Visa Run vs visa extension in Vietnam: which should you choose in 2026?
Published 3 September 2026 · Reviewed 2026-09-08 · 6 min read
A visa extension keeps you in the country on paper; a Visa Run gets you a completely new visa by leaving and coming back. In 2026 the extension route is narrower than it used to be, especially for tourist e-visas, so for many foreigners in Hanoi the Visa Run is the more predictable option. Here is how to decide.
Side by side
| Visa extension | Visa Run | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Extra time on your current visa (when granted) | A new visa of your choice, e.g. 90-day multiple entry |
| Who can use it | Depends on visa type and current policy; tourist (DL) extensions granted less often since 2025; usually needs a sponsor | Almost anyone with a valid status and a passport that can enter Laos or China |
| Time | Typically 5–10 working days; passport held during processing | 1–2 days travel, plus 5 working days for the e-visa beforehand |
| Cost | Government extension fee (USD 10 per extension under Circular 28/2026) plus agent fee, which varies widely | Service fee + USD 25/50 e-visa + Laos visa if applicable |
| Predictability | Outcome uncertain until approved; refusal late in the process leaves little time | E-visa approval known before you travel; re-entry at officer's discretion but routine with correct documents |
| Passport availability | Passport unavailable while application is processed | You keep your passport |
| Side benefit | None | A day out; option to switch to multiple entry |
Choose an extension if…
- Your visa type is extendable and a sponsor (employer, company, Vietnamese spouse) can support it.
- You cannot travel (health, work commitments, a child in school that week).
- You are moving towards a TRC and your consultant advises keeping continuity of status.
Choose a Visa Run if…
- You are on a single-entry e-visa or an exemption and no extension is available for you.
- You want certainty: the new e-visa is approved before you leave Hanoi.
- You want to upgrade to a 90-day multiple-entry visa.
- You have a week or more before expiry (less is possible; see the urgent page).
What changed in 2025–2026
- Fees: Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 1 April 2026) sets the visa fee at USD 25 single / USD 50 multiple (≤90 days) and USD 10 per extension.
- Penalties: Decree 282/2025 (from 15 December 2025) increased overstay fines substantially.
- Extensions: tourist-visa extensions through agents are granted less often and not to everyone.
- Exemptions: the 45-day exemption list was extended to 2028 and expanded (Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Netherlands added in 2025); the 30-day gap rule between exemption entries was removed.
Our honest position
We do both. MP Viet Visa files extensions and TRC applications every week, and Hanoi Visa Run drives people to the border. We recommend whichever is safer and cheaper for your case, and we will tell you if the answer is "neither, you need a different visa".
Not sure which applies to you?
Send your visa type and expiry date. We reply with a recommendation, not a sales pitch.
General information, not individual legal advice. Policies and fees change; verify before acting.