Dansavanh border gate (Laos): location, opening hours, visa and visa run 2026

Dansavanh International Border Gate (also spelled Dansavan or Densavan) is in Xepon district, Savannakhet province (Laos), opposite the Lao Bao border gate in Quang Tri province. From here it is about 240 km to Savannakhet city along Route 9; on the Vietnamese side, Lao Bao is about 80 km from Dong Ha and about 150 km from Hue. According to the Lao Immigration Department, Dansavanh operates 7:00–22:00 daily and is the only gate on the Vietnam – Laos border that issues visas on arrival. The gate lies on the East–West Economic Corridor, with buses from Hue, Dong Ha and Da Nang to Savannakhet passing through, making it the easiest option for foreigners who want to enter Laos without a visa in advance.

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Dansavanh border gate at a glance

Country / province	Laos, Xepon district, Savannakhet province
Opposite border gate	Lao Bao (Quang Tri, Vietnam)
Distance	about 240 km to Savannakhet city; Lao Bao is about 80 km from Dong Ha and about 150 km from Hue
Opening hours (Lao time)	7:00–22:00 daily; Laos and Vietnam share the same time zone, UTC+7
Visa on arrival	Yes (30-day tourist visa, paid in US dollars cash)
Lao e-visa accepted?	No, Dansavanh is not on the list of gates accepting the Lao e-visa

Border gate location on Google Maps

Tap the button below to open Google Maps on your phone and get directions straight to the border gate.

Get directions to the border gate View on Google Maps

Lao visa when entering via Dansavanh

Dansavanh is listed by the Lao Immigration Department as issuing visas on arrival. The tourist visa allows a 30-day stay; the fee is paid in US dollars cash and, according to 2025–2026 reports, is usually about 30–42 USD depending on nationality (commonly around 40 USD). Bring 1–2 photos (4×6) and a passport valid for at least 6 more months.

Lao e-visa: only valid at international airports, some Laos – Thailand Friendship Bridges and the Boten border gate (bordering China). It cannot be used at Dansavanh or other gates on the Vietnamese border.
Lao visa exemption: ASEAN citizens (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei usually 30 days; Myanmar 14 days) and some countries such as Japan, South Korea, Russia and Mongolia; Switzerland and Luxembourg 15 days. The list may change, so check in advance.
Some nationalities cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply in advance at a Lao embassy or consulate. If unsure, use a Lao visa service before you go.

Crossing at Dansavanh step by step

Complete Vietnamese exit formalities at the Lao Bao border gate (show your passport, visa or current stay documents).
Walk, or follow your bus, across the zone between the two gates to the Dansavanh checkpoint.
Fill in the arrival card; if you need a visa, hand in your passport, photo and fee at the visa counter, then complete Lao entry formalities.
If you are doing a visa run: once you have your Lao entry stamp, complete Lao exit formalities right at Dansavanh.
Return to Lao Bao and enter Vietnam with a new e-visa, temporary residence card or visa exemption.

Where to go from Dansavanh border gate

Savannakhet: about 240 km along Route 9, via Xepon and Phine. Local Savannakhet – Lao Bao buses and long-distance Savannakhet – Dong Ha/Hue/Da Nang buses pass through the gate.
To Thailand: from Savannakhet you can cross the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge to Mukdahan.
Bus tip: some services only go as far as Seno (about 35 km from Savannakhet), so check the final stop before buying a ticket.
On the Vietnamese side there are plenty of buses and taxis to Dong Ha and Hue; Info Travel offers a visa run transfer service if you want to go and return in a day.

Documents to bring

A passport valid for at least 6 more months, with blank pages.
Documents to re-enter Vietnam: a Vietnam e-visa (printed, with the correct entry gate), temporary residence card, 5-year visa exemption certificate, or a nationality on the list of countries exempt from Vietnamese visas.
US dollars cash in small, flat, undamaged notes for the Lao visa fee.
1–2 photos (4×6) with a white background.

Visa run via Dansavanh

With visas on arrival and opening until 22:00, Dansavanh is the most convenient Lao gate for a visa run from central Vietnam. You exit at Lao Bao, enter Laos at Dansavanh, then return to Vietnam on new documents. See Laos visa run, is a visa run legal and Info Travel’s visa run service. If you have a sponsor, consider extending in Vietnam instead of a visa run.

Tips for crossing at Dansavanh

When applying for a Vietnam e-visa, choose Lao Bao as your entry gate; see the list of border gates accepting the e-visa.
Outside office hours or at weekends, the Lao side sometimes charges a small extra amount (usually about 1 USD) without a receipt; have small change ready.
There are often people changing kip, dong and USD around both gates, but rates are poor; change only what you need.
Although the gate is open until 22:00, arrive before the afternoon so there is time to sort out any document problems.
Laos is moving to electronic arrival and departure cards (piloted from 1/9/2025 at some airports and the First Friendship Bridge). At land gates with Vietnam, paper cards are usually still used; check immigration.gov.la before your trip.
Do not overstay your Vietnamese visa before exiting; see visa overstay in Vietnam.
After you return to Vietnam, your accommodation must complete the temporary residence declaration for you.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dansavanh border gate issue Lao visas on arrival?

Yes. According to the Lao Immigration Department website, Dansavanh issues visas on arrival but does not accept the Lao e-visa. The fee is paid in US dollars cash and varies by nationality.