Vietnam Visa Runs 2026: Routes And Options By City And Nationality

Vietnam remains one of the most flexible long-stay bases in Southeast Asia.

With 90-day e-visas, visa exemptions for select countries, and a strong digital nomad infrastructure, cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Hoi An, Phu Quoc and Da Nang continue to attract long-term travelers.

But even in 2026, visa runs are still very much part of the reality.

Whether you’re extending your stay, resetting your visa, or navigating nationality-based restrictions, understanding your visa run options from each city is critical.

This guide breaks down:

Available visa run routes from major Vietnamese cities
Land vs air options
Nationality-based restrictions
Typical costs and timing
Onward ticket requirements
How to avoid airline denial at check-in

If you’re planning a visa run soon, this article will help you choose the smartest route.

Why Visa Runs Still Exist In 2026

Vietnam now offers:

90-day e-visas (single or multiple entry, depending on what is specifically required)
Visa exemptions for select nationalities (15–45 days)
Business visas for sponsored applicants
Marriage-based visas (a highly questionable and unstable option that, in practice, also often requires visa runs)

But travelers still need visa runs because:

• E-visas must be applied for outside Vietnam
• Visa-free entries expire

Not all nationalities are eligible for regular re-entry into Vietnam throughout the year.

Processing timelines vary

Some travelers prefer frequent border resets

A visa run simply means exiting Vietnam briefly and re-entering with a new visa or exemption.

However, not all visa runs are equal.

Your options depend heavily on:

Your current city
Your nationality
Your budget
Your urgency
Your border history
Passport validity period

Let’s break it down by location first

1️⃣ Land Visa Run

The fastest and most practical option for eligible nationalities

A land visa run is a short exit via a land border followed by re-entry into Vietnam. The specific route is always selected based on the departure city and the traveler’s nationality.

Land Visa Run Routes by City

Nha Trang / Mui Ne → Laos or Cambodia (depending on nationality)

From Nha Trang and Mui Ne, the distance to the Laos and Cambodia borders is roughly the same. Therefore, the route is chosen based on visa conditions for the specific passport — whichever option is faster, simpler, and more cost-effective.

• Citizens of 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇳 Mongolia, and ASEAN countries are eligible for visa-free entry to Laos, making Laos the optimal option for them.
• For most other nationalities, Laos is generally not suitable, as obtaining a Laos visa requires a prior visit to the Laos embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.
  

In such cases, Cambodia is chosen as the more practical route.

Hanoi → Laos or China (depending on nationality)

From Hanoi, the visa run route is also selected strictly based on nationality.

• Travelers eligible for visa-free entry to Laos typically use the Laos route.
• Travelers eligible for visa-free entry to China may use the China land border.

Route selection is always based on current visa-free agreements and the traveler’s visa history.

Da Nang / Hoi An → Laos

From Da Nang and Hoi An, land visa runs are conducted only to Laos.

This is because the route goes through the Lao Bao border crossing —
the only land border checkpoint where a Laos visa can be obtained and paid for directly at the border, without a prior embassy visit.

For this reason, Laos is the only practical land visa run option from these cities.

Ho Chi Minh City / Vung Tau → Cambodia

From Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau, the established land visa run route is Cambodia (Moc Bai border crossing).

This option works for most nationalities and remains the fastest and most reliable land visa run in southern Vietnam.

Phu Quoc → Cambodia (car + ferry)

Phu Quoc requires a separate logistics setup — Cambodia via a combination of land transfer and ferry.

This route requires advance planning and is typically arranged through agencies.

⚠️ IMPORTANT

Land visa runs are not suitable for everyone or in every situation.
In cases of frequent visa runs, complex visa history, or ineligible nationality, an air visa run to another country may be required.

2️⃣ Visa Run to Another Country (Air)

An air visa run is typically used when:

• a land visa run is not recommended or carries higher risk
  
• the traveler prefers to combine the visa run with travel and a change of scenery
  

Most common destinations include:

• Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  
• The Philippines
  
• South Korea
  
• Bali (Indonesia)
  

This format usually involves a flight, a short stay outside Vietnam, and re-entry after visa approval.

What’s important to consider

No route is universal.
The optimal visa run option always depends on:

• nationality
  
• departure city
  
• visa history
  
• travel purpose (entry stamp, new visa, e-visa)
  

For this reason, visa run routes are selected individually, not based on a one-size-fits-all approach.

🚫 Nationalities Not Eligible for Expedited Vietnam Visa Processing

Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for expedited visa processing for Vietnam. Visa applications for these passports require individual review and typically involve longer processing times:

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Congo, Comoros, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, Sahrawi, Sudan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Somalia, South Sudan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Eswatini, Seychelles, Syria, Chad, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

✅ Visa-Free Entry to Vietnam (39 Countries)

Citizens of the following 39 countries are eligible for visa-free entry to Vietnam. The maximum permitted stay is indicated in parentheses:

Belarus (30*), Belgium (45), Bulgaria (45), Brunei (14), United Kingdom (45), Hungary (45), Germany (45), Denmark (45), Indonesia (30), Spain (45), Italy (45), Kazakhstan (30*), Cambodia (30), Kyrgyzstan (30), Laos (30), Luxembourg (45), Malaysia (30), Mongolia (30), Myanmar (14), Netherlands (45), Norway (45), Panama (90), Poland (45), Russia (45), Romania (45), Singapore (30), Slovakia (45), Slovenia (45), Thailand (30), Philippines (21), Finland (45), France (45), Croatia (45), Czech Republic (45), Chile (90), Switzerland (45), Sweden (45), South Korea (45), Japan (45).

ℹ️ Important

Even when visa-free entry or a valid visa is available, nationality, entry frequency, and visa history directly affect the choice of visa run route and re-entry format.

Land Visa Run vs Air Visa Run: Which Is Better?

There is no single “best” option that works for everyone.

Choosing between a land visa run and an air visa run depends on:

• your nationality
  
• your visa history
  
• your current location in Vietnam
  
• your timing and budge
  
• and your personal preferences (speed vs travel experience)
  

For some travelers, a land visa run is the fastest and most cost-effective solution.
For others, an air visa run is safer, more comfortable, or simply a better fit due to nationality restrictions or frequent previous entries.

The key point is simple:
the optimal visa run option is always individual.

Need Personal Advice?

We provide personalized visa run consultations based on your nationality, location, and travel history.

1. VISARUNVIET is a Vietnam-based visa run service specializing in:

• land and air visa runs
  
• nationality-based route selection
  
• realistic, up-to-date advice (no generic templates)
  
• clear explanations of risks and limitations
  
• support before, during, and after your visa run
  

We do not offer “one-size-fits-all” solutions — we help you choose the safest and most practical option for your specific situation.

📩 You can contact us for a detailed consultation:

• by email info@visarunvietnam.com
  
• via Telegram @visarunviet
  
• via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/help.vietnam.visa

Just send us your nationality, current city in Vietnam, and visa goal, and we’ll guide you through the best available option.

2. Hoi An Visa Run

 

Hoi An Visa Run is based locally in Hoi An and specializes in organized visa and border runs to the Lao Bao crossing for residents of Hoi An and Da Nang. Our team operates these routes daily and provides coordinated transport, on-the-ground guidance, and support for time-sensitive or unusual situations. We focus on making what can feel complicated predictable and smooth.

You can contact us: https://hoianvisarun.com