How to do a Vietnam visa run from Ho Chi Minh City via Cambodia or Laos

A Vietnam tourist e-visa cannot be applied for while you are inside Vietnam; apply after leaving the country, for example from Cambodia. Some travelers arrange multiple visas before entering Vietnam.

For visa-related procedures, consider traveling to Laos or Cambodia. Travelers report that consular processing is often faster there than in Vietnam, where queues can be long.

If your visa run continues to Laos, state Laos as your actual onward destination when leaving Vietnam. Check Vietnam re-entry rules and Laos entry requirements before traveling.

When traveling from Vietnam to Cambodia, exit Vietnam with the same passport used for your Vietnamese entry. Use the passport appropriate for obtaining entry permission at the Cambodian border.

From Ho Chi Minh City, a visa run to Cambodia can be combined with a short Angkor Wat trip. Officially exit Vietnam, obtain Cambodian entry permission, and check the requirements for a new Vietnam visa or visa-free re-entry before returning.