Da Nang visa run cost: every fee, itemised
The question right after “what is a visa run” is always “what does it cost”. The trouble is that every provider quotes differently — some bundle everything, some itemise — so comparison is hard. This guide splits the cost into independent parts so you can add up your own number.
Three completely different kinds of cost
Understanding these three is enough to read any quote clearly.
- Vietnamese government fees: paid for the new e-visa. Nobody can discount these, and they are not a service charge.
- Lao-side fees: only if your nationality needs a visa to enter Laos. Usually paid in cash at the checkpoint.
- Transport and service: the van or car, the person with you, document checks, coordination. This is the only part that varies between providers.
Indicative cost table
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam e-visa, single entry | about VND 650,000 (USD 25) | Government fee, paid on the e-visa portal |
| Vietnam e-visa, multiple entry | about VND 1.31M (USD 50) | Worth it if you expect several entries |
| Lao visa at the border, if required | about USD 30–50 (VND 790,000–1.31M) | Depends on nationality; many are exempt |
| Guided DIY package | from VND 1.9M per person | Document pre-check, e-visa guidance, chat support |
| Shared round-trip van | VND 3.85M per person service + e-visa fee (about VND 4.5M all-in) | Transport, door pickup, border support |
| Private car (2–5 people) | VND 7.6M per car + each traveller’s e-visa fee (2 people: VND 8.9M all-in; 5 people: ≈ VND 2.17M each) | No per-person surcharge; only the government e-visa fee per traveller |
Government and Lao-side fees can change. Check the official e-visa portal close to your travel date, and confirm the Lao fee that applies to your passport.
What if you are starting from Hoi An or Hue?
Plenty of people search for a visa run from Hoi An or a visa run from Hue, because that is where they sleep rather than where the van leaves from. Measured from the Lao Bao border, Hue is about 150 km away, Da Nang about 245 km and Hoi An about 278 km — so Hue is the closest of the three and Hoi An the furthest.
Pickup from Hoi An and Hue is included at no extra cost: the package price is the same as from Da Nang, with no transfer surcharge. What does change is your pickup time. Hoi An is about half an hour south of Da Nang, so you leave earlier; Hue sits directly on the QL1 route north, so the van reaches you later in the morning.
Tell us where you are staying when you book. The address and the time are confirmed the day before, not improvised at five in the morning.
How to compare quotes properly
Ask three questions of any quote: does this include government fees, does it include Lao visa fees, and who pays if the crossing is closed or backed up and we have to stay overnight. Those three answers expose almost every difference between providers.
One warning sign: anybody advertising an “in-country tourist e-visa extension, no border trip needed”. For most tourists, that does not reflect how the rules currently work.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Da Nang visa run cost in total?
With a shared van, expect VND 3.85M per person for the service, plus the government fee of about VND 650,000 (USD 25) for a new single-entry Vietnam e-visa, so about VND 4.5M, plus a Lao visa fee if your nationality needs one. Your exact total depends on nationality and e-visa type.
Does the service fee include the e-visa fee?
At EasyVisa, no — the service fee is quoted separately from government and Lao-side fees so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Can I pay by bank transfer?
Service fees can be transferred. Fees at the Lao checkpoint typically require cash, so bring some.
Is the price different from Hoi An or Hue?
No. Pickup from Hoi An and Hue is included at the same package price, with no transfer surcharge. Only your pickup time changes — earlier from Hoi An, later from Hue, since Hue is already on the route north.