Every traveller or expat goes to Vietnam should pay attention to visa validity. When your visa is nearly expired, you need to get it renewed as soon as possible. While visa extension costs pretty much, around $200 for a 3-month visa, visa run through the land border is cheaper and seems to be much more comfortable and hassle-free.
Why should you choose Laos for a Vietnam visa run?
Visa run Vietnam Laos is highly recommended because of their close distance. You can save a lot of time traveling. For example, a visa run to Laos from Hanoi will take 2 days only, and you still have time to enjoy a short trip near the border. If you live in the Central area, a 1-day run is enough.
Additionally, transportation is diverse, from airplanes, buses to motorbikes and private cars. Public means are both available and cheap. Especially if you get on daily local buses, it would be extremely cost-saving.
Where to do Hanoi Laos visa run?
From Hanoi, there are 2 main locations to choose from:
Cau Treo – Nam Phao border is located in Ha Tinh province and 380 kilometers away from Hanoi. Every day, there are a lot of buses depart from the Old Quarter and Nuoc Ngam bus station to Cau Treo. Travel time is quite long (around 11 hours), but the fare is relatively cheap, ranging from 300,000VND to 500,000VND/route.
Nam Kan border is another option that is a little closer, compared to Cau Treo border. Nam Kan border gate is in Nghe An province, and the opposite site in Laos is Xieng Khouang province. You can book a bus ticket in advance which costs nearly the same as Hanoi – Cau Treo route. Most buses leave at 6-7 p.m from Hanoi and reach the border early in the morning of the next day.
How to do Hanoi to Laos visa run?
Firstly, you need to prepare all documents including an original valid passport, 2 pieces of passport photos, approval letter for Vietnam visa, filled visa application form, and stamping fee.
When you arrive at the border gate, Vietnam exit stamp will be chopped on your passport at the counter in the Vietnam side before you enter Laos at the check-in counter. If you are required for a visa to enter Laos, remember to get a visa on arrival at Laos Immigration Counter first.
Finally, you exit Laos with a check-out stamp on your visa while still being in Laos side. After that, go ahead to the Vietnam counter where you will be required to show your passport with an exit stamp and all the above documents. If everything is fine, you pay stamping fee in USD or Laos Kip, then get your visa stamped to go back to Hanoi.
Vietnam Laos visa run is so simple that runners can do by themselves. If you need further consultancy, our bilingual customer service officers are always available.
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