The short version

You cannot extend a standard 90-day tourist e-visa once you've entered Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム). Your only options are to leave the country and re-enter (a visa run), or apply for a different visa category before arrival. If you're already in-country and need more time, extension isn't possible under the tourist visa rules — you'll need to do a border exit-and-return.

Why you can't extend a tourist e-visa

Vietnam's e-visa is a single-entry visa tied to your passport number and departure date. Once you land, immigration records your entry. You cannot apply to extend it at any immigration office in Vietnam. The visa is final — you either leave or overstay.

This is different from some other countries where visa extension is a standard process. It's one of the most common misconceptions among travelers.

What you can actually do

Option 1: Visa Run (Exit and Re-Enter)

The practical solution most travelers use is to leave Vietnam before your visa expires, then return on a new e-visa.

How it works:

  • Book a flight or bus to a neighboring country (Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand are the cheapest options).
  • Spend 2–3 days there.
  • Apply for a new e-visa online while you're abroad (takes 1–3 business days depending on processing speed).
  • Return to Vietnam on the new visa.

Common routes:

  • Hanoi to Vientiane, Laos: 1–2 hours by flight, or overnight bus (~8 hours). Costs 1.2–2 million VND for a round trip flight.
  • Saigon to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 1–2 hours by flight, ~1.5–2 million VND return.
  • Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン) to Bangkok, Thailand: 2–3 hours by flight, ~1.5–2.5 million VND return.

Cost of re-entry:

  • E-visa application fee: 25 USD (standard processing) or 50 USD (rush, 4 hours).
  • Flight/transport: 1.2–2.5 million VND return depending on destination.
  • Total: roughly 35–70 USD plus accommodation in the neighboring country (budget hostels 5–10 USD/night).

Timing tip: Apply for your new e-visa before you leave Vietnam. You'll have it approved and in your email within 1–3 days, so you can return without delay. Don't wait until you've crossed the border if you're cutting it close.

Option 2: Apply for a Different Visa Before Arrival

If you know you want to stay longer than 90 days, apply for a business visa or temporary residence card before you enter Vietnam.

Business visa:

  • Valid for 90 days but can be extended in-country (this is the key difference from the tourist e-visa).
  • Requires a sponsoring letter from a Vietnamese company or immigration service.
  • Cost: 50–150 USD depending on whether you go through an agency or a direct sponsorship.
  • Processing: 3–7 business days.
  • You can extend it once you're in Vietnam by visiting an immigration office.

Temporary residence card (TRC):

  • For longer stays (3, 6, or 12 months).
  • Requires a local sponsor and more paperwork (work permit, employer registration, health certificate).
  • Mainly for expatriates and foreign workers, not typical tourists.

For casual travelers, a business visa with an extension is simpler than a tourist visa run.

Option 3: Overstaying (Not Recommended)

If you miss your departure date, you will be fined. Current overstay penalties are approximately 25–50 USD per day, paid at the airport or border when you leave. Police may also question you. It's not worth the hassle or the growing fine.

A vibrant aerial view of Ho Chi Minh City featuring the iconic 'Welcome to Vietnam' sign among buildings.

Photo by Nhựt Nguyên Trần on Pexels

Step-by-step: Doing a visa run

Step 1: Check your visa expiry date

Open your e-visa email confirmation. The "date of expiry" is the last day you can be in Vietnam. Mark it in your calendar.

Step 2: Book transport and accommodation

Book your flight or bus at least 5–7 days before your expiry date. Prices are cheaper if you book early. Aim to leave 10 days before expiry so you have buffer time to collect your new e-visa before returning.

Step 3: Apply for a new e-visa

While abroad (or even just before departure), visit the official Vietnamese e-visa website (evisa.gov.vn) and apply:

  • Upload a passport photo and scanned passport bio page.
  • Select your intended re-entry date (can be immediate or weeks later).
  • Choose processing speed: standard (24–48 hours, 25 USD) or rush (4 hours, 50 USD).
  • Pay online (credit/debit card).
  • You'll receive an approval letter in your email. Print it or save it to your phone.

Step 4: Return and clear immigration

Present your passport and e-visa approval letter (physical or digital copy) at the immigration desk. You'll receive a stamp in your passport. You're now on a fresh 90-day tourist visa.

Cost breakdown for a typical visa run

| Item | Cost (USD / VND) | |------|------------------| | E-visa application | 25 USD | | Round-trip flight (Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ)–Vientiane) | 60–80 USD (1.5–2 million VND) | | 2 nights budget hostel | 10–20 USD (250–500k VND) | | Food & transport in host country | 20–40 USD (500k–1 million VND) | | Total | 115–165 USD |

Visa runs are cheapest when you go to Laos or Cambodia. Thailand is slightly pricier.

Green Hyundai bus on a bustling urban street in Vietnam, showcasing city life.

Photo by Lê Quốc Hùng on Pexels

Common pitfalls to avoid

Not applying for the new visa before you leave. If you wait until you're in Cambodia, processing delays might mean you can't return on time. Apply from Vietnam, get the approval letter, then depart.

Forgetting your passport. You need it to apply for the e-visa and to cross any border. This sounds obvious but travelers have made this mistake.

Underestimating processing time. Standard e-visa processing is 24–48 hours, not instant. Don't assume it will be ready in a few hours unless you pay for rush processing.

Mixing up visa types. Make sure you're applying for a tourist e-visa (90-day, single-entry) and not a business visa or something else. The application form will specify.

Arriving at the border with an expired visa. Border staff will refuse entry. Your new visa must be approved before you attempt to re-enter.

Practical notes

Visa runs are a normal, legal part of traveling in Southeast Asia. Thousands of travelers do them every year. However, if you plan to stay more than 180 days, immigration may flag you as a long-term visitor and question you — in which case you should apply for a business visa or TRC instead. For standard 3–6 month trips with one or two visa runs, you're fine.

If you're working in Vietnam (even remotely), don't rely on tourist visas. Get a proper work permit and TRC. Immigration is increasingly strict about this.

— FIN —

Last updated · May 21, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.