# hanoivisarun.com — full text > Complete text of every page on https://hanoivisarun.com/. Index: https://hanoivisarun.com/llms.txt # Page: /laos-visa-on-arrival.html ## Laos Visa on Arrival 2026: Fee by Nationality at Lao Bao | hanoivisarun.com Border Fees Guide # Laos Visa on Arrival 2026: The Fee Table at Lao Bao One window in the whole north of Laos issues this visa. It wants clean American cash, and it wants about 40 of them. The number ## About 40 USD, paid across the footbridge Everyone running the Lao Bao border from Hanoi passes the same counter, and the transaction is shorter than most people expect. The passport goes over, a photo goes with it, the arrival form is filled in while the officer looks at the photo page, and the visa fee is paid in cash on the spot. The visa sticker goes in, you walk twenty metres to the entry window, and you are in Laos. Fee tables published through 2026 put the standard rate at around 40 US dollars, inside a 30 to 45 USD band, and the officer working the window holds the actual rate card. Treat 40 as your working number. Canadian passports get quoted 42 to 45. Chinese and Vietnamese passports come in lower, roughly 20 to 35. Passports on the published Laos exemption list skip the visa line altogether and pay nothing. What catches people is not the fee itself. It is that 40 USD is not the whole bill, and that two of the ways the day goes wrong are things you could have fixed in Hanoi a week earlier. By passport ## What your nationality pays at the window Laos runs a flat tourist visa with a rate card rather than one price for the world. These are the bands reported by travellers crossing at Lao Bao in 2026. None of them are negotiable, and none of them are cheaper online. Passport Route at the counter Cash fee All ten ASEAN passports, plus Belarus Visa exemption, 30 days 0 USD US, UK, Ireland, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, India, most other passports Visa on arrival at Dansavanh about 40 USD Canada Visa on arrival at Dansavanh 42 to 45 USD China, Vietnam Visa on arrival at Dansavanh 20 to 35 USD The handful of passports with no VOA or e-visa eligibility Embassy visa in advance, no counter option varies The exemption list is worth checking before you assume you pay. All ten ASEAN passports enter Laos without a visa for 30 days, the same treatment Belarus gets under the published list, and Laos has separate short-stay arrangements with a few more countries. The Lao Department of Immigration publishes the current version, and it is the only list I would trust over a travel forum post from 2019. The small charges ## What stacks on top of the 40 Four things get added to the visa line on a real crossing day, and only two of them are official. None are large. All of them are cash. - No photo: the counter scans one for about 1 to 3 USD, or a booth near the gate charges 1 to 2 USD. Two 4x6 cm photos printed in Hanoi cost around 40,000 VND, which is the cheapest fix on this page. - Out of hours or weekend: about 1 USD, sometimes collected as 10,000 kip. It applies before 08:00 on a weekday, after 16:00, and on weekends and public holidays. Travellers report the window asking for it during normal hours too. - The Vietnamese exit stamp: an informal 20,000 VND, about 0.80 USD, collected on the way out. It is not on any official schedule. On our van the fixer handles this counter and the amount is inside what you paid in Hanoi. - The LDIF: free. The Laos Digital Immigration Form is filed online in the three days before you travel and costs nothing. It is registration, not a visa, and it does not replace the fee. Add lunch on the road, 100,000 to 150,000 VND at the Thanh Hoa stop on the way home, and a full run day costs about 60 USD in cash plus whatever your Vietnam e-visa cost. Bring clean notes in two denominations and you will not stand at the window working out change under pressure. Cash only ## Clean dollars, and nothing else works as well There is no card reader at the Dansavanh window and no ATM on the Laos side of the crossing. The nearest cash machine is in Lao Bao town, on the Vietnamese side, and it pays out dong. So the visa fee is a cash problem you solve in Hanoi, not at the border. What the window accepts - US dollars, and dollars are the price the officer quotes. Bring notes issued after 2009 with no tears, tape, pen marks or hard folds. Worn bills get handed straight back, and the fallback is a money changer near the gate at a rate you will not like. - Vietnamese dong, at Lao Bao specifically. It is accepted, but the officer sets the exchange rate, so the dong price comes out above the dollar price. - Thai baht at the crossings that face Thailand, and never at a fair rate: reports put 1,800 to 2,000 baht against a 40 USD fee. It is not the currency at Lao Bao. - Lao kip is something you might get in change later, not what you pay the visa window with. Budget about 70 USD in clean notes for one passenger: the visa fee for your passport, a few singles for a photo or an out-of-hours charge, and something left over. It sits in a day bag you take to every counter, not in the case in the back of the van. Location matters ## Lao Bao is the only Vietnam border with this counter This is the part that turns a fee question into a route question. The Lao Department of Immigration lists the visa on arrival facility at Dansavanh, the checkpoint facing Lao Bao, and at none of the other crossings along the Vietnam border. Na Meo, Cau Treo, Tay Trang and Nam Can show up on the same list with no visa on arrival and no e-visa acceptance. Crossing Other side Visa on arrival Laos e-visa accepted Lao Bao Dansavanh, Laos Yes No Na Meo Sam Tai, Laos No No Cau Treo Nam Phao, Laos No No Tay Trang Panghok, Laos No No Huu Nghi Youyi Guan, China Not applicable Not applicable The same goes for the Laos e-visa, which surprises people who bought one. laoevisa.gov.la is a real government site and the approval letter is genuine, but the system does not accept Vietnam land crossings. Fly into Vientiane and it works. Turn up at Dansavanh with it and you have paid for a document the window will not take. So if your passport needs a Laos visa and you are running to Na Meo, the visa has to be stamped in your passport before you leave Hanoi, arranged through the Lao embassy. Allow a few working days and start the paperwork a fortnight out, because this is not something a fixer can conjure at the gate. Passports that are visa-exempt for Laos never notice any of it, which is why Lao Bao stays the easy option: the one crossing where the visa happens at the window. The day ## Where the cash changes hands On a shared van run the Laos visa is the only money that moves at the border. Everything else was paid in Hanoi or is inside the seat price. Time What happens 04:00 to 05:30 Pickup in Tay Ho on the Tuesday and Saturday van, or Long Bien and Gia Lam at the higher seat price. Private car pickups run from the Old Quarter, Ba Dinh or Tay Ho at a time you choose. 09:30 to 10:30 Lao Bao. Vietnamese exit stamp, then the walk across the footbridge. This is the window where the visa fee is paid: passport, photo, cash. 10:00 to 11:00 Back across the bridge for the new Vietnamese entry stamp. With the fixer working both counters the border job takes about fifteen minutes, and the fresh stamp is the whole point of the trip. 11:30 to 12:30 Lunch on the road home, usually the Thanh Hoa stop, 100,000 to 150,000 VND a head. 18:00 to 20:00 Back in Hanoi. The one hard rule of the day is leaving the border by 15:00 so the drive home happens in daylight. The seat price covers the drive both ways, the fixer at both counters and the informal exit stamp. It does not cover the Laos visa, which is a government fee paid by you at the window, and it does not cover your Vietnam e-visa, which has to be approved before you board. Full numbers are on the Hanoi visa run cost page, and the route itself is set out on the Lao Bao run page. Questions ## The visa fee, answered ### How much is the Laos visa on arrival at Lao Bao? About 40 USD in cash for most Western passports, at the Dansavanh window across the footbridge from Lao Bao. Older fee tables quote a 30 to 45 USD band and the officer keeps the rate card, so work from 40. Canadian passports are usually quoted 42 to 45 USD, and Chinese and Vietnamese passports 20 to 35 USD. Passports on the Laos exemption list pay nothing. ### Can I pay by card or in Vietnamese dong? No cards, and no ATM on the Laos side. Dong is accepted at Lao Bao, but the officer sets the rate, so the dong price runs above the dollar price. Bring clean US dollar notes issued after 2009. Torn, taped or heavily folded bills get handed back. ### Does the Laos e-visa work at Lao Bao? No. The Laos e-visa sold on laoevisa.gov.la is not accepted at any Vietnam land crossing. At Lao Bao the two things that work are the visa on arrival window and a Laos visa already stamped in your passport from a Lao embassy. If you bought an e-visa for a land run, it will not be honoured at the counter. ### Do I need a passport photo? One or two 4x6 cm colour photos, and the officer decides how many. Without one, the counter scans a photo for about 1 to 3 USD, and there is a booth near the gate. Two photos printed in Hanoi cost around 40,000 VND, which settles the question before you leave. ### Is there a Laos visa on arrival at Na Meo or anywhere else on the Vietnam border? No. The Lao Department of Immigration lists the visa on arrival facility at Dansavanh, facing Lao Bao, and at none of the other Vietnam crossings. Na Meo (Sam Tai), Cau Treo (Nam Phao), Tay Trang (Panghok) and Nam Can issue no visa on arrival and do not accept the Laos e-visa. Anyone using those gates needs a Laos visa in the passport before leaving Hanoi. ## Not sure what your passport pays? Send your nationality, your visa expiry date, and the day you want to run. We will tell you whether you pay the visa on arrival fee at all, which departure fits, and whether your Vietnam e-visa can be approved in time. WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border?: which side issues a visa on arrival and which one turns you around. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the route, the drive times and the border walkthrough. - Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: the 15:00 turnaround rule, holidays and quiet days. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the free arrival registration that sits behind the visa. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line of the day, from the seat price to lunch. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus: Tuesday and Saturday departures and pickup zones. - Saigon Visa Run: land-border runs for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: central Vietnam routes and prices, including the Lao Bao side. - Visarun.vn: the full network guide to Vietnam visa runs. # Page: /vietnam-digital-arrival-card.html ## Vietnam Digital Arrival Card (PAI) 2026: Noi Bai Guide | hanoivisarun.com Arrival Paperwork # Vietnam Digital Arrival Card 2026: What Noi Bai Arrivals Have to File The paper arrival card is gone at Hanoi's airport too. Fly into Noi Bai and you need a QR code before passport control, filed inside the three days before you land. Drive to Lao Bao and nothing has changed yet. The new step ## A QR code before passport control, and it is free The Vietnam Immigration Department now runs a portal at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn where foreign travellers declare themselves before they land. You enter your passport, visa and flight details, the portal returns a QR code, and you show that code to the officer at the immigration desk. The official name is Pre-Arrival Information, shortened to PAI. Travel pages call it the digital arrival card or the Vietnam arrival card, and those all point at the same form. This is the airport's replacement for the paper arrival card that used to be handed out on the descent into Noi Bai. The Vietnamese government is blunt that the two should not be confused: the immigration department describes the declaration as entry information only, and immigration officers on the portal are clear that it is not a visa application and not a visa processing service. Vietnam Airlines calls it an entry declaration and says passengers who have completed it can use the priority entry lane marked Pre-Arrival Info. So it does not change whether you can enter Vietnam. That question is settled by your e-visa, your visa exemption or your temporary residence card before you ever reach the form. What the PAI changes is how long you stand in the queue at Noi Bai, and whether an officer has to send you sideways to a counter to fill in paperwork you could have done at the hotel the night before. Rollout ## Four airports in, every land gate still waiting The system was piloted at Tan Son Nhat on 15 April 2026 and widened through the spring. By the middle of June it covered the four airports that handle almost all of Vietnam's international traffic. Noi Bai was switched on in mid-June 2026, a few days after Phu Quoc and on the same day as Da Nang. Cam Ranh, the airport for Nha Trang, appears on Vietnam Airlines' list of gates where the declaration is required. Entry point City Status Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Ho Chi Minh City Live since 15 April 2026 Phu Quoc (PQC) Phu Quoc Live since 1 June 2026 Noi Bai (HAN) Hanoi Live since mid June 2026 Da Nang (DAD) Da Nang Live since mid June 2026 Cam Ranh (CXR) Nha Trang Named on the airline requirement list Land and sea gates Lao Bao and the rest Still under study, no date published Read that last row twice if you run the border instead of flying. The immigration department has said the land and sea gates are under study with the relevant agencies, and not one published rollout date has been for a road crossing. Who files ## Everyone without a Vietnamese passport The scope is broad. The US Embassy in Hanoi published a notice in mid-June 2026 saying the declaration applies to all international passengers who do not hold a Vietnamese passport, and that it can be completed on arrival or up to three days before. That covers tourists, business travellers, overseas Vietnamese on a Vietnamese-descended visa exemption, and anyone coming back into Hanoi on a freshly issued e-visa after a flight run. - Visa-free arrivals still file it. The exemption gets you past the visa question, not past the arrival declaration. - Children are included. The portal has an add-passenger step, so a family of four files one declaration with the adults listed first and the kids added to it. - Vietnamese passport holders do not file. This is a form for foreign passports. - Airside transit is out of scope. If you never pass immigration, there is nothing to declare. - One exception to watch: passengers who are visa exempt and fly into Tan Son Nhat before a connecting flight to Phu Quoc are not caught by the rule on that arrival, per Vietnam Airlines. Enforcement in the first weeks was uneven. Officers did not always ask to see the code, and a few travellers reported walking straight through. Treating that as an exemption is a bad bet. It costs nothing, it takes about five minutes with your passport open, and the downside of being waved aside at a busy arrival hour is a longer conversation than the form would have been. The form ## What it asks for, and the two fields that stall people Have your passport, your visa approval and your flight number within reach before you open the portal. The declaration collects: - An image of your passport data page. Colour, both MRZ lines readable. This is the first field that stalls people, because a phone photo taken at a hotel desk in poor light often fails and has to be retaken. - Passport number, full name as printed, date of birth, gender and nationality. - Your visa or entry basis: e-visa, visa exemption, temporary residence card, and the visa number with its issue and expiry dates. - Your date of arrival and flight number, plus where you flew in from. - Purpose of entry and means of transport. For an air arrival that is the flight itself. - An accommodation address in Vietnam, a hotel or a relative's home. The portal wants something specific, not "Hanoi". - A workplace, if the purpose of entry is business or work. - Your expected departure date from Vietnam. When you submit, the portal emails a verification code. Enter that code to validate the declaration, and the system then issues a file number and a QR code you can save or print. The email address matters more than it looks: a typo in it means you never receive the code and the submission sits unvalidated. The accommodation field is the other one worth thinking about in advance. Visitors with a hotel booking type the hotel. Longer-stay people who move around should use the address they genuinely expect to be at on arrival night, and if that changes, update the declaration rather than leaving it wrong. The portal has a lookup and update function for exactly this. Timing ## Seventy-two hours, and Hanoi's realistic slot The portal accepts a declaration no earlier than 72 hours before your scheduled arrival, and the official notices allow you to complete it after landing as well. Both are true, and only one of them is pleasant. Submitting two or three days before the flight gives you room to fix a rejected passport photo or a mistyped email address while you are still somewhere with a keyboard. Situation What to file, and when Flying into Noi Bai File inside the 72 hours before landing. Two days out is the comfortable slot. Landing with nothing filed Do it at the airport from the QR code or the paper form. Allowed, but it queues behind everyone else who forgot. Returning from a Bangkok flight run File again for the Noi Bai re-entry. Your new e-visa covers permission; the declaration covers arrival information. Lao Bao van run Nothing to file. Land gates are still under study. The health declaration is a separate matter and does not go on this table. A Ministry of Health declaration is activated when there is a specific disease risk in play, applies to everyone including Vietnamese citizens, and is not part of the immigration portal. If both are live on your travel date, you file both. Two doors out of Hanoi ## The van run missed it, and that is the interesting part Hanoi has two ways to reset a stay. One is the van down the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Lao Bao, which is what most of our passengers book and which runs Tuesday and Saturday. The other is a flight out of Noi Bai, usually to Bangkok, for the people whose dates do not line up with a van or who want a stamp somewhere other than the Laos pattern. The pre-arrival declaration landed on the airport door only. So the Lao Bao run keeps its paperwork exactly as it was: an approved Vietnam e-visa before you board, the Laos landing form and visa at Dansavanh, then the fresh entry stamp on the way back. Laos has its own online form now, and that one is the mirror image of this page: same three-day window, different government. If you fly the return leg instead, you now have one more item on the list. Coming back into Noi Bai means a PAI declaration on top of the new e-visa you arranged before leaving Vietnam. Two separate systems, two separate government departments, and neither one covers the other. Route from Hanoi Paperwork Filed Cost Lao Bao shared van Vietnam e-visa, Laos LDIF, Laos visa or exemption 3 days before, from your hotel in Hanoi LDIF free, Laos visa 40 USD cash for most Western passports Flight out of Noi Bai Vietnam e-visa, PAI declaration, destination entry rules 72 hours before the return flight PAI free, airfare 150 to 300 USD Failure modes ## Five ways people get this wrong - Paying a middleman for a free form. Search results are full of "Vietnam arrival card" services. The government portal is free, and the only address is prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Anything that wants a payment card is selling you something you can do yourself in five minutes. - Filing outside the window. The portal will not accept a declaration more than 72 hours ahead. Do it a week early and you are simply turned away, which people read as the system being broken. - Treating the QR code as entry permission. It is not. A declaration filed against an e-visa that has not been approved yet is a declaration with nothing behind it. The e-visa is the part with lead time: three to five business days on the standard tier, which is why our desk files it before anything else. - No offline copy. Screenshot the QR code and the file number, and keep them where you can open them without data. Arrival halls are the worst place to depend on wifi. - An email address with a typo. The verification code goes to that address and nowhere else, so a mistyped domain leaves you with an unvalidated declaration you cannot look up. We cannot file this one for you, in the same way we cannot take the Laos selfie for you: it needs your document in your hand and your email address on the record. What the visa desk does is make sure the piece underneath it is solid. Send us your passport details and travel date and we check that the e-visa approval is in place before you book the flight, and remind you about the declaration for the return leg. Questions ## The pre-arrival declaration, answered ### What is Vietnam's PAI or digital arrival card? It is a free online declaration filed at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn, run by the Vietnam Immigration Department. You submit your passport, visa and flight details within three days of arrival, and the portal issues a QR code you show at passport control. It replaces the old paper arrival card. It is not a visa and it does not grant permission to enter: that still comes from your e-visa, your visa exemption or another entry document. ### Do I need the digital arrival card at Noi Bai in 2026? Yes, if you clear immigration at Noi Bai and do not hold a Vietnamese passport. Noi Bai went live in mid-June 2026, after Tan Son Nhat on 15 April 2026 and Phu Quoc on 1 June 2026. Vietnam Airlines lists Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Tan Son Nhat as the airports where the entry declaration is required. Vietnamese passport holders do not file it, and passengers who stay airside in transit do not either. ### Does the digital arrival card apply to a Lao Bao land border run from Hanoi? Not yet. Vietnam's Immigration Department has said land and sea border gates are still under study, and every rollout date published so far covers airports only. A same-day Lao Bao turnaround is unaffected, so a Hanoi runner who never flies does not have a new form to file. If the rule reaches land gates, expect the same three-day window and the same QR code. ### How far in advance can I submit the pre-arrival declaration? Within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival, and you can also complete it after landing using the airport's QR code or a paper form. Filing two or three days before the flight is the comfortable slot: the form asks for a photo of your passport bio page, and the arrival hall is not the place to discover that the upload failed. The declaration is free, and the portal emails a verification code you enter to validate the submission. ### Is the pre-arrival declaration the same as the e-visa or the health declaration? No, they are three separate things. The e-visa is your legal entry permission, applied for at evisa.gov.vn and approved before you fly. The Pre-Arrival Information form is free arrival information for immigration, filed within three days of arrival. The health declaration is a Ministry of Health form, activated when there is a specific disease risk. A QR code from one of them does not cover the other two. ## Flying out of Hanoi to reset your stay? Send us your travel dates and a photo of your passport page. We will check the e-visa timing fits the flight, tell you when to file the pre-arrival declaration, and quote the Lao Bao van as the alternative if the airfare looks worse. WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the land-border version of this same idea, filed three days before you cross. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the 300 km route and the crossing steps, with no airport form involved. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the hour-by-hour walkthrough of a van day. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus: Tuesday and Saturday departures, pickups and fares. - Do Visa Runs Still Work in 2026?: the rules, the scrutiny thresholds and the long-stay options. - Saigon Visa Run: the Moc Bai corridor for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: central Vietnam crossings, including the Lao Bao side. - Visarun.vn: the network hub for Vietnam visa runs and border guides. # Page: /laos-digital-immigration-form.html ## Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) 2026: Hanoi Visa Run Guide | hanoivisarun.com Laos Entry Paperwork # Laos Digital Immigration Form 2026: The Third Document on a Hanoi Visa Run The paper arrival card is gone. Every Laos entry now needs an online registration filed in the three days before you cross, and a same-day turnaround at Lao Bao counts as an entry and an exit. The paperwork ## The paper card is gone, and the online replacement is not optional Laos retired the paper arrival and departure card. In its place is the Lao Digital Immigration Form, which everyone shortens to LDIF. You fill it in online at immigration.gov.la, the portal hands you a QR code, and you show that code at the Laos counter instead of scribbling on a card with a borrowed pen while a queue forms behind you. The rollout started on 1 September 2025 at four checkpoints: Wattay airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang airport, Pakse airport, and the first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. The stated plan was nationwide coverage at every border gate through 2026, with paper forms dropped entirely. By the middle of 2026, visa services and travel advice pages had moved to describing the LDIF as required at every international checkpoint, land crossings included, and that list is where Dansavanh opposite Lao Bao sits. The official wording is broader than any timetable: all foreign nationals and stateless people travelling on a passport must register through the LDIF before entering or departing Laos. Nobody has published an exemption for same-day visa runners, and a turnaround is one entry plus one exit. Two things make it worth ten minutes of your evening in Hanoi. It is free, and it is the only item on the run that cannot be sorted at the counter. Everything else at Dansavanh is a queue, a fee or a photo you can buy on the spot. Timing ## File it inside the three-day window, not before The portal takes an arrival registration inside the three days before the date you cross, and the QR code it issues stays valid for three days. That cuts both ways. File a week out and the code can age out before your van reaches Quang Tri. File it in the dark at 04:00 from the pickup point and you are inside the window but working from a phone tethered to a hotspot in a car park, which is not the moment to discover the passport photo upload failed. For the Tuesday and Saturday departures the arithmetic is simple, because your arrival date is the departure date. Tay Ho pickup runs 04:00 to 05:30, the van reaches Lao Bao around 10:45, and both stamps happen the same morning. So a Tuesday run gets filed on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday before it. Saturday evening is the comfortable slot: enough time to fix a typo, no risk of the code expiring before you have used it. Run day Arrival date to enter File on Tuesday shared van Tuesday Saturday, Sunday or Monday Saturday shared van Saturday Wednesday, Thursday or Friday Private car, any day Your travel date The three days before it Overnight in Laos Crossing date Three days before the crossing, then again for the return if the code lapses The form ## What it asks for, and what to have within reach The arrival card wants nine things. None of them is difficult, and two of them are the reason people end up starting over on a phone with 8 percent battery. - Passport number, dates of issue and expiry, place of issue. - A photo of the passport bio page, both MRZ lines readable, colour, under about 2 MB. - A selfie of you holding that open passport. Yes, really. The Laos form asks for it as a mandatory attachment. - The arrival checkpoint and arrival date. From Hanoi that is Dansavanh, on the date of your crossing. - Purpose of entry. Tourism covers a visa run. - Means of transport: car or bus. A private car run goes in as car; the shared van as bus. - An address in Laos. This is the field that stalls same-day runners, who have no booking. - Visa details if you already hold a Laos e-visa: number, issue date and place. - Contact number and country of origin. The address field is the one that trips up a turnaround. You are not staying anywhere. The practical answer is the guesthouse in Dansavanh village that the run uses, because it is a real address the Laos officer can see from the window, and our fixer files the group's registration against it. If you are filing on your own, name a guesthouse you could actually check into and have its name to hand. Do not type a hotel you invented; a registration that collapses under a single question is worse than a slow one. The other habit worth building is proof you can show without signal. The Laos side of Lao Bao has patchy wifi, and the point of a digital form is lost if the only evidence of it lives behind a login you cannot reach. Submit the arrival card and the departure card as two separate registrations, screenshot both QR codes, and write the confirmation numbers on the same paper as your e-visa details. Two minutes at the hotel desk in Hanoi saves a long conversation at the counter in Savannakhet province. Don't mix them up ## Three documents, three different jobs The mix-up we hear most on the WhatsApp line is people treating these as one piece of paperwork. They come from two different governments, they cost different amounts, and only one of them is filed at the last minute. Document Issued by What it does Cost and lead time LDIF (Laos Digital Immigration Form) Laos Department of Immigration, online Arrival and departure registration. Replaces the paper card, still needed for visa-free passports Free, 10 to 15 minutes, filed inside the 3 days before you cross Laos visa (e-visa or visa on arrival) Laos Permission to enter Laos at all e-visa about 50 USD via laoevisa.gov.la, 3 to 5 business days, but valid for air arrivals only and not accepted at Vietnam land crossings. VOA 40 USD cash for most Western passports, 45 for Canadians, +1 to 2 USD without a 4x6 cm photo or on a weekend Vietnam e-visa Vietnam Immigration, evisa.gov.vn Permission to re-enter Vietnam at the end of the run From 65 USD through our desk, up to the 1-hour express tier. Must be approved before you board the van If you are still unsure which side issues what at the counter, the Lao Bao border visa guide covers that split in detail: Vietnam issues nothing on the spot, Laos issues visa on arrival at Dansavanh, and the LDIF sits behind both of them as registration rather than permission. Failure modes ## Where the LDIF goes wrong on a Hanoi run Four things break a run, and none of them is the form being difficult. - The right document on the wrong side. The LDIF belongs to Laos. Vietnam's e-visa is a separate approval from a separate government, and it has to exist before you board. A booking confirmation is not an approval. - Filing too early. The three-day validity applies to the code, not to your trip. A registration filed ten days out is a wasted registration. - No offline proof. Screenshots of the QR code, not just the email. Border wifi on the Laos side is unreliable enough that we treat signal as a bonus, not a plan. - Reading the rollout as an exemption. During 2025 travellers crossing at smaller land gates reported the pilot being enforced mainly at the four original checkpoints, airports and Friendship Bridge I. By mid 2026 the advice pages had it mandatory at every international checkpoint, and Lao immigration's own wording never limited it to four. We file it for every group rather than test the difference. On the day ## Where it sits in the fourteen-hour run By the time the van reaches Quang Tri, the LDIF should be a screenshot on your phone and a line of text in your documents folder. Everything after that is the crossing itself. - Night before, at the hotel: submit the arrival registration, screenshot the QR code, note the confirmation number next to your e-visa details. - 04:00 to 05:30: pickup in Tay Ho, then Long Bien, Gia Lam or the Old Quarter, depending on your booking. Nothing LDIF-related happens at this hour. - 10:45: Lao Bao. The Vietnamese exit stamp first, then the short walk to the Dansavanh counter. - At the Laos counter: QR code shown, visa on arrival paid in USD cash or the e-visa handed across. Visa-exempt passports walk through with the registration and nothing else. - The departure registration: filed from Hanoi as well. Laos wants the digital card on the way out, not only on the way in. - Back across by 15:00 for a fresh Vietnam entry stamp. The LDIF goes in the same folder as the last one and stops being interesting. On our runs ## What we file for you, and what stays yours The registration side is ours. On a shared van departure the fixer files the group's arrival and departure cards against the Dansavanh guesthouse the run uses, prints a spare copy of each QR code, and checks every passenger's e-visa approval before the van leaves Hanoi. The passport photo, the selfie and the USD cash for the Laos fee stay with you, because they need your document in your hand. The e-visa check is the part worth insisting on. A registration is only useful if the entry approval behind it exists, and by 04:00 there is no time to fix a payment that failed on evisa.gov.vn. Send us a photo of the approval the evening before and we will confirm the entry date and the passport number on it line up with the run. If you would rather do the whole thing yourself, everything on this page works that way too, and the step-by-step walkthrough covers the borders, the fees and the return leg in order. Questions ## The LDIF, answered ### Do I still need the Laos Digital Immigration Form for a same-day Lao Bao visa run? Yes. The registration rule covers every foreign national entering or departing Laos on a passport, and a turnaround is both an entry and an exit. Fill it in from Hanoi before the van leaves, inside the three days before your crossing date. Do not plan to complete it at the counter: the form is online only, and the wifi on the Laos side is unreliable. ### How far in advance can I submit the LDIF? Within three days of your arrival date. The QR code is valid for three days, so a submission made a week early can expire before you reach the border. The form is free and takes about ten to fifteen minutes with your passport in hand. ### What does the Laos Digital Immigration Form ask for? Your passport details with a photo of the bio page, a selfie holding that passport, the checkpoint you will use and the date, how you will arrive (car or bus on a Lao Bao run), your purpose of entry, an address in Laos such as a guesthouse or hotel, and your visa details if you already hold a Laos e-visa. The departure card asks for a shorter version of the same. ### Is the LDIF the same thing as a Laos visa? No. The LDIF is free arrival and departure registration, not a visa. The Laos visa is the separate document that lets you in: visa on arrival at the Dansavanh counter for 40 USD in cash for most Western passports and 45 USD for Canadians, plus a 4x6 cm photo. The Laos e-visa sold on laoevisa.gov.la is genuine but not accepted at any Vietnam land crossing, so on a Lao Bao run the counter is the only route. Visa-exempt passports skip the visa but still file the LDIF, and the Laos visa on arrival fee page lays the amounts out by passport. ### What happens if I turn up at Dansavanh with no LDIF? The Laos side can send you to manual processing, which adds time to a crossing that already has a fixed turnaround window. Because the checkpoint wifi is patchy, the safe habit is to submit from Hanoi and keep a screenshot of the QR code and the confirmation number on your phone, plus a printed copy in your documents folder. ## Not sure your paperwork is in order? Send us a photo of your Vietnam e-visa approval and your crossing date. We will tell you whether the LDIF window still fits, and which Lao Bao departure suits your dates. WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border?: which side stamps you in, which side turns you around. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the 300 km route, drive times and the crossing steps. - Lao Bao Border Hours: the 07:00 to 22:00 window and the 15:00 turnaround rule. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the hour-by-hour version of the whole day. - Hanoi Laos Visa Run: Lao Bao, Na Meo and Huu Nghi compared for northern runners. - Vietnam Digital Arrival Card: the airport mirror of this page, now required at Noi Bai within 72 hours of landing. - Do Visa Runs Still Work in 2026?: the rules, the scrutiny thresholds and the long-stay options. - Saigon Visa Run: the Moc Bai corridor for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: central Vietnam crossings, including the Lao Bao side. - Visarun.vn: the network hub for Vietnam visa runs and border guides. # Page: /laobao-hours.html ## Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: Opening Times, Holidays & Quiet Days | hanoivisarun.com Border Hours Guide # Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: Opening Times, Holidays, and the Quiet Days The gate is open fifteen hours a day, seven days a week. For a Hanoi runner the number that matters is not 22:00. It is 15:00. Opening hours ## Open 07:00 to 22:00, every day of the year Laos immigration publishes the Dansavanh checkpoint hours as 07:00 to 22:00, seven days a week. There is no lunch break in the middle of the day, which is not always true at Laos land crossings further north. The Vietnamese counter at Lao Bao faces it across the road in Quang Tri province and works through the same daytime window. So if your question is simply whether the gate is open when your van reaches it, the answer is almost always yes. The useful question is narrower. Both sides run shifts, and a same-day turnaround needs the day crew: the exit stamp, the walk across, the Laos entry stamp, then straight back through Vietnamese immigration. Fifteen hours of opening time do not shorten the five hour drive home to Hanoi. The practical rule ## Be back across by 15:00, not by 22:00 Our shared van picks up in Tay Ho between 04:00 and 05:30, or in Long Bien and Gia Lam a little later, and reaches Lao Bao around 10:45. From there you have about four hours of comfortable room. Stamped back into Vietnam by 15:00, the return drive runs in daylight and the van drops you in Hanoi between 18:00 and 20:00. That is the whole day, door to door. Clock What the gate looks like 07:00 Counters open. Most of the first hour is freight, not passengers. 10:00 to 11:00 Our arrival window, and the lightest passenger queue of the day. 11:00 to 15:00 The turnaround window: exit stamp, walk to Dansavanh, Laos entry, re-entry, five hour drive home. After 16:00 Realistically an overnight. Guesthouses near the gate run about 10 to 15 USD. 22:00 Gate closes. Nothing gets stamped until 07:00 the next morning. Quiet days ## The gate is busy before 07:00, not after Lao Bao is not a crowded border post on an ordinary week. It sits on the East-West Economic Corridor, so the volume is freight, and freight moves early. The queue that builds overnight at the Vietnamese side is trucks, not people, and it clears through the morning. By the time a Hanoi van rolls in around 10:45, the passenger windows are usually the quietest part of the day. Two weekly patterns are worth knowing. Our shared van leaves on Tuesdays and Saturdays, so those are the days you will queue behind other runners rather than locals. A private car runs any day you like, and a midweek crossing is usually the calmest. Friday afternoon is the one weekday stretch I would avoid if the dates are flexible: that is when families cross towards the Laos side for the weekend, and the pedestrian lane moves slower for it. One thing that does not affect this crossing: Chinese holidays. If you are weighing Lao Bao against the Huu Nghi gate at Friendship Pass, only the China option closes for National Day week and Spring Festival. Lao Bao does not care what Beijing is doing. Holidays ## The gate stays open. Everything else slows down. Border gates do not take public holidays off, and Lao Bao is no exception. Nobody puts a padlock on the counter on 2 September or during Tet. What changes is the human side of the crossing: thinner staffing at both counters, slower e-visa processing in Hanoi and Vientiane, guesthouses near the gate filling with drivers, and van seats selling out days earlier than usual. There is also a cash detail that catches people out, and it is not a closure. Laos adds a small surcharge on visa on arrival if you cross on a weekend, a public holiday or outside normal counter hours. Reports put it at 1 to 2 USD on top of the visa fee, and it is collected in cash. Visa-free passports never notice it. Dates What it means for a run Tet, 4 to 10 Feb 2027 The one date to plan around. The government finalised the break on 2 October 2026: seven days, 4 to 10 February 2027, with New Year's Day falling on Saturday 6 February. Immigration paperwork slows to a stop while the gates stay open on skeleton staff. Run in mid-January, or wait until mid-February and allow for the catch-up backlog. 2 Dec (Laos National Day) Laos-side counters are staffed with a skeleton crew. Add an hour of margin. 13 to 15 Apr (Lao New Year) Pi Mai. Laos effectively shuts for a week either side. Same advice as Tet: avoid the middle, not the whole month. 30 Apr, 1 May, 2 Sep (Vietnam) Domestic travel peaks. The gate itself is fine, the Hanoi departure slots are not. Cash at the gate ## The small fees nobody budgets for The big numbers on a Hanoi run are transport and the e-visa, and our cost breakdown covers both. At the gate itself there are three small cash items. None of them is a scam, and all of them are easy to miss if you travel with a card and no small notes. - The Vietnamese exit stamp fee, an informal 20,000 VND handed over at the counter. Roughly eighty cents. - The Dansavanh digital border fee, about 50 cents, introduced on the Laos side in September 2025. - Laos visa on arrival, 40 USD in cash for most passports, 45 for Canadians, plus one 4x6 cm photo. Crossing without a photo adds 1 to 2 USD. Carry dong for the Vietnamese side and USD for the Laos side, in small notes. Cards are not accepted at either counter. If you book the run with us, the fixer handles the small fees in the queue while you wait with the vehicle, and the Laos visa fee comes out of your own cash. Booking ## Book the hours, not just the day Two things decide whether a run happens on the day you want: whether the shared van leaves that morning, and whether your e-visa approval has landed. The van runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho and 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. A private car starts at 4,800,000 VND and goes any day, which is the fix when the schedule does not suit you or a holiday week has thinned the shared seats. The approval timing is the part people get wrong. Our visa desk runs the e-visa ladder from a four-day standard tier up to a one-hour express tier, and the gate does not care which tier you bought. What it cares about is that the approval exists before you reach the counter. An approval that arrives late the night before a 04:00 pickup is fine. One still sitting at "processing" at 04:00 means the run waits for tomorrow. If the hours simply do not fit, there is a slower version. Cross early evening, sleep on the Laos side of the gate, and come back on the morning transport. It costs less than the private-car option and eats two days instead of one. Message us before you book either version and we will tell you which one your dates actually support. Questions ## Lao Bao hours, answered ### What time does the Lao Bao border open and close? Lao Bao and the Dansavanh checkpoint opposite it run 07:00 to 22:00, seven days a week, with no midday closure. Laos immigration publishes those hours for Dansavanh. For a day run from Hanoi the real limit is earlier, so treat 15:00 as your turnaround deadline. ### Is the border open on Sundays and public holidays? Yes. The same schedule applies on weekends and public holidays, Tet included. What changes is staffing and queue length, not whether the gate opens. Laos also adds a small weekend and after-hours surcharge on visa on arrival, reported at 1 to 2 USD on top of the visa fee, cash only. ### What is the latest I can cross and still be back in Hanoi the same day? Be stamped back into Vietnam by 15:00. That keeps the five hour drive home in daylight and puts you in Hanoi between 18:00 and 20:00. Cross after 16:00 and you are realistically paying 10 to 15 USD for a guesthouse near the gate and going back the next morning. ### Which days are busiest at Lao Bao? Holiday weeks: the days around Tet, the 30 April and 1 May pair, and the early September national holiday. On an ordinary week the heavy traffic is freight and it clears by mid morning, so a midweek crossing is the quietest option. Friday afternoons are the busiest weekday slot for passenger traffic. ### Do I still need an e-visa with the right port if the gate is open that long? You need an approved e-visa, and it has to exist before you reach the counter. Since Resolution 389/NQ-CP in December 2025 the issued e-visa no longer prints a single port of entry, so an approval works at any of the 83 eligible checkpoints, Lao Bao included. Fifteen hours of opening time do not create a visa. ## Check the next Lao Bao departure Send us your passport nationality, your visa expiry date, and the day you would like to run. We will tell you which departure fits and whether your e-visa can be approved in time. WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the route, drive times and border steps for the main crossing. - Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border?: which side issues a visa on arrival and which one turns you around. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus: Tuesday and Saturday departures, pickup zones and what the ticket covers. - Hanoi to Huu Nghi Visa Run: the China-border alternative, where holiday closures do bite. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the hour-by-hour walkthrough of the whole day. - Laos Visa on Arrival: the 2026 Fee Table: what the Dansavanh window charges each nationality, and the small cash charges around it. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the online arrival card that sits behind the visa on a Lao Bao run. - Saigon Visa Run: land-border runs for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: central Vietnam routes and prices, including the Lao Bao side. - Visarun.vn: the full network guide to Vietnam visa runs. # Page: /border-visa.html ## Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border? Vietnam: No, Laos: Yes (2026) | hanoivisarun.com Border Visa Guide # Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border? Vietnam Says No. Laos Says Yes. One checkpoint, two countries, two completely different answers. Which side actually issues a visa on arrival, and which one will turn you around. The Short Answer ## Two countries, two answers, one bridge Ask the question at the Lao Bao checkpoint and you are really asking two different countries. The Vietnamese side, in Quang Tri province, issues no visas at the border, full stop. The officers there cannot sell you an entry visa, cannot print one, and cannot override the system. If you do not already hold an approved e-visa that is valid for land entry at Lao Bao, or a visa exemption that covers your passport, you do not get stamped in. Cross the footbridge to Dansavanh and the answer flips. Laos runs a proper visa on arrival counter there. Passports that need one pay cash, about 40 USD, and walk out with an entry stamp in about the time it takes to finish a coffee. Visa-free passports simply walk through. This split confuses people every single week, and it is the reason some same-day runs fail. Travelers hear "visa on arrival at Lao Bao," assume it covers the whole trip, and board the van from Hanoi without an approved re-entry e-visa. The Laos side lets them in happily. The Vietnamese side will not let them back. That is the trap this page exists to stop. The Vietnam Side ## What the Lao Bao counter can and cannot do Vietnam's entry visas come from exactly two places: the online e-visa system, which you must finish before you travel, and Vietnamese embassies and consulates abroad. Land border gates, Lao Bao included, are not on the list. Nobody has ever walked up to the Vietnamese window at Lao Bao and bought an entry visa on the spot, because the window has nothing to sell. What the officer actually does is check your authorization against the system and stamp it. For most foreign passports that means an approved e-visa, the QR code and approval letter on your phone or printed out, with Lao Bao covered as a land gate. For a smaller group of nationalities, such as British passport holders, it means the visa exemption: the officer reads the passport, sees the exemption, and stamps 45 days with no e-visa involved at all. Show up with neither and the outcome is not a negotiation, it is a refusal. The officer notes that you have no valid entry authorization and you are directed back to the Laos side. There is no fine counter, no "pay more and go through" option, and no supervisor who can bend the rule. The only fix happens before you reach the border, not at it. The Laos Side ## Visa on arrival at Dansavanh is real Dansavanh, the Laos checkpoint a short walk across from Lao Bao, does things the Vietnamese way would never allow. Laos issues visas on arrival to any passport that is not visa-exempt, right there at the counter. If your passport needs one, expect to pay about 40 USD, cash only. USD works, and so does dong for the equivalent amount, but cards do not. You also need one passport photo and a few minutes to fill in the arrival form. Count on 15 to 30 minutes at the Laos window depending on how many buses arrived ahead of you. Hand over the form, the photo, and the fee, and the officer stamps you into Laos. Many nationalities skip all of it: ASEAN passports and a handful of others walk through visa-free, which is why the Laos side of a visa run often takes less time than the paperwork you did at home. Here is the part that matters for a run from Hanoi: the Laos visa on arrival does nothing for your Vietnam stamp. It gets you into Laos, which is only half the trip. The run only works when you can get back out of Laos and into Vietnam, and that second step is the one the e-visa controls. The Failure Mode ## "I'll sort it at the border" ends in Laos Picture the run going wrong. The van leaves Hanoi before dawn, everyone is tired, and one passenger never applied for a new e-visa because they read somewhere that Lao Bao does visas on arrival. At the border they get their Vietnamese exit stamp, cross the footbridge, and Dansavanh stamps them into Laos, visa on arrival, thirty minutes, no fuss. Then they turn around to re-enter Vietnam and hit the wall. No approved e-visa, so no entry stamp. The Vietnamese officer is polite and firm: back to Laos. The van cannot wait, the driver has paying passengers who need to get home, and the stranded runner watches it leave from the wrong side of the border. What follows is the expensive version of a visa run. A guesthouse room at Dansavanh for the night, a rushed e-visa application filed from Laos with the slow internet at a border cafe, and a second attempt the next day hoping the approval lands in time. The whole detour costs more than the run itself, and it was entirely avoidable. The fixer teams we work with check for this before the van leaves Hanoi. Passport, e-visa approval letter, Lao Bao covered as an entry gate. If something is missing or wrong, you find out at 5 AM in the Old Quarter, not at 11 AM at the border, which is the entire point of booking with people who run this road every week. Before You Board ## What a same-day run needs before it leaves Hanoi A same-day run to Lao Bao and back is about 14 hours and 600 km of driving. Do not spend them discovering a paperwork problem at the border. Run through this list the night before: - Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond your return date. - An approved Vietnam e-visa that is valid for land entry at Lao Bao (approvals since late 2025 work at any of the 83 e-visa gates, and Lao Bao is one of them), or a passport on the visa-exemption list. No other combination gets you back in. - Your e-visa approval letter and QR code, printed or saved offline. Border internet is not something to bet on. - Cash for Laos: 40 USD (or dong) if your passport needs the visa on arrival, plus small notes for the informal exit stamp fee that runners budget for. - One passport photo if you expect to use the Laos visa on arrival counter. - The Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) filed online inside the three days before you cross, with the QR code screenshotted. Laos now wants its arrival and departure cards in digital form, and the Laos side of the gate has patchy wifi. Timing matters as much as the documents. The official e-visa takes 3 to 5 working days, so it must be applied for before your run, and a new one can only be filed once you are outside Vietnam. Our visa desk handles the upload, submits the moment your exit is stamped, and chases the application until it lands. Tiers run from the 65 USD 4-day single entry up to a 165 USD 1-hour rush tier when the calendar is tight. If you applied yourself and the portal is stuck, the push-only service from 25 USD often fixes it. Side by Side ## Vietnam vs Laos at the same crossing Detail Vietnam (Lao Bao) Laos (Dansavanh) Visa issued at the border? No. Never. Land ports issue no entry visas. Yes, visa on arrival at the counter. What gets you in Approved e-visa valid at Lao Bao (any of the 83 e-visa gates since late 2025), or visa exemption Nothing for exempt passports; 40 USD cash for the rest Paperwork at the counter Passport plus e-visa QR and approval letter Form, one passport photo, cash Typical counter time A few minutes with a fixer handling it 15 to 30 minutes If you are not prepared Refused entry, sent back to Laos You are already in Laos; the problem is leaving it Read the table as a one-way door. The Laos side is easy to get into and the Vietnam side is hard to get back into, so the e-visa is the document that decides whether your run succeeds. For the full crossing walkthrough, exit stamp first and the exact order of windows, see the Hanoi to Lao Bao visa run page. FAQ ## Border visa questions, answered straight ### Can I get a Vietnam visa at the Lao Bao border? No. Vietnam's land borders issue no entry visas and Lao Bao is no exception. The officers can only stamp you in if you already hold an approved e-visa that is valid for land entry at Lao Bao, a visa exemption, or another pre-issued visa. There is no officer at any land gate who can create a visa on the spot. ### Can I get a Laos visa on arrival at Dansavanh? Yes. Laos runs visa on arrival at the Dansavanh checkpoint directly across from Lao Bao. Passports that are not visa-exempt pay about 40 USD in cash, hand over a passport photo and a completed form, and wait through a short counter check. Cards are not accepted, so bring USD or dong. ### My e-visa names a different entry port. Can I still re-enter at Lao Bao? Usually yes, if your e-visa was approved after the late-2025 rule change. Vietnam no longer ties new approvals to a single gate: they work at any of the 83 e-visa-eligible checkpoints, and Lao Bao is on that list. If your approval letter still prints a specific port, treat that as the one to use. Either way the e-visa must be approved before you reach the border. Send us your approval letter PDF before booking and we will confirm Lao Bao works for yours. ### My passport is visa-free for Vietnam. Do I need an e-visa for the run? No. If your passport is on the visa-exemption list, such as British passports, the Lao Bao officer stamps you straight in for 45 days and no e-visa is involved. US and Australian passports are not on that list, so they need an approved e-visa before they reach the border. The guide to doing a run lists all 24 passports that qualify and what changes for the ones that do not. ### What happens if I arrive at Lao Bao without an approved e-visa? The Laos side will let you in, with a visa on arrival if your passport needs one. The problem is the way back: Vietnam's checkpoint will not stamp you in without valid entry authorization, so you end up stuck in Laos, usually overnight, paying for a room and a second attempt the next day. ## Heading to Lao Bao? Get checked before you board. Shared van seats to Lao Bao from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays, private cars any day from 4,800,000 VND. Our team confirms your e-visa and its gate coverage the night before the run, not at the border. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the full route, drive times, border steps, and packing list for the main crossing. - Laos Visa on Arrival: the 2026 Fee Table: what each passport pays at the Dansavanh window, the extras that stack, and the crossings with no counter at all. - Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: opening times, the 15:00 turnaround deadline, holiday dates and the quietest days to cross. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the 14-hour walkthrough from 4 AM pickup to the fresh entry stamp. - Do Vietnam Visa Runs Still Work in 2026?: the legal picture, scrutiny thresholds, and how often is too often. - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: the complete process from booking to the fresh stamp. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the online arrival and departure card Laos now requires before you cross. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /visa-runs-2026.html ## Do Vietnam Visa Runs Still Work in 2026? Yes, With Caveats | hanoivisarun.com Visa Run Legality & Rules, 2026 # Do Visa Runs Still Work in 2026? Yes. Here's the Fine Print. Short version: visa runs are legal in Vietnam in 2026, and after Decree 282/2025 closed in-country extensions they are the standard way to renew a stay. From Hanoi that means a day trip to Lao Bao. The fine print is about officer discretion: how the rules work, where scrutiny comes from, and how often is too often. The Straight Answer ## Yes, runs still work. They are legal, and in 2026 they are the standard path. A visa run is an ordinary border crossing. You walk out of Vietnam through passport control, collect your exit stamp, and re-enter on a valid authorization: a fresh e-visa or the visa exemption your passport allows. Nothing about that went away in 2026. What changed is that the alternatives shrank, so the run became the default way people renew a stay. Decree 282/2025, in force since 15 December 2025, governs penalties and enforcement. It closed what little remained of in-country extension: neither the e-visa nor the visa exemption can be extended while you sit inside Vietnam, and tourist visa (DL) extensions are now issued rarely. Since 2023 the e-visa itself got better at the same time, opening 90-day single and multi entry to most nationalities. Net result for anyone in Hanoi: the Lao Bao border run is the reliable path to a fresh stamp. One honest caveat belongs up top. Entering Vietnam is never an automatic right. Officers keep discretion, and a passport full of back-to-back tourist stamps draws questions sooner or later. That is not a sign the run stopped working. It is a sign to run sensibly: on a clean e-visa, with margin before expiry, and not every few weeks on the same exemption stamp. The Rules ## What the law actually says about border runs Three rules explain why the visa run exists in 2026 and why it stays legal. First, your e-visa is a stay authorization, not a renewable membership. It grants one period of presence, up to 90 days, single or multi entry depending on what you bought. When that period ends, it ends. There is no extension mechanism for e-visas inside the country. The 45-day exemption works the same way: a per-entry grant for the nationalities that qualify, with no in-country renewal. Second, leaving is always allowed. Vietnam does not hold you at the border because your visa ran out. You exit, receive the exit stamp, and your old authorization closes cleanly. That is why a run done on time never creates an overstay record, and why the same-day turnaround is possible at all. Third, re-entry is a fresh admission. You present your passport and your new e-visa approval, or your exemption passport, and the officer decides. For a traveler holding a valid, approved e-visa this is routine, and the gate named on the approval is no longer the trap it used to be. But entry is discretionary, and that is the part no visa-run company can guarantee. There is no published limit on how many runs you may do. Vietnamese law does not state a yearly quota anywhere. What exists instead is officer discretion and an electronic record of your entries, and that combination is where the "permanent tourist" problem lives. Sources that describe refusal patterns are describing traveler experience, not a written rule. Officer Discretion ## Where scrutiny comes from Nobody publishes a threshold, so the honest framing is reported pattern, not rule. Across 2026 border guides and expat reports, the picture looks like this: Your run history What travelers report First run after a normal stay Routine. Exit, re-enter, get the stamp, done. Two runs inside 90 days on 45-day exemption stamps Questions start. Officers may ask about plans, ask for an onward ticket, or shorten the stamp. Three or four consecutive 90-day e-visa cycles Mostly no trouble. The e-visa gives you paperwork, which reads as documented tourism. Four to six runs in twelve months Occasional questioning at re-entry, more often at busy land borders. Seven or more runs, or two years of continuous tourist status Real refusal risk. Officers can and do refuse entry when they read the pattern as residence. What triggers scrutiny is not the run itself but the pattern around it: exemption stamps that barely overlap each other, a passport full of Vietnamese stamps with no other travel, same-day turnarounds repeated every few weeks. A same-day run to Lao Bao once per e-visa cycle is unremarkable. The fourth quick crossing in four months is what earns a second look. If your history is already heavy, one cheap fix is to stay overnight in Laos instead of turning around the same day. A night at Dansavanh changes the story from border hopper to someone who actually left. Route and crossing details are on our Hanoi to Lao Bao guide. From Hanoi ## How often is too often For the 90-day e-visa crowd, the natural cadence is four runs a year, one per visa cycle. That is normal, and widely reported as trouble-free when each cycle is a real stay on a real e-visa. The friction point is people who try to compress more than one reset into a single quarter on exemption stamps, which is where the two-runs-in-90-days reports come from. Rules that keep a Hanoi runner out of the grey zone: - Run on a fresh e-visa, not on the exemption, if you want the full 90 days. The e-visa puts your validity window in writing; the exemption leaves it to the officer's pen. - Have the e-visa approved before you cross. Approvals issued from late 2025 work at any of the 83 e-visa checkpoints, Lao Bao included, so the gate you name on the form will not sink you. Turning up without an approval will. - Give yourself margin. Running with three to five days of visa left beats running on the expiry date, where any delay turns into an overstay. - Do not chain exemption runs. If you are on the 45-day exemption and want another 45, exit and return on a 90-day e-visa instead of stacking stamps. - Carry the obvious paperwork: passport, printed e-visa approval, hotel booking, onward plans. You may never be asked. If you are, having them ends the conversation. The whole Lao Bao day, hour by hour, is on our step-by-step guide. The e-visa desk on the run files your new application the moment you exit, so the next 90 days start from a printed approval rather than a hope. Still Works in 2026 ## The options from Hanoi The default is Lao Bao, the workhorse crossing 300 km down the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217, a 4 to 5 hour drive. The shared van leaves before dawn on Tuesdays and Saturdays, picks up across Tay Ho, Long Bien, and Gia Lam, and has you home the same evening, about 14 hours door to door. Option Price Notes Shared van, Tay Ho pickup 1,500,000 VND per seat Tuesdays and Saturdays. Shared van, Long Bien or Gia Lam 1,650,000 VND per seat Same departures, outer pickup zones. Private car from 4,800,000 VND per car Up to four people, any day of the week. Fresh 90-day e-visa after exit from 65 USD (4-day tier) to 165 USD (1-hour tier) Single entry; multi entry costs more. Filed the moment your exit stamp exists. Two northern alternatives exist if you want a change of gate. Na Meo, in Thanh Hoa, is closer at roughly 250 km and quieter; it is covered on our Hanoi Laos comparison. Huu Nghi, the Friendship Pass into China at about 160 km, is the shortest drive, but most passports need a Chinese visa to enter, which usually kills the same-day math; the honest breakdown is on our Huu Nghi page. Budget riders should read the cheapest run guide and the bus schedules page. Long Stays ## When the run stops making sense If you are structuring your life around a van to Lao Bao every 90 days, year after year, the border run is telling you something: you need a different visa category, not another run. The usual 2026 options, all of which need a Vietnamese sponsor of some kind: - Temporary residence card. Up to three years without touching a border gate. Requires an underlying qualifying visa: a work permit, marriage to a Vietnamese national, or an investor visa. Our sister site temporaryresidencecard.com handles the paperwork. - DN business visa. Roughly one year, multi entry, sponsored by a Vietnamese company. The standard route for real business, including remote teams with a local entity. - DT investor visa. Follows from registering a local business. One to five years depending on the investment. - SVEC talent visa. Five years, introduced under Decree 221/2025 for high-skilled workers with an employer sponsor. Newer, so practice is still settling. A warning worth its own line: there is still no digital nomad visa in Vietnam as of mid-2026. Press speculation about a long-stay category keeps circulating, but nothing is law. An agent who offers to sell you a "digital nomad visa" in 2026 is selling something that does not exist. The rule of thumb most long-stayers land on: if you spend more than six months a year in Vietnam, or you have done more than a handful of runs, stop counting runs and get a proper long-stay document. Until then, the run remains legal, routine, and from Hanoi a very manageable day. Our extension vs border run page compares every stay-longer option head to head. FAQ ## Visa runs in 2026, straight answers ### Is a visa run legal in Vietnam in 2026? Yes. A visa run is an official exit through passport control followed by re-entry on a valid authorization: a fresh e-visa or a visa-exemption entry. It is not a loophole; it is the standard mechanism for renewing a stay now that in-country extension is closed. Re-entry is always at the officer's discretion, so "legal" does not mean "guaranteed." ### Do visa runs still work after Decree 282/2025? Yes. Decree 282/2025, in force since 15 December 2025, raised overstay fines and tightened enforcement; it did not restrict border entries. What changed is that in-country extensions of e-visas and exemptions are closed, and DL tourist extensions are rarely issued, which made the border run the one reliable path to a fresh stamp. ### Can immigration refuse me re-entry on a visa run? Yes, entry is never automatic. Reported friction points: two runs inside 90 days on 45-day exemption stamps, four to six runs in twelve months, and seven or more runs or two-plus years of continuous tourist status. A valid, approved e-visa keeps the process routine, and since late 2025 the port on the approval no longer has to match the gate you cross at. ### How often can you do a visa run from Hanoi? There is no published limit. Ninety-day e-visa holders commonly run four times a year without trouble. Exemption-stamp churn draws scrutiny sooner; the commonly reported threshold is two runs inside 90 days. If you need more than a few runs a year, look at a business visa, a TRC, or the SVEC talent visa instead. ### What is the safest visa run from Hanoi in 2026? The same-day Lao Bao run on a fresh e-visa: shared van from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays, private car from 4,800,000 VND any day, with the new e-visa filed the moment you exit, from 65 USD on the 4-day tier to 165 USD on the 1-hour tier. Run with three to five days of margin and have the e-visa approved before you reach the border. ## Yes, the run works. Book it properly. Shared van to Lao Bao for 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays, private cars from 4,800,000 VND any day, with the 90-day e-visa desk ready the moment you exit. Run with margin, enter on a clean e-visa, and the officer conversation stays boring. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: why the extension route is closed and what still works. - Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: the Decree 282/2025 fine table and why running late is expensive. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the whole Lao Bao day, hour by hour. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item, including the e-visa tiers. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the route, drive times, and border steps. - visarun.vn: visa run vs e-visa vs TRC at network level, and corridor comparisons. - Saigon Visa Run and Da Nang Visa Run: border options for runners further south. # Page: /extension.html ## Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: The Extension Route Is Closed | hanoivisarun.com Visa Extension vs Border Run, 2026 # Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: The Extension Route Is Closed Short version: you cannot extend a Vietnam e-visa in 2026. Decree 282/2025 closed in-country extensions, and agents who still sell them are selling a fine. What works from Hanoi is a border run to Lao Bao, a fresh e-visa filed after you exit, or a temporary residence card if you qualify. This page compares all three with real 2026 numbers. ⚠️ The Straight Answer ## "Can I extend my visa in Hanoi?" No, not in 2026 The question people type into Google before they find this page is "can you extend a Vietnam e-visa". The answer, since 15 December 2025, is no. Decree 282/2025/ND-CP governs immigration penalties and enforcement, and under the current rules neither the e-visa nor the visa exemption can be extended inside Vietnam under any circumstances. A handful of travel agents in Hanoi still advertise extensions. What they are really selling, in the worst case, is a promise that ends in an overstay fine and an entry ban. The lawful way to get more time is to leave and come back. You exit Vietnam, pick up an exit stamp, and re-enter on a fresh authorization: a new 90-day e-visa you arranged from Laos, or a visa-exemption entry if your passport qualifies. That is a visa run, and it is the same day's work for most people in Hanoi. This page walks through the three options that actually exist in 2026 and the one path to avoid. Why It Changed ## What closed the extension route Vietnam's visa system has never had a general in-country extension for the e-visa. What changed in 2025 is that the old workaround died. Before Decree 282/2025, tourist visa (DL) extensions were sometimes issued through agents who handled the paperwork with the Immigration Department. The decree came into force on 15 December 2025 and immigration offices have tightened considerably since. Extensions for DL visas are now issued far less often, and many agents quietly stopped offering the service at all. For e-visa holders there was never a route. Your 90-day e-visa is a single stay authorization. When it ends, it ends. The same applies to the 45-day visa exemption for many Western passports. The official position, repeated across immigration guidance in 2026, is that the one reliable path to a longer stay is to cross the border and re-enter. If you are reading this from Hanoi with your stamp running down, that means a trip to Lao Bao, Na Meo, or Huu Nghi, not a trip to an agent's office. One thing that has not changed: overstaying is punished harder than ever. The fine table under Decree 282/2025 runs from 500,000 VND for a short slip up to 40,000,000 VND and a possible entry ban for a year or more over, and day 16 is the line where deportation review can start. Full breakdown on our overstay guide. Your 2026 Options ## Extension vs the alternatives that exist There is no "extension" row in this table, because the product does not exist in 2026. Here is what does. Option What you get Cost from Hanoi Effort Lao Bao visa run Fresh exit + entry stamp, same day. 90 days on a new e-visa, or the exemption length your passport allows. Shared van from 1,500,000 VND (Tue/Sat), private car from 4,800,000 VND any day. One long day, ~14 hours door to door. Lowest risk. Fresh e-visa after exit New 90-day e-visa (single or multi entry) filed the moment you exit. From 55 USD (3-day tier) to 160 USD (1-hour tier), plus transport. Pairs with the run; visa desk does the filing. Temporary residence card Up to 3 years without border runs. Needs a sponsor: employer, Vietnamese spouse, or investor visa. Government fees paid by the sponsor; a service handles the paperwork for a fee. Paperwork and waiting, then nothing for years. "Extension" from an agent Nothing lawful. Worst case: an overstay record, a fine, and a ban. Whatever they charge, plus fines from 500,000 to 40,000,000 VND later. High risk. Do not pay for this. Option 1 ## The Lao Bao visa run: extension by exit stamp Lao Bao is the workhorse crossing for Hanoi runners, 300 km down the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217, about a 4 to 5 hour drive. The shared van leaves around 4:00 in the morning, picks up across Tay Ho and Long Bien, and gets you to the border as the gates open. You walk out of Vietnam, cross into Laos at Dansavanh, and walk back in with a fresh stamp. Most riders are home in the evening, roughly 14 hours after pickup. The whole day, hour by hour, is on our step-by-step guide. Cost is the shared van at 1,500,000 VND per seat on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with Tay Ho pickups at that price and Long Bien or Gia Lam at 1,650,000 VND. Private cars run any day of the week from 4,800,000 VND for the car, which is the option if your dates do not line up with the van or you want the border to yourselves. Route details and border steps are on our Hanoi to Lao Bao guide. What the run does not do is extend your current visa. It ends that stay with a clean exit and starts a new one. If you enter on the 45-day exemption, your new stay is whatever your passport's exemption allows. If you want the full 90 days, you re-enter on a fresh e-visa, which is where option 2 comes in. Northern border alternatives are covered in our Hanoi Laos visa run comparison. Option 2 ## A fresh 90-day e-visa, filed after you exit The e-visa is a 90-day, single or multi entry authorization you apply for on the government portal. The rule that matters for people already in Vietnam: you cannot start a new one while you are still inside. Immigration accepts submissions once your exit stamp exists, which is why this pairs so well with a border run. You ride to Lao Bao, Vietnam stamps you out, and the application goes in the same hour. There is no waiting period before re-applying once you are out. You can file it yourself if you are comfortable with the portal and your dates are flexible. The tradeoff is timing. Standard processing runs about three working days, so a self-filed e-visa usually means a night or two in Laos while you wait. If you want the same-day turnaround, our visa desk files the moment the exit stamp photo lands on WhatsApp. Processing tiers run from 55 USD for a 3-day tier up to 160 USD for the 1-hour tier, single entry, with multi entry a bit more. The full ladder and what each tier realistically gets you is on our cost page and the e-visa add-on walkthrough. One honest warning on timing: same-day turnarounds need a weekday, because immigration works Monday to Friday. If your visa expires on a Sunday, run on the Friday before with a tier that clears by the weekend, or take the overnight option and come back Monday. Whatever you do, leave a margin. An approval that lands a day late turns a tidy run into an overstay, and the fine for even one day is now a line on your record. Option 3 ## The temporary residence card, for long stays If you are done with border runs entirely, the temporary residence card is the real "extension". It is a plastic card that replaces your visa for up to three years, and during its validity you come and go like a resident. The catch is the sponsor. A TRC is issued on the back of something concrete: an employment contract with a Vietnamese company, marriage to a Vietnamese citizen, or an investor visa. Standard tourists cannot get one, which is why it never shows up in "extend my holiday" searches. In Hanoi, the card is processed through the Immigration Department at 44-46 Tran Phu in Ba Dinh, usually by the sponsoring employer's HR or a service acting for them. Paperwork includes your passport, the sponsor's business registration or marriage certificate, and the application form. Approval takes a couple of weeks, and the card itself carries the same number of entries and duration your sponsor's paperwork justifies. If you think you qualify, talk to your employer or check the requirements on the dedicated TRC site before your current stamp runs low, because you generally still need a valid stay while the application is in process. Everything else about sponsorship, renewals, and the paperwork is on temporaryresidencecard.com. Read This ## The "extension" offers to avoid in Hanoi Search Facebook for "visa extension Hanoi" and you will see confident ads with prices and delivery times. A few of those businesses are honest and will tell you, once you message them, that what they actually do is a border run. The rest sell one of two things. First, they take your passport and quietly do nothing while your visa expires, then blame immigration. Second, they "arrange" an extension that is really just your stay rolling into overstay territory until you pay again to fix it. Both end at the same place: a fine under Decree 282/2025 and a record. The tell is the promise itself. Nobody in Vietnam can extend an e-visa or a visa-exemption stay in 2026, so any offer that does not involve you leaving the country is fiction. Ask what border they use and what time the car leaves. A real operator answers with Lao Bao, Na Meo, or Huu Nghi and a pickup time. One that talks about "processing at immigration" and asks you to stay home is running the clock on your stamp. The cheapest insurance is the 1,500,000 VND shared van on Tuesday or Saturday: real exit, real entry, no favors owed to anyone. ## Skip the extension gamble. Take the run. Shared van to Lao Bao for 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays, private cars from 4,800,000 VND any day, with the 90-day e-visa desk ready the moment you exit. Run with a few days of margin and you never meet the fine table. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: the Decree 282/2025 fine table and why running late is expensive. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the whole day hour by hour, from pickup to the fresh stamp. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the 300 km route, drive times, and border steps. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - visarun.vn: visa run vs e-visa vs TRC at network level, and corridor comparisons. - Saigon Visa Run and Da Nang Visa Run: border options for runners based further south. # Page: /overstay.html ## Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: Fines, Exit Bans & What to Do | hanoivisarun.com Overstay Fines 2026 # Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: Fines and What to Do One day past the date on your stamp is an overstay. The fines now run from 500,000 to 40,000,000 VND under Decree 282/2025, and day 16 is the line where deportation becomes possible. Here is the full table, what to do if you are already over, and how a same-day Lao Bao run keeps you out of the situation entirely. ⚠️ The Short Answer ## What an overstay actually costs in 2026 An overstay starts the day after the date printed on your entry stamp, not the day after you remember to look at it. Miss that date by a single day and you are over, with a fine and a record in the Immigration Department system. The fines come from Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on 15 December 2025 and replaced the old Decree 144/2021. There are seven brackets based on days overstayed, from 500,000 VND for a short slip to 40,000,000 VND for a year or more. The old ceiling was 20,000,000 VND. The new one is double that, and a lot of English language sites still quote the old number. The number that matters is 16. Under 16 days, you pay the small fine, usually at the airport, and walk out. From day 16, the minimum fine jumps to 5,000,000 VND, deportation becomes a possible extra sanction, and the Immigration Department can start an entry ban that typically runs one to three years. None of this is hard to avoid from Hanoi. A same-day visa run to Lao Bao puts an exit stamp in your passport before your visa expires, which is the entire legal point of the exercise. The rest of this page covers the fine table, what changed in the rules, what to do if you are already overstaying, and how the run keeps you out of it. The 2026 Fine Schedule ## Overstay fines by day count This is the table from Article 21 of Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, effective 15 December 2025. Fines are for individuals. The USD figures are approximate at the 2026 exchange rate. Days overstayed Fine (VND) Approx. USD Deportation risk Under 16 days 500,000 - 2,000,000 $19 - $76 No 16 - under 30 days 5,000,000 - 10,000,000 $190 - $380 Possible 30 - under 60 days 10,000,000 - 15,000,000 $380 - $570 Possible 60 - under 90 days 15,000,000 - 20,000,000 $570 - $760 Possible 90 - under 180 days 20,000,000 - 25,000,000 $760 - $950 High 180 days - under 1 year 25,000,000 - 30,000,000 $950 - $1,140 Very high 1 year or more 30,000,000 - 40,000,000 $1,140 - $1,520 Near certain Two things stand out when you read the table. First, a one day slip and a fourteen day slip land in the same bracket, so the small fine range is forgiving. Second, the jump at day 16 is brutal: the minimum goes from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND overnight, and deportation stops being theoretical. A warning about sources: many visa agency sites still publish the old Decree 144/2021 table with a 20,000,000 VND ceiling and call it current. If a page you are reading tops out at 20 million, it is outdated. The 2026 ceiling is 40,000,000 VND and there are two new long stay brackets that did not exist before. Rule Changes ## What changed with Decree 282/2025 Decree 282/2025/ND-CP replaced Decree 144/2021 on 15 December 2025. It is the biggest tightening of overstay penalties in years, and it moved in four ways: - The ceiling doubled. The top fine went from 20,000,000 to 40,000,000 VND for overstays of a year or more. - Two new brackets appeared. The old schedule had five brackets and lumped everything over 90 days together. The new one splits 180 days to under a year and a year or more into their own, steeper tiers. - Deportation review starts at 16 days. Officers can open a formal case from day 16, weighing the length of the overstay and how honestly you came forward. - Sponsors pay double. An organization that sponsored you and let the overstay happen is fined twice the individual amount. One more change landed in 2026. Decree 59/2026/ND-CP, effective 1 April 2026, digitalized the deportation process and added a sharp rule: if you cannot pay the fine, authorities can deport you immediately, and the fine is suspended rather than cancelled. The old policy of holding people until the fine was paid is gone. ✍️ Already Over ## Already overstaying in Hanoi? What to do The fix depends entirely on how many days you are over. The good news: for short overstays the process is routine and well worn. The bad news: the longer you wait, the narrower the options get, and every extra day moves you up the fine table. One to two days over: settle at Noi Bai. Short overstays are routinely resolved at the airport on departure. Show up three to four hours early, go to the immigration counter before check-in, explain the overstay, and pay the fine on the spot. The practical rate for very short overstays works out to about 500,000 VND per day, inside the bottom bracket. Bring cash. Three to fifteen days over: the office is safer. The airport can still process you in this range, but it is the wrong place to argue about a fine while a flight is boarding. Go to the Immigration Department instead: 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, open 8:00 to 11:00 AM and 1:30 to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday plus Saturday morning, phone 024 3825-7941. Bring your passport, a written explanation of the overstay, and cash for the fine. Officers respond better to someone who walks in and owns it. 16 The Line ## Why day 16 is the number to know Everything about the 2026 rules is designed to make 16 days feel like a cliff, because it is. Before day 16 the system treats you as someone who made a mistake. From day 16 it treats you as someone who overstayed on purpose until caught. Concretely, day 16 is where three things switch on at once. The minimum fine more than doubles, from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND. Deportation becomes a legal option alongside the fine. And the Immigration Department can open an entry ban, which in practice runs one to three years, or longer for serious cases. The record matters even after you pay. Every overstay, even a two day one, is logged in the Immigration Department system. That record can resurface when you apply for the next visa, a work permit, or a residence card. International schools and employers that run background checks routinely catch overstay history. Paying the fine closes the case. It does not delete the entry. 16 Days or More ## Over 16 days: the formal case Once you cross day 16 you are dealing with the Immigration Department, not an airport counter. They open a formal case, assess the fine from your bracket, and decide whether deportation applies. The process can end with an exit visa that takes five to seven working days to process, so do not book a flight for tomorrow and expect to be on it. What to bring to 44-46 Tran Phu: your original passport, a detailed written explanation, and any supporting evidence you have, such as medical records or cancelled flight confirmations. Evidence of genuine reasons genuinely helps. What does not help is ignoring it, because the record only gets worse with time. One honest note about embassies: the US Embassy in Hanoi states plainly that it cannot sponsor visa extensions or ask for special treatment on overstay cases. Your embassy can replace a lost passport and give you general guidance, but the fine, the case, and the exit decision are between you and Vietnamese immigration. And do not try to slip out through a land gate like Lao Bao to dodge the system. The officer scans your passport and the overstay is on the screen before you say a word. The same fine applies at the border, you lose the structured airport process, and a failed attempt makes the case worse, not better. FAQ ## Overstay questions, answered ### How much is the overstay fine in Vietnam in 2026? Under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025, fines run from 500,000 to 40,000,000 VND depending on how many days you overstay. Under 16 days costs 500,000 to 2,000,000 VND. From 16 days the minimum jumps to 5,000,000 VND and deportation becomes possible. ### Can I pay the overstay fine at Noi Bai airport? Yes, for short overstays. A one or two day overstay is routinely settled at the airport for about 500,000 VND per day, and officers process the fine before you clear exit. Arrive three to four hours early. For overstays of 16 days or more, do not try to fly out without resolving the case first, because deportation review can start at that point. ### What happens if I overstay 16 days or more? The minimum fine jumps to 5,000,000 VND and deportation becomes a possible additional sanction. The Immigration Department opens a formal case, and an entry ban of one to three years is common. Overstaying a year or more can bring fines up to 40,000,000 VND and a long term or permanent re-entry ban. ### Can I do a visa run while already overstaying? No, and this is the mistake to avoid. A border run works because the exit stamp proves you left before your visa expired. If you are already overstaying, officers at Lao Bao or any other gate see it the moment your passport is scanned, and the fine applies at the border just as it does at the airport. Resolve the overstay first, then plan the run. ### Does a Vietnam overstay affect future visa applications? Yes. Even a short overstay is recorded in the Immigration Department system and can surface when you apply for a new visa, a work permit, or a residence card. Schools and employers that run background checks can see it too. A paid fine closes the case; it does not erase the record. Prevention ## How a same-day Lao Bao run prevents it A visa run exists for exactly this reason. The exit stamp is proof you left before your visa expired, and that stamp, dated and in your passport, is the whole legal defense against an overstay. Get stamped out of Vietnam at Lao Bao before the deadline and the clock never has a chance to run past zero. The shared van from Hanoi runs Tuesday and Saturday, pickup from 4:00 AM. Fares are 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho and 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. A private car runs any day from 4,800,000 VND for up to four people, which is the option to book when your visa is genuinely tight and you cannot wait for the next van day. You are home the same evening with a fresh stamp good for another 30 or 90 days depending on your passport and visa type. Two habits keep runners out of trouble. First, run with margin. The expiry date is the hard deadline, but fog, rain, and traffic on the Ho Chi Minh Highway stretch drive times, and a flat tire has ended more than one carefully planned day. Book a few days early, not the morning of. Second, check the entry stamp date before you leave the border counter. A misread or a rare wrong date is fixable on the spot and a nightmare later. If you are on an e-visa, there is an even simpler lever: apply for more days than you think you need. The e-visa fee does not scale sharply with duration, so the buffer costs little, and it covers the weeks where the calendar sneaks up on you. The full picture is on the step by step run guide and the Lao Bao route page. If you are already over, the section above is the one that applies to you. Your Clock ## How many days you have left, and what still works Find the date on your entry stamp and count days to it, not hours left in today. That date is the last day you are legal, and the day after it is an overstay. Everything below is ordered by how much runway you have, because a run you cannot reach in time is not a plan. Days left What is still possible What to book 7 or more The comfortable case. A Tuesday or Saturday shared van fits if one falls inside your window, and an e-visa filed now still has its official three working days. Shared van: 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho, 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. 5 to 6 The van only works if the next Tuesday or Saturday lands before your date. Open a calendar before assuming it does. Van if the day fits, otherwise a private car any day from 4,800,000 VND. 3 to 4 Stop waiting for Tuesday. This is private-car range, and the departure still has to be at 4:00 AM because the drive home owns the afternoon. Private car for up to four people, any day of the week. 1 to 2 The last realistic window. A dawn departure puts you at the counter mid-morning, and you need to be stamped back into Vietnam by 15:00 to reach Hanoi before dark. Private car, booked tonight, with your expiry date passed to the driver. 0, the date itself You are still legal that day and can cross out on it. There is no margin left for a flat tyre or fog on the passes. Private car at first light, arranged the evening before. Already past it No run. The officer at Lao Bao sees the overstay on screen before you speak, and the fine at the gate is the same fine as at the airport. Immigration Department at 44-46 Tran Phu, or Noi Bai on departure for a one or two day slip. ### Why 4:00 AM is the whole argument when the clock is short Lao Bao is roughly 300 km from Hanoi each way, four to five hours on the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217. The gate itself opens at 07:00 and closes at 22:00, which makes the day look generous. It is not. The two numbers that decide whether a run from Hanoi works are the 4:00 AM pickup and the 15:00 turnaround, because the return leg needs daylight and the mountain passes do not care about your visa. Which turns a deadline into arithmetic. If you have one day left and it is already lunchtime, you cannot do this today. The same is true of a 09:00 start on a two-day margin: you will reach the border as the day shift hands over, and the crossing that was supposed to reset your stay becomes an overnight in a guesthouse near the gate. ### Two things that eat a tight deadline The Laos entry registration is the one people forget. It is free and takes ten to fifteen minutes, but it has to be filed inside the three days before you cross, and the wifi on the Laos side of the gate is unreliable enough that planning to do it at the counter is how a good run goes wrong. Fill it in from Hanoi the evening before over your own connection, and keep the QR code as a screenshot. The Laos Digital Immigration Form page has the form-by-form detail. The second is what happens after the stamp. Your new entry stamp starts its clock on the day you come back, not the day you started worrying about it. On a 45-day exemption passport that is the end of the story: exit stamp, Laos stamp, re-entry, done, no visa involved and nothing to file. On an e-visa passport the next cycle is separate paperwork you begin after you exit, which is why the one and two day row above is tight even when the drive goes perfectly. ### Leave the closer gate alone when time is short Na Meo is 250 km against Lao Bao's 300, so it looks like the obvious shortcut. It is not one. Sam Tai on the Laos side issues no visa on arrival and does not accept the Laos e-visa, so anyone who needs a Laos visa must already have it stamped in the passport, arranged through the Lao embassy in Hanoi before leaving. With three days or fewer there is no time to do that, and the gate 50 km closer costs you the day you were trying to save. Cau Treo, the other northern option, is roughly 400 km with no shared van at all, which rules it out on the same logic. So the short-clock answer is Lao Bao in a private car. The gate hours, the 15:00 rule and the quiet windows are laid out on the Lao Bao border hours page, the route itself is on the Hanoi to Lao Bao page, and the per-car and per-seat figures are on the cost page. ## Do not let the calendar decide for you Private cars to Lao Bao or Na Meo any day from 4,800,000 VND, shared seats to Lao Bao from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Run with a few days of margin and the fine table never applies to you. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the whole day hour by hour, from pickup to the fresh stamp. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the 300 km route, drive times, and border steps at the main crossing. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: why in-country extensions are closed and what still works. - Hanoi Laos Visa Run: Lao Bao, Na Meo, and Huu Nghi compared, with the decision guide for picking a gate. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /huunghi.html ## Hanoi to Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) Visa Run 2026: The China Border Option | hanoivisarun.com The China Border Option # Hanoi to Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) Visa Run 160 km up National Highway 1A, three hours of driving, and the closest border crossing to Hanoi. This page explains who can actually cross into China, how to get to Dong Dang, and when Lao Bao is still the smarter run. The Short Answer ## The closest border crossing to Hanoi, with one big catch A Hanoi visa run to Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) is the shortest border trip you can make from the capital: about 160 km up National Highway 1A through Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Lang Son, then east to Dong Dang. Three hours by car, give or take. The border itself, Huu Nghi International Border Gate, sits right on the Vietnam-China line, with the Chinese checkpoint, Youyi Guan, a short walk on the other side. That proximity is why it keeps coming up in visa run searches. It is the closest crossing to Hanoi, closer than Lao Bao at 300 km and closer than Na Meo at 250 km. But there is one fact that changes everything: Huu Nghi faces China, not Laos. To cross into China and come straight back, you need either a Chinese visa or one of the visa-free arrangements China now offers to about fifty nationalities. Neither is issued at the gate. So the honest framing up front: Huu Nghi works as a visa run for a specific group of people, mostly travelers who already hold a China visa, or passport holders from countries on China's 30-day visa-free list. For everyone else it is a dead end, and the practical run from Hanoi stays the Lao Bao crossing into Laos, the one this site runs every Tuesday and Saturday. If you are in the group it works for, it is genuinely the fastest reset in the north: leave Hanoi mid-morning, stamp out of Vietnam, walk into China, stamp back, and be home for dinner. This page walks through who qualifies, how to get there, what happens at each counter, and where the trip falls apart for people who do not have the right documents. The Visa Wall ## Who can actually cross into China The whole decision comes down to one question: can you enter China? Everything else is logistics. In 2026 there are three ways in, and only two of them matter for a visa run. 1. You hold a Chinese visa. A single-entry L visa for tourism is the classic option, obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy or consulate, either back home or through a visa agency. With a valid visa in your passport, Huu Nghi works exactly like any border run: exit Vietnam, enter China, get stamped, turn around, re-enter Vietnam with a fresh stamp. No questions beyond the usual. 2. Your passport is on China's 30-day visa-free list. Since late 2023 China has been unilaterally waiving visas for more and more countries, and the policy now covers fifty nationalities through December 31, 2026. Most of the European Union is on it (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, and others), plus the UK and Canada, which were added on February 17, 2026, plus Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. Entry is for tourism, business, family visits, or transit, with no onward ticket required. Russia is covered through the end of 2027. If your passport is on this list, you can do the Huu Nghi run with nothing but your passport. 3. You qualify for China's 240-hour visa-free transit. This is the policy people most often confuse with the one above. It covers 55 nationalities, including the United States, and lets you stay up to ten days. But it has one condition that kills it for visa runs: you must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country within 240 hours. Vietnam to China and back to Vietnam is a return trip, not a transit, so the policy does not apply. A US citizen without a China visa cannot use Huu Nghi as a run. That is the single most common misunderstanding about this border. The table below sums it up for the passports you are most likely to see in Hanoi. Passport Entry into China Huu Nghi run possible? France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, most of EU 30-day visa-free (through Dec 31, 2026) Yes, with just a passport US Not on 30-day list; 240-h transit needs third-country onward ticket No, unless you hold a China visa Russia 30-day visa-free (through Dec 31, 2027) Yes, with just a passport Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand 30-day visa-free (bilateral or unilateral arrangements) Yes, with just a passport India, Philippines, most of Africa and Latin America Full visa required No, unless you hold a China visa Any nationality With a valid Chinese L visa in hand Yes One more thing to check before you book anything: China's visa-free policies are temporary and get renewed, extended, or tweaked a couple of times a year. The December 2026 expiry for most countries is not guaranteed to be extended. If your run is planned for late in the year, spend two minutes checking the current list on the Chinese embassy website for your country before relying on it. Getting There ## Car, bus, or the sleeper train to Dong Dang The route is National Highway 1A all the way: out of Hanoi through Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, up to Lang Son city, then the last stretch east on QL4A to Dong Dang. The border gate is about 160 km from the city center. On a clear day the drive takes around three hours; with truck traffic on QL1A, which is constant, budget three and a half. Private car. The fastest and most flexible option. You can leave Hanoi whenever you want, stop for coffee in Bac Giang, and be at the gate before the morning crowds. For a same-day round trip, most people leave around 7:00 AM, cross by 10:00 or 11:00, and are back in Hanoi by late afternoon. A private car for the day runs several million dong depending on the operator, but for this specific route it is worth asking around, since the distance is half a Lao Bao run and prices should reflect that. Bus. Public buses from Hanoi to Lang Son leave from Gia Lam and My Dinh bus stations through the day, and the ride takes three to three and a half hours with fares around 150,000 to 200,000 VND. From Lang Son, Dong Dang is a further 20 to 30 minutes by local van or taxi. It is a fine budget option for a one-way trip, but a same-day visa run by public bus means catching the first bus around 5:30 AM, hoping connections line up, and trusting the border queue to be short. It works, barely, and it is the most stressful version of the day. Sleeper train. The international MR1 train leaves Hanoi's Gia Lam station at 22:20 every night and reaches Dong Dang station around 2:00 AM, where passengers get off for border formalities before the train continues to Nanning. The full Hanoi-to-Nanning soft sleeper runs about CNY 215, around 30 USD, and the Dong Dang leg is a fraction of that. The catch for visa runners: it arrives in the middle of the night, and the border gates do not open until 7:00 AM. So the train makes sense for an overnight plan, stay in a Dong Dang guesthouse, cross first thing in the morning. As a same-day vehicle it is useless, and for that reason most people who do this run take a car. The Crossing ## What happens at the border, step by step Huu Nghi International Border Gate is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day, and it is the busiest Vietnam-China crossing for trade, so expect a lot of truck traffic around you. Passengers and pedestrians have their own lanes, and if you arrive before mid-morning the queues are short. Try to be at the gate by 4:00 PM at the latest, because the last hour can get slow and you do not want to be the traveler holding up a closing checkpoint. Step 1: Exit Vietnam. At the Vietnamese side you queue at the immigration counter and get your exit stamp. This is the stamp that proves you left Vietnam before your visa or visa-exemption period ran out, which is the entire legal point of the run. Check the date before you walk away. If your stay was already tight, this stamp is your proof of a clean exit, so keep the passport page safe. Step 2: Walk across. Between the two checkpoints is a no-man's-land of maybe a hundred meters, bridge and paved walkway, with trucks idling on either side. You walk it in a few minutes. There is nothing to pay and nobody to see on the way across. Step 3: Enter China at Youyi Guan. The Chinese side is called Youyi Guan, which translates the same way, Friendship Pass. You queue at Chinese immigration, hand over your passport, and the officer checks your visa or visa-free eligibility. Expect fingerprint scanning, which is routine on every China entry. Officers may ask where you are going and how long you plan to stay. Answer simply: tourism, a day trip. If you are on the 30-day visa-free policy, entry is free and takes about as long as any airport immigration. Step 4: Turn around. Here is where Huu Nghi differs from a Laos run. At Dansavanh, the Lao side of Lao Bao, the whole visa-run machine is built for people who stamp in and stamp straight back out; the counter staff see it all day. Chinese immigration is not like that. A same-day entry and exit can draw a follow-up question about why you came in only to leave. The clean way to handle it is to make the trip real: cross into Pingxiang, the Chinese border town ten minutes away, have a proper lunch, maybe walk the market street, then come back to the gate and exit in the afternoon. You get your Chinese exit stamp, which is what your Vietnamese re-entry will reference anyway. Step 5: Re-enter Vietnam. Back at Huu Nghi, Vietnamese immigration stamps you in. Your stay clock resets from this stamp: 30 days for visa-exempt nationalities, or the remaining validity of your Vietnam e-visa if you hold one. If you re-enter on an e-visa, have it approved before you get to the gate; approvals issued from late 2025 work at any of the 83 eligible checkpoints, Huu Nghi included, so the gate itself is not the obstacle an unapproved application is. Then the car is waiting on the Vietnam side and you drive the three hours home. Costs ## What the day costs, and where the big number hides For travelers on the 30-day visa-free list, a Huu Nghi run costs almost nothing beyond transport. There is no China entry fee, no visa fee, no border fee on either side, and lunch in Pingxiang or Dong Dang is 50,000 to 100,000 VND. The whole day can be done for the cost of a car hire, or a couple hundred thousand dong if you piece together buses. The big number sits on the other side: a Chinese visa for anyone who needs one. A single-entry L visa runs roughly 60 to 140 USD depending on your passport and how fast you need it processed, plus agency fees if you use one. That is not a visa run expense, that is a real visa you are buying for real border crossings. And because Chinese visas are never issued at the gate, you must have it in hand before you leave Hanoi. Compare that with the Laos route the site actually runs. A shared van seat to Lao Bao costs 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho pickup, about 65 USD, and covers everything: the 300 km drive each way, the border fixer at Dansavanh, and the turnaround handling. Laos entry is visa-free for most Western passports, and for the nationalities that pay, the visa on arrival is 40 USD in cash. Door to door it is one day, no prior visa needed, no Chinese immigration officer deciding whether your in-and-out looks genuine. So the cost picture is simple. If you already hold a China visa, Huu Nghi is the cheapest and fastest reset in the north, since the transport leg is half of Lao Bao's. If you would have to buy a visa for the privilege, the numbers stop making sense, and Lao Bao becomes both cheaper and more reliable. Huu Nghi vs Lao Bao ## Which border should a Hanoi runner pick? Huu Nghi (China) Lao Bao (Laos) Distance from Hanoi ~160 km ~300 km Drive time each way ~3 hours 4-5 hours Entry documents China visa, or 30-day visa-free passport Visa-free for most Western passports; visa on arrival about 40 USD for others Visa issued at gate? No, never Yes, visa on arrival Same-day turnaround Possible, but officers may question it Normal, built for it Border hours 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Open through the day; fixer runs are routine Crowds Heavy trade trucks all day Busy but organized, fixer handles it Risk of being turned back Real if you lack the right documents Low Cost of a run Transport only if visa-free; +60-140 USD visa if not 1,500,000 VND shared van, everything included Best for China visa holders near Lang Son Almost everyone else The verdict is straightforward. Huu Nghi wins only when the China document question is already solved: a visa in the passport or a visa-free passport from the list. Then it is the fastest border reset in Vietnam, and honestly a pleasant one, with Pingxiang on the Chinese side worth a wander. For anyone else, and that includes US citizens without a China visa, the border is a dead end for run purposes. Lao Bao is the workhorse for a reason. The crossing exists for visa runs, the fixer handles the counters, and you do not need a single document beyond your passport and whatever Vietnam visa you are running on. The extra 140 km each way is the price of that reliability, and it is the trade most people in Hanoi make every week. If you hold a China visa and want the short trip, this page gives you everything you need to do it yourself. If you do not, the Lao Bao run on Tuesdays and Saturdays, or a private car any day, is the route that actually resets your stamp. FAQ ## Huu Nghi visa run questions, answered ### Do I need a China visa for the Huu Nghi visa run? Mostly yes. About fifty nationalities, including most of the EU plus the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, enter visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy running through December 31, 2026. Everyone else needs a Chinese visa, issued in advance, never at the border. ### Can US citizens do the Huu Nghi visa run? Only with a China visa in hand. Americans are not on China's 30-day visa-free list, and the 240-hour visa-free transit option requires an onward ticket to a third country, so a Vietnam-China-Vietnam turnaround does not qualify. For US citizens without a China visa, Lao Bao into Laos is the practical run. ### Is Huu Nghi faster than Lao Bao? Yes, on paper. It is 160 km from Hanoi, roughly half the distance of the 300 km Lao Bao run, so the driving is about three hours each way instead of four to five. The border work is similar. The catch is the document requirement, which filters out most runners before they leave Hanoi. ### What are the Huu Nghi border hours? The gate is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. Plan to arrive by mid-morning for short queues, and no later than 4:00 PM, because the checkpoint slows down toward closing. ### Can I do a same-day visa run to Huu Nghi? Yes, with the right documents, and most people do. The smooth version includes a real stop in Pingxiang on the Chinese side for lunch, so the entry and exit do not look like a pure stamp-and-turn. A private car can have you back in Hanoi by early evening. ## Ready to reset your stamp? Private cars to Lao Bao or Na Meo any day from 4,800,000 VND, shared seats to Lao Bao from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dispatch answers 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the main crossing for Hanoi runners, with drive times, border steps, and the packing list. - Hanoi Laos Visa Run: Lao Bao, Na Meo, and Huu Nghi compared, with the decision guide for picking a gate. - Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: the whole Lao Bao day, hour by hour, from pickup to the fresh stamp. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Tuesday and Saturday shared van departures, pickup points, and fares. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /step-by-step.html ## Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: The 14-Hour Walkthrough | hanoivisarun.com Step by Step # Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step The whole day, hour by hour: 4:00 AM pickup, the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the Lao Bao exit stamp, the Dansavanh turnaround, and the fresh entry stamp that resets your 30 or 90 days. The Short Answer ## What a Vietnam visa run from Hanoi actually is A Vietnam visa run from Hanoi is one long day: drive to the Lao Bao border in Quang Tri, step into Laos, get stamped out of Vietnam and back in, then drive home. The stamp is the whole point. It resets your stay, and for most people that buys another 30 or 90 days depending on passport and visa type. Door to door it runs about 14 hours. Pickup happens before dawn, usually around 4:00 AM. The drive south takes four to five hours each way on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, roughly 300 km. The border work itself takes about fifteen minutes when the fixer handles it. Most runners are back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. That sounds simple, and it is, once you know the order things happen in. Get the order wrong on your own and you can end up with an exit stamp you cannot use, or no stamp at all on a day your visa was already tight. That is the part people mess up on their first run. The rest of this page walks through the whole day hour by hour: what to do the night before, what happens at each counter, what can go wrong, and what it costs. Everything here is for the Lao Bao route, the crossing Hanoi runners use most. Na Meo works the same way and is covered on the Hanoi Laos visa run page. The Day at a Glance ## The timeline, hour by hour Here is the whole day on one page, using the shared van to Lao Bao as the example. Private car times flex a little, but the shape is the same. Time What happens 4:00 AM Pickup in Tay Ho or Long Bien/Gia Lam. The van runs Tuesday and Saturday. 4:00 - 8:30 AM The drive south on the Ho Chi Minh Highway. First rest stop after about two hours. 8:30 - 10:45 AM Through the mountain passes toward Lao Bao. Short coffee stop near the border town. 10:45 AM Arrive at Lao Bao. The fixer takes passports and stages the exit stamp. 11:00 AM Vietnamese exit stamp, walk to Dansavanh, Laos entry, turn around. 11:30 AM Back through Lao Bao with a fresh Vietnamese entry stamp. The run is done. 12:30 PM Lunch stop in Quan Hoa, Thanh Hoa, on the way north. 1:30 - 6:30 PM The drive home. Drop-offs in reverse order of pickup. 6:00 - 8:00 PM Back in Hanoi. Total: about 14 hours. Times shift with traffic, fog, and how many people are at the border. The van does not wait for stragglers, so the 11:00 AM crossing window is the one part of the day that does not flex. Border hours matter here. Lao Bao opens early and the fixer times the arrival so the crossing happens mid-morning, before the bus crowds pile in from the Hue direction. Runners who DIY often hit the border at the same time and find longer queues. Prep ## The night before: book and pack The run starts the evening before, not at 4:00 AM. Do these three things and the morning is painless. Book your seat. The shared van to Lao Bao leaves Tuesday and Saturday, so check the calendar before you plan anything else. Pickup is 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho and 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. A private car runs any day from 4,800,000 VND for up to four people, with pickup anywhere in the city. Booking happens on WhatsApp and takes about five minutes. Pack the passport and nothing fancy. The full list: - Passport with at least six months validity and your current visa or e-visa inside - Two spare passport photos, in case the Laos side asks - Cash in USD and dong. The Laos fee at Dansavanh runs 40 USD for passports that need it, cash only. Lunch costs about 100,000 to 150,000 VND. No cards, no ATM at the border - Your e-visa approval, printed or as a PDF on your phone with the QR code - A charged phone with WhatsApp, since the driver coordinates pickup by message Set an alarm for 3:15 AM if you are in a far zone, or ask the dispatcher the night before for your exact window. The van works in reverse order of route, so Long Bien riders are picked up before Tay Ho in most cases. If you are not outside by the window, the van leaves without you and the seat is not refundable. Step 1 ## Pickup before dawn The van rolls through Hanoi between 4:00 and 4:30 AM. The driver messages on WhatsApp when they are ten minutes out, so keep the phone on loud and the ringer up. This is the one morning of the month you actually want the 3:45 AM notification. Pickup zones work by geography, not by hotel. Tay Ho is the main one, covering the area around Xuan Dieu and Quang An. Long Bien and Gia Lam riders get picked up next, which is why that zone costs a bit more. Old Quarter and Ba Dinh addresses are usually handled as a stop on the way out of town. If you are staying somewhere odd, tell the dispatcher the street name and they will tell you the nearest corner to stand on. What the van is like: a seven-seat SUV or a minivan depending on the day, with AC that actually works and room for a small day bag. Nobody brings luggage on a visa run. The seat next to you is usually another runner doing the same thing, often for the second or third time. It is a good place to ask questions, and a bad place to assume everyone booked the same border. Some riders in the van are heading to Na Meo on the quieter run, so confirm your destination when you get in. Sleep on the first leg if you can. The drive does not get interesting until the mountains. Step 2 ## The drive south on the Ho Chi Minh Highway From Hanoi, the route drops onto the Ho Chi Minh Highway and follows it most of the way to Lao Bao, roughly 300 km. In good weather the drive takes four hours. In fog season, figure four and a half to five. The first leg is flat farmland, easy going, and dark. Around 6:00 AM the sun comes up over the rice fields and most of the van wakes up. The first rest stop comes after about two hours, a roadside place with coffee and banh mi, where the driver tops up the tank. It is worth using the bathroom here even if you do not feel the need, because the next stretch is mountains. Past the rest stop the road climbs into the passes of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, then drops into Quang Tri. This is the part that looks like a postcard and drives like work: long curves, trucks grinding uphill, the occasional buffalo crossing. The driver knows the road and keeps a steady pace. Do not expect to get much done back here. The phone signal comes and goes, so download anything you need the night before. Around 10:45 AM the van pulls into Lao Bao town, a small border settlement that exists for one reason. The fixer from Thanh Hoa is usually already at the staging point with the paperwork for the group. From here the run is measured in minutes, not hours. Step 3 ## The Vietnamese exit stamp at Lao Bao The border work starts with the exit stamp, and the fixer stages it before anyone walks across. That order matters more than it sounds. Here is why. Your Vietnam exit stamp is proof you left the country before your visa expired. If your visa runs out at midnight and the border officer sees you leaving at 11:00 AM the same day, you are clean. If you somehow get stuck on the Laos side and your exit never gets stamped, you are an overstayer the moment the clock passes, with no proof you even tried to leave. The fixer makes sure the exit happens first and lands in your passport, so the risky part of the day is already done before you set foot in Laos. At the counter you hand over the passport. The officer checks it, checks you against the photo, and stamps you out. It takes a minute. On busy days there is a short queue of other runners and truckers, but the morning window keeps it manageable. Have the passport open at the right page and do not stand there scrolling your phone. These counters move faster when people are ready. One thing to check yourself: the stamp is dated. Look at it before you walk away. A wrong date on an exit stamp is a rare thing, but it is easier to fix at the counter than from Hanoi a week later. Step 4 ## Into Laos at Dansavanh After the exit stamp you walk across the border area to the Laos checkpoint at Dansavanh. It is a short walk, a few minutes, past the duty-free shack and the money changers. You are now technically in Laos. That is the point of the trip, and you do not need to go any further. At the Dansavanh counter, what happens depends on your passport: - Many nationalities, including US, UK, Australian, and most European passports, enter Laos visa-free and simply get a Laos entry stamp. No fee. - Some passports need a Laos visa on arrival. The cash fee runs about 40 USD. The counters take cash only, USD or dong, and the exchange rate on the Laos side favors USD. - The officer may ask for a passport photo for the visa-on-arrival process. That is why the packing list says two spare photos. Have the cash ready and counted before you reach the window. Fumbling through a wallet at the counter holds up the whole group and the officers have seen every trick in the book, so keep it simple: passport in one hand, correct money in the other. The Laos entry stamp is what the fixer wants to see. Once it is in your passport, you have been out of Vietnam and the run is functionally complete. The rest is paperwork on the way back. Step 5 ## Turn around and get the fresh stamp Some runners stand in Laos for about ninety seconds. That is fine. There is no minimum stay requirement, no rule that says you have to drink a Beerlao before coming back. The stamp is the run. Walk back to the Lao Bao side and re-enter Vietnam. At the Vietnamese entry counter you get a brand new entry stamp, and that stamp is the prize. It resets your stay: a new 30 or 90 days depending on your passport and the visa you hold. If you have a 90-day e-visa, the entry stamp starts its clock here, not on the day you applied. Two things happen at this counter worth knowing. If you added the 90-day e-visa service to your booking, the application went in the moment Laos stamped you out, while you were still standing on the Dansavanh side. The approval lands in your email during the drive home, usually within hours on the fast tiers. You do not need to show it to re-enter, because you are entering on your current visa, but you will need it for the next border run. The officer checks your exit stamp against the entry stamp. Same day, same border, clean sequence: that is the entire logic of the visa run. If anything about the pair looks off, the officer asks. This is why the fixer stages the exit first. Fresh stamp in hand, the run is done. You have been out of the country, you have the proof, and the van is waiting. Step 6 ## The drive home The van pulls away from Lao Bao around noon. The first stop is lunch in Quan Hoa, Thanh Hoa, about an hour and a half north. This is the meal stop the fixer teams use, a roadside place that seats a whole van quickly and does a solid bowl of pho or a rice plate with grilled pork for about 100,000 to 150,000 VND. It is not fancy, and it is not supposed to be. Eat, pay cash, get back in the van. The afternoon drive is the long leg. The mountains are behind you by mid-afternoon, the road flattens out, and the van settles into cruise pace. Most people sleep, catch up on messages where the signal holds, or stare at the karst formations near Ninh Binh and pretend they will come back to visit properly. Drop-offs happen in reverse order of pickup, so Long Bien and Gia Lam riders get out before Tay Ho. Most runners are home between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, depending on traffic at the Vinh and Ninh Binh toll points and how the border morning went. By the numbers, the whole day is about 14 hours, 600 km of driving, and fifteen minutes of border work. If the day went right, the border part is the smallest line in that budget. That is how it should feel. Watch Out ## What can go wrong A visa run is a simple day that punishes small mistakes. Here are the ones that actually happen. Fog on the Ho Chi Minh Highway. Between October and April the mountain passes sit in cloud until mid-morning. The drive stretches from four hours to five, and the van still hits the border at a sensible time because it left early. DIY runners who leave Hanoi at 7:00 AM are the ones who arrive at Lao Bao after the lunch crowd. Border closures. Lao Bao closes for Tet and public holidays. The fixer teams know the calendar and will not sell you a seat on a closed day, but if you are planning your own run, check the holiday schedule first. The worst case is driving 300 km to a closed gate with a visa that expires that night. Missing documents. No passport photos, no cash, e-visa PDF stuck on a dead phone: these are the classics. The photos are a real problem for passports that need the Laos visa on arrival. The fixer can usually smooth things over, but not for free and not fast. The wrong passport. Vietnam requires six months of validity for most entry situations. If your passport expires inside that window, the border officer can refuse the fresh stamp, and then you are not on a visa run, you are in a situation. Check the expiry date the night before, not at the counter. Overstay. If your visa is already expired when you reach the counter, the exit stamp becomes a problem, not a solution. Fines under the 2025 rules run into tens of millions of dong and repeat overstays can trigger entry bans. The run is a prevention tool, not a cure. Do it before the clock runs out, ideally with a few days of margin. E-visa not approved. If you are running to activate a new 90-day e-visa, the application must be submitted while you are out of the country. That is why the visa desk files it at the Dansavanh side, mid-run. Filing it from Hanoi the day before does nothing. 2026 Prices ## What the run costs in 2026 - Shared van seat to Lao Bao: 1,500,000 VND from Tay Ho, 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. Tuesdays and Saturdays. - Private car for up to four people: from 4,800,000 VND, any day, pickup anywhere in the city. - Laos fee at Dansavanh: 40 USD cash for passports that need it, nothing for visa-free nationalities. - Lunch: 100,000 to 150,000 VND. - 90-day e-visa add-on: from 65 USD for the 4-day tier up to 180 USD for faster or multi-entry processing, filed mid-run while you are out of the country. No hidden fees, no border bribes, no tip expected. The price you book is the price you pay. The cheapest option breakdown, shared seat versus group-of-four versus DIY public bus, is on the cheapest visa run page, and the exhaustive price table with every tier in VND and USD is on the Hanoi visa run cost page. Questions ## The Hanoi visa run, asked and answered ### How long does a visa run from Hanoi take? About 14 hours door to door. Pickup is around 4:00 AM, you cross the border mid-morning, and you are back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The border work itself takes about fifteen minutes. ### Do I need a visa to enter Laos at Dansavanh? Many nationalities, including US, UK, Australian, and most European passports, enter Laos visa-free. Others pay a cash fee on arrival of about 40 USD. Bring USD or dong, because the counters do not take cards and there is no ATM at the border. ### How many days do I get when I come back? It depends on your passport and visa. Visa-exempt nationalities get 30 days, and e-visa holders get the validity of their visa, up to 90 days. The fresh entry stamp starts the clock from the day you re-enter, not from the day you applied. ### What if my visa expires on the day of the run? You can still run on the expiry day itself, since the exit stamp proves you left in time. But do not leave it that tight. Fog, a flat tire, or a slow counter can turn a same-day run into an overstay with fines in the tens of millions of dong. Book with a few days of margin. ### Can I do a visa run from Hanoi by flight instead? Yes, flights to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur work, but a same-day flight run from Hanoi is barely faster and costs several times more once you count the airport transfers and the night out. The Lao Bao land run is one day, door to door, for the price of a van seat. If you fly back into Noi Bai instead, budget for one extra step: the pre-arrival declaration now required within 72 hours of landing, on top of your e-visa. The questions that come up most outside the ones above are on the visa run FAQ. If yours is not there either, ask dispatch on WhatsApp before you book rather than on the morning of the run. ## Ready to reset your stamp? Private cars to Lao Bao or Na Meo any day from 4,800,000 VND, shared seats to Lao Bao from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dispatch answers 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the full route, drive times, border steps, and packing list for the main crossing. - Hanoi Laos Visa Run: Lao Bao, Na Meo, and Huu Nghi compared, with the decision guide for picking a gate. - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: the complete process from booking to the fresh stamp. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Tuesday and Saturday shared van departures, pickup points, and fares. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi: shared seats, group splits, and the DIY public bus option ranked by price. - Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: Fines & What to Do: the Decree 282/2025 fine table, the 16-day deportation line, and how a run prevents it. - Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: why in-country e-visa extensions are closed and the routes that still work. - Laos Visa on Arrival: the 2026 Fee Table: the cash your passport needs at the Dansavanh window, and the photo and weekend add-ons. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): file it from Hanoi inside the three days before you cross. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /bus.html ## Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Schedules, Pickup Points & Fares | hanoivisarun.com Schedules and Pickup # Hanoi Visa Run Bus: Schedules, Pickup Points & Fares Tuesday and Saturday departures from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border, with pickup before dawn, fares from 1,500,000 VND, and the whole trip done in a single day. The Short Answer ## What the Hanoi visa run bus actually is The visa run bus from Hanoi is a shared van that does the whole border run in one day. It leaves twice a week, on Tuesday and Saturday, picks riders up from their hotels and meeting points before dawn, drives the Ho Chi Minh Highway down to the Lao Bao border crossing in Quang Tri, and brings everyone back to Hanoi the same evening. One seat, one day, no overnight anywhere. The van is not a public bus. It is a private service for people doing a visa run, which means the schedule, the route, and the border paperwork are all built around that one job. The driver knows the crossing, the fixers at Lao Bao handle the stamps, and you do not have to figure out which bus goes where or argue with a ticket counter in a language you do not speak. A seat costs 1,500,000 VND with pickup in Tay Ho, or 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam. That price covers the ride, the fixer service at the border, snacks, and water. The Laos entry fee, lunch, and the 90-day e-visa are separate, and we cover each of those below so the total does not surprise you. The Schedule ## Departure days and times Shared van departures run twice weekly, on Tuesday and Saturday. Those are the only two days the cheap seat exists, so the schedule matters more than on a private car, which can leave any day you like. Time What happens Night before Driver confirms pickup by WhatsApp and sends the exact meeting point. 04:00 to 05:30 Pickup window in Tay Ho, then Long Bien and Gia Lam. Everyone is out of the city before rush hour. 05:30 to 09:00 The drive south on the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217, about 300 km, with a rest stop halfway. 09:00 to 12:00 The crossing at Lao Bao and Dansavanh. Most people are back on the Vietnamese side by noon. 12:00 to 14:00 Lunch stop in Thanh Hoa, then the drive north. 18:00 to 20:00 Drop-off back in your original pickup zone. If your visa expires on a day that is not a Tuesday or Saturday, do not wait for the van. A private car runs any day of the week, and the fixers confirm the return time before you leave. Waiting two extra days on an expired stamp is how small problems become big ones. Where to Board ## Pickup points and fares The van follows one route each departure day, so pickup order is fixed. Riders in Tay Ho board first, then the van works through Long Bien and Gia Lam before heading south. When you book, you choose your zone and we confirm the exact meeting point the night before, usually your hotel lobby or a landmark within a short walk. Main route ### Tay Ho pickup 1,500,000 VND - First zone on the route, earliest pickup - Covers Tay Ho lake and the surrounding streets - Boarding window 04:00 to 05:00 Second zone ### Long Bien / Gia Lam pickup 1,650,000 VND - Boarding window 05:00 to 05:30 - 150,000 VND more than Tay Ho - Same route, same border, same return time The pickup window is a window, not a promise. The driver waits about ten minutes at each point, then moves on. Set two alarms. The van does not come back for a late rider, and there is no second departure that day. No Surprises ## What the ticket includes, and what it does not The fare reads like a bus ticket, but it covers a lot more than a seat. Included: the driver, the fuel, the tolls on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the bilingual fixer who stages your Vietnamese exit stamp and walks you through the Laos side at Dansavanh, snacks, and water. The fixer alone is worth most of the fare if you have ever stood at a border not knowing which window comes first. Not included, and worth knowing before you board: ### The Laos entry fee Some passports enter Laos visa-free and pay nothing. Others pay a cash fee at the Dansavanh counter, typically $40. Bring USD or dong in cash. There are no reliable ATMs at the border, and the counter does not take cards. ### Lunch The van stops in Thanh Hoa on the way back, usually in Quan Hoa, for a quick meal. A bowl of pho or a rice plate costs pocket change. You can also bring food and skip the stop. ### The 90-day e-visa, if you add it Transport and the visa are separate line items. The visa desk charges from 65 USD for the 4-day single entry. Most riders on the van add it, because the application gets submitted the moment Laos stamps you out, and the approval PDF lands in your email while you sleep. One thing the ticket does not include is luggage space. Shared vans allow carry-on bags only. If you are moving apartments or hauling suitcases, book a private car instead. The Day Plan ## How the day runs, start to finish The night before Confirm and pack The driver confirms by WhatsApp. Pack your passport, two spare 4x6 cm photos, and cash for the Laos fee. Charge your phone. 04:00 to 05:30 Boarding Tay Ho riders board first, then Long Bien and Gia Lam. The van leaves once the route is done. Late means left behind. 05:30 to 09:00 The drive south Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217, roughly 300 km. One rest stop halfway. Sleep, watch the karst hills, or catch up on work. 09:00 to 12:00 The crossing The fixer takes your passport, stages the Vietnamese exit stamp, and walks you through Dansavanh. Pay the Laos fee if your passport needs one, then turn around and re-enter Vietnam. Your fresh entry stamp resets your stay. 12:00 to 14:00 Lunch and the drive home A meal stop in Thanh Hoa, usually Quan Hoa. If you added the visa desk, your e-visa was already submitted the moment Laos stamped you out. 18:00 to 20:00 Back in Hanoi Drop-off in your original pickup zone. The driver messages when you are 30 minutes out, and follows up after with your stamp photo or visa status. 🚌️ Know the Difference ## Visa run van vs. public bus You can reach Lao Bao on public buses for a fraction of the fare. Sleepers run from Hanoi's southern stations toward the border, and a ticket costs far less than any organized seat. That is the honest trade: you save money and take on the whole job yourself. ### What you handle on the public route No fixer, no visa desk, no English at the counters. You queue at the Vietnamese exit yourself, work out the Laos entry fee at Dansavanh in cash, then turn around and re-enter. Your e-visa is your own application. A missed connection or a holiday crowd can stretch one day into two, which matters when your stamp is running out. ### What the visa run van buys you A guaranteed single-day round trip with the border handled. The fixer stages your stamps in the right order, which is the part people most often get wrong on their own. If your time is worth anything on the day your visa expires, the van is the safer bet. If you have a week of slack and enjoy a challenge, the public route is doable. For the full budget picture, including what the DIY route costs in time and patience, see our cheapest visa run from Hanoi breakdown. Book a Seat ## How to book the visa run bus Booking takes about two minutes. Pick your departure day, Tuesday or Saturday, choose your pickup zone, and tell us where you are staying. Shared seats pay before departure, in VND or USD, and the driver confirms everything by WhatsApp the night before. Want the 90-day e-visa on the same trip? Add the visa desk when you book and upload your passport page and a portrait photo. The application goes in the moment Laos stamps you out, so you come home with a fresh entry stamp and a 90-day visa already processing. Dispatch answers 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Seats on the shared van are limited, and the Tuesday and Saturday departures fill up first, so booking a few days ahead is the reliable move. ## Grab a seat on the next departure Shared van seats from 1,500,000 VND, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dispatch responds 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: the full process from booking to the fresh stamp, with documents and risks. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi: shared seats, group splits, and the DIY public bus option ranked by price. - Laos Visa on Arrival: the 2026 Fee Table: what the Laos counter charges by nationality, and how much cash to carry. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Pricing: the live rate card for private cars and shared seats. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /cheapest.html ## Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi 2026: Budget Breakdown | hanoivisarun.com 2026 Budget Guide # The Cheapest Way to Do a Visa Run from Hanoi Real budget numbers for the Hanoi to Lao Bao run: shared van seats, private cars split four ways, and the 4-day e-visa tier that keeps the total low. The Short Answer ## The cheapest visa run from Hanoi, all in A visa run from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border can cost as little as 3,200,000 VND (about 137 USD) all in, and that includes the new 90-day e-visa handled for you. That is the shared van seat at 1,500,000 VND plus the 4-day visa tier at 65 USD. If you can put together a group of four, the same day out costs less per head: a private car runs 4,800,000 VND total, which works out to 1,200,000 VND each before the visa. Cheap does not mean cutting corners on the paperwork. The low-cost route still uses the same border crossing, the same fixers at Thanh Hoa, and the same drivers who have done this run hundreds of times. What you give up is private space, not the process. Two things drive the final number. Transport: shared seats from 1,500,000 VND, private cars from 4,800,000 VND per car. And the e-visa: from 65 USD for the 4-day single entry, up to 165 USD if you need the visa within the hour. Most riders on the budget route buy the 4-day tier, because the run itself is a single day and the visa lands while you sleep. Solo budget 3,200,000 VND Shared seat + 4-day e-visa, ~137 USD Group of four 1,200,000 VND Per person in a private car, before visa Cheapest seat 1,500,000 VND Shared van, Tay Ho pickup, Tue/Sat The Options ## Three ways to travel, ranked by price Every Hanoi visa run to Lao Bao uses the same road and the same border, but the way you sit changes the bill. Option 1 ### Shared van seat 1,500,000 VND - Cheapest organized option - Runs Tuesday and Saturday - Pickup in Tay Ho and Long Bien - Carry-on luggage only - Full fixer service included Long Bien or Gia Lam pickup: 1,650,000 VND. Option 2 ### Private car, split four ways 1,200,000 VND per person with four riders, before visa - SUV seats up to four, priced per car - 4,800,000 VND from Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh - 5,100,000 VND from Long Bien, Gia Lam, Soc Son - Door-to-door pickup and return drop - Ho Chi Minh Highway route, fastest option Beats the shared van for groups of three or four. Option 3 ### DIY public bus Cheapest cash - Public bus fare is a fraction of any organized run - No fixer, no visa desk, no English at the counter - You queue at the Vietnamese exit yourself - Laos entry fee paid in cash at Dansavanh - You handle your own e-visa application Works, but a missed bus or a holiday crowd can turn one day into two. For most people the real choice is between the shared van and a private car split. Both keep the trip to a single day. No Surprises ## What the transport price actually includes The sticker price on a shared seat or a private car looks like just a ride. It is not. The transport rate covers the driver, the fuel, the tolls on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the fixers who stage your Vietnamese exit and walk you through the Laos side, and the drop-off back in your pickup zone. On a private car it also covers the return drop anywhere in central Hanoi. The price does not cover three things, and knowing them keeps the budget honest. ### The Laos entry fee Depending on your passport, Laos may require a visa at the Dansavanh counter. Some nationalities enter visa-free and pay nothing. Others pay a modest cash fee. This is paid directly to the Lao immigration counter, not to the driver or the fixer, so bring cash. There are no reliable ATMs at the border. ### Lunch Runs stop in Thanh Hoa on the way back, usually in Quan Hoa, for a quick meal. A bowl of pho or a rice plate runs pocket change. You can also bring food and skip the stop. ### The e-visa, if you add it Transport and the visa are separate line items. The visa desk charges from 65 USD for the 4-day single entry, and the transport price never included it. Budget for both before you book. One more thing worth knowing: the fixers take a photo of your exit stamp as proof the run happened. If you bought the visa desk service, that photo is what triggers your e-visa submission the moment Laos stamps you out. Cut the Total ## Where the savings actually hide The transport price is fixed, but the total is not. These four choices move the number more than anything else. ### Pick the 4-day visa tier The e-visa ladder runs from 65 USD at 4 days up to 165 USD at 1 hour. Same 90-day validity, same single entry, different patience. The run takes one day, so the 4-day tier costs 65 USD and the visa arrives long before your current stamp matters. Only pay for speed if you actually need it. If you want the option to leave and re-enter Vietnam during the 90 days, the multi-entry 4-day tier is 85 USD. ### Split a private car A private car is priced per car, not per person. Four people at 4,800,000 VND pay 1,200,000 VND each, which is 300,000 VND less than the shared seat from Tay Ho. Two people still pay more per head than the van, but they get a private vehicle and a shorter day. The break-even point is around three people. ### Stay inside the cheap pickup zone Pickups in Old Quarter, Tay Ho, and Ba Dinh are cheaper than Long Bien, Gia Lam, or Soc Son on both shared seats and private cars. If you can get yourself to a Tay Ho pickup point, you save 150,000 VND on a shared seat and 300,000 VND on a private car. ### Book the shared van on a Tuesday or Saturday Shared departures run twice weekly, so those are the only two days the cheap seat exists. Private cars run any day. If your schedule is flexible, the shared van is the budget pick; if it is not, a private car split is the next cheapest thing. What does not save you money: skipping the fixer. Doing the border yourself on an organized run saves nothing, since the fixer is already included in the price. The Day Plan ## The cheapest day, step by step Here is what the budget version of the run looks like from alarm clock to front door. Total time is roughly sixteen hours. Before the run Send your passport page and portrait photo The visa desk needs them to submit the e-visa the moment you exit. Do this a day or two ahead so the desk can pre-check the files. Bring the originals in your bag anyway. 04:00 to 05:30 Pickup The van gathers riders in Tay Ho and Long Bien, or the private car collects your group from your door in central Hanoi. Everyone is out of the city before the morning rush. 05:30 to 09:00 The drive The Ho Chi Minh Highway leg is fast and scenic. The driver handles the tolls and keeps the pace; you sleep or watch the karst hills roll past. 09:00 to 12:00 The crossing At Lao Bao, the fixers take your passport, stage the Vietnamese exit stamp, and walk you through to Dansavanh on the Laos side. You pay the Laos entry fee in cash if your passport needs one, get the entry stamp, then turn around and re-enter Vietnam on the same walkway. Your Vietnamese entry stamp is what resets your stay. 12:00 to 14:00 Lunch and the drive home The van stops in Thanh Hoa, usually Quan Hoa, for a quick meal. If you added the visa desk, your e-visa was submitted the moment Laos stamped you out, so you can watch the status updates over lunch. 18:00 to 20:00 Back in Hanoi Drop-off in your original zone. The driver sends a follow-up confirming your visa submission or push status. That is the whole run. No overnight, no hotel, no second day. ⚠️ Read This First ## When the cheapest option is the wrong call Saving money is good. Saving money on the wrong day is not. ### You need the visa fast If your current stamp runs out this week, the 4-day tier will not help you. That is when the 1-hour rush tier at 165 USD or the 2-hour tier at 130 USD earns its keep. Paying for speed here is not a luxury, it is the point. ### You travel with family or a lot of bags Shared vans allow carry-on luggage only. A family of four with suitcases should take the private car at 4,800,000 VND, which is still only 1,200,000 VND per person and buys the luggage space and the door-to-door route. ### Your schedule is fixed and tight Shared vans only run Tuesday and Saturday. If your visa expires on a Wednesday, waiting for Saturday is not an option. A private car runs any day, and the fixers confirm the return time before you leave. ### You are on a multi-entry visa already If your current visa still has valid entries, you may not need a new e-visa at all. You can do the run with transport only and pay nothing for the visa desk. That makes the shared seat at 1,500,000 VND the whole bill, which is the cheapest run on this page. The rule of thumb: trim the visa speed, not the border help. The fixers are what keep a one-day run one day. Everything else on the budget list is fair game. Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the route, the drive time, and the crossing itself step by step. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus: Tuesday and Saturday departures, pickup points, and fares for the shared van. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: the full price picture across every tier, in VND and USD. - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: documents, risks, and the whole process from the start. - Hanoi to Lao Bao Pricing: the live rate card for private cars and shared seats. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. ## Ready to run on a budget? Shared van seats from 1,500,000 VND. Dispatch responds 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp # Page: /cost.html ## Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: Full Price Breakdown | hanoivisarun.com 2026 Price Guide # How Much Does a Hanoi Visa Run Cost? Real prices for the Hanoi to Lao Bao run, in VND and USD. Private cars, shared van seats, 90-day e-visa tiers, and exactly what is included in each rate. The Short Answer ## What a Hanoi visa run costs in 2026 A Hanoi visa run to the Lao Bao border costs between 1,500,000 VND and 5,100,000 VND for transport, plus whatever you pay for your new visa. That range covers the two ways to travel: a shared van seat or a private car for your group. On top of that sits the 90-day e-visa, which most riders add so they come home with a fresh stamp the same day. Three things decide your total. How you travel: shared seats cost the least per person, while a private car costs more but gives you the whole vehicle. Where you are picked up: central Hanoi zones are cheaper than the outer districts. And how fast you need your e-visa: the 1-hour rush tier costs more than the 4-day tier, and multi-entry visas cost more than single-entry. There are no surprise fees on top. The price you agree on covers the driver, the fuel, the tolls, the fixers at the border, and the ride home. The only thing you might pay at the border itself is the Laos entry fee, if Laos requires a visa for your passport. That is paid directly to the Lao immigration counter, not to us. Shared seat 1,500,000 VND Tay Ho pickup, per person Private car 4,800,000 VND Up to 4 people, central Hanoi, ~205 USD 90-day e-visa from 65 USD 4-day single entry, visa desk handled Private Vans ## Private car pricing, per car not per person If you want the run done on your own schedule, a private car is the way to go. The rate is per car, and the SUVs seat up to four travelers with Wi-Fi, power outlets, and cold drinks in the back. Pickup zone VND USD approx Covers Old Quarter / Tay Ho / Ba Dinh 4,800,000 ~205 USD Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho lake, embassy district Long Bien / Gia Lam / Soc Son 5,100,000 ~218 USD Vinhomes Ocean Park, Gia Lam airport, Soc Son Both rates include the same package: a bilingual driver, all Ho Chi Minh Highway tolls, the fixer team in Thanh Hoa and at Lao Bao, and the return leg. The same driver and fixer team handle the whole run, so you are not handed off to strangers at the border. The extra 300,000 VND on the outer zone covers the longer drive out to collect you and back. Optional drop in Tay Ho on return, and an extra luggage trailer on request. The per-car price is the same whether one person rides or four. A couple splitting a private car pays 2,400,000 VND each. A group of four pays about 1,200,000 VND each, which beats the shared van per head. Borderline addresses get quoted case by case when you book, rather than forced into the higher band. Shared Vans ## Shared van seat pricing The shared van is the budget option, and for solo travelers it is usually the smart one. Shared runs depart twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from Tay Ho and Long Bien. You book a seat, not the whole vehicle, so the price is per person. Pickup Price per seat Tay Ho (main route) 1,500,000 VND Long Bien / Gia Lam 1,650,000 VND Luggage is carry-on only, so a backpack or a small rolling bag is fine. The Laos visa fee, if your passport needs one, is paid directly at the Dansavanh counter and is not part of the seat price. It runs about 40 USD in clean cash for most Western passports, and the Laos visa on arrival fee table breaks that down by nationality. There is a quick lunch stop in Thanh Hoa on the way back, and the van waits while everyone eats. Departures consolidate. If a Tuesday run ends up with only a couple of riders, we merge it into the Saturday run rather than sending a half-empty van. Rebooking is free, and you get the driver's photo, the vehicle plate, and an estimated return time 24 hours before departure. The trade-off versus a private car is time and flexibility. A shared van leaves at a fixed time from a fixed point, while a private car collects you from your door. For a solo rider the shared seat is the clear value pick. At three or four passengers, the private car starts to win. Visa Desk ## 90-day e-visa fees, by speed and entry type Most riders need a new visa to come back with, and the standard move is the 90-day Vietnam e-visa. You upload your passport scan and portrait before the run. The moment Laos stamps your exit, the visa desk submits your application and tracks it until the approval PDF lands in your inbox. Tiers run Monday to Friday. Single entry USD VND 1 Hour Rush 165 4,300,000 2 Hours 130 3,400,000 4 Hours 95 2,400,000 1 Day 85 2,200,000 2 Days 75 2,000,000 3 Days 70 1,900,000 4 Days 65 1,700,000 Multi entry USD VND 1 Hour Rush 180 4,700,000 2 Hours 150 3,900,000 4 Hours 120 3,100,000 1 Day 110 2,900,000 2 Days 100 2,600,000 3 Days 90 2,400,000 4 Days 85 2,200,000 Already Applied? ## Push-only pricing for existing applications If you already applied for an e-visa on your own and it is stuck in processing, the push-only option is cheaper. Share your application ID before you leave Hanoi. Once you exit Vietnam, the desk escalates your existing application and pushes it through. Push fees apply only if the escalation succeeds. Push window USD VND 1 Hour 125 3,200,000 2 Hours 90 2,400,000 4 Hours 60 1,600,000 1 Day 50 1,400,000 2 Days 40 1,000,000 3 Days 35 900,000 4 Days 25 600,000 You get email and WhatsApp updates at every status change. Multi-entry is worth the extra cost if you plan to leave Vietnam again within the 90 days, because it saves you from paying and waiting twice. Fine Print ## What's included, what's extra ### Included in every run - ✓ The driver and the vehicle, both directions - ✓ All fuel and Ho Chi Minh Highway tolls - ✓ The fixer team at Lao Bao and Dansavanh - ✓ Return drop-off in your pickup zone - ✓ Bottled water and cold drinks in the car - ✓ Free rebooking if a shared departure consolidates ### Not included - ✗ Laos visa fee, if your passport needs one - ✗ Lunch at the Thanh Hoa or Quan Hoa stop - ✗ The 90-day e-visa itself (separate service) - ✗ Personal extras like the luggage trailer The most common surprise for first-timers is the Laos side. People assume the Laos entry is bundled because the fixer walks them through it. It is not. The fixer guides you, but the Laos counter fee comes out of your pocket. It is a modest amount, usually well under 1,000,000 VND, but carry some cash anyway. The border area has no reliable ATMs, and the shops there do not take cards. Carry your passport and a printed copy of your e-visa approval, if you have one. The fixers can print documents at the border for a small fee, but it is faster and cheaper to bring your own. Real Numbers ## Worked examples: what you actually pay ### Solo traveler, budget plan Shared seat from Tay Ho at 1,500,000 VND plus a 4-day single-entry e-visa at 65 USD (1,700,000 VND). ~3,200,000 VND (~135 USD) Add lunch at 150,000 VND and you are still under 3,400,000 VND for a fresh 90 days. ### Couple, private car One SUV at 4,800,000 VND split two ways is 2,400,000 VND each, plus 2-day single-entry e-visas at 75 USD each. ~4,400,000 VND (~185 USD) per person Door-to-door pickup and your own schedule. ### Group of four, private car 4,800,000 VND split four ways is 1,200,000 VND per person, cheaper than the shared van, plus 4-day e-visas at 65 USD. ~2,900,000 VND (~120 USD) per person The cheapest way to run the border as a group. ### Remote worker, multi-entry Shared seat at 1,500,000 VND plus a 4-day multi-entry e-visa at 85 USD (2,200,000 VND). ~3,700,000 VND total The 20 USD extra over single entry beats paying for a second visa later. The pattern is simple: the more people in your car, the lower the per-head cost, and the slower your visa tier, the lower the fee. The 3-day and 4-day tiers give the same 90-day validity as the rush tiers for a fraction of the price. USD quotes use the mid-range exchange rate and can drift; the VND figures are the ones to plan around. Want every saving spelled out? The cheapest visa run from Hanoi guide ranks the budget options in order. If you are set on the shared van, the visa run bus schedule and pickup points page has the departure days and where to board. New to the route? The Hanoi to Lao Bao route guide walks through the drive and the crossing itself. Worried about the calendar? The overstay fines guide explains what a missed date costs in 2026 under Decree 282/2025. And if you were hoping to skip the border entirely, the visa run vs visa extension page explains why in-country extensions are closed and what still works. FAQ ## Cost questions, answered How much does a Hanoi visa run cost in 2026? Transport ranges from 1,500,000 VND for a shared van seat to 5,100,000 VND for a private car covering up to four people. The 90-day e-visa adds 65 to 180 USD depending on speed and entry type. A solo traveler on the budget plan pays roughly 3,200,000 VND all in. Is the price per person or per car? Private cars are priced per car, so up to four travelers split one rate. Shared vans are priced per seat. A group of four usually pays less per person in a private car than on the shared van. Are there hidden fees? No. The transport price includes the driver, fuel, tolls, border fixers, and return drop-off. The two things you pay separately are the Laos visa fee at the Dansavanh counter, if your passport needs one, and lunch if you buy it at the Thanh Hoa stop. How much is the Laos visa at the border? It depends on your passport. Some nationalities enter Laos visa-free and pay nothing. Others pay a modest fee in cash at the Dansavanh immigration counter. Our fixers tell you before the run which applies to you. Bring cash either way, since the border area has no reliable ATMs. Why does the e-visa cost more than the government fee? The government application fee is only part of it. The e-visa desk handles the upload, submits the moment your exit is stamped, monitors the application, and chases it until approval, with email and WhatsApp updates at every step. The tier price covers that handling plus the processing speed you choose. Is the 1-hour rush tier worth it? Only if you genuinely need the visa the same hour. It costs 165 USD single entry versus 65 USD for the 4-day tier, and both give the same 90-day validity. If your travel plans are not urgent, the slower tiers are the sensible buy. Can I do the run without buying the e-visa through you? Yes. You can cross the border, get your exit and entry stamps, and use any remaining validity on your current visa, or apply for a new e-visa yourself. If you applied yourself and it is stuck, the push-only service from 25 USD may be enough. ## Ready to lock your Lao Bao trip? Pick your date and route. Dispatch responds 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp # Page: /faq.html ## Hanoi Visa Run FAQ | Lao Bao Border, E-Visa & Costs Need-to-knows # Hanoi Visa Run FAQ Everything travelers ask before a visa run from Hanoi to the Lao Bao / Dansavanh border. Timing, the route, pickups, the 90-day Vietnam e-visa, costs, and the edge cases that change the plan. ⏱️ Timeline & basics ## General questions ### What is a visa run from Hanoi? A Hanoi visa run is a same-day round trip from the city to a land border and back, done to reset or renew your Vietnam visa. On the Hanoi to Lao Bao run you exit Vietnam, cross into Laos at Dansavanh, and re-enter Vietnam with a fresh visa. Usually the 90-day e-visa arranged by our visa desk while you travel. The whole trip takes about 14 hours door-to-door. ### How long does the Hanoi to Lao Bao visa run take? Expect roughly 14 hours door-to-door on the Lao Bao from Hanoi run. We collect riders between 04:00 and 05:30, drive down the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217, reach Lao Bao around 09:00, finish immigration by about noon, stop for a quick lunch in Thanh Hoa, and return to Hanoi between 18:00 and 20:00 depending on traffic. ### Why do people choose Lao Bao for a visa run from Hanoi? Lao Bao (Vietnamese side) / Dansavanh (Laos side) is the closest practical land border for a same-day run from Hanoi. About 370 km each way. And it is quiet compared to southern crossings like Moc Bai. The border opens early, the stamping process is quick with a fixer, and you can pair the trip with the 90-day Vietnam e-visa so you return with a fresh visa the same day. ### How often can I do a visa run? As often as your visa situation requires. Many expats in Hanoi do a run every 90 days when their e-visa or visa exemption expires. There is no legal limit on border crossings, but immigration officers may question frequent same-day exits and re-entries, so it is worth keeping your stamps tidy and your paperwork consistent. ### Who should book a visa run from Hanoi? Anyone in Hanoi or nearby provinces whose Vietnam visa, e-visa, or visa exemption is about to expire and who wants a fresh 90-day entry without flying to another country. It is also popular with remote workers, teachers, and long-term travellers who want the border crossing handled by people who do it every day. ### When do I need to do a visa run? Do it before your current visa or visa exemption expires. Ideally with a few days of buffer in case of delays. If you already have a valid 90-day e-visa you can travel on the run and simply use the remaining validity, but most riders time the run so a new 90-day e-visa starts the day they re-enter Vietnam. ### Is the Hanoi to Lao Bao run really possible in one day? Yes, it is designed as a same-day trip: pickups 04:00–05:30, border formalities finished by noon, and back in Hanoi by 18:00–20:00. The schedule works because the driver and fixer team run this route regularly and Lao Bao opens early, so you are stamped out of Vietnam, through Laos, and back into Vietnam in a few hours at the border. ### What is the difference between a visa run and a visa extension? A visa run means leaving Vietnam and re-entering to get a fresh entry stamp and visa validity, while an extension is done inside Vietnam through immigration authorities or an agency. Runs are the standard route for e-visa and visa-exemption holders who cannot extend; extensions are usually for specific visa types and are processed at the immigration office in Hanoi. ### Do I need a Vietnam visa before doing the run? You need a valid entry document to be let back into Vietnam. Either a valid visa, e-visa, or visa exemption. Our Hanoi visa desk can arrange the 90-day e-visa before or during your run, and the border team handles the Laos entry on the spot, so you do not need to prepare a Laos visa in advance. 🗺️ Picking your gate ## Choosing your border: Lao Bao, Na Meo & Huu Nghi ### Which border crossing is closest to Hanoi for a visa run? Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) in Lang Son is the closest gate to Hanoi at about 170 km, roughly two hours of driving each way. But it faces China and needs a Chinese visa for most passports, so it is not a Laos visa run. Of the two Laos crossings, Na Meo in Thanh Hoa is nearer at about 250 km, and Lao Bao in Quang Tri is around 370 km. Distance is a poor guide on this route: the Na Meo road is mountain all the way and eats its 120 km advantage, so both Laos gates land in the same four-to-five-hour window. ### Is Lao Bao or Na Meo better for a visa run from Hanoi? Lao Bao wins on reliability: it is the busiest northern Laos gate, the counters move, fixer teams work it every day, and a shared van leaves for it every Tuesday and Saturday from 1,500,000 VND. Na Meo wins on calm. You are usually one of a handful of foreigners at the gate, so the crossing can be finished in under ten minutes, which is why we run Na Meo by private car only (from 4,800,000 VND, any day). First visa run ever: Lao Bao. Done this before and want quiet, or your visa expires on a day the shared van does not run: Na Meo. ### Can I get a Laos visa on arrival at Na Meo? No. The Lao Department of Immigration lists the visa on arrival facility at Dansavanh, facing Lao Bao, and at no other Vietnam crossing, and the Laos e-visa is not accepted at any of them either, Na Meo included. Most ASEAN passports enter Laos visa-free and nothing changes for them. If your passport needs a Laos visa, get it stamped through the Lao embassy in Hanoi before the run; the Laos visa on arrival fee page has the detail by nationality. ### What is the fastest same-day visa run from Hanoi? If you already hold a valid Chinese visa, Huu Nghi is the fastest by a wide margin: about two hours of driving each way, a quick Vietnam exit stamp, a walk over the Friendship Pass bridge and straight back. Without a Chinese visa, Lao Bao and Na Meo are effectively tied at four to five hours of driving each way, and the full Lao Bao day is about 14 hours door-to-door. What really decides the day is paperwork rather than road: an e-visa that is not yet approved when you reach the gate turns a same-day run into an overnight stay. ### What is the cheapest organized visa run from Hanoi? The shared van to Lao Bao: 1,500,000 VND per seat for Tay Ho pickups and 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam, departing Tuesdays and Saturdays with the same driver and fixer team that handles private bookings. A private car to Lao Bao is 4,800,000 VND for 1-4 passengers from the Old Quarter, Tay Ho or Ba Dinh, and 5,100,000 VND from Long Bien, Gia Lam or Soc Son. Priced per car, not per person, so four riders split it very cheaply. Na Meo is private-car only, so it costs the same as a Lao Bao private car, and the e-visa add-on (from 65 USD) plus the Laos visa-on-arrival fee (30-40 USD at Dansavanh) are separate on every option. ### Is Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) a better visa run than going to Laos? Only if you already hold a Chinese visa. Then it is the fastest reset in the north. For everyone else it is a dead end: China does not issue visas at the gate for most nationalities, so you cannot cross, turn around and come back, which is the whole mechanic of a visa run. Repeat same-day China entries also attract scrutiny, because Chinese immigration is strict about crossings that last only minutes. For a Laos stamp the real choice stays Lao Bao or Na Meo. ### Can I use the Huu Nghi crossing without a Chinese visa, and where do I get one in Hanoi? For most passports you need the visa before you travel. China's Visa Service Center in Hanoi is on the 7th floor of Truong Thinh Tower, 1 Phung Chi Kien Street, Cau Giay, taking submissions 09:00-15:00 Monday to Friday; standard processing is around four working days and express takes two to three days for roughly 20 USD extra. Fees are nationality-based. About 139 USD for a single-entry tourist visa on a US passport, and 23-60 USD for most other nationalities. Some 50 nationalities also enter China visa-free for 30 days under the scheme running to 31 December 2026, so check your passport before paying for a visa you may not need. ### Do I have to actually enter Laos at Lao Bao, or can I turn around in the neutral zone? You have to be genuinely stamped out of Vietnam and into Laos. Walking into the neutral zone and turning around does not create the exit-and-re-entry sequence a visa run needs, and Vietnam will not issue a fresh entry stamp on the back of it. The real sequence is: Vietnam exit stamp at Lao Bao, walk across the footbridge, Laos entry at Dansavanh, then straight back to the Vietnamese counter for the new stamp. With a fixer handling both counters the border work takes about fifteen minutes, and the Laos visa-on-arrival fee of 30-40 USD (or a Laos e-visa arranged in advance) is paid on the Laos side. ### Which checkpoint should I select on my Vietnam e-visa application? Name the gate you will actually cross at: Lao Bao for the standard same-day run, Na Meo (Na Meo International Landport) if we are taking the Thanh Hoa route, or Huu Nghi for the China side. Since Resolution 389/NQ-CP (2 December 2025) the printed port of entry was taken off the issued e-visa and approvals work at any of the 83 listed checkpoints, but naming your real gate is still the clean habit. And a letter that does print a port should be used exactly as printed. The rule that has not changed is timing: the e-visa must be approved before you reach the counter, so send us a photo of the approval PDF on WhatsApp (+84 369 308 237) before you board. ### How far in advance should I book a Hanoi visa run? Book two to three days ahead as a minimum: the shared Lao Bao van runs only Tuesdays and Saturdays and fills up, and a standard 4-day e-visa (65 USD) has to be submitted before you cross. If you need a faster tier you can book later. 3 days 70 USD, 2 days 75 USD, 1 day 85 USD, 4 hours 95 USD, or the 1-hour rush at 165 USD. But each step up costs more. Around Tet and the days following national holidays, book a week or more ahead: that is when everyone whose visa ran out during the break wants the same seat. ### Which days can I start a visa run from Hanoi? Shared vans to Lao Bao run Tuesdays and Saturdays with pickups between 04:00 and 05:30 in Tay Ho, Long Bien and Gia Lam. Private cars and Na Meo runs go any day of the week, door to door, and the Lao Bao / Dansavanh gate itself is open daily from 07:00 to 22:00 with no midday closure. So a mid-week expiry is a private-car booking, not a reason to wait. Weekend crossings are the busiest, and an after-hours or weekend Laos visa on arrival carries a small 1-2 USD surcharge on the Laos side. ### What is the best border for a first visa run from Hanoi? Lao Bao. The shared van, the fixer teams and both counters run on volume there every single day, so the process is routine and there is always a driver or fixer in front of you who has done it dozens of times. Na Meo is calmer but the officers speak less English, the hours are shorter and there is no shared-van schedule; Huu Nghi only makes sense if a Chinese visa is already in your passport. If it is your first crossing and your stamp is getting tight, take the workhorse route. ### Can I do the Na Meo run with children or bulky luggage? It can be done by private car, but it is the wrong route for it. The road to Na Meo climbs through the mountains of Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa on winding sealed road, and the constant turns are harder on small children than the longer highway run to Lao Bao. If you are moving house, carrying suitcases or travelling with a toddler, take a private car to Lao Bao. Door to door, stops when you want, room for the bags. And keep Na Meo for a light-luggage, adults-only run. ### What details should I send when I ask for advice or book a Hanoi visa run? Send your nationality, passport expiry date, the visa or exemption you are on now with its expiry date, how many travellers are coming, and which part of Hanoi we should collect you from (Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Long Bien, Gia Lam, Soc Son, or Noi Bai Airport with notice). Tell us whether you need the 90-day e-visa arranged and whether you have ever overstayed or been refused entry, and we can confirm the border, the vehicle and the timing in one reply. Dispatch answers on WhatsApp (+84 369 308 237) and book@hanoivisarun.com daily between 05:00 and 23:00. Getting there ## Route, transport & pickups ### What route do you drive from Hanoi to Lao Bao? We take the Ho Chi Minh Highway south out of Hanoi, connecting onto QL217 for the final stretch to the border. It is a solidly paved, mostly two-lane route with light truck traffic compared to QL1, and the driver makes comfort stops along the way. The same road is used for the return leg, with a quick lunch stop in Thanh Hoa. ### How far is it from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border? The Lao Bao from Hanoi route is roughly 370 km each way, and the drive from central Hanoi to the Lao Bao / Dansavanh border crossing takes about five hours per direction including stops. Door-to-door that is why the day starts early and finishes in the evening. ### Which pickup areas do you serve in Hanoi? We pick up across the main expat districts: Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Gia Lam, Long Bien, and Soc Son. With advance notice we can also meet you at Noi Bai Airport or Vinhomes Ocean Park. The exact pickup window is confirmed the day before with your driver's photo and vehicle plate. ### Can I be picked up at Noi Bai Airport? Yes, Noi Bai meetups are a common special request. If you are flying into Hanoi for the run, or staying near the airport, tell us when you book and we will schedule the pickup accordingly. Airport pickups may shift your pickup window slightly depending on where the van is coming from. ### What is the difference between a private van and a shared seat? A private van (1–4 passengers) is door-to-door, departs on your schedule, and costs about 205–218 USD per car depending on pickup zone. A shared seat puts you in a Lao Bao van that runs twice weekly (Tuesday and Saturday) from Tay Ho or Long Bien, costs 1,500,000–1,650,000 VND per seat, and is confirmed 24 hours ahead with the driver's photo and plate. ### What time do shared vans depart? Shared Lao Bao vans depart twice weekly, on Tuesday and Saturday, with early-morning pickups from Tay Ho and Long Bien in the same 04:00–05:30 window as private cars. We confirm the exact time 24 hours ahead, and if a departure consolidates or shifts you can rebook for free. ### What luggage can I bring on a shared seat? Shared-seat riders should pack light. Carry-on size, one bag per person. Space in the van is limited because every seat is sold, so large suitcases and extra bags are better handled in a private van or with our luggage trailer option. Snacks and water are provided either way. ### Are there rest stops and meal breaks on the way? Yes. The driver makes comfort stops on the drive down, and the schedule includes a quick lunch stop in Thanh Hoa on the return leg. Coffee, snacks, and water are included in the fare, and the bilingual driver will point out stop options if you need anything else. ### Can I be dropped off somewhere other than my pickup point on the way back? Yes, direct drop-offs in Ninh Binh or Thanh Hoa are a standard special request, and returning to a different Hanoi district (for example, drop in Tay Ho when you were picked up in the Old Quarter) is usually fine. Mention it on the booking form so the route is planned around it. Immigration ## Border & documents ### What happens at the Lao Bao / Dansavanh border crossing? At Lao Bao you first get your Vietnamese exit stamp, then walk across to the Laos side at Dansavanh for the Laos entry stamp, and then immediately turn around and re-enter Vietnam with a fresh entry stamp. Our Thanh Hoa fixer escorts you through every counter so the sequencing is done correctly and nothing is missed. ### Do you help with the Laos visa at Dansavanh? Yes. Our fixer handles the Laos visa-on-arrival paperwork and fees at Dansavanh and escorts you between the Vietnamese and Lao counters. Travellers from visa-exempt countries still follow the fixer so their stamp sequencing is correct. The Laos side is the part people usually find confusing. ### How much is the Laos visa on arrival at Dansavanh? The Laos visa-on-arrival fee is roughly 30–40 USD depending on your nationality and entry type, paid directly at Dansavanh in cash. It is not included in the run fare. The border team helps you through the process, but the Laos government fee is paid separately at the counter. ### What documents do I need to bring? Bring your passport valid for at least 6 months, your current Vietnam visa, e-visa, or TRC (plus a printout of your e-visa if you have one), two spare 4x6 passport photos, and USD cash for the Laos visa fee. Shared-seat riders should keep everything in a small day bag. You will need it at every counter. ### Do I need passport photos for the run? Two spare 4x6 photos are recommended. The Laos visa-on-arrival form asks for a photo, and having spares avoids a delay or a last-minute photo fee at the border. Our fixer carries a small supply for emergencies, but bringing your own is faster. ### How much cash should I bring? Bring about 40–50 USD in clean, undamaged notes for the Laos visa fee and any small border costs, plus some VND if you want snacks or drinks on the road. The run fare itself is paid separately to us. The cash at the border is only for government fees and incidentals. ### Which nationalities do not need a Laos visa at Dansavanh? Several ASEAN neighbours, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos's other immediate neighbours, and a few others. Get Laos visa exemption for short stays. If you are unsure, tell us your nationality when booking and we will confirm whether you need the Laos visa-on-arrival or can go straight through with your passport. ### Does the 90-day e-visa work at the Lao Bao land border? Yes, Lao Bao is one of the 27 land border gates on the e-visa list (83 checkpoints in total: 17 airports, 27 land gates, 39 seaports) expanded under Resolution 389/NQ-CP signed 2 December 2025. Since that change the issued e-visa no longer prints a port of entry, so an approval is not tied to one gate. Keep the approval letter or PDF saved offline; officers scan its QR code when you enter. Our visa desk arranges the e-visa as an add-on to the run and confirms your approval covers a land entry at Lao Bao before your van leaves. ### Can TRC (temporary residence card) holders use this service? TRC holders do not need a visa run for visa purposes, but many still travel with us for border errands, companion runs, or to reset a dependent's visa. If you hold a TRC you can exit and re-enter with the card itself. Just bring your passport as well, and mention it when booking so we plan the right stamping sequence. E-visa desk ## 90-day e-visa add-on ### How does the 90-day Vietnam e-visa add-on work? You upload your passport data page and a portrait photo before departure. The moment Laos stamps you out at Dansavanh, our Hanoi visa desk submits your e-visa application through the official portal and you get updates by email and WhatsApp until the approval PDF arrives. You re-enter Vietnam the same day with a fresh 90-day e-visa. ### What are the e-visa processing tiers and prices? Single-entry e-visa prices run from 65 USD (4 days) up to 165 USD (1-hour rush); multiple-entry starts at 85 USD for 4 days and tops out at 180 USD for the 1-hour rush. Mid tiers: 4 hours 95 USD single / 120 USD multiple, 1 day 85/110 USD, 2 days 75/100 USD, 3 days 70/90 USD. Rush tiers (4h/2h/1h) run Monday to Friday. ### Can I get a multiple-entry e-visa? Yes, the Vietnam e-visa is available in both single-entry and multiple-entry versions, and multiple entry costs a bit more at every processing tier (for example 180 USD vs 165 USD for the 1-hour rush). If you travel out of Vietnam often, the multiple-entry e-visa usually saves money over repeated single entries. ### What is the push-only e-visa option? Push-only is for people who already applied for their e-visa themselves but are stuck in the queue. We escalate the existing application through the official portal. 1-hour push 125 USD, 4-day push 25 USD. And push fees are only charged if we successfully accelerate your application. It is the cheapest way to rescue a slow e-visa before your run. ### When do you submit my e-visa application? We submit the moment your passport is stamped out of Vietnam at Lao Bao, because the system requires you to be outside the country for a clean new entry. That is why the add-on is timed to your exit stamp. You get the freshest possible 90 days starting from your re-entry the same day. ### What if my e-visa is not approved before the run ends? If your application is still processing when the van gets back to Hanoi, you simply wait for the approval PDF. It arrives by email and WhatsApp, usually within your chosen window. In the meantime the driver team can arrange a hotel night near the border or a return trip for the next day if you prefer to wait it out there. ### What documents do you need for the e-visa application? A clear photo of your passport bio page and a recent portrait photo (white background, no glasses). Ideally sent before departure so our desk can pre-check them. Blurry or wrongly sized photos are the most common reason e-visa applications get rejected, so we review them before submitting. ### Can I get a same-day e-visa during the run? Yes, the 1-hour rush (165 USD single entry) is designed for same-day runs: we submit after your exit stamp and the approval often lands before you reach Hanoi. Rush tiers are processed Monday to Friday, so weekend runs use the 1-day or longer tiers instead. ### How do I receive my approved e-visa? Your approval letter arrives as a PDF by email and WhatsApp the moment it is issued. Print it out (or keep it on your phone for the QR scan) and present it with your passport when you re-enter Vietnam at Lao Bao. We keep tracking your status until you confirm the entry stamp is in your passport. Payments & policies ## Cost, payment & policies ### How much does a private van from Hanoi to Lao Bao cost? A private van for 1–4 passengers is about 205 USD (4,800,000 VND) for pickups in the Old Quarter, Tay Ho, or Ba Dinh, and about 218 USD (5,100,000 VND) for Long Bien, Gia Lam, or Soc Son, including Vinhomes Ocean Park. The price is per car, not per person, so splitting between four riders makes it very economical. ### How much does a shared seat cost? Shared seats on the Tuesday/Saturday Lao Bao vans cost 1,500,000 VND for Tay Ho pickups (main route) and 1,650,000 VND for Long Bien or Gia Lam pickups. You get the same driver and fixer team as private bookings, plus free rebooking if the departure consolidates. ### What is included in the fare? The fare covers your private SUV or shared van seat, a bilingual driver, tolls and fuel, the Lao Bao fixer team, snacks, water, and WhatsApp updates through the day. The Laos visa fee (if required) is paid directly at Dansavanh, and the Vietnam e-visa add-on is priced separately. ### What extra costs should I budget for? Budget for the Laos visa-on-arrival fee (roughly 30–40 USD, paid in cash at Dansavanh), the Vietnam e-visa if you order it through us (from 65 USD single entry), and optional extras like an extra luggage trailer or a hotel night if you choose to wait for a slower e-visa. Lunch on the road is quick and cheap in Thanh Hoa. ### When do I pay? Private cars are paid in cash (VND or USD) or by bank transfer when you return to Hanoi. After the run is done. Shared seats are paid before departure. E-visa and push services are paid separately and accept VND, Wise, or Revolut transfers. ### What payment methods do you accept? Cash in VND or USD for the ride, bank transfer for private cars, and VND, Wise, or Revolut for e-visa and push services. If you need to pay by company bank transfer or want a receipt for accounting, just ask. We handle company invoices for businesses. ### What is the cancellation policy? Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before pickup. Same-day cancellations incur 50% of the fare because the driver and fixers are already deployed. Shared-seat bookings can be rolled to the next departure with 12 hours' notice. And if your departure consolidates, rebooking is free. ### Do you offer group or multi-van discounts? Yes, multi-van groups are a standard special request, and groups of 8+ often work out cheaper per person in private vans than buying individual shared seats. Tell us the group size when booking and we will quote the best combination of vehicles and seats. ### Do you provide invoices for companies? Yes, company invoices (hoa don) are available for businesses that need formal documentation for accounting or reimbursement. Note it on the booking form or mention it on WhatsApp, and we will prepare the invoice with your company details before the run. ⚠️ Special situations ## Edge cases & special situations ### What if my visa has already expired (overstay)? Do not just show up at the border. Overstays are fined by Vietnamese immigration at the exit gate under Decree 282/2025 (in force since 15 December 2025): about 500,000–2,000,000 VND for under 16 days, 5,000,000–10,000,000 VND for 16–29 days, and up to 40,000,000 VND plus possible deportation for very long overstays. Contact us on WhatsApp before booking so we can plan the correct exit procedure and expected fine for your exact overstay period. ### What if my passport has less than 6 months validity? Vietnam requires passports valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date, and Laos has the same rule. A short-validity passport risks being refused at either counter. Check your expiry before booking; if you have under 6 months, renew your passport first, because no amount of fixer help can override the validity rule. ### What if my passport is damaged? Severely damaged passports. Water damage, torn pages, or unreadable chips. Can be refused by immigration officers on either side of the border. Minor wear is usually fine. If you are unsure, send us a photo of the damaged page on WhatsApp and we will give you an honest answer before you book. ### Can I bring a baby or young children on the run? Yes, families do this run with newborns and toddlers, and children need their own passports and visas (babies cannot be added to a parent's e-visa). Plan for a longer border stop since counters move more slowly with kids, and mention it when booking so we seat you comfortably and brief the fixer team. ### What if I have a medical condition? Tell us when you book and we will plan for it. Whether that is extra comfort stops, a private van instead of a shared seat so you can stretch out, or the nearest hospital route in an emergency. The van team carries basic first aid, and dispatch stays in contact throughout the day. ### What happens if it rains heavily or floods on the route? The Ho Chi Minh Highway through the mountains can flood or be blocked during heavy storms. If conditions look risky on the day, we rebook you free of charge. And if you are already on the road, the driver will divert to a safe alternative or turn back with no penalty. Your safety comes before the schedule. ### Do the borders close on Vietnamese holidays? Lao Bao and Dansavanh open daily, but on Tet and major national holidays immigration staffing can be thinner, queues longer, and the Laos visa office hours shorter. Rush e-visa tiers are Monday to Friday only, so holiday runs should use slower tiers. Check with us before booking a run around Tet or National Day. ### Can I book at the last minute? Private vans can often be arranged with 12–24 hours' notice if a vehicle is available; shared seats depend on the Tuesday/Saturday departure schedule. For e-visa add-ons, the sooner you send your passport photos the better, but the 1-hour and 2-hour rush tiers exist precisely for tight timelines on weekdays. ### What if I miss my pickup? Call or message dispatch immediately on WhatsApp +84 369 308 237. If the van has not left your area the driver can often circle back. If you miss the window entirely, the run is treated as a same-day cancellation (50% fee) or we can roll a shared seat to the next departure. Set two alarms; the 04:00–05:30 window is early. ### What if my nationality needs special approval for the Vietnam e-visa? A few nationalities are not eligible for the e-visa and need a visa approval letter or an embassy visa instead. Tell us your nationality when booking and we will confirm which path applies to you before you commit. The border team can also advise on Laos-side entry for visa-exempt travellers. ### What is the best visa run from northern Vietnam? For anyone based in northern Vietnam. Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, or Thanh Hoa. The Lao Bao / Dansavanh border is the most practical same-day visa run. It is about 370 km from Hanoi on well-paved roads, opens early, and the Laos visa-on-arrival process is simple compared with the Chinese gates. The northern alternatives like Huu Nghi, Mong Cai, or Lao Cai all require a Chinese visa and are not set up for quick turnaround runs. ### Which border crossings can I use for a visa run from northern Vietnam? Northern Vietnam has several international gates: Lao Bao and Na Meo on the Laos border (Quang Tri and Thanh Hoa provinces), Tay Trang in Dien Bien, and Huu Nghi, Mong Cai, and Lao Cai on the China border. The Vietnam e-visa is accepted at all of these gates, but only Lao Bao is practical for a same-day round trip from Hanoi. Na Meo is small with short opening hours, Tay Trang is a long mountain drive, and the Chinese gates require a Chinese visa and stricter procedures. ### Is Huu Nghi or Lao Bao better for a visa run from Hanoi? Huu Nghi (Friendship Gate, Lang Son) is closer to Hanoi at about 170 km, but it is a China border: you need a Chinese visa, and Chinese immigration is strict about same-day in-and-out crossings. Lao Bao is farther at 370 km, but the Laos side at Dansavanh issues visa-on-arrival on the spot, which makes a legal same-day run possible. For a northern Vietnam visa run, Lao Bao is the more reliable choice. ### Can I do a visa run from Hanoi to China instead of Laos? Technically yes. Huu Nghi, Mong Cai, and Lao Cai all connect to China. But a Chinese visa is required for most nationalities, and Chinese border authorities routinely question same-day exits and re-entries, so it rarely works as a quick visa run. Laos is the standard choice from Hanoi for this reason: visa on arrival at Dansavanh, no pre-arranged Chinese visa, and the whole trip fits into one day. ### How does a visa run from Hanoi compare with flying to another country? A land run costs from about 1,500,000 VND for a shared seat or 205 USD for a private van, and you are back in Hanoi the same evening with a fresh 90-day e-visa. Round-trip flights to Bangkok or Vientiane typically cost 100–250 USD plus airport transfers, a hotel night, and at least one full day of travel. Usually two to three times the total cost of the land run. The van run also avoids luggage fees and airport check-in queues. ### Do I need travel insurance for a Hanoi visa run? Travel insurance is not required at the Lao Bao land border, but it is strongly recommended for a 14-hour driving day on the Ho Chi Minh Highway. A basic policy with medical and accident cover costs a few dollars a day and also protects you if your Laos visa or Vietnam e-visa paperwork goes wrong and you need an unexpected night on the road. Check that your policy covers overland border crossings into Laos, then send us a screenshot on WhatsApp and we will double-check the fine print with you. ### How many times a year can I do a visa run from Hanoi? There is no fixed legal limit on border crossings, so riders on 90-day e-visas typically do the Hanoi to Lao Bao run about four times a year. Frequent same-day exits and re-entries can draw extra questions from immigration officers, so keep your stamps tidy and your documents consistent. If you travel often, the multiple-entry e-visa or a 5-year exemption for eligible Viet Kieu cuts the number of runs you need. ### Can my whole family travel together in one private van? Yes, private vans take 1 to 4 passengers, so a family of up to four travels together door-to-door at the flat 205–218 USD per-car rate. Families of five or more book a second van or a larger vehicle arranged in advance, and baby seats can be added on request. Children count as passengers on shared seats too, so a private van usually works out cheaper and more comfortable for families. ### Can I do the Lao Bao run from Hanoi myself by motorbike? It is possible. About 740 km round trip, roughly 400,000–500,000 VND in fuel, plus the Laos visa-on-arrival fee at Dansavanh. But it is a long, tiring day on mountain roads and you handle every immigration form yourself. What you pay for with a service is the fixer team at the border, the e-visa desk in Hanoi, and a driver who works the route weekly, so you arrive rested and get stamped through quickly. If you ride yourself, carry your passport, cash, and a printed e-visa, and start before dawn. ### Do I need to print my Vietnam e-visa before the run? Yes, bring a printed copy of your approved e-visa together with your passport, because Lao Bao immigration officers check the paper document at re-entry. Keep a digital copy on your phone as backup, and if you forget to print, tell us at pickup and we can print it for you in Hanoi. The e-visa QR code is scanned at the gate, so the print must be clear and undamaged. ### Do European travellers need an e-visa or is the 45-day visa exemption enough? Citizens of 13 countries. The UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Belarus, Japan, and South Korea. Enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. If your exemption is fresh, a visa run simply resets it: exit at Lao Bao and re-enter for another 45 days with no e-visa at all. Staying longer than 45 days means the 90-day e-visa (US$25 single or US$50 multiple entry) or the 5-year exemption if you qualify as an overseas Vietnamese. ### What are the official Vietnam e-visa fees on the government portal? The government fee at evisa.gov.vn is US$25 for a 90-day single-entry e-visa and US$50 for multiple entry. Set by the Ministry of Finance and unchanged for 2026. Our processing tiers (from 65 USD for the 4-day single-entry option) include that government fee plus document handling, so you pay for speed and reliability, not just the stamp. If you only need us to push your own application through, the cheaper push-only option covers that. ### Do I need to pay a deposit to confirm my booking? No deposit is required. Private cars are paid in cash (VND or USD) or by bank transfer after the run, when you are back in Hanoi; shared seats are paid before departure; e-visa and push services are paid separately. Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before pickup, so there is no financial risk in booking early and adjusting later. ### How much does the full package cost, transport plus e-visa? A private van for up to 4 people costs 205–218 USD per car, and the standard 4-day single-entry e-visa add-on is 65 USD, so a full private package runs about 270–283 USD total. Split between passengers that is cheaper per person than a shared seat plus a rushed visa. A shared seat costs 1,500,000–1,650,000 VND per person with the same e-visa add-on, and the Laos visa-on-arrival fee of 30–40 USD is paid separately at Dansavanh. ### Can I be deported or banned from Vietnam for overstaying? Yes, under Decree 282/2025, in force since 15 December 2025, immigration can open a deportation review from 16 days of overstay, and since April 2026 Decree 59/2026 lets authorities deport immediately if the fine cannot be paid on the spot. Repeat or long violations carry a re-entry ban of one to five years. Fines scale steeply: roughly 500,000–2,000,000 VND for under 16 days (payable at the border), 5,000,000–10,000,000 VND for 16–29 days, and up to 40,000,000 VND for overstays of a year or more. If you have already overstayed, message us on WhatsApp (+84 369 308 237) before going to the border so we can plan the exit and the expected fine. ### What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen during the run? Report the loss to the border police or local police first and get a written report. You cannot cross into Laos or re-enter Vietnam without your passport. Contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document, and message us immediately so we can hold your seat or reschedule the run for free once your documents are sorted. Keep a passport photo and a photocopy of your passport in your bag plus a digital copy on your phone; it makes replacement paperwork much faster. ### Can overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) use their 5-year visa exemption on this run? Yes, the 5-year visa exemption (EX5 card) allows multiple entries, so you can exit at Lao Bao and re-enter the same day, and each new entry resets your stay of up to 180 days. You skip the e-visa application and its fee entirely, which makes a northern Vietnam visa run cheaper and faster for Viet Kieu. If you qualify but do not have the card yet, the team can check your eligibility and arrange the application while you plan the trip. 2025–2026 updates ## New visa rules & run planning ### Are visa runs from Hanoi still legal under the 2025–2026 rule changes? Yes, no decree has banned the exit-and-re-entry loop, and the Hanoi to Lao Bao run remains a routine same-day crossing in 2026. The recent changes target violations, not legal border runs: Decree 282/2025 (in force 15 December 2025) roughly doubled overstay fines, Resolution 389/NQ-CP (2 December 2025) widened the e-visa port list from 42 to 83 gates including Lao Bao, and Decree 286/2026 adds real-time data sharing from 15 September 2026. Leave Vietnam with a valid e-visa or exemption stamp and the run stays fully routine. ### Do I need to stay outside Vietnam for a minimum time before re-entering? No, there is no legal minimum time outside Vietnam, and same-day exit and re-entry at Lao Bao is routine on every standard Hanoi visa run: riders are stamped out in the morning, the Laos side takes a couple of hours, and you re-enter Vietnam the same day with a fresh stamp. The old 30-day waiting expectation belonged to the previous 15-day exemption era and no longer applies, though immigration officers can still question very frequent back-to-back loops. ### What happens to my single-entry e-visa when I exit Vietnam at Lao Bao? A single-entry e-visa is consumed the moment you exit Vietnam, so the visa you arrived on cannot take you back in, which is exactly why a visa run pairs the Lao Bao crossing with a new 90-day e-visa application. Our desk submits the new application right after your exit stamp (the system only accepts applications from outside Vietnam), and it is usually approved before you reach Hanoi. If you hold a multiple-entry e-visa, check how many entries remain before booking. You may not need the run at all. ### If I leave Vietnam before my e-visa expires, are the unused days lost? Yes, unused days on a single-entry e-visa or a 45-day exemption stamp are lost the moment you exit, and your new stamp starts a fresh period on the day you re-enter. That is normally fine on a visa run from Hanoi, because you are buying a new 90-day window rather than trying to save the old one. Multiple-entry e-visas are the exception: exiting early does not cancel them, so if you still have entries left you can often skip the run entirely. ### I hold two passports, which one should I use for the Lao Bao visa run? Use the passport that gives the smoothest entry into Vietnam. Usually the nationality with the 45-day visa exemption or the one carrying your approved e-visa. And use that same passport for the whole trip: the Vietnam exit stamp, the Laos entry at Dansavanh, and the Vietnam re-entry stamp. Switching passports mid-run confuses both border systems and invites extra questions at Lao Bao. Tell us both nationalities when you book and we will plan the crossing around the stronger passport. ### Will Decree 286/2026 data-sharing rules (from 15 September 2026) affect my visa run? Decree 286/2026, effective 15 September 2026, makes immigration, visa, work-permit and residence data flow between agencies in real time. It does not change e-visa fees, the 90-day validity, or which nationalities are exempt. A genuine traveller doing a routine Lao Bao run sees no difference: a clean exit, a valid new e-visa and a normal re-entry look exactly the same in the new system. What the decree tightens is the grey area. Repeated same-day loops while working without a permit now stand out. So keep your stamps clean and your paperwork honest. ### I was previously blacklisted or banned from Vietnam. Can I still do a visa run? A Vietnam entry ban is usually linked to overstays, unpaid fines or immigration violations, and a border run will not clear it. Attempting to cross with an active ban can mean detention at the gate rather than a stamp. If you suspect you are on a list, send your passport details to us on WhatsApp (+84 369 308 237) before booking and we will check your record where possible. Overstays that were already fined and settled are a different situation. See the next question. ### I overstayed before but already paid the fine. Will I be stopped at Lao Bao? An overstay that was fined and settled at the border or immigration office rarely causes problems on a later run, because the penalty was paid and your exit was recorded as legal. Under Decree 282/2025 fines are collected at the exit gate. From about 500,000 VND for under 16 days up to 40,000,000 VND for overstays of a year or more. So a settled case means a clean record in practice. If your overstay was long or you never received a payment receipt, message us on WhatsApp before booking so we can confirm there is no pending case against your passport. ### I applied for my e-visa with a different entry port. Can I still use it at Lao Bao? Usually yes, if the e-visa was approved from late 2025 onward. Resolution 389/NQ-CP (2 December 2025) took the port-of-entry field off the issued e-visa and raised the eligible list to 83 checkpoints, so an approval no longer ties you to one gate, and Lao Bao is on that list. If your approval letter still prints a named port, use it as printed. The rule that did not change: the e-visa has to be approved before you reach the border, and an unapproved application gets you turned around regardless of the gate you named. Send us the approval PDF on WhatsApp (+84 369 308 237) before you board and we will confirm it covers Lao Bao. ### Can I get to Lao Bao by public bus or train from Hanoi, or is a van the only option? Technically you can reach the border by public transport. Sleeper buses run Hanoi to Dong Ha on QL1 (about 9 hours) and local buses and taxis cover the remaining stretch toward Lao Bao. But no train reaches the border and the connections make a same-day crossing impractical. The van run exists because the roughly 370 km door-to-door window (pickups 04:00–05:30, back in Hanoi by 18:00–20:00) only works with a dedicated vehicle and a fixer who knows both border posts. DIY by motorbike or bus usually means an overnight stay near Lao Bao and arranging the Laos visa and e-visa timing yourself. Run day, minute by minute ## Hour by hour: the Lao Bao from Hanoi run, as it actually runs ### What time does a Hanoi visa run actually start, and when am I home? Pickups run from 04:00 to 05:30 in Tay Ho, and a little later for Long Bien, Gia Lam and Soc Son addresses. The shared van reaches Lao Bao around 10:45, border work takes about fifteen minutes with a fixer on each side, and you are stamped back into Vietnam by 15:00 so the drive home happens in daylight. Door to door a Hanoi visa run on the Lao Bao from Hanoi route runs about 14 hours, dropping you at your pickup point between 18:00 and 20:00. ### How late can I book a Hanoi visa run before departure day? The shared van is Tuesday and Saturday, and seats tend to go in the last 48 hours, so book at least a day ahead if you can. A private car runs any day of the week and we can usually confirm one the same evening, provided your Vietnam e-visa is already approved or is being filed on a processing tier that finishes before the border window closes. The one thing that cannot be rushed is the e-visa itself. If it is still pending, the run has to wait for the approval, not the other way round. ### What does the night-before confirmation look like? The evening before your run we send the driver's name, the vehicle type and the exact pickup window for your address, plus the number to call if you cannot see the van. For shared seats we also confirm the final headcount, because a consolidated departure can shift your pickup by 15 or 20 minutes. Save the message offline before you leave Wi-Fi. Mountain sections of the Ho Chi Minh Highway have signal gaps. ### What happens if I am late for my pickup in the Old Quarter or Tay Ho? Call the driver number in your confirmation message immediately; the van will wait a few minutes in a residential street but cannot hold up a 6:00 departure for the whole vehicle. A private car is much more forgiving because there is nobody else to keep waiting, so late sleepers often book private. If you make the van but lose 30 minutes, we still have room. The border turnaround window at Lao Bao is generous compared with a southern crossing. ### What if the shared van leaves without me. Can I still cross today? Sometimes yes: if you are mobile within the city we can reroute the van to a closer point, or send a private car to catch up on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, though the second option costs a private-car fare. If neither works, you move to the next shared departure or run private another day. And if your visa expires first, talk to us before you do anything, because overstaying is a fine, not an inconvenience. ### What are the rest stops and toilets like on the Ho Chi Minh Highway? Expect one or two stops each way, typically around Mai Chau or Quan Hoa on the way down, at roadside service stations with clean-ish western and squat toilets and a small shop. The drive from Hanoi runs out through Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa on mostly good two-lane sealed road that winds more than a coastal highway would, then joins QL217 for the final stretch past Khe Sanh into Lao Bao town. Trucks are the main traffic and they climb slowly, which is why the drivers know the passing stretches by heart. ### What should I eat and drink on a Hanoi visa run, and can I buy food on the way? Eat something before the 04:00 pickup. The first stop is two hours in. Bring a refillable bottle, and note that the return trip includes a quick lunch stop in Thanh Hoa, where a bowl of pho or com rang costs well under 100,000 VND. If you have a stomach you would rather not test, bring your own snacks and sealed water rather than sampling roadside food on run day. ### Is there phone signal and Wi-Fi on the Hanoi to Lao Bao route? Vietnamese mobile coverage runs the whole way but drops in patches through the mountains of Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, so download your e-visa PDF and your confirmation message before you leave. There is no reliable Wi-Fi at the border itself. If the officer asks to see the e-visa, a screenshot on your phone is enough. Our fixer is standing with you and the approval is checkable in the system regardless. ### What do I do with my luggage and valuables at the Lao Bao border? Leave anything you do not need in the van. The driver stays with the vehicle and the crossing is a short walk you do twice. Carry your passport, your cash for the Laos visa, your phone and your e-visa copy in one small bag you keep on you. Do not leave a passport in a locked suitcase somewhere you cannot reach it in thirty seconds, because you will need it at four separate counters on a same-day turnaround. ### Why is 15:00 the deadline to be back across when the gate stays open until 22:00? Because the drive home is a whole second trip, not a walk. Laos immigration publishes Dansavanh as 07:00 to 22:00 daily with no lunch break, and the Vietnamese side works the same daytime window, but a van that only re-enters Vietnam at 17:00 gets back to Hanoi in the middle of the night. Our shared van is stamped back in by 15:00 so the return runs in daylight and the drop-off lands between 18:00 and 20:00 as promised. ### What happens if the van reaches Lao Bao after 16:00? Realistically the same-day turnaround is gone and you are looking at an overnight. Guesthouses near the gate on the Vietnamese side run about 10 to 15 USD a night, and you cross on the first working morning instead, which for most runners is fine because the e-visa window is still open. We would rather tell you at 10:00 that the schedule is slipping than have you arrive at a closed passenger window with a visa expiring that night. ### What is the breakdown plan if the van fails on the Ho Chi Minh Highway? The drivers on this route work a fixed corridor and have spare vehicles and workshops on call, so the practical plan is a swap rather than a tow. You transfer, the luggage transfers, and the border window stays intact. If a replacement cannot reach you quickly enough, the fallback is a night near the border or a push of the e-visa date, and we contact you about the change rather than leaving you to work it out at a fuel stop. ### Can I take photos or film at the Lao Bao border gate? Not in the border zone. Both the Vietnamese and Lao sides restrict photographing immigration buildings, counters, officers and queues, and a phone held up at the wrong moment can turn a fifteen-minute formalities stop into a long conversation. Take your pictures at the rest stops, in Lao Bao town or back in Hanoi. Plenty of runners photograph the footbridge from a distance before they are inside the restricted area, but do not push it. ### Can I stay a night in Laos and come back the next morning instead of turning around? Yes, and for some travellers that is a better trip than a same-day loop. Dansavanh has guesthouses and Lao Bao has a handful more, so you can cross out one afternoon and re-enter the next morning on the same e-visa. What you have to plan is the Laos side: a stay beyond the border zone means a proper Laos entry, which for many passports is the visa on arrival at the counter. If your Vietnam e-visa start date is fixed, check it still covers the later re-entry before you decide to sleep over. ### What if the fixer finds a problem with my documents mid-run? The fixable problems are caught before you leave the border area: a name spelled differently to the e-visa, a port that does not read Lao Bao, a passport with under six months validity, or an e-visa that has not been approved yet. The fix for a wrong port or a misprint is a fresh e-visa filed the same day, which usually means re-entering the following morning rather than the same afternoon. That is why we check the approval letter against your passport before the pickup, not at the counter. Money & the counters ## Cash, customs and the Laos visa window at Lao Bao ### How much cash can I carry through Lao Bao without declaring it? Vietnam customs sets two independent thresholds: USD 5,000 in foreign-currency cash and VND 15,000,000 in dong, plus 300 g of gold. Crossing any of them means filling in a customs declaration and using the red channel on the way out or on the way back in, and the dong figure is the one runners trip over because it is only about 590 USD. On a northern Vietnam visa run you normally carry far less. The Laos visa fee of about 40 USD plus snacks. So the form almost never applies. ### What happens if I do not declare cash over the Lao Bao threshold? Decree 169/2026, in force from 1 July 2026, tightened the customs penalties with reported administrative fines of up to 50 million VND for an undeclared amount on exit and 20 million VND on entry. The declaration thresholds themselves did not change: USD 5,000 in foreign cash, VND 15,000,000 in dong, or 300 g of gold. If a group booking means you are carrying the kitty, declare it at the red channel rather than risk losing the whole day. ### Can I pay the Laos visa-on-arrival fee at Dansavanh by card? No, the Laos window is cash only, and there is no card terminal or ATM on the Laos side of the gate. This catches people who assume a border post on the East-West Economic Corridor takes plastic. Bring clean USD or the dong equivalent in your pocket on the morning of the run, not in a suitcase in the back of the van. ### Which currency should I carry for the Laos visa window. USD, dong or kip? US dollars are the safest choice for the visa fee, with dong accepted at the equivalent amount if you would rather not change money first. Kip is not needed for a same-day turnaround. You cross, get stamped, and come back, so there is nothing to spend on the Laos side except a coffee or a duty-free impulse. Exchange rates at the gate are poor, so change your money in Hanoi and keep the notes flat and unmarked. ### What are the duty-free allowances when I re-enter Vietnam at Lao Bao? Under Article 6 of Decree 134/2016 each traveller entering with a passport is exempt from import duty on 1.5 litres of alcohol at 20% ABV or more, or 2 litres below 20%, or 3 litres of beer, plus 200 cigarettes, or 250 g of loose tobacco, or 20 cigars, per entry. The alcohol and tobacco allowances do not apply to anyone under 18. Anything above the allowance is declarable and taxable, which is the practical reason to keep Laos duty-free shopping small. ### Is the Laos-side duty-free shopping worth timing your run around? It is a nice extra rather than a reason to book. Both sides of the gate have shops: the Lao side sells spirits, cigarettes, perfume and electronics, and the Vietnamese side has a smaller counter. A same-day re-entry still counts as a fresh entry, so the standard allowances apply and receipts are worth keeping if you buy anything substantial. Laos coffee, tea and snacks are the purchases nobody questions. ### Is there an ATM at the Lao Bao gate or in Lao Bao town? Lao Bao town on the Vietnamese side has ATMs; the gate area and the whole Laos side at Dansavanh do not take cards and have no machine. Withdraw dong in Hanoi before you leave, or carry the USD you need for the Laos fee from the start. Because a card-only traveller reaching the Dansavanh window with a visa fee to pay has no good options and no time to find one. ### Do I need a passport photo for the Laos visa at Dansavanh? If your passport needs a Laos visa, yes. Bring one recent passport-size photo, and a spare does no harm. The counter is used to travellers who arrive with a loose photo in a passport cover, and the form itself takes a few minutes to complete. Passports that are visa-free for Laos skip the photo and the fee entirely; check which group you are in before run day. ### Do I have to declare anything when I re-enter Vietnam the same day? Usually nothing. Re-entry at Lao Bao is a passport, e-visa and stamp process, and almost every Hanoi visa run returns with well under the USD 5,000 and VND 15,000,000 cash thresholds and no dutiable goods. You would only pick up a customs form if you were re-entering with more cash than that, gold above 300 g, or shopping over the duty-free allowance. Come back with 45 USD of Laos coffee and there is no paperwork at all. ### Can I bring a vape or e-cigarette on a northern Vietnam visa run? No. Vietnam banned the use and possession of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco from 1 January 2025, and Decree 371/2025 sets fines of 3 to 5 million VND plus confiscation of the device, so a vape in your bag at Lao Bao is a fine waiting to happen on either leg. Laos also restricts imports of vaping products. If you vape, leave the device at home for run day and pick it up when you are back in Hanoi. ### Can I bring prescription medicine across at Lao Bao? Yes, and the routine is simple: keep it in the original pharmacy packaging with the prescription or a doctor's letter naming the medicine and you. That covers the ordinary chronic-condition supply on a same-day loop. Anything in the narcotic or psychotropic categories needs a proper permit rather than a letter, so if that is your situation tell us before you book and we will flag it rather than let you find out at the counter. ### What are the rules on drones and camera gear at the border? Laptops, phones and ordinary cameras need no declaration, but a drone needs permission from the Ministry of Defence and the aviation authority before it enters Vietnam, and the border zone is not a place to fly one regardless of paperwork. Filming immigration buildings, counters and queues on either side is prohibited. If you are travelling with professional kit, declare it like any other valuable and keep it packed until you are well clear of the gate. ### What is the rule about damaged or marked USD notes at the Laos window? Clean, unmarked notes only. A torn corner, a pen mark, a stamp or an old-series note is commonly refused at the counter, and you are standing there with a visa fee to pay. Take the notes to a bank in Hanoi and ask for fresh bills before run day. This matters more at Lao Bao than at a bank desk because there is no fallback: the counter takes what it accepts and there is no machine and no manager to appeal to. ### What happens if I run out of cash at the border mid-run? The fixer and driver are the people to tell, immediately. They handle this crossing daily and can usually sort a shortfall from the vans on the same morning rather than sending you back to Hanoi. What cannot be fixed at the gate is a card payment, because neither side has a terminal. The reliable version of the plan is 1.5 million VND of spending money and 50 USD set aside for the Laos fee, kept separate so run-day costs never eat into it. Running long-term ## Repeat runs, annual cost and the long-stay switch (2026) ### Do I need to register my address again after re-entering at Lao Bao? Yes, the temporary residence declaration belongs to the address, not to the visa, so every new entry has to be reported where you are actually sleeping. Since Circular 87/2026/TT-BCA took effect on 24 July 2026, hotels and guesthouses file electronically and must do it when you arrive with no grace period, while private homes and small places without an account use the NA17 paper slip within 12 hours, or 24 hours in remote areas. There is no fee, the fine for a missing declaration lands on the host at 3 to 5 million VND for up to three guests, and your only duty is to hand over your passport and show the new stamp without being asked. ### What does a year of Hanoi visa runs actually cost? The arithmetic is simple enough to do honestly: a 90-day rhythm means four runs a year. A shared seat from Tay Ho is 1,500,000 VND, the Laos visa fee at Dansavanh is about 40 USD depending on nationality, and the Vietnam e-visa is either the 25 USD government fee if you file it yourself or from 65 USD as a 4-day single-entry add-on through our desk. That works out at roughly 400 to 450 USD a year sharing seats and filing your own visa, or around 600 USD a year with the desk handling every application. ### Is it cheaper to run every 90 days on single-entry e-visas, or to hold a multiple-entry e-visa? If you are crossing out more than once inside one visa period. A Cambodia or Laos weekend in the middle, or a flight home and back. The multiple-entry e-visa pays for itself immediately, because the government fee is 50 USD against 25 USD single and the multiple version survives every crossing. If your only border contact is the quarterly Hanoi visa run, the maths is closer than most people expect: the multiple-entry version still needs the same transport and the same Laos fee each time, so you are comparing 50 USD once against 25 USD four times. ### At how many runs a year should I switch to a work permit or a temporary residence card? Three signals, not a number: you are running more than about four times a year, you are earning from inside Vietnam rather than for clients abroad, or a local employer is willing to sponsor you. A temporary residence card issued on a work permit removes the loop entirely, and working in Vietnam on a tourist e-visa now carries its own penalties. Decree 283/2026 fines the foreigner 15 to 25 million VND and the employer 30 to 75 million VND per head from 10 September 2026. See temporaryresidencecard.com for the permit route and keep running the border while that file is open. ### Can I keep doing a Hanoi visa run while a work permit or TRC file is open? Yes, and most people do, because a permit file takes weeks and a visa does not wait. What changes is your paperwork trail. The run is a genuine tourist entry, so keep the purpose consistent and make sure the e-visa you re-enter on matches the story your sponsor is filing. A pending application is not an entry authorization: until the residence card is issued you are still travelling on your visa, so do not let the visa expire on the assumption that the file protects you. ### Do immigration officers treat you differently after several visa runs? They ask more, they do not necessarily refuse more. Repeat runners report the same three questions coming back into Lao Bao: why you are staying so long, where you are staying, and how you support yourself here. Answer the same way every time, give the address your tam tru registration is filed under, keep the purpose as tourist, and hold your next e-visa approval letter so the officer sees a plan rather than a loop. ### Will repeated Lao Bao stamps hurt a future visa, work permit or TRC application? The stamps themselves will not, because visa runs are perfectly legal. Files are refused over overstays, unpaid fines and bans, not over a tidy series of entry and exit records. What does damage a future application is overstaying by even a day under Decree 282/2025, ignoring an exit-suspension flag such as the tax-debt suspensions introduced under Decree 252/2026, or picking up a refusal at the border where the penalties under Decree 59/2026 allow bans of up to three years. Keep every stamp legible and your history reads as an ordinary long-stay visitor. ### Can I be refused re-entry even with a valid e-visa? Yes. A valid e-visa is permission to apply to enter, not a guarantee, and the officer at Lao Bao sees the shared immigration record before you speak. Decree 286/2026 has made that sharing real-time since 15 September 2026. The documented refusals involve unpaid fines from an earlier overstay, a name on the blacklist, an exit-suspension flag, a passport with less than six months validity, or an e-visa issued for a different port. All of those are counter problems rather than Hanoi problems, which is why we check them before we book your transport. ### Which border is best for repeat runners from northern Vietnam. Lao Bao, Na Meo or Huu Nghi? Lao Bao is the default for repeat business, because it handles volume every day, the counters move, and both sides' fixer teams know the routine, which is why our shared van runs there twice a week. Na Meo in Thanh Hoa is shorter and quieter and suits riders who want a personal crossing rather than a queue. Huu Nghi faces China, not Laos, so it only works if you already hold a China visa. For a northern Vietnam visa run on a quarterly rhythm, Lao Bao keeps the fewest surprises. ### When does the 183-day tax-residency line start to matter? Under Vietnamese personal income tax rules you become tax resident once you spend 183 days or more in Vietnam in a calendar year, or 183 days across 12 consecutive months. A visa run resets your immigration status but not the day count. You leave in the morning and come back the same evening, so every run day still counts as a day in Vietnam. If you are close to the line and earning income with a Vietnamese source, that is the point to talk to an accountant rather than to keep booking vans quietly. ### What is the cheapest legal way to stay 12 months in northern Vietnam? For a tourist who does not work locally, the cheapest legal pattern is a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa and three or four Lao Bao crossings a year, filed yourself on the government portal at 50 USD for the multiple-entry version, with shared seats and the Laos fee paid at the counter. That is roughly 400 to 450 USD all-in for the year. The cheapest option overall is a work permit and temporary residence card if you qualify for one, because the card removes the transport and the border fees altogether. ### Can I turn a Hanoi visa run into a weekend in Laos instead of a same-day loop? Yes, and it is a good use of the trip. Cross at Lao Bao into Dansavanh, then continue west on Route 9 toward Savannakhet, or head north into Houaphanh if you crossed at Na Meo, and come back through the same gate on your return leg. Check that your Vietnam e-visa covers the re-entry date and that your Laos entry is properly stamped for the stay you plan. A day trip past the border zone is a different thing from a same-day turnaround, and it needs a Laos visa for most passports. ### What should I keep after each run, and for how long? Photograph every stamp the day you get it, keep your e-visa approval letter PDFs, the Laos visa receipt if you paid for one, and your tam tru registration slips, and put them in one folder in cloud storage. Keep them for at least as long as you might apply for a work permit, residence card or another visa, because renewal files routinely ask for a travel history you cannot reconstruct from memory. It costs nothing and it answers the officer's question about your last crossing in seconds. ### Is a Lao Bao from Hanoi visa run worth it compared with flying out and back? On cost and time, yes for most people: a shared seat plus the Laos fee is under 150 USD and the whole thing is one 14-hour day with no hotel and no airport. A budget return flight from Hanoi to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur is usually 120 to 250 USD before you add a night or two of accommodation and airport transfers. The flight makes sense if you want the trip itself, if you need a specific embassy for a visa that cannot be filed online, or if you cannot spare the day. But for a straight reset, the Lao Bao from Hanoi run is the cheaper and simpler option. ### Is there a new arrival form for flying into Hanoi? Yes. Vietnam's Pre-Arrival Information declaration, usually called the digital arrival card, is required at Noi Bai. File it at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn within 72 hours of arrival, or on arrival at the airport, then show the QR code at passport control. It is free and it is not a visa: your e-visa still has to be approved before you fly. Land gates including Lao Bao are still under study, so a van run does not need it. DIY from Hanoi ## Doing it yourself from Hanoi: buses, trains and self-drive to Lao Bao ### Is there a direct bus from Hanoi to Lao Bao, or do I have to change at Dong Ha? No public bus runs Hanoi to Lao Bao in one hop. The practical DIY route is a sleeper or limousine coach from Hanoi to Dong Ha on QL1 (about 9 hours, roughly 400,000–600,000 VND), then a local bus or taxi for the last ~80 km on QL9 to the gate. You arrive late afternoon, which kills the same-day turnaround, so a DIY bus run realistically means an overnight in Dong Ha or Lao Bao — check our Lao Bao hours guide before you plan the crossing. ### Can I reach Lao Bao by train from Hanoi? No train reaches the border. The North–South line stops at Dong Ha, an overnight run of roughly 10–13 hours depending on the service and seat class, and from Dong Ha station it is still ~80 km west on QL9 by taxi or local bus. The train is the most comfortable way to get close, but like the bus it makes the same-day round trip impossible — the shared van exists precisely because it does the whole loop in one day. ### Can I ride my own motorbike from Hanoi to Lao Bao for a visa run? Yes, and plenty of riders do it, but it is a two-day trip, not a 14-hour one: about 370 km each way on QL1A or the Ho Chi Minh Highway, 8–10 hours in the saddle per direction. You cannot take the bike into Laos without temporary-import paperwork, so you park on the Vietnamese side, walk through with the fixer, and ride home the next day. Carry water, a spare tube and offline maps, because fuel stops thin out in the Truong Son foothills. ### Do I need an International Driving Permit to ride or drive to Lao Bao? Vietnam recognises a Vietnamese licence or a valid International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, in the correct category (A for a motorbike) — this sits under Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT. Most self-drive riders carry the IDP for police checks and insurance; without it, an accident claim can be refused and a checkpoint fine is likelier. If you would rather not deal with any of that, a private car covers the whole route with a driver. ### Can I take a rental car from Hanoi across into Laos? No. A Vietnamese rental car cannot cross into Laos, and even a private Vietnamese-registered car needs a temporary export/re-import permit and tourism-vehicle approval (Decree 30/2024/ND-CP) plus the rental company's written authorisation. For a visa run you leave the vehicle on the Vietnamese side in Lao Bao town, cross on foot with the fixer, and drive home — the same crossing our vans use every day. ### What documents and how much time does a self-drive run need? The border documents for a northern Vietnam visa run are identical to the van run — passport with six months' validity and blank pages, a printed e-visa, the Laos visa fee in clean USD and a 4x6 cm photo — plus, if you drive, your licence and IDP, vehicle registration and insurance. Budget a full day each way rather than the 14-hour loop: unless you ride through the night, self-drive at Lao Bao is an overnight trip. Send your nationality and dates to WhatsApp and we will tell you what your passport needs. ### Where do I park at Lao Bao if I drive myself? There is parking in Lao Bao town on the Vietnamese side near the gate, and many riders leave the bike or car at a guesthouse for a small overnight fee. There is no secure long-stay parking inside the border zone and valuables should never be left on the vehicle. Confirm the arrangement with your hotel in advance and keep the parking slip with your documents. ### Is a DIY run cheaper than a shared seat or private van from Hanoi? Only on paper. The fuel for the ~740 km round trip is the one real saving, but you add two nights of food and lodging, wear on the bike or car, and your own time — while the Laos visa fee is the same at the counter. A shared seat at 1,500,000 VND (1,650,000 VND from Long Bien) and a private car at 205–218 USD per car — the fares on the Lao Bao from Hanoi run — are cheaper once the overnight is counted. DIY is for the ride, not for the result. ### Which route is better for self-driving — QL1 or the Ho Chi Minh Highway? QL1 is the direct, busier trunk road through Vinh and Dong Ha; the Ho Chi Minh Highway is quieter and prettier through the Truong Son foothills but longer and with long signal-free stretches. The van runs use the Ho Chi Minh Highway down and QL217/QL9 across, so if you follow our route you know it is passable. Signal gaps are the real issue for a solo rider — download offline maps before you leave Hanoi. ### What police checkpoints should a self-drive run expect? Expect traffic-police checks on QL1 and QL9 and on the approach to Lao Bao in Quang Tri. Carry your licence and IDP, registration and insurance, wear a helmet, and keep the bike legal. Riders with complete paperwork are usually waved through; the stops exist mainly to catch unlicensed riders and unregistered vehicles, so a missing IDP or helmet is the thing that costs you. ### What if my own vehicle breaks down or I cannot ride home from Lao Bao? Lao Bao town has basic garages and motorcycle repair, and hotels can arrange a bus or taxi back toward Dong Ha. A full recovery to Hanoi is expensive — a flatbed truck or loading the bike onto the train — so self-drive riders keep a small emergency budget and a phone with local data. If you are stuck after a late crossing, stay the night in Lao Bao rather than ride the mountains in the dark. ### Can I combine the Lao Bao crossing with a longer Laos trip on my own transport? Yes, but the vehicle rules change. A Vietnamese-registered bike or car into Laos needs temporary-import paperwork at the Laos window, insurance and often a permit, and the process at Dansavanh is far slower than crossing on foot. Most travellers cross on foot, leave the vehicle in Lao Bao, and continue west by Laos bus or songthaew toward Savannakhet — then re-enter Vietnam on the return leg with a fresh e-visa. Calendar & timing ## Tet, holidays and problem days: timing a Hanoi visa run around the calendar (2026–27) ### When is Tet 2027, and how does it affect a Hanoi visa run? Tet 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February, with New Year's Eve on Friday 5 February and a proposed public holiday running roughly 4–10 February. Lao Bao and Dansavanh keep their normal daily hours through the festival, but border staffing thins out, queues lengthen and e-visa processing slows or pauses over the holiday. If your visa expires anywhere near Tet, run at least a week before it — see the dates on our Lao Bao hours page. ### Can I do a visa run during Tet week itself? The border is open every day including Tet and the vans run through the festival, but you are crossing in the worst window of the year: minimal staffing, a chaotic 8–11 AM crush, and shorter hours at the Laos visa window. If you must cross during Tet, book a private car, carry clean USD and a spare photo, and allow a night in Lao Bao as a cushion. Where you can, shift the run a week earlier. ### What if my visa expires during Tet? Do not overstay into the holiday. Either run at least a week before Tet, or accept the Decree 282/2025 per-day overstay fine and the risk of a refusal at the gate — a run cannot undo an overstay already recorded. The clean fix is an e-visa approved before you cross, timed to start the day you re-enter, which our visa desk can arrange while you travel. ### Which other Vietnamese holidays affect the Lao Bao border and the e-visa desk? The Hung Kings' Commemoration (10th day of the third lunar month), Reunification Day and May Day (30 April–1 May) and National Day (2 September) are the big clusters. The border itself stays open, but the e-visa rush tiers run Monday–Friday only, so a holiday cluster pushes you onto the slower 3- to 4-day tiers, and the desks and vans are busier. Book earlier around each cluster. ### Do shared vans run on public holidays? The shared Lao Bao vans keep their Tuesday and Saturday departures through Tet and the national holidays, and private cars run any day. What changes is demand: holiday weekends fill up first, so book a week ahead and expect the border's busiest mid-morning window. Our dispatch answers on WhatsApp 05:00–23:00 daily with the real availability. ### Is there a storm or flood season on the Hanoi to Lao Bao route? Yes — the north-central provinces flood from roughly September to November, when typhoons and tropical depressions can close stretches of QL1 and the Ho Chi Minh Highway around Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri. Check the forecast 24–48 hours before a run in those months; the desk will postpone or reroute if a section is under water rather than drive through it. ### Which months are best for a northern Vietnam visa run? October to April is the most reliable window — cooler, drier and with the roads holding up. May to August is hot and wet with afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains, and September to November carries the flood risk. Any month works in an air-conditioned van, but the driving is easiest and the border least disrupted in the dry season. ### Is a weekday run better than a weekend from Hanoi? Weekdays are quieter at Lao Bao and the e-visa rush tiers (1-hour, 2-hour, 4-hour) are available Monday–Friday only, which matters if you need fast processing. Weekends and holiday Mondays are busier at the gate and the rush tiers do not run at all, so a weekend file has to use the slower tiers. If your dates are flexible, a midweek run is the smoother day. ### How far ahead should I book around Tet or a long weekend? Book a private car at least a week ahead, and a shared seat as soon as the Tuesday or Saturday date is confirmed on the Lao Bao from Hanoi run — holiday slots go first. File the e-visa five to seven days before the run so a government holiday pause cannot catch your application. For a Tet-week crossing, treat it like a peak-season booking and confirm the Laos-side hours separately. ### What happens if the Ho Chi Minh Highway is closed by a landslide or flooding? The driver reroutes onto QL1 or waits it out, and if a same-day turnaround becomes impossible the run turns into an overnight in Lao Bao or Dong Ha at the same transport price, with the crossing the next morning. The desk watches the weather reports and tells you the evening before if the route is at risk, so you are not discovering a closed road at 05:00. ### Does the Laos side have holidays that close Dansavanh? The crossing stays open daily, but the Laos visa window follows Laos public holidays loosely and can run short hours around them. Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) and Laos National Day (2 December) are the two to watch, when some staff are away and the office is slower. If you cross in those weeks, leave extra time at the Dansavanh counter. ### Should I run before or after a public-holiday cluster? Before, whenever you can. Running a few days ahead of a cluster keeps you clear of the packed departures, the thinned border staffing and the e-visa processing pause, and it leaves buffer if the border is slower than usual. Running after a cluster only works if your visa comfortably outlasts the holiday — otherwise you risk an overstay that no run can fix. E-visa file clinic ## The 90-day e-visa file: filing, corrections and problem cases ### How do I file a Vietnam 90-day e-visa myself from Hanoi? Apply on the official portal at evisa.gov.vn, upload a passport data-page scan and a 4x6 cm white-background photo, choose “Lao Bao” as the port of entry if you are running there, pay the government fee by card (25 USD single-entry, 50 USD multiple-entry) and wait the standard three working days. Print the approval and carry it on the run. If you would rather not risk a rejected file, our e-visa desk reviews the whole application and files it for you. ### What photo and passport scan does the e-visa portal require? A recent 4x6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses or hats, face filling most of the frame, taken within the last six months — a phone photo at a Hanoi copy shop is fine. The passport scan must show the full data page with all four corners visible, in focus and without glare, and the MRZ lines at the bottom must be legible. A cropped corner, shadow or blurry MRZ is the single most common rejection cause. ### What must the port of entry say on a Lao Bao run? It must read “Lao Bao” (the land border) — not Na Meo, not Huu Nghi, and not an airport unless you are flying in. An e-visa issued for a different port cannot be used at Lao Bao: officers can refuse it and you need a fresh application naming the right gate. Na Meo works only if you are actually crossing at Na Meo, so match the port to the run you have booked. ### My name is spelled differently on my passport and my bank card — does it matter? Only the immigration documents matter. The e-visa must match the passport exactly — same letter order as the MRZ, including middle names and any accents — and a mismatch between the e-visa and the passport is a refusal at the gate. A difference with a bank card or a booking reference is irrelevant to immigration; fix the e-visa, ignore the rest. ### Can I correct an error on an approved e-visa? No. Once an e-visa is approved you cannot edit a port, a date or a name in the portal — the fix is a brand-new application with the correct details and a new government fee. That is exactly why the desk reviews your draft before you submit: catching a wrong port or a blurred scan before payment is free, and catching it after costs you the fee and the days. ### What happens if my e-visa is refused, and do I get a refund? The government fee is not refunded when an application is refused. The usual causes are a blurry scan, a photo that fails the specification, a name mismatch or a prior deportation. If a file we submitted is refused we re-file it or refund our service portion, but the government fee itself is always non-refundable — which is another reason to get the photo and the port right the first time. ### I renewed my passport — do I need a new e-visa? Yes. An e-visa is tied to the passport number it was issued against, so a new passport needs a fresh application and a fresh fee. There is a separate USD 5 document-transfer route that moves an existing visa or exemption certificate onto a new passport, which is cheaper, but it is not the same thing as an e-visa reissue — ask dispatch which fits your case before you pay. ### Can I file the e-visa from another country before I fly to Hanoi? Yes — the e-visa is filed online and can be applied for from anywhere, and it is issued for a fixed entry window. Just make sure the port of entry matches where you will actually arrive, and that you enter on or before the start date you declared. Filing a week before your flight gives room for a portal query without forcing you onto a paid rush tier. ### Do I need a separate e-visa for each traveller, including children? Yes, one application and one fee per passport, including infants and children. A child travelling on their own passport needs their own e-visa and their own 4x6 cm photo; a baby still listed on a parent's passport is rare and handled differently. Tell us the ages when you book through the WhatsApp desk and we will confirm what applies to your family. ### Which is more reliable — the government portal or a Hanoi visa desk? The government portal is the source of truth and the cheapest, but it has no support when something goes wrong: it declines some foreign cards at the 3-D Secure step, and a rejected file means a lost fee. A Hanoi desk files the same government application, but reviews the photo, the scan and the port first, handles the payment and re-files if the portal objects — which matters most when your dates are tight. ### How long before the run should I file my e-visa? File at least five to seven days ahead for the standard three-working-day tier, so a weekend, a holiday or a portal query cannot catch you. Rush tiers (1-hour, 2-hour, 4-hour) exist for tight timelines but run weekdays only and cost more; they are not something to rely on around Tet or a public-holiday cluster. See the cost page for the current tier prices. ### Can I get a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa with the e-visa add-on? Yes. The multiple-entry e-visa costs more (from 85 USD on the slower tier, equivalent to the 50 USD government fee plus service) but it survives every crossing inside its validity. If you plan a Laos or Cambodia side trip, a flight home and back, or two border crossings in one period, it pays for itself against two single-entry applications. If your only border contact is the quarterly run, single-entry stays cheaper. ### Need more details? Dispatch responds 05:00–23:00 daily via WhatsApp or email. Special nationalities, overstays, or group bookings. Ask us before you book. WhatsApp Email us # Page: /laobao.html ## Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run 2026: Route, Drive Time & Border Steps | hanoivisarun.com Route Guide # Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: The Route, the Drive, and the Border The 300 km run down the Ho Chi Minh Highway to the Lao Bao-Dansavanh crossing, done in a single day, with the border steps laid out so nothing surprises you. The Short Answer ## What the Lao Bao run is A visa run from Hanoi to Lao Bao means driving about 300 km south to the border between Vietnam and Laos, crossing into Laos long enough to get stamped out, then turning around and coming back in with a fresh entry stamp. That new stamp resets your stay in Vietnam. For most people it buys another 30 or 90 days, depending on their passport and visa. The border sits in Quang Tri province, on the old Route 9 corridor that used to carry the Ho Chi Minh trail traffic. Vietnam's checkpoint is Lao Bao. Laos's checkpoint, right across the footbridge, is Dansavanh. For Hanoi-based runners it is the most practical one-day crossing in the north, and it is the one the fixers at this end know best. The whole trip takes about 14 hours door to door. Pickup before dawn, four to five hours on the road, roughly fifteen minutes of actual border work, a lunch stop in Thanh Hoa on the way back, and you are home in time for dinner. The Route ## The drive: distance, time, and what the road is like Hanoi to Lao Bao is roughly 300 km. The usual routing heads southwest out of the city onto the Ho Chi Minh Highway, then joins QL217 for the final stretch into Lao Bao town. With clear roads the drive runs four to five hours each way. Add a rest stop or two and you are looking at five hours going down, five coming back. The Ho Chi Minh Highway is mostly good two-lane sealed road through the mountains of Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. It winds more than a coastal highway would, so the speed stays moderate even when traffic is light. Trucks are the main company, and they climb slowly, which is why the drivers know the passing stretches and the fuel stops by heart. The last section past Khe Sanh, once you leave the highway toward the border, narrows and gets rougher. Nothing dramatic, but it is slower going, and first-time runners sometimes wonder if they took a wrong turn. They have not. The border gate appears after the old market town of Lao Bao, and the checkpoint buildings are visible from the road. Leg Distance Time Notes Hanoi to Hoa Binh ~75 km 1.5 h Out of the city, into the hills. Hoa Binh to Thanh Hoa ~120 km 2 h Mountain passes, rest stop around Mai Chau or Quan Hoa. Thanh Hoa to Lao Bao ~105 km 2 h QL217, then the border gate past Khe Sanh. Times assume a private car or shared van moving at normal pace. Public buses run slower and on their own schedules; the DIY budget breakdown covers what that route really costs in hours. The Crossing ## What actually happens at Lao Bao and Dansavanh The border work itself takes about fifteen minutes when the fixer handles it. Here is the order it happens in, because the order is the whole trick. Step 1 Vietnamese exit stamp You queue at the Lao Bao exit counter with your passport. The officer stamps you out of Vietnam. This stamp is what proves you left before your visa expired. Step 2 Walk across to Dansavanh A short walk over the border area to the Laos checkpoint. You are now technically in Laos, which is the point of the whole trip. Step 3 Laos entry At the Dansavanh counter, passports that need a Laos visa pay the cash fee, about 40 USD. Many nationalities enter visa-free. Either way, Laos stamps you in. Step 4 Turn around You do not need to go anywhere in Laos. The stamp is the run. You walk back to the Lao Bao side, sometimes minutes after entering. Step 5 Fresh Vietnamese entry stamp Back at Lao Bao, you re-enter Vietnam and get a new entry stamp. That stamp resets your stay, and the clock starts over. Step 6 Lunch and the drive home The van stops in Thanh Hoa, usually Quan Hoa, for a meal before heading back north. Most runners are back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The fixer from Thanh Hoa stages the exit stamp before you walk over, which matters more than it sounds. Get the sequence wrong on your own, and you can end up with an exit stamp you cannot use, or worse, no stamp at all on a day your visa was already tight. That is the part of the run people most often get wrong the first time. Packing List ## What to bring on the run ### Passport, obviously And make sure it is valid well beyond your return date. Border officers on both sides check validity, and a passport expiring in under six months can cause questions at Dansavanh. ### Two spare passport photos 4x6 cm, white background. You rarely need them, but if the e-visa desk needs a fresh photo or the Laos side asks, you do not want to be the person hunting for a photo booth at a border crossing. ### Cash in USD and dong The Laos entry fee is cash only, about 40 USD or the dong equivalent. Lunch is pocket change. There are no reliable ATMs at the border and the counters do not take cards. ### Your e-visa, printed or on your phone If you are entering on a new Vietnam e-visa, have the approval PDF ready. The QR code on the printout is what the Vietnamese entry officer scans when you come back through. ### A charged phone with WhatsApp The driver and fixer coordinate by WhatsApp all day. Charge overnight, and bring a power bank if you plan to use maps or music on the way down. 2026 Prices ## What the run costs in 2026 Shared van seat ### From 1,500,000 VND - Tuesday and Saturday departures only - Pickup in Tay Ho, Long Bien, or Gia Lam - Includes the fixer, snacks, and water Private car ### From 4,800,000 VND per car - Up to four people, any day of the week - Pickup anywhere in the city, door to door - Far zones like Soc Son run 5,100,000 VND On top of transport sits the visa itself. The 90-day Vietnam e-visa starts at 65 USD for the 4-day single entry and goes up to 180 USD for faster or multi-entry tiers. Most riders add it when they book, and the application goes in the moment Laos stamps you out, so the approval lands in your email while you sleep. The Laos entry fee is separate and cash only. And the full line-item breakdown, including what a solo runner pays all in, lives on our Hanoi visa run cost page. Pick Your Ride ## Shared van, private car, or public bus Three ways to cover the same 300 km, and they are not just different prices. They are different levels of control over the day, and on a visa run the day is the whole point. ### Shared van: cheapest organized option Two fixed days a week, fixed pickup zones, and a fixed return. You trade flexibility for the lowest price with the border handled. Full details, including the schedule, are on the Hanoi visa run bus page. ### Private car: your own schedule Runs any day, leaves when you are ready, stops where you want, and carries as much luggage as fits. The right call when your visa expires on a Tuesday and you cannot wait for Saturday, or when you are moving apartments with suitcases. ### Public bus: the DIY route Cheapest in dong, most expensive in patience. No fixer, no English at the counters, and a missed connection can turn one day into two. The budget comparison on the cheapest visa run page lays out the real trade. If your stamp is already tight, the deciding question is not price. It is whether you can afford for the run to fail. That is when the organized options stop looking expensive. Questions ## Hanoi to Lao Bao, asked and answered ### How far is it from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border? About 300 km each way, via the Ho Chi Minh Highway and QL217. Four to five hours of driving, depending on traffic and roadworks. ### Can you do the run in one day? Yes. Pickup between 4:00 and 5:30 AM, crossing around 9:00 AM, and back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. About 14 hours door to door. ### Do I need a visa to enter Laos at Dansavanh? Many passports enter visa-free and pay nothing. Others pay a cash fee of about 40 USD at the counter. Cards are not accepted, so bring USD or dong. ### Why Lao Bao instead of a border closer to Hanoi? Lao Bao is the most reliable one-day crossing for Hanoi runners: sealed highways, daily volume, and fixer teams that know the routine. Na Meo and Huu Nghi exist, but they see fewer runners and fewer English speakers. ## Ready to reset your stamp? Private cars any day from 4,800,000 VND, shared seats from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dispatch answers 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: the full process from booking to the fresh stamp, with documents and risks. - Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border?: why Vietnam issues nothing on the spot and Laos issues visa on arrival, plus the approved-before-you-board checklist. - Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: the 07:00 to 22:00 schedule, the 15:00 turnaround rule, holiday dates and the quiet crossing days. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Tuesday and Saturday shared van departures, pickup points, and fares. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi: shared seats, group splits, and the DIY public bus option ranked by price. - Laos Visa on Arrival: the 2026 Fee Table: the 40 USD counter fee by nationality, the photo and weekend charges, and why Na Meo has no window. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the registration Laos wants before you reach the Dansavanh counter. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /hanoi-laos.html ## Hanoi Laos Visa Run 2026: Lao Bao, Na Meo & Huu Nghi Compared | hanoivisarun.com Border Guide # Hanoi Laos Visa Run: The Three Border Options, Compared Lao Bao, Na Meo, and Huu Nghi: how far each one is, what the crossing costs, and which gate actually works for a same-day run from Hanoi. The Short Answer ## What the Laos visa run from Hanoi is A Laos visa run from Hanoi means driving to the border, stepping into Laos long enough to get stamped out of Vietnam and stamped back in, then driving home with a fresh entry stamp. That stamp resets your stay. For most people it buys another 30 or 90 days, depending on their passport and visa. Hanoi sits in the north, so the practical crossings are the ones facing Laos: Lao Bao and Na Meo. There is a third gate, Huu Nghi, but it faces China, not Laos, and it only works as a visa run if you already hold a China visa. Most runners never touch it. So when someone says "Hanoi Laos visa run," they almost always mean one of two borders. Lao Bao, in Quang Tri province, about 300 km south, with Dansavanh on the Laos side. It is the workhorse crossing, the one the city's fixer teams know best, and the one our shared van runs to twice a week. Or Na Meo, in Thanh Hoa province, about 250 km away, with Sam Tai on the Laos side. It is smaller, quieter, and sees a fraction of the traffic, which is exactly why some runners prefer it. Both take about the same full day: pickup before dawn, four to five hours of driving, fifteen minutes of border work, a lunch stop, and you are back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The rest of this page compares the two Laos crossings in detail, then explains where Huu Nghi fits, so you can pick the right gate instead of just the nearest one. Option 1 ## Lao Bao: the workhorse crossing Lao Bao is the default answer for a reason. The route runs about 300 km down the Ho Chi Minh Highway, then joins QL217 for the final stretch into Lao Bao town in Quang Tri province. With clear roads the drive takes four to five hours each way. The road is sealed two-lane highway through the mountains of Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, winding more than a coastal route, so the pace stays moderate even when traffic is light. At the border, Vietnam's checkpoint is Lao Bao and Laos's is Dansavanh, right across the footbridge. The actual border work takes about fifteen minutes when a fixer handles it. The order matters: Vietnamese exit stamp first, walk across, Laos entry (visa-free for many passports, a cash fee of about 40 USD for the rest), turn straight around, and re-enter Vietnam for a fresh stamp. Get that sequence wrong on your own and a tight visa day can turn into an overnight stay. Why it is the workhorse - It handles volume every day, so the counters move. - Fixer teams on both sides know the routine and speak enough English to walk you through. - Our shared van runs there Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1,500,000 VND, with pickup in Tay Ho, Long Bien, or Gia Lam. - Private cars run any day from 4,800,000 VND, door to door. For the full step-by-step, drive-time table, and packing list, see the Hanoi to Lao Bao visa run page. It is the most complete write-up of this crossing anywhere on the site. Option 2 ## Na Meo: the closer, quieter option Na Meo is the border most Hanoi expats have never heard of, and that is exactly its appeal. The gate sits in Quan Hoa district, in the mountains of Thanh Hoa province, about 250 km from Hanoi. Laos's checkpoint across the way is Sam Tai, in Houaphanh province. The route heads west out of Hanoi onto the Ho Chi Minh Highway, climbs through Hoa Binh, then drops south-west toward Quan Hoa. It is mountain road almost the whole way: sealed, but winding and slow, so the drive takes about the same four to four and a half hours as the longer run to Lao Bao. Expect fog on the passes in the early morning and trucks climbing slowly in front of you. At the border you do the same dance as at Lao Bao: Vietnamese exit stamp, walk across, Laos entry at the Sam Tai counter, turn around, re-enter Vietnam. Visa-free passports walk straight through. If your passport needs a Laos visa, Na Meo is not the crossing to discover that at the gate. Sam Tai issues no visa on arrival, and the Laos e-visa is not accepted at any Vietnam land crossing, Na Meo included. The visa has to be stamped in your passport before you leave Hanoi, arranged through the Lao embassy, and that takes a few working days. A Laos visa bought at the counter is a Lao Bao thing. Where Na Meo differs - Far fewer travelers. On a normal day you are one of a handful of foreigners at the gate, so the counters are empty and the whole crossing can take under ten minutes. - Less English. The officers are friendly but the sign language starts sooner, which is why taking a fixer matters more here than at Lao Bao. - No shared van schedule. The fixed Tuesday and Saturday van runs to Lao Bao. Na Meo is a private car job, any day, door to door. - Quieter stamp, same result. You still come back with a fresh Vietnamese entry stamp that resets your 30 or 90 days. Na Meo is the pick when Lao Bao has a queue (Tet week, public holidays, Monday mornings after a long weekend), when you want a run that feels less like a production line, or when the private car makes sense anyway because your visa expires on a day the shared van does not run. Option 3 ## Huu Nghi: the border that is not Laos Huu Nghi, also called Friendship Pass, sits at Dong Dang in Lang Son province, about 160 km from Hanoi. It is the closest border crossing to the capital, and it shows up in visa run searches for that reason. But it faces China, not Laos. That changes everything. Entering China at Friendship Pass needs a Chinese visa for most passports, and Chinese visas are not issued at the gate. So you cannot do the classic visa run move, cross, turn around, come back, unless you already hold a China visa or a visa-free arrangement. If you have one, Huu Nghi is the fastest same-day option in the north: two hours of driving each way, a quick exit stamp, over the bridge, and back. If you do not, the border is a dead end for run purposes. So for the Laos visa run specifically, Huu Nghi is not really a candidate. It gets mentioned here because it keeps appearing in search results for "Hanoi visa run," and the honest answer is: the Laos crossings are Lao Bao and Na Meo. China runs from Hanoi exist and work for the small number of people with the right documents, but they are a different animal with a different cost structure. If your goal is the Laos stamp, pick Lao Bao for reliability or Na Meo for quiet. If you hold a China visa and live near Lang Son, Huu Nghi can be a genuinely fast reset, but run that plan past the border rules for your specific passport before you book a car for it. The full breakdown, including who can cross visa-free in 2026 and the Youyi Guan walkthrough, is on the Hanoi to Huu Nghi visa run page. Side by Side ## The three borders compared Detail Lao Bao Na Meo Huu Nghi Country on the other side Laos (Dansavanh) Laos (Sam Tai) China Distance from Hanoi ~300 km ~250 km ~160 km Drive time each way 4 to 5 hours 4 to 4.5 hours ~2 hours Road Ho Chi Minh Highway + QL217 Ho Chi Minh Highway to Quan Hoa Highway to Lang Son Entry on the other side Visa-free for many, else ~40 USD at the counter Visa-free for many, else a Laos visa arranged in Hanoi China visa needed for most passports Crowds Busiest, moves fast Quiet Moderate Same-day round trip Yes Yes Yes, if you hold a China visa English at the counters Some, plus fixer teams Little, fixer strongly advised Limited Organized runs Shared van Tue/Sat + private car Private car only Private car, rarely run The distance numbers look like they should rank the borders neatly, and they do not. Na Meo is shorter on paper but the mountain road eats the difference back, so both Laos crossings land in the same four to five hour window. Huu Nghi is genuinely close, two hours each way, but the China visa wall makes it a niche option. For the visa run purpose, the real choice is Lao Bao versus Na Meo. Everything else being equal, Lao Bao wins on volume and support, Na Meo wins on calm. Decision Guide ## Which crossing should you pick ### First visa run ever Lao Bao. The fixer teams there handle volume every day, the counters move, and if you have questions at 6 AM the driver and fixer have heard them all before. A first run is not the time to be the only foreigner at a quiet gate. ### Visa expires on a Tuesday or Wednesday Private car to Lao Bao. The shared van runs Tuesday and Saturday, so a mid-week expiry usually means a private car anyway, and Lao Bao's any-day operation is the safest bet. ### Visa expires during Tet or right after a holiday Na Meo. Lao Bao sees its longest queues after national holidays when everyone who waited comes at once. Na Meo's crowds barely change. ### You want the cheapest organized seat The shared van to Lao Bao, from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. ### Moving house with luggage, or running with kids Private car to Lao Bao. Door to door, stops when you want, room for bags. The Na Meo route is lovely but it is not the one to attempt with a car full of suitcases and a toddler. The fourth gate, and why it rarely fits Cau Treo, in Ha Tinh province, faces Nam Phao on the Laos side. It is a real crossing and a quiet one, and some operators list it as their most popular northern gate. From Hanoi it is the wrong shape for a day run: roughly 400 km each way, close to seven hours of driving before you have crossed anything, and no shared van serving it. It suits someone already down in Vinh or Phong Nha, not a same-day trip out of the capital. Two limits are worth knowing before anyone builds a plan around it. Nam Phao closes at 19:00, three hours earlier than Lao Bao, so a late start there is not survivable. And the counter issues no Laos visa on arrival and does not accept the Laos e-visa, so a passport that needs a Laos visa has to have one stamped in Hanoi first. From the capital the two practical crossings stay Lao Bao and Na Meo. The general rule: when your stamp is already tight, choose the crossing with the most margin, not the one with the nicest road. That usually means Lao Bao with a fixer, on whatever day your visa actually expires. 2026 Prices ## What the run costs in 2026 The transport is the same price no matter which Laos border you pick for the private car, and the shared van only runs to Lao Bao. Shared van seat to Lao Bao ### From 1,500,000 VND - Tuesdays and Saturdays only - Pickup in Tay Ho, Long Bien, or Gia Lam - Includes the fixer, snacks, and water Private car, any day ### From 4,800,000 VND per car - Up to four people, any day of the week - Pickup anywhere in the city, door to door - Far zones like Soc Son run 5,100,000 VND On top of transport sits the visa itself. The 90-day Vietnam e-visa starts at 65 USD for the 4-day single entry and goes up to 180 USD for faster or multi-entry tiers. Most riders add it when they book, and the application goes in the moment Laos stamps you out, so the approval lands in your email while you sleep. The Laos entry fee is separate and cash only: about 40 USD at the Dansavanh window for passports that need it, and nothing at Sam Tai, where no visa is issued and none is accepted. Many nationalities pay nothing at either gate. There are no reliable ATMs at the border, so bring clean USD notes or dong, and the Laos visa on arrival fee page breaks the number down by nationality. Lunch at the Thanh Hoa stop runs about 100,000 to 150,000 VND per person. The full line-item breakdown in VND and USD lives on the Hanoi visa run cost page, and the budget comparison, shared seat versus private car versus DIY public bus, is on the cheapest visa run page. Questions ## Hanoi Laos visa run, asked and answered ### How many Laos borders can you cross from Hanoi? Two that work as a day run from Hanoi: Lao Bao in Quang Tri province (about 300 km) and Na Meo in Thanh Hoa province (about 250 km). A third Laos gate, Cau Treo in Ha Tinh, faces Nam Phao about 400 km away with no shared van, so it is a private-car job for someone already in the south. Huu Nghi at Dong Dang is often lumped in, but it faces China and needs a China visa for most passports. ### Which Laos border is closest to Hanoi? Na Meo is shorter on paper, about 250 km versus Lao Bao's 300 km. But the mountain road to Na Meo is slow, so both crossings take a similar four to five hours of driving each way. ### Do I need a Laos visa for the run? Many passports enter Laos visa-free and pay nothing. At Lao Bao the Laos side issues visa on arrival in cash, around 40 USD for most passports, and it is the only Vietnam crossing that does. At Na Meo there is no visa on arrival and the Laos e-visa is not accepted, so a passport that needs a Laos visa should have it stamped through the Lao embassy in Hanoi before the run. Cards are not accepted either side. ### Can I do a Hanoi Laos visa run in one day? Yes. At Lao Bao or Na Meo, pickup is before dawn, you cross mid-morning, and you are back in Hanoi between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. About 14 hours door to door. ### Is Huu Nghi a Laos border? No. Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) is the Vietnam-China border at Dong Dang. It only works as a visa run if you already hold a China visa, which is why it is not a practical Laos visa run for most people. ## Ready to reset your stamp? Private cars to Lao Bao or Na Meo any day from 4,800,000 VND, shared seats to Lao Bao from 1,500,000 VND on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dispatch answers 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp🔗 Keep Reading ## Related guides - Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run: the full route, drive times, border steps, and packing list for the main crossing. - How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: the complete process from booking to the fresh stamp. - Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Tuesday and Saturday shared van departures, pickup points, and fares. - Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: every line item in VND and USD, including e-visa tiers. - Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi: shared seats, group splits, and the DIY public bus option ranked by price. - Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): the entry registration required at any Laos crossing, Lao Bao and Na Meo included. - Saigon Visa Run: border run options for runners based in Ho Chi Minh City. - Da Nang Visa Run: route and price comparisons from central Vietnam. # Page: /guide.html ## How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: Complete Guide | Lao Bao Border Complete Walkthrough # How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run A step-by-step guide covering the drive from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border crossing, what happens at immigration, what documents you need, and how the 90-day E-Visa add-on works. The Basics ## What a visa run is and why people do it A visa run means leaving Vietnam and coming back to reset your entry stamp. Most people staying long-term on tourist visas or visa exemptions hit the 30-day mark and need a fresh stamp to stay legally. Some do it every month. Others do it once while waiting for a longer visa or a temporary residence card to be processed. From Hanoi, the most practical route runs south to the Lao Bao border crossing in Quang Tri province. It is about 300 km each way. A private car or shared van picks you up from your hotel before dawn, drives you to the border, and you cross into Laos long enough to get an exit stamp and turn around. The whole trip takes about 14 hours door to door. We also offer an optional 90-day Vietnam E-Visa desk. Once Dansavanh stamps you out, we file the application on your behalf. By the time you are back in Hanoi, the approval PDF is usually in your email. Before you book ## If your passport gets 45 days on entry, you do not need an e-visa Check the passport first, because it changes the whole trip. Twenty-four nationalities enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days per entry, and if yours is one of them a Lao Bao run is just an exit stamp, a walk across, and a fresh 45-day stamp coming back. No e-visa, no application, no approval PDF to wait for. The 45 days start on the date of the stamp you get when you come back in, not the date you leave. There has been no waiting period between visa-free entries since 1 July 2020, so a Tuesday run and a Saturday run are both allowed on the paperwork. The list comes from two government resolutions, and they are not quite the same deal. - • 45 days, any purpose (Resolution 44/NQ-CP, 7 March 2025, in force to 14 March 2028): Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland. - • 45 days, tourism only (Resolution 229/NQ-CP, 8 August 2025, in force to 14 August 2028): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland. If you are on the second list and you are coming for a conference, a client meeting or paid work rather than a holiday, the exemption is not what covers that entry. Book the e-visa instead. Working in Vietnam needs a work permit whatever passport you hold. Belarus is often printed alongside these countries because it also has a visa-free deal with Vietnam, but it is a separate bilateral arrangement: 30 days per entry and no more than 90 days in a calendar year. Do not count it as one of the 45-day group. The trip itself is the same as any other run. On a Tuesday or Saturday the shared van seat is 1,500,000 VND from the Tay Ho pickup and 1,650,000 VND from Long Bien or Gia Lam, and a private car starts at 4,800,000 VND for the vehicle. Laos still charges you at the counter: visa on arrival at Dansavanh is about 40 USD for most Western passports, cash only. The Hanoi visa run cost page has the full line items, and the Laos visa on arrival fee table shows what your passport pays on the Laos side. Two things apply to you whichever passport you carry. The Laos Digital Immigration Form has to be filed online in the three days before you cross, and you should be at the Lao Bao counter before 15:00, when the same-day turnaround window closes. Both are on the LDIF page and the border hours page. What nobody can promise you is the officer. Re-entry is a decision, not an entitlement, and the pattern that draws questions is a string of back-to-back exemption stamps. Two runs inside 90 days is the number our travellers get asked about, and a passport that has collected six 45-day stamps in a year reads differently at the counter from one carrying an approved e-visa. If you are planning a year of Tuesdays, the newer rules on repeated runs are worth ten minutes before you book. If your passport is not on either list, the run and the e-visa go together. The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland all need the visa rather than the exemption, and that means the e-visa has to be approved before you board the van, because Vietnam issues nothing on the spot at a land border. The step by step walkthrough sets out that sequence hour by hour, and the visa run FAQ covers the questions we get most often. Step One ## Book your run Pick a date and tell us where you want to be picked up. We cover the Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Long Bien, Gia Lam, and Soc Son. With advance notice we can also meet you at Noi Bai Airport or Ocean Park. You choose between a private SUV for yourself or your group, or a shared van where you split the ride with a few other travelers. Private cars give you flexibility on timing and stops. Shared vans cost less but run on a fixed schedule. When you book through our form, you can add the 90-day E-Visa service at the same time. Upload your passport scan and a portrait photo before departure, and we handle the rest. Step Two ## Pickup and the drive to Lao Bao We collect riders between 4:00 and 5:30 AM. The early start puts us ahead of traffic and gets us to the border well before the lunch rush. Our driver confirms the night before and sends a WhatsApp message when on the way. The route runs south out of Hanoi onto the Ho Chi Minh Highway, then connects to QL217 through the mountains toward Lao Bao. It is about a four-to-five-hour drive. The van has snacks and water, and there is a rest stop about halfway. The scenery changes from the city sprawl to farmland, then to the hills near the border. Step Three ## At Lao Bao: crossing into Laos and back You arrive at the Vietnamese side of Lao Bao around 9:00 AM. Our Thanh Hoa fixer meets you at the checkpoint. They handle the paperwork at both the Vietnamese exit counter and the Lao entry counter at Dansavanh. They also process the Laos visa-on-arrival for anyone who needs one. Visa-exempt travelers still follow the fixer for correct stamp sequencing. The crossing itself takes about 15 minutes including the walk between the two gates. Once you are stamped into Laos, you turn around and come back through the same gates in reverse order. The fixer escorts you the whole way. Most people are back on the Vietnamese side by noon. If you added the 90-day E-Visa service, this is the moment we submit your application. The Vietnam Immigration Department starts processing as soon as Laos stamps you out. Step Four ## Lunch in Thanh Hoa and the drive back After clearing the border, the van heads north again. We stop in Thanh Hoa for lunch around 1:00 or 2:00 PM. The driver knows a few spots with decent food and cold drinks. You have about 45 minutes to eat and stretch. The rest of the drive takes about three hours depending on traffic around Vinh and Ha Tinh. We drop you at your hotel or the agreed meeting point between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. The driver sends a final WhatsApp when you are 30 minutes out so you know when to expect arrival. Packing ## What to bring - • Your passport, valid for at least six months - • Current Vietnam visa, e-Visa printout, or temporary residence card - • Two spare 4x6 cm passport photos - • USD cash for the Laos visa-on-arrival fee (around $40 depending on nationality) - • Onward travel proof, if your home country requires one for Laos entry - • Light bag or small daypack if you are in a shared van. Space is limited. - • Phone charger, earphones, a jacket for the air conditioning Add-on Service ## 90-day Vietnam E-Visa Extension Rather than doing a visa run every 30 days, you can apply for a 90-day Vietnam E-Visa. The application is submitted the moment Laos stamps you out, which means you meet the "exit before applying" requirement without extra trips. You just upload your passport data page and a portrait photo at booking time. We submit the application, track its status, and email you the approval PDF when it comes through. Three speeds, single entry: - • Four working days: 65 USD, or 1,700,000 VND - • One day: 85 USD, or 2,200,000 VND - • Same hour: from 165 USD. We only take these when the portal is behaving. The government fee itself is 25 USD for a single-entry e-visa and 50 USD for multiple entry, set by Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, with an official processing time of up to three working days. The prices above are what we charge to file, follow and hand you the approval. The 90-day visa is single-entry or multi-entry. We ask which you prefer during booking. If you travel a lot in and out of Vietnam, the multi-entry option saves you another run down the road. Pricing ## Cost breakdown Item Price Notes Private car (Old Quarter pickup) 4,800,000 VND Per car, up to 4 passengers Private car (Long Bien / Gia Lam) 5,100,000 VND Per car, up to 4 passengers Shared van seat Contact us Limited availability weekdays 90-day E-Visa (4 days) $65 USD Single entry, 1,700,000 VND 90-day E-Visa (1 day) $85 USD Single entry, 2,200,000 VND 90-day E-Visa (same hour) from $165 USD Single entry, 4,300,000 VND The fare covers the driver, fuel, tolls, the bilingual fixer at Lao Bao, snacks, and water. Laos visa-on-arrival fees are not included. E-Visa costs are separate from the transport fare. Payments can be made in VND or USD. Private car passengers pay on return. Shared seats pay before departure. For the full 2026 price breakdown, including e-visa tiers and worked examples, see our Hanoi visa run cost guide. On a tight budget? The cheapest visa run from Hanoi page ranks every option from shared seats up. Riding the shared van? See the visa run bus schedule and pickup points for departure days and where to board. Want the road itself, the drive time, and the border step by step? Start with the Hanoi to Lao Bao visa run route guide. Prefer the whole day laid out hour by hour, from pickup to the fresh stamp? See the step-by-step Hanoi visa run walkthrough. Comparison ## Border run vs. flight run Some people fly out of Noi Bai to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur for a visa run. A round-trip flight plus a night in a hotel costs more than the land border run and takes longer. The land route is a single day, no overnight, and you are back in Hanoi by evening. The downside is a long day in the car. The upside is doing the whole thing in one shot with someone else handling the border paperwork. ### Ready to book? Pick your date and route. Dispatch responds 05:00 to 23:00 daily. Book Now WhatsApp # Page: /guides/90-day-vietnam-e-visa-extension.html ## 90-Day Vietnam E-Visa Extension Guide | Hanoi Visa Run ### What we handle Full E-Visa prep, payment, and submission (single or multiple entry) the moment Lao Bao stamps you out. ### Who it’s for Travelers already in Vietnam who need another 90-day stay with minimal downtime. ⏱️ ### When to add it During booking. Upload documents before departure so we can file instantly after exit. ## How the add-on works Submit + upload Reserve your private car or shared van, choose the E-Visa tier, and upload passports + portraits. We store everything securely and confirm receipt right away. Ride to Lao Bao Depart at 04:00, cross into Laos, and keep WhatsApp handy. Our driver helps with both sets of immigration windows. Send the exit stamp Once Vietnam stamps you OUT, snap a bright photo of the stamp + your selfie and send it to us. Immigration only lets us submit after you leave the country. Visa desk submission We file immediately, refresh the government portal, escalate if the queue slows, and store receipts + PDFs inside your booking folder. Re-enter Vietnam Border checkpoints sync within 30–60 minutes once approved. We WhatsApp you the “green light” to walk back through with the new 90-day visa. ### Document checklist - •Passport photo page (clear, under 5 MB) - •Selfie with a white background - •Vietnam address + phone/email for the visa form - •Desired re-entry date + preferred processing tier ### Communication & security - Private booking folder shared only with you, your driver, and the visa desk. - Dedicated WhatsApp thread for document sharing, tier changes, and approvals. - Immigration works Monday to Friday; rush tiers require weekday exits for true same-day turnarounds. Processing tiers ### Pick the speed that matches your buffer Browse the price page Processing time Single entry Multiple entry Ideal for 1 Hour 160 USD / 4,100,000 VND 175 USD / 4,500,000 VND Emergency same-day return 2 Hours 125 USD / 3,200,000 VND 145 USD / 3,700,000 VND Rush re-entry with a lunch buffer 4 Hours 95 USD / 2,400,000 VND 115 USD / 2,900,000 VND Return the same afternoon 1 Day 85 USD / 2,200,000 VND 105 USD / 2,700,000 VND Overnight in Laos 2 Days 70 USD / 1,800,000 VND 90 USD / 2,300,000 VND Weekend buffer 3 Days 55 USD / 1,400,000 VND 80 USD / 2,000,000 VND Budget-conscious travelers 4 Days 45 USD / 1,200,000 VND 65 USD / 1,700,000 VND Standard processing (Mon to Fri) Reference rate: 1 USD ≈ 25,500 VND. Immigration processes visas Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), so rush tiers require weekday exits for true same-day turnarounds. ### Why travelers trust our desk Private booking folder with receipts, approvals, and secure download links. Bilingual coordinators refreshing the government portal and escalating delays. Ability to upgrade or downgrade processing tiers mid-trip, just pay the difference. Real-time WhatsApp updates so you know exactly when to walk back through the border. ### Need-to-know FAQs How early should I upload documents? As soon as you lock the vehicle. We prefill the visa form and verify every passport/portrait before departure, so all we need in Lao Bao is the exit stamp photo. Do you operate on weekends and holidays? Yes, our cars run 365 days a year so you won’t miss your deadline. Keep in mind Vietnam immigration only processes E-Visas Monday to Friday, so rush tiers must depart on weekdays. Where do I find the border instructions? Bookmark our photo guide. It shows every checkpoint plus when to send your exit stamp. Open the instructions page. Can I add or swap travelers later? Yes. Drop their documents into the WhatsApp thread or booking folder and we’ll append them to the same booking ID. Do you store my data? Only inside your private folder. After the visa is issued we purge uploads. What if immigration stalls? We keep refreshing, escalate through our desk, arrange lodging if your buffer runs out, and push until the approval drops. You’ll never be left guessing. Need more help? Visit the FAQ page or message us on WhatsApp. ## Ready to lock in your extension? Book online, upload your documents, and our visa desk will handle the rest while you travel to Lao Bao. 🚐 Start Booking📊 Compare Prices # Page: / ## Hanoi Visa Run | Lao Bao, Na Meo & Huu Nghi # Hanoi Visa Runs to Lao Bao, Na Meo & Huu Nghi Choose a sleeper bus to Lao Bao, a private car to Na Meo, or: if your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry to China: a shared van or private car to Huu Nghi. Add a single- or multiple-entry 90-day Vietnam E-Visa if needed. Bookings ## Choose your Hanoi route Select your passport nationality to see the available border routes, then choose your transport and add any visa services you need. WhatsApp us Three complete route options ## Choose your Hanoi visa run package Each package combines the route transportation with one 90-day Vietnam single-entry visa. Laos entry arrangements depend on the selected border. Lao Bảo Package ### Sleeper Bus + Visas Hanoi ↔ Lao Bảo sleeper bus Vietnam 90-day single-entry visa The lower-cost Laos route with sleeper-bus transportation and one 90-day Vietnam single-entry visa. Laos visa not included: you must obtain a visa on arrival at the Lao Bảo–Dansavanh border for 1.2M VND. Package total from 3.7M VND per traveler · excludes the 1.2M Laos visa on arrival Embassy visa includedNa Mèo Package ### Private Car + Visas Hanoi ↔ Na Mèo private car Laos embassy visa Vietnam 90-day single-entry visa Private transportation, a Laos embassy visa and one 90-day Vietnam single-entry visa in one booking. Laos visa required before departure: it must be obtained from the Laos Embassy before the trip. To arrange it for you, we need your original passport in advance. Total from 7.5M VND for one traveler in one private car Hữu Nghị Package ### Shared Van + Vietnam Visa Hanoi ↔ Hữu Nghị shared van China visa-free route check Vietnam 90-day single-entry visa The shortest route, with shared-van transportation and one 90-day Vietnam single-entry visa. This route enters China, so no Laos visa is required. Eligibility requirement: this package is available only to passport holders who can enter China visa-free. Total from 3.2M VND per eligible traveler by shared van Package totals update automatically for multiple travelers, additional private cars, or optional support. ## Three Visa Run Routes from Hanoi Choose a sleeper bus to Lao Bảo, a private car to Na Mèo, or a shared van or private car to Hữu Nghị. Each route has its own departure schedule, total travel time and border-entry requirements. ### Lao Bảo · 32 Hours Depart Hanoi at 18:00 by sleeper bus and travel to the Lao Bảo–Dansavanh checkpoint. This is our lower-cost Laos route at 1.3M VND per passenger. Sleeper Bus · 1.3M ### Na Mèo · 19 Hours Depart Hanoi at 1:00 AM by private car for the Na Mèo–Namsoi checkpoint. Add the Laos embassy visa when required for 1.6M VND per traveler. Private Car · 3.5M ### Hữu Nghị · 12 Hours Depart Hanoi at 10:00 AM for the Hữu Nghị checkpoint. Eligible China visa-free nationalities can choose a shared van or private car. Shared Van · 800k 90-day E-Visa extension ## Visa desk handles the paperwork for you Add our 90-day Vietnam E-Visa extension to your booking. Upload passport + photo, pick Standard, Fast, or Rush processing, and we submit through the official portal as soon as you leave Vietnam. Every request is tracked, time-stamped, and delivered to your inbox and WhatsApp. - 1 Securely upload passports & portraits when you book, up to 10 travelers per reservation. - 2 Our bilingual visa team files Standard (3–4 day), Fast (1–2 day), Rush (4–2 hour) submissions. - 3 We send approvals + download links and monitor border-sync delays so you can re-enter smoothly. ### Why travelers choose our visa desk - Official government payment receipts - Encrypted document uploads + private portal - Live status updates by WhatsApp & email - Single & multiple-entry 90-day approvals Add to my bookingSee price table Need prep tips? View the Lao Bao checklist. Want the full playbook? Read the 90-day E-Visa extension guide. Border checkpoint ## Lao Bao - Dansavanh Border Checkpoint Travel from Hanoi by sleeper bus and cross into Laos at the Lao Bao - Dansavanh checkpoint. Ho Chi Minh Highway playbook ## Northbound logistics decoded This isn’t the coastal run. We hug CT01, CT08, and QL217 before climbing into Quang Tri. Share these timestamps with your landlord or coworkers so they know exactly when you’ll be offline. Pickup focus Old Quarter • Tay Ho • Gia Lam • Long Bien Urban exit ### 03:45–05:30 Drivers snake through Hoan Kiem alleys, cross Chuong Duong Bridge, and consolidate riders at Long Bien before merging onto CT01. Expect quiet streets but keep phones handy for pin drops. Highway cruise ### 05:30–10:30 The convoy rotates through Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. WhatsApp voice notes go out at every fuel stop with weather + ETA updates as we descend toward QL9. Lao Bao sprint ### 10:30–20:00 Fixers stage inside Dansavanh, submit Laos VOA forms, and coordinate re-entry proof for our visa desk. Expect a Ho Chi Minh Highway sunset before dropping back into Tay Ho. Heading south after Hanoi? Hue Visa Run and HCMC Visa Run continue the loop. Browse the nationwide visa run guide to compare every corridor. Lao Bao / Dansavanh Border ## Storyboard Private vehicles, express immigration support, and clear checkpoints. Swipe through the photos and picture your visa run. Routes, visas and booking ## Hanoi Visa Run FAQs Answers about Hanoi departures to Lao Bảo, Na Mèo and Hữu Nghị. Entry decisions always remain with immigration authorities, so contact us before booking if your passport or visa situation is unusual. What is a visa run from Hanoi? It is a trip from Hanoi to an international land border where you exit Vietnam, complete the neighboring-country entry and exit process, then re-enter Vietnam using a valid visa or other valid entry permission. Which border routes can I book? The booking form offers Lao Bảo–Dansavanh by sleeper bus, Na Mèo–Namsoi by private car, and Hữu Nghị at the Vietnam–China border by shared van or private car. Which route should I choose? Choose Hữu Nghị if the nationality check allows it and you want the shortest option. Choose Na Mèo for a private-car Laos route. Choose Lao Bảo for the lower-cost sleeper-bus Laos route. Why does the form ask for my nationality first? Your passport nationality determines whether Hữu Nghị can be offered without arranging a Chinese visa. The form uses it to show a suitable route before you enter the rest of your booking. Can I type my nationality? Yes. Start typing the country or nationality and select the matching suggestion. You can also open the full dropdown list with the arrow. Why is Hữu Nghị unavailable for my nationality? Hữu Nghị requires permission to enter China. If the booking system cannot confirm eligibility under the supported visa-free policy, the card is dimmed and cannot be selected. Lao Bảo and Na Mèo remain available subject to Laos entry requirements. What if I already have a valid Chinese visa? Contact us before booking. The automatic nationality check covers the supported visa-free route and does not evaluate an existing Chinese visa or residence permit. Does selecting Hữu Nghị guarantee entry to China? No. The form checks route eligibility, but immigration officers make the final entry decision. Your passport must be valid and you must meet every current entry condition. How much is Lao Bảo? The sleeper bus is 1,300,000 VND per passenger. The Laos visa on arrival costs another 1,200,000 VND at the Lao Bảo–Dansavanh border and is not included in the booking calculation. Vietnam visa services and optional support are added separately when selected. How much is Na Mèo? The private car is 3,500,000 VND per car for up to four passengers. More than four passengers requires another car. How much is Hữu Nghị? The shared van is 800,000 VND per passenger. A private car is 3,500,000 VND per car for up to four passengers. Are the prices per person or per vehicle? Lao Bảo sleeper-bus and Hữu Nghị shared-van prices are per passenger. Na Mèo and Hữu Nghị private-car prices are per car, with up to four passengers in each car. What are the departure times? Lao Bảo departs at 18:00 and arrives at approximately 6:00 AM the following day. Na Mèo departs at 1:00 AM and arrives at approximately 8:00 AM. Hữu Nghị departs at 10:00 AM and arrives at approximately 2:00 PM. How long is each complete trip? The estimated total times are 32 hours for Lao Bảo, 19 hours for Na Mèo, and 12 hours for Hữu Nghị. Traffic, weather and immigration queues can change return times. Which departure dates can I select? Lao Bảo can be booked Sunday through Thursday. Na Mèo and Hữu Nghị can be booked Monday through Friday. Unavailable weekdays are disabled in the date picker. Why are contact fields hidden at first? Contact, pickup and visa-document fields appear after you select an available departure date. This keeps the first booking steps short and ensures the details match your chosen route and date. Where can I be picked up? Enter your Hanoi hotel, apartment or requested pickup address in the booking form. Add a Google Maps link or clear landmark in the notes. We confirm the precise pickup arrangement after reviewing the booking. Will I return to the same address? Your confirmed itinerary will state the return arrangement. Add any different drop-off request in the pickup notes so the team can check it before departure. Can children travel? Contact us before booking with each child’s age and your preferred route. Every traveler, including a child, needs their own valid passport and valid permission to enter each country on the itinerary. Can I bring luggage? Normal travel luggage may be possible, but capacity depends on the selected vehicle and group size. Tell us the number and approximate size of your bags in the notes, especially for a full private car. Is food included? Do not assume meals or drinks are included unless they appear in your written confirmation. Bring water, snacks and enough cash for personal purchases and border expenses. What should I bring? Bring your original passport, valid Vietnam entry document, any required China or Laos entry permission, booking confirmation, phone and charger, cash, water, medication and suitable clothing for a long journey. How much passport validity do I need? Passport-validity and blank-page rules depend on the countries and permission used. Send us your passport details before booking if it expires soon or has limited blank pages. Can I travel while my Vietnamese visa is still processing? Do not depart expecting an unapproved application to become valid at the border. You need the correct approved document for re-entry. Ask us to check the timing before your trip. Can you arrange a 90-day Vietnam E-Visa? Yes. You can add a 90-day single-entry visa for 2,400,000 VND per traveler or a 90-day multiple-entry visa for 3,100,000 VND per traveler. What documents are needed for the Vietnam visa service? Upload one clear passport image and one suitable white-background portrait for every traveler who needs a Vietnam visa. JPG, PNG and PDF passport files are accepted; portraits should be JPG or PNG. Are document uploads secure? Uploads are stored with generated filenames. Staff access uses signed private links, and customer emails list filenames without exposing download links. When is the Laos visa add-on available? The Laos embassy-visa add-on appears only when Na Mèo is selected. It costs 1,600,000 VND per traveler. Why do you need my original passport for the Na Mèo Laos visa? The embassy application requires the original passport. You must provide it to our team before departure so the visa can be obtained in advance. Can every nationality use the Laos routes? No single answer fits every passport. Laos entry options vary by nationality, border and visa type. The booking list removes nationalities we cannot currently accept online; contact us for a manual check if yours is unavailable. What is online guided support? Online guided support costs 250,000 VND and provides remote help for your booking and border process. What is onsite guided support? Onsite guided support costs 1,000,000 VND. It is unavailable on the Na Mèo route, so the option is disabled when Na Mèo is selected. Can I select online and onsite support together? No. Choose the single support option that fits your route. The booking system will reject conflicting selections. How do I know my booking was received? After a successful submission you will see a booking-received page and receive an HTML confirmation email. The email includes your selected route’s itinerary image and booking summary. Is an online submission a final border guarantee? No. We review the submitted information and contact you to confirm the booking. Transport availability and immigration admission remain subject to confirmation. How do I pay? The team will confirm the accepted payment method and timing with your booking. Do not send money to an account that was not provided through an official Hanoi Visa Run contact. What happens if traffic, weather or immigration causes a delay? Journey times are estimates. Keep your return schedule flexible because road conditions, border queues, document checks and official decisions can delay the trip. Can I change or cancel my booking? Contact us as soon as possible with your booking details. Whether a change, credit or refund is possible depends on timing and any transport or visa work already arranged. What if I make a mistake in my booking? Message us immediately. Passport name, nationality, birth details, passport number and visa information must be accurate; corrections may affect processing time or cost. How can I ask about a situation not covered here? Use the contact form or WhatsApp us at +84 369 308 237. Include your nationality, current Vietnam visa expiry date, preferred route, number of travelers and desired departure date. ## What Our Customers Say #### Abe Fin Google reviewer "Really good service from start to finish. Pick-up and drop-off right at the door of your hotel or flat. If the comfort of the transport were a little better, the service would be a perfect ten." Posted 2 days ago · Google Maps #### Olia Cetniva Google reviewer · 5 reviews "Really happy with how easy this visa run turned out to be. No long waiting around, stress free, everything was clearly explained by Lima. She kept in touch the whole trip. Previously I did visa runs a few times with another company, this one didn't leave me drained." Posted 4 days ago · Google Maps #### Anthony Vautrelle Google reviewer · 3 reviews "Highly trusted company, they pick you up at your address, and everything goes so smooth I can only strongly recommend! You pay for the complete service and the quality of instructions, in my opinion, worth it 100%!" Posted 5 days ago · Google Maps #### william41moreno Google reviewer · 4 reviews · 8 photos Rated 5 out of 5 on Google Maps. Posted 2 days ago · Google Maps ## Ready for Your Visa Run? Secure your spot on our next departure and enjoy a stress-free border crossing experience 🚗 Reserve Your Seat Now 100% Secure BookingFree 24h CancellationPay on Arrival Guides ## Everything about the Hanoi visa run Written out in full, so you can plan the trip before you book it. ### 90-Day Vietnam E-Visa Extension Guide Professional walkthrough for adding a 90-day Vietnam E-Visa to your Lao Bao run. See requirements, timelines, processing tiers, and how our visa desk... ### Can I Get a Visa at the Lao Bao Border? Vietnam: No, Laos: Yes (2026) Vietnam issues no entry visas at Lao Bao: officers can only stamp you in with an approved e-visa naming that port. Laos does issue visa on arrival at... ### Hanoi Visa Run Bus 2026: Schedules, Pickup Points & Fares Shared van departures from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border run Tuesday and Saturday with pickup from 4:00 AM. Fares from 1,500,000 VND, pickup points in... ### Cheapest Visa Run from Hanoi 2026: Budget Breakdown Budget breakdown for a 2026 visa run from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border. Shared van seats from 1,500,000 VND, groups of four from 1,200,000 VND each,... ### Hanoi Visa Run Cost 2026: Full Price Breakdown Full breakdown of Hanoi visa run costs in 2026. Private car from 4,800,000 VND (~205 USD) per car, shared seats from 1,500,000 VND, 90-day e-visa... ### Hanoi Visa Run vs Visa Extension 2026: The Extension Route Is Closed Can you extend a Vietnam e-visa in 2026? No: extensions are closed under Decree 282/2025. What still works from Hanoi: the Lao Bao visa run (from... ### Hanoi Visa Run FAQ 176 answers about the Hanoi and northern Vietnam visa run: choosing between the Lao Bao / Dansavanh crossing, Na Meo in Thanh Hoa and the Huu Nghi... ### How to Do a Hanoi Visa Run: Complete Guide Step-by-step guide to doing a visa run from Hanoi to the Lao Bao border. Covers pickups, the drive, immigration, fixers, documents, costs, and the... ### Hanoi Laos Visa Run 2026: Lao Bao, Na Meo & Huu Nghi Compared The Hanoi Laos visa run explained: the three northern crossings, Lao Bao and Na Meo into Laos plus Huu Nghi into China, with drive times, Laos... ### Hanoi to Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) Visa Run 2026: The China Border Option The Huu Nghi (Friendship Pass) visa run from Hanoi: 160 km via Lang Son, the Youyi Guan crossing into China, who can enter visa-free in 2026, border... ### Hanoi → Lao Bao Visa Run Instructions Follow these steps for Old Quarter, Tay Ho, and Gia Lam riders heading to the Lao Bao. Dansavanh border plus tips for E-Visa ### Lao Bao Border Hours 2026: Opening Times, Holidays & Quiet Days Lao Bao and Dansavanh open at 07:00 and close at 22:00, seven days a week. What those hours mean for a same-day run from Hanoi, the 15:00 turnaround... ### Hanoi to Lao Bao Visa Run 2026: Route, Drive Time & Border Steps The Hanoi to Lao Bao visa run explained: the 300 km route on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the 4 to 5 hour drive, what happens at the Dansavanh crossing,... ### Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) 2026: Hanoi Visa Run Guide The Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) now applies to every Laos entry, including a same-day Lao Bao turnaround from Hanoi. When to submit it, what... ### Laos Visa on Arrival 2026: Fee by Nationality at Lao Bao Laos visa on arrival costs about 40 USD in clean cash at the Dansavanh window opposite Lao Bao, a little more at weekends or without a photo. The fee... ### Vietnam Visa Overstay 2026: Fines, Exit Bans & What to Do Vietnam visa overstay fines in 2026 under Decree 282/2025: 500,000 to 40,000,000 VND by days overstayed, the 16-day deportation line, entry bans, how... ### Partners & Field Teams Meet the Hanoi dispatchers, Thanh Hoa fleet partners, Lao Bao fixers, and trusted Hoi An experience partners who keep every run ### Hanoi Visa Run Pricing Pricing for Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Long Bien, and Gia Lam departures to the Lao Bao. Dansavanh border plus 90-day Vietnam E-Visa ### Vietnam Visa Run from Hanoi, Step by Step: The 14-Hour Walkthrough The Vietnam visa run from Hanoi, hour by hour: 4:00 AM pickup, the Ho Chi Minh Highway drive, the Lao Bao exit stamp, the Dansavanh turnaround, and... ### Vietnam Digital Arrival Card (PAI) 2026: Noi Bai Guide Vietnam's Pre-Arrival Information declaration is now live at Noi Bai. Who has to file it, the 72-hour window, what the form asks for, and why Lao Bao... ### Do Vietnam Visa Runs Still Work in 2026? Yes, With Caveats Visa runs still work in Vietnam in 2026 and remain legal. Decree 282/2025 closed in-country extensions, making the Lao Bao border run from Hanoi the... Visa Run Network ## Connected routes across Vietnam The Hanoi dispatch sits inside our nine-domain system. Start with the Hoi An visa run whenever you need Hai Van staycation backups, then explore every corridor below, review the nationwide hub at visarun.vn, or loop in Nam Visa for brand support. Featured corridor ### Hoi An visa run Hoi An riders split time between Ancient Town pickups, Da Nang backups, and the Lao Bao concierge desk. They also maintain the itinerary lab used across the network. Need staycation guidance, luggage staging, or creative referral flows? Tap the Hoi An visa run crew first so HoianCity planners can coordinate the rest of your trip. Da Nang visa run Hai Van pickups plus Lao Bao fixers. Ho Chi Minh City visa run Saigon, Thao Dien, and Thu Duc to Moc Bai. Hue visa run Lang Co, Dong Ha, and DMZ weather coverage. Nha Trang visa run Tran Phu, Cam Ranh, and Tuy Hoa caravans. Da Lat visa run Highland drivers descending QL20. Phu Quoc visa run Ferry to Ha Tien, then private transfer to Xa Xia. Vietnam visa run network visarun.vn hub with every route map. Nam Visa Brand layer and referral tracking. ## Contact Us Have a question or special request? Send us a message and we’ll get back ASAP. book@hanoivisarun.com +84 369 308 237 Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi WhatsApp us # Page: /instructions/ ## Hanoi → Lao Bao Visa Run Instructions | Hanoi Visa Run Border guidance # Hanoi Visa Run Instructions We resend this via WhatsApp the evening before your run: save it for quick reference. 01 ## 24h prep Upload passport + portrait, keep 40–50 USD cash for Laos, print your current Vietnam visa/e-Visa, and confirm pickup time (Old Quarter/Tay Ho/Gia Lam) with dispatch by 20:00. 02 ## Pickups (04:00–05:30) Drivers swing through Old Quarter and Tay Ho first, then Long Bien/Gia Lam. You’ll receive a live location pin 10 minutes before arrival. 03 ## Vietnam exit At Lao Bao, hand passports to our fixer. They manage the exit line, handle forms, and snap the exit stamp we need for E-Visa submissions. 04 ## Dansavanh (Laos) Follow the fixer across no-man’s land, pay the visa fee (USD cash) if required, collect Laos entry + exit stamps, then return to the Vietnamese gate. 05 ## Back into Vietnam Share a clear Vietnam entry stamp photo immediately so our visa desk can submit/push your 90-day E-Visa. 06 ## Lunch + Thanh Hoa Grab lunch or eat the packed meal while we refuel in Thanh Hoa. We’ll update arrival times for each drop zone. 07 ## Return to Hanoi Expect drop-offs between 18:00–20:00. We can finish in Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Gia Lam, or Noi Bai Airport with advance notice. 08 ## E-Visa follow-up Watch WhatsApp/email for confirmation that your E-Visa or push request was submitted and again once the approval PDF lands. ### Quick reminders - Passport must be valid 6+ months with two blank pages. - Bring current Vietnam visa/TRC printouts if available. - Shared seats allow one carry-on (55 cm) plus personal item. - Laos visa fee is cash-only (USD) and varies by nationality. - Need to adjust drop-offs? Message +84 369 308 237 before we leave Thanh Hoa. # Page: /partners.html ## Partners & Field Teams | Hanoi Visa Run Trusted partners # Our Nationwide Partner Network Fleet partners, fixers, and hospitality teams across Vietnam who keep every route on schedule. Fleet ## Fleet partners HQ ### Hanoi Dispatch City pickups Assigns SUVs, confirms pickup windows across Old Quarter, Tay Ho, and Ba Dinh, and shares live ETAs via WhatsApp. TH ### Thanh Hoa Hub Mid-route support Stages spare vans, restocks coolers, and monitors Ho Chi Minh Highway closures after storms. LB ### Lao Bao Fixers Border escorts Handles Lao Bao exit/entry paperwork, Laos VOA fees, and snaps every stamp for our visa desk. Featured partners ## Hoi An experiences we trust Book a lantern shoot or plan a long-weekend with the Hoi An partners we recommend to Hanoi riders. Áo dài rides Hoian Aodai Ridertour Visit site Trip planners HoiAnCity.com Visit site 🔗 Network ## Visa Run Network Jump to any other route we operate across Vietnam. Saigon → Moc Bai HCMC Visa Run District 1, Thao Dien, and Thu Duc SUVs direct to Moc Bai. Visit site Da Nang → Lao Bao Danang Visa Run Hai Van-certified drivers covering Danang & Hoi An → Lao Bao. Visit site Hoi An → Lao Bao Hoi An Visa Run Hoi An + Da Nang departures with bilingual Lao Bao fixers. Visit site Hue → Lao Bao Hue Visa Run Hue City, Lang Co, and Phu Bai pickups for the DMZ corridor. Visit site Nha Trang → Moc Bai Nha Trang Visa Run Tran Phu, Cam Ranh, and Tuy Hoa riders on the Central Highlands loop. Visit site Da Lat → Moc Bai Dalat Visa Run Da Lat & Bao Loc mountain drivers down QL20 to Moc Bai. Visit site Network hub visarun.vn The umbrella directory that routes travelers to every city desk. Visit site Partner network NamVisa Visa support and referral partner across the same network. Visit site # Page: /prices/ ## Hanoi Visa Run Pricing | Lao Bao Plan your visa run # Hanoi → Lao Bao Pricing Old Quarter, Tay Ho, Long Bien, and Gia Lam departures plus 90-day Vietnam E-Visa options. Private vans · per car ## Hanoi / Gia Lam → Lao Bao Rates cover bilingual drivers, Ho Chi Minh Highway tolls, Thanh Hoa fixers, and drop-offs back in the same zone. SUVs seat up to four travelers with Wi-Fi, power outlets, and cold refreshments. Old Quarter / Tay Ho / Ba Dinh Door-to-door per car • approx 205 USD 4,800,000 VND - Pickups in Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho lake, Ba Dinh embassies - Ho Chi Minh Highway + QL217 route (scenic + faster) - Return drop anywhere in central Hanoi Private SUV (1–4 pax) Long Bien / Gia Lam / Soc Son Door-to-door per car • approx 218 USD 5,100,000 VND - Includes Vinhomes Ocean Park, Gia Lam Airport, Soc Son - Optional drop in Tay Ho upon return - Extra luggage trailer available on request Same driver + fixer team🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Shared seats ## Join a Lao Bao van Shared runs depart twice weekly (Tue/Sat) from Tay Ho and Long Bien. We confirm 24 hours ahead with your driver’s photo, vehicle plate, and estimated return. Shared seat fares - Tay Ho pickup (main route) 1,500,000 VND - Long Bien / Gia Lam pickup 1,650,000 VND Shared-seat notes - Carry-on luggage only - Laos visa fee (if required) paid directly at Dansavanh - Quick lunch stop in Thanh Hoa on return - Free rebooking if departures consolidate 🛣️ Timeline snapshot ## Hanoi day plan 04:00–05:30 Pickups + Ho Chi Minh Highway We gather riders in Old Quarter, Tay Ho, then Long Bien/Gia Lam before cruising the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Thanh Hoa. 09:00–12:00 Lao Bao ↔ Dansavanh Fixers stage the Vietnamese exit, guide you through the Laos side, handle visa/fees, and snap the stamps we need for E-Visas. 12:00–14:00 Lunch + Thanh Hoa fuel Grab lunch in Quan Hoa or eat the packed meal while we refuel and send ETA updates. 18:00–20:00 Back in Hanoi Drop-offs in your original zone with a follow-up message confirming E-Visa submission/push time. 🗂️ 90-day Vietnam E-Visa ## Add the visa desk Upload your passport + portrait pre-run. As soon as Laos stamps your exit we submit Standard, Fast, or Rush E-Visa tiers and monitor them until the approval PDF is ready. - Single-entry and multi-entry pricing below - Rush tiers (4h / 2h / 1h) available Mon to Fri - Email + WhatsApp notifications for every status change Processing Single entry Multiple entry 1 Hour Rush 165 USD / 4,300,000 VND 180 USD / 4,700,000 VND 2 Hours 130 USD / 3,400,000 VND 150 USD / 3,900,000 VND 4 Hours 95 USD / 2,400,000 VND 120 USD / 3,100,000 VND 1 Day 85 USD / 2,200,000 VND 110 USD / 2,900,000 VND 2 Days 75 USD / 2,000,000 VND 100 USD / 2,600,000 VND 3 Days 70 USD / 1,900,000 VND 90 USD / 2,400,000 VND 4 Days 65 USD / 1,700,000 VND 85 USD / 2,200,000 VND Push-only ## Already applied? Share your existing E-Visa application ID before departure. Once you exit Vietnam we escalate it and keep you updated until it clears. Processing window USD VND 1 Hour Push 125 USD 3,200,000 VND 2 Hours 90 USD 2,400,000 VND 4 Hours 60 USD 1,600,000 VND 1 Day 50 USD 1,400,000 VND 2 Days 40 USD 1,000,000 VND 3 Days 35 USD 900,000 VND 4 Days 25 USD 600,000 VND Push fees apply only if we successfully accelerate your existing application. ### Ready to lock your Lao Bao trip? Book online or WhatsApp dispatch: we confirm within one business hour. Book NowTalk to usWhatsApp # Page: /instructions/hanoi-booking-form.html ## Book Your Visa Run