Vietnam 45-day visa exemption or 90-day e-visa: which border run do you need?
Two people can sit in the same van from Da Nang to Lao Bao and be buying two different outcomes. One wants a fresh visa-exemption stamp for up to 45 days. The other must re-enter on a newly approved e-visa for up to 90 days. The road is the same; the documents, government fee and preparation are not.
This distinction explains why a transport-only “stamp run” and a 90-day e-visa package can have very different prices. Decide which immigration basis applies before comparing quotes or booking a seat.
Quick decision: exemption stamp or e-visa?
| Your situation | Usually the relevant route | Before the trip |
|---|---|---|
| Passport is eligible and up to 45 more days is enough | Visa-exemption stamp | Confirm current eligibility and passport validity |
| You need up to 90 days or your passport is not exempt | Single- or multiple-entry e-visa | Have the correct approval ready for re-entry |
| Business, work, investment, family visa or TRC | Sponsor or residence route may apply | Check the document with the sponsor before booking |
| Already overstayed or subject to an unresolved case | Case review first | Do not travel to the border without advice |
This is a route selector, not an entry guarantee. Immigration officers make the final decision at each entry.
Who currently gets 45 days without a visa?
Vietnam currently grants unilateral 45-day visa exemption to citizens of 24 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Nationality is not the only check. The passport must meet the legal entry conditions, including the required remaining validity, and the traveller must not fall within a refusal-of-entry category. Bilateral agreements, the Phu Quoc exemption and five-year exemption certificates are different schemes; do not apply the 24-country rule to them automatically.
The exemption resolutions have fixed effective periods. Re-check the Government source near your travel date instead of saving the country list as a permanent rule.
Can you leave and re-enter on the exemption the same day?
The old rule requiring at least 30 days between two unilateral visa-exempt entries was removed by Law 51/2019/QH14 from 1 July 2020. The Ministry of Public Security has confirmed that the current rule does not add that waiting period.
That does not create a right to endless automatic entries. Every arrival is assessed at the border. Carry a passport valid for at least six months, be ready to explain the purpose and planned length of stay, and check the new entry stamp before leaving the counter.
Some old pages—including archived official material—still repeat the removed 30-day condition. Prefer the Ministry’s current answer linked below.
What changes on a Da Nang–Lao Bao visa run?
- Exemption route: no Vietnam e-visa application fee, but transport, support and any Laos entry cost still remain.
- E-visa route: the approval must name the checkpoint you will actually use. Lao Bao on the issued document cannot be replaced at the barrier.
- Both routes: check what Laos requires for your nationality. A Lao e-visa is not accepted at Densavan opposite Lao Bao.
- Both routes: carry the original passport, cash and a spare photo; keep proof of accommodation and onward plans available.
- After re-entry: read the permitted-until date and entry basis in the stamp or approval before leaving immigration.
The official e-visa portal now also recommends completing Vietnam’s pre-arrival form before entry. Check the portal close to the trip because operational requirements change.
When the 90-day e-visa is worth the extra preparation
Choose by the stay you actually need, not by the cheapest seat. A 45-day exemption can be simpler for an eligible traveller with a short, fixed plan. An e-visa is usually the clearer fit when 45 days is not enough, the passport is outside the exemption pool, or multiple entries are planned during the next 90 days.
Do not compare a low transport-only fare with a quote that includes document checking, a new e-visa service and border support. Ask every operator to separate transport, service, Vietnam government fee and the Laos-side cost so the totals mean the same thing.
- Count the required stay from the intended re-entry date, not from the day you ask for a quote.
- Check whether the e-visa is single or multiple entry; both can be valid for up to 90 days.
- Do not depart merely because an application is pending. Confirm the document you will use to re-enter.
- If a sponsor can extend or replace your current status in-country, compare that route before booking any border trip.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new e-visa for every visa run?
No. If your passport currently qualifies for unilateral visa exemption and up to 45 days meets your plan, you may use the exemption route instead. Other passports and longer stays normally need the appropriate visa.
Is there still a 30-day wait before another visa-free entry?
No. The Ministry of Public Security confirms that Law 51/2019/QH14 removed that old waiting rule from 1 July 2020. Normal entry conditions and the officer’s decision still apply.
Why is a 45-day stamp run cheaper than a 90-day visa run?
A stamp-run quote may cover only transport and border support. A 90-day route can add the Vietnam e-visa fee and document service. Compare the same line items before choosing.
Can the driver decide whether I receive 45 or 90 days?
No. Your entry basis comes from your passport eligibility and the visa document you present. Transport providers do not control the period immigration grants.