Read visa run or visa extension? before you decide.