What a Hue visa run costs in 2026
The short answer: about 113 USD for the car, plus whatever your passport needs at the border. The longer answer has a few line items people forget, so this page lists every one with prices in both USD and VND.
The transport is the big number. A private car from Hue City, An Cuu, or the Perfume River area to the Lao Bao border and back costs 2,800,000 VND, roughly 113 USD at current exchange rates. That is the whole car, not per person. The same flat rate applies from Lang Co, Lap An, and Phu Loc, including the resorts around Laguna and the Bach Ma foothills.
Most travelers add one or two things on top. If your nationality needs a Laos visa-on-arrival, that fee is paid at the Dansavanh counter. If you want a fresh 90-day Vietnam e-visa instead of a short re-entry stamp, the visa desk tiers start at 65 USD and climb to 180 USD depending on how fast you need it. Add a lunch stop in Dong Ha and a few tips, and a solo traveler should plan for roughly 180 to 200 USD all in. A group of four splitting the car gets that down to around 40 USD per person plus add-ons.
The prices here are what we actually charge and collect, updated for 2026. Exchange rates move, so VND is the base figure and USD is approximate. If anything looks off, message WhatsApp +84 369 308 237 and dispatch will confirm the current rate before you book.
The full line-item breakdown
Here is the complete cost sheet for a same-day Hue to Lao Bao visa run, with the numbers we actually use. VND is the base price; USD is converted at roughly 25,000 VND per dollar.
| Item | VND | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Private car, Hue City to Lao Bao and back (1-4 travelers, whole car) | 2,800,000 | ~113 |
| Private car, Lang Co / Lap An / Phu Loc (same flat rate) | 2,800,000 | ~113 |
| Hiace upgrade (7 pax) | Quoted per trip | Quoted |
| Mini-bus upgrade (10 pax) | Quoted per trip | Quoted |
| Laos visa-on-arrival at Dansavanh (if needed) | Paid at counter | ~20-40 |
| Lunch stop in Dong Ha | 50,000-150,000 | 2-6 |
| Driver tip (optional) | 100,000-200,000 | 4-8 |
The car rate covers the bilingual driver, DMZ tolls on QL9, the Quang Tri fixer team at the border, cold towels, Wi-Fi, and WhatsApp updates through the day. There are no surprise surcharges for the border crossing itself.
The e-visa add-on is separate, so it gets its own table further down. Most riders book the car first, then decide on the visa desk once they know their passport situation.
The per-person math
Because the car is a flat rate, the cost per person collapses fast once you share. This is the math for the 2,800,000 VND private car from Hue City.
Solo traveler
~113 USD
2,800,000 VND for the whole car, driver, and border fixers. The most expensive way to run, still cheaper than a flight to Bangkok.
Two travelers
~56 USD each
The rate does not change. A couple or two friends halve the transport cost and keep the same door-to-door service.
Three travelers
~37 USD each
Small families usually book this way. The car has room for a stroller in the back.
Four travelers
~28 USD each
Four people splitting the car pay less for transport than the Laos visa fee costs some nationalities.
Bigger groups: five to seven people upgrade to a Hiace, and groups up to ten use a mini-bus. Those are quoted per trip because pickup points vary, so message WhatsApp +84 369 308 237 with your group size and hotel and you will get a number within the hour.
One thing to remember: the per-person number only covers the car. Laos visa-on-arrival fees and the e-visa add-on are charged per passport, so the group price per person still includes those if anyone needs them.
The 90-day e-visa add-on
The 90-day Vietnam e-visa add-on is the reason most riders book through a desk instead of doing the border crossing solo. The moment Lao Bao stamps you out of Vietnam, we submit the application, and you re-enter with a fresh 90-day visa instead of a short stay stamp.
Prices are per passport, single entry or multiple entry. Rush tiers only run Monday to Friday, because Vietnam immigration processes e-visas on business days only.
| Processing | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Hour Rush | 165 USD / 4,300,000 VND | 180 USD / 4,700,000 VND |
| 2 Hours | 130 USD / 3,400,000 VND | 150 USD / 3,900,000 VND |
| 4 Hours | 95 USD / 2,400,000 VND | 120 USD / 3,100,000 VND |
| 1 Day | 85 USD / 2,200,000 VND | 110 USD / 2,900,000 VND |
| 2 Days | 75 USD / 2,000,000 VND | 100 USD / 2,600,000 VND |
| 3 Days | 70 USD / 1,900,000 VND | 90 USD / 2,400,000 VND |
| 4 Days | 65 USD / 1,700,000 VND | 85 USD / 2,200,000 VND |
Already filed your own e-visa and it is stuck? The push-only service accelerates an existing application ID after you exit. One hour push is 125 USD, and slower windows drop to 90, 60, 50, 40, 35, and 25 USD as the wait grows. Push fees only apply if we successfully speed up your application; government fees stay separate.
Upload your passport and portrait before departure, and the visa desk sends status updates by email and WhatsApp until the approval PDF lands.
What is not included
The quoted prices are honest, but a few costs sit outside them and catch people off guard. Here is what is not in the 2,800,000 VND car rate.
Laos visa-on-arrival
If your passport needs a Laos visa, the fee is paid in cash at the Dansavanh counter, roughly 20 to 40 USD depending on nationality. The fixers handle the forms so you are not fumbling for a pen at the window. Some nationalities enter Laos visa-free, so check yours before you go.
Passport photos
If your passport is low on blank pages or the border staff want a fresh photo, bring two spares. The fixer team can sort extras at the border, but it costs more than the 2 USD a photo shop in Hue charges.
Lunch and drinks
Runs stop in Dong Ha on the way back. A bowl of bun bo Hue at a roadside spot runs 50,000 to 150,000 VND. The car has cold towels and Wi-Fi, but meals are yours.
Overstay fines, if you already overstayed
Vietnam charges a daily fine for overstaying, and the run does not erase it. The fine is settled before you exit, and our team will tell you the exact figure when you book so there are no surprises at the checkpoint.
What never costs extra: DMZ tolls on QL9, the Quang Tri fixer team, and the return drop-off anywhere inside Hue city limits. Those are baked into the car rate, and the price you are quoted at booking is the price you pay.
How to book, and what dispatch needs
Booking is the easy part. Reserve online through the form on the homepage, or message dispatch on WhatsApp at +84 369 308 237. You will get a confirmation within one business hour, with the pickup time, the exact price in VND, and the driver's details.
What dispatch needs from you: your hotel or home address in Hue City, the number of travelers, and a photo of your passport's info page if you want the e-visa add-on. If your stamp is close to expiring, say so when you book, because the run gets scheduled around the border queue.
Pay in VND cash, by bank transfer, or via the online form. The quoted price does not change on the day, which is the main reason regulars book with a fixed desk instead of haggling with freelance drivers at the airport.
Same-day runs leave every morning of the year, weekends and holidays included. Pickups run 04:00 to 05:30 from central Hue, An Cuu, and the Citadel lanes, then swing through Phu Bai and Lang Co before the QL1A traffic builds. You are back in Hue City or at Phu Bai Airport between 16:00 and 17:00.
Traveling further down the coast? The same team runs the border service from Da Nang via danangvisarun.vn, and Hoi An departures run through hoianvisarun.com. Each city has its own border route, its own pickup points, and the same flat-rate pricing model.
New to the whole process? Start with the complete Hue visa run guide for the route and border steps, then come back here once you know which add-ons you need.
Cost questions, answered
Is the car rate per person or per car?
The 2,800,000 VND rate is the whole car for up to four travelers, door to door. Splitting it four ways works out to about 28 USD per person for transport.
What is the cheapest way to do a Hue visa run in 2026?
Sharing the private car is the cheapest reliable option, about 28 USD per person with four riders. Public buses to Dong Ha plus a motorbike taxi to the border save a little but add hours and leave you handling the border paperwork alone.
Do I pay the Laos visa fee on top of the car rate?
Yes, if your nationality needs a Laos visa. It is paid in cash at the Dansavanh counter, roughly 20 to 40 USD. The fixers handle the forms; the fee is not included in the car rate.
Can I book if my stamp expires tomorrow?
Call or WhatsApp first. Cars run daily, but rush e-visa tiers only process Monday to Friday. If your stamp expires on a weekend, the border run itself still works, you just re-enter on a short stamp and wait for the e-visa to land.
What currency should I bring?
VND for the driver and lunch, USD for the Laos visa counter. Both are accepted at the border, but small USD bills are easiest for the Laos fee.
Know your number before you go
One flat price, confirmed before pickup, no border surprises.