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Step-by-Step Instructions for Crossing the Vietnam-Laos Border (Lao Bao)

Key Points.

Crossing the border between Vietnam and Laos through the Lao Bao checkpoint is one of the most popular routes for tourists wishing to travel across Southeast Asia. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of crossing the border between Vietnam and Laos via Lao Bao.

Step 1: Obtaining a Vietnamese Visa

Before crossing the border between Vietnam and Laos, you need to obtain a Vietnamese visa. You can get a Vietnamese visa at the Vietnamese consulate in your country or enter Vietnam visa-free if you are a citizen of one of the countries with visa-free access to Vietnam for a short period (details about visa-free entry can be found in the relevant tab).

Step 2: Getting to the Checkpoint

The best option is the Lao Bao checkpoint, located on the border between Vietnam and Laos, in Quang Tri Province. If you are in Da Nang, you can reach Lao Bao in several ways:

1. 1. Travel with our company and avoid misunderstandings, especially if this is your first time.
2. 2. Independently (for the more experienced) - rent a car, take a public bus, or ride a motorbike.

Step 3: Crossing the Border

1. Upon arriving at the border, you need to go through passport control and get an exit stamp from Vietnam.
2. Waiting time (if traveling with us) - 1.5 hours from the time of arrival.

Step by Step, Sequentially

1.1. Arrival Point (1); (2) - Direction of Movement

1.2. Keep the page with the previous stamp open immediately - it saves time. Show the previous stamp to the officer, then head towards this building - (3).

1.3. Pass to the RIGHT of the post into the building on the left.

1.4. Upon entering the building, walk along to the windows where exit stamps from Vietnam are issued. (If facing Laos, the exit window will be on the RIGHT)

(1) Arrival Point.

(2) Checkpoint where entry and exit stamps are issued. "Conditional free crossing" for 50,000 VND on exit (Pay or not - it's up to you)

(3) Spot in the arch where you need to show the entry and exit stamps to Vietnam again.

(4) Direction of Movement.

(*If you don't pay for the "Conditional free crossing," you may have to go to the end of the queue and wait a couple of hours; they might place the stamp in the middle of the page, potentially ruining it, or nothing might happen. If you travel with us, remember there are other people with you.)

Laos Border

1. (1) Enter the building on the left. Take a migration card and fill it out (date, name and surname as in your passport, validity period, etc.). Yes, sometimes they might accept an unfilled one, but it's better to fill it out to save your time and the group's time!!! ("Conditional free crossing" of the Laos border: 20,000 VND exit and 20,000 VND entry. Pay or not - it's up to you).

2. (2) Proceed with the filled migration card inserted in your passport and "conditional free crossing" of 20,000 VND (Pay or not - it's up to you) to the post (any open one on the right). Submit it, wait for the entry stamp to Laos.

3. (3) Go either through the middle of the building (there’s a staircase, walk straight) or outside to the exit posts from Laos. Submit your passport with half of the filled migration card and "conditional free crossing" of 20,000 VND. Get the stamp. Rejoice and head back.
4. Show the stamp to the officer in the arch when exiting Laos.
5. Show the stamp to the officer in the arch when entering Vietnam.

Vietnam Border

Re-enter the checkpoint where you received the exit stamp (point 1.4) from Vietnam, go to the opposite window. "Conditional free crossing" for 50,000 VND on entry (Pay or not - it's up to you). (If you don't pay, you may have to go to the end of the queue and wait a couple of hours, and the entire group will wait for you accordingly. They might place the stamp in the middle of the page, potentially ruining it, or nothing might happen). Get the entry stamp to Vietnam.

Head back in the opposite direction to the drop-off point. On the way, there’s a post on the right where you need to show the stamp to the officer again.

Rejoice in your success and the reset of the stamp.

Have lunch at a café, attend to your own business, waiting time - 1.5 hours from arrival.

Board the bus NO LATER than the time specified in the notification upon arrival.

Extending Your Visa While Inside the Country

In this article, we will explain the required documents, visa extension locations, and how to pay the necessary fees.

As of January 2025, Vietnam offers a 90-day tourist visa (E-visa), and visa-free stays (with a stamp) are 45 days (or 30 days) (a list of countries eligible for visa-free stays can be found in the relevant tab). The cost of a 90-day visa per person is $25 (without the ability to leave the country) and $50 with the ability to leave the country.

Visa Application Website

When applying, you must specify the checkpoint through which you will cross the border. If you live in Da Nang, the nearest one is Lao Bao (note that on the website, you cannot pay with Russian cards. Payment systems: Visa, Mastercard).

Video Instruction. (the website has changed, but the process remains the same). The visa processing time ranges from 3 to 15 working days.

Applying for an E-visa independently while inside the country is possible, but there is a 97% chance of rejection. We can assist with visa application if you are inside the country (prices and conditions can also be found in the relevant tab on our website).

Extension – as many times as you wish (depending on your country). To extend your stay, you must go on a VISA RUN (a border-crossing procedure that cancels the old visa and activates a new one, with a new stamp in your passport indicating the start and end dates). Alternatively, you can go on a BORDER RUN (the border-crossing procedure is the same as a visa run, but you will get a stamp for 45 days (or 30 days, instead of 90)). The nearest border is Nam Giang, 150 km away (the road is in poor condition, buses and organized visa runs don’t go there, and they only issue stamps for 45 days (or 30 days)). Lao Bao – 250 km (you can read about the trip in the relevant tab).

You can get to the border by:

1. 1. Independently – rent a motorbike or car (you need an IDP or Asian driver’s license, not temporary ones, but it’s at the discretion of the police; even with all documents, they might find a reason to fine you. For example, a fine for speeding by 10-15 km/h – 5,000,000 VND (about 20,000 RUB))
2. *Example: A trip to the nearest border. Renting a Toyota Fortuner for 1 day – 800,000 VND, fuel 800,000 VND. There are 5 people in the car, including the driver (let’s assume you found travel companions). 1,600,000/5 = 320,000 VND per person.
3. 2. Rent a car with a driver. (This will take much longer, as they drive very slowly, overtake where they shouldn’t, and don’t overtake where they should and could.) Rental cost is approximately 2,500,000 VND (depending on the type of car). The number of passengers also depends on the car type.
4. 3. By bus from the bus station. There are sleeper buses and regular ones. The price starts at 250,000 VND one way.
5. 4. Helpers. These are specialized companies that organize such trips and gather people. We are one such company. If you decide to travel with us, BOOK IN ADVANCE

Challenges.

If you apply for a visa while in the country, there is a 97% chance you might receive a "Vietnam Visa Rejection," "Vietnam Visa Error":

What WON’T Work:

- VPN, Proxy

- Giving your passport to someone else to do the visa run or border run procedure for you, etc.

How to Apply for a Visa in Vietnam While Already Inside the Country?

Solution #1

- Leave Vietnam, apply for a visa, wait 3-5 days (there are cases of 20 days or more), and you’ll have a 90-day visa ready.

- When leaving by land, information about your departure is not updated immediately, and you might receive a message asking you to leave the country. There are no such issues when leaving through an air border.

Solution #2

Travel on a stamp every 45 (or 30, depending on your country) days (as many times as you want until your passport expires).

Solution #3

- "Expedited" visa.

The same as the first option, but involves a "helper" who will assist in quickly obtaining an E-visa after leaving the country.

Application Process:

1. - Submit an application through our feedback form or application form, specifying your preferences in the comments, on our website.
2. - Schedule a day (the service is not available on weekends and public holidays).
3. - Payment (check the cost via the feedback form or write in the comments to the application).
4. - Send all required documents.
5. - Leave the country. Immediately after crossing the border, send a photo of the exit stamp (we will fully guide you and provide transportation).
6. - Waiting (1.5-6 hours). Receive a 90-day visa and return (details in the relevant tab).

Overstay

What Is It and What to Do About It?

Overstay (Overstay) – this is a visa expiration, meaning staying in the country longer than the permitted period. The duration of stay is indicated in the stamp placed in your passport when crossing the border.

In other words, if the date is 21/04/2025, it means you can stay in the country until 23:59:59 on 21/04/2025; otherwise, it will be considered an overstay.

How to Avoid Overstay?

!!! It’s simple - keep track of the date, set a "reminder" on your phone (use any reminder tools), and be more responsible.

What Are the Consequences?

1. !!! WITH AN OVERSTAY, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE AT LAND BORDERS !!! (Lao Bao, Nam Giang, La Lai - definitely not)

2. Increasing fines with each day of "overstay" (approximate fine amounts are listed below).

3. Restrictions on future trips (if you also throw tantrums and "assert your rights," you might end up with a lot of trouble).

4. There might be no consequences if you behaved politely, apologized, etc. Even with a one-year overstay, some people have re-entered the country. It heavily depends on the situation. Usually, this results in a 6-month deportation.

5. Being added to the "blacklist." This means you might not be able to re-enter the country even after some time.

6. You won’t be able to apply for an E-Visa.

7. Deportation. Depending on the severity of the violation, the offender may be deported from the country.

8. Entry ban. In case of serious or repeated violations, a temporary ban on re-entering Vietnam may be imposed.

Fines (depending on the duration of overstay):

Why Is It Important to Address the Issue Immediately?

1. Fines increase daily: The longer the delay, the greater the possible penalties.

2. Resolving the issue quickly helps maintain good relations with immigration services.

3. A fine may be imposed on the owner of your accommodation because they are responsible for your registration at their property. The fine can be up to $500.

What to Do If an Overstay Has Occurred?

1. NO PANIC, ACT QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY.

2. Check your documents (carefully review the dates in the stamps; you might have made a mistake.)

3. Visit the local immigration office

IMPORTANT: A translator is required to visit the immigration office. This is their mandatory requirement.

YOU CAN CONTACT US VIA SUPPORT OR EMAIL; WE HAVE A LICENSED TRANSLATOR FOR SUCH SITUATIONS.

4. You can try going to the immigration office on your own; the chance they will listen or negotiate is very low, but it exists.

5. Book a flight out of the country. Arrive at the airport well in advance, they will issue a fine, and you can pay it on the spot. The amount will be the same, but if you are polite and apologize, the fine might not be at the "maximum" rate. Again, it depends on the overstay duration.

6. Contact your country’s consulate. Here are addresses for Russia: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], (by city, respectively) (For better results, we recommend using a highly emotional and expressive style). (This method works if you truly had a valid reason and life circumstances, such as illness, a child, etc. There’s a chance to resolve the issue without a fine, but there’s no guarantee it will go smoothly.)

🤝 If you need help with information on the visa extension process, please let us know!

Please do not trust suspicious individuals who promise to get you off the "blacklist" for money. Do not trust unknown contacts. Do not make advance payments.

FOR CONSULTATION AND ASSISTANCE, YOU CAN CONTACT US VIA SUPPORT.

BOOK YOUR VISA RUN IN ADVANCE!!!