Lao Bao Border Gate: Location, Hours, Visa and Visa Run 2026

Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province connects Vietnam with Dansavanh, Savannakhet Province (Laos), about 80 km west of Dong Ha on National Route 9 and about 150 km from Hue. Foreigners can exit and enter here with a Vietnam e-visa, visa sticker, temporary residence card, 5-year visa exemption certificate or under visa exemption; the gate opens daily, but hours can change, so arrive before 16:00. Lao Bao is the main gate on the East–West Economic Corridor, with buses from Hue, Dong Ha and Da Nang to Savannakhet. The Lao side issues visas on arrival to many nationalities.

Need a Lao visa before crossing? Info Travel can get your Lao tourist visa (30 days, single entry) in 5–7 working days for 140 USD all-in.

Contents

Lao Bao border gate at a glance

Province	Quang Tri
Other side	Dansavanh, Savannakhet Province (Laos)
Distance	about 80 km west of Dong Ha on National Route 9 and about 150 km from Hue
Opening hours	Daily; arrive before 16:00
Vietnam e-visa entry	Yes (Resolution 127/NQ-CP)
Vietnam visa exemption	Applies as at every international gate

Laos visa at Lao Bao

A Lao visa on arrival (about 40–50 USD cash depending on nationality) is available at major gates such as Dansavanh (Lao Bao) and Nam Phao (Cau Treo). The Lao e-visa is generally not accepted at land borders with Vietnam. ASEAN citizens and some nationalities such as Japan, South Korea, Russia and Switzerland are visa-exempt for short stays. For smaller gates, get a visa in advance at a Lao consulate.

What to bring

Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages.
A document to re-enter Vietnam: a printed e-visa, temporary residence card, 5-year exemption certificate, or a nationality on the visa exemption list.
A Laos visa, or USD cash for a visa on arrival.
Small cash notes and 1–2 passport photos (4×6 cm).

Visa run via Lao Bao

A visa run means leaving and re-entering Vietnam to start a new permitted stay. At Lao Bao you clear Vietnamese exit, enter Laos, then come back and enter Vietnam with your new document. See the Laos visa run guide and is a visa run legal?.

Tips for crossing at Lao Bao

When applying for the e-visa, select Lao Bao as your entry port; see e-visa ports of entry.
Do not overstay before you exit: fines are 0.5–40 million VND under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP (overstay fines).
After you return, your accommodation must file temporary residence declaration within 12 hours.
If a company or relative can sponsor you, an extension inside Vietnam is often easier than a visa run.