Introduction and question about border run

Hey there everyone!
Newbie here from the US, Pennsylvania.

I had my sights set on Vietnam (Da Nang) until I learned about the retirement visa available in Thailand. While I prefer Vietnam to Thailand, I just can't shake the fear of a border run disaster and being denied reentry. Based on my research, my understanding is that using a vetted border run service/agent substantially reduces the probability of said disaster, which makes me wonder if my fear is exaggerated and inaccurate? - @cspanther

Yes and yes

Hey there everyone!Newbie here from the US, Pennsylvania. I had my sights set on Vietnam (Da Nang) until I learned about the retirement visa available in Thailand. While I prefer Vietnam to Thailand, I just can't shake the fear of a border run disaster and being denied reentry. - @cspanther

Welcome to the forum.

You don't mention if your preference for Vietnam over Thailand is based on personal experience or research. If you haven't actually spent time in each country, you should do that before deciding. The two countries are like night and day in many ways, both good and bad. In the long term, you may end up loathing both of them. There's really no perfect place.

Another thing to consider is that nothing in this world is permanent, so you shouldn't necessarily think in terms of choosing a single place and living there the rest of your life. Having a base is a good strategy, but having the flexibility to self-deport is also an invaluable advantage.

I’ve been making border runs for two years and the only *** ups have been my own.  Don’t bother with a vpn, it didn’t work for me.  I’ve done it myself and I’ve done it with help from those helpers.  I’ll do it alone again next time.  I do the one to Moc Bai.

@stretch5

when you make these Moc Bai border runs, can you turn around immediately?   ie  No overnight in Cambodia?

Thanks

K

@stretch5 when you make these Moc Bai border runs, can you turn around immediately? ie No overnight in Cambodia?ThanksK - @KKK36

I'm also interested in stretch5 's experience with this in/out of Cambodia question.

I'd written on another thread...

With a Cambodia VOA, you are supposed to stay 24 hours, so if you want to turn around and come straight back in to VN a small "donation" might be asked of you (100-200K VND). See here (Link to Gov't of Australia's Cambodia info page). Under subsection 'TRAVEL/Visas and border measures/Land Border Crossings', it states "Day trips are not permitted at land border crossings."

Scroll down that page about 1/2 way to the "Travel" section.

That said, reports are that a 100K-200K VND "tip" will negate this overnight stay requirement😉

@stretch5
when you make these Moc Bai border runs, can you turn around immediately? ie No overnight in Cambodia?
Thanks
K - @KKK36

You can do it at the Lao Bảo crossing used by foreigners in the Đà Nẵng/Hội An/Huế region IF arranged through a trustworthy agent.

The main visa agent here has just announced an expansion in the number of border run trips every week due to an increase in people using her "expedited at the border" service, where they wait in Laos for three or four hours while their new visas are expeditiously processed by the agent, as soon as they have exited Vietnam.

Then they cross back over and get back on the bus; total trip time is about 12 hours from/to Đà Nẵng.

People wouldn't have to do even that if they would simply apply for their next visa through her as soon as they enter Vietnam, but it seems to be the latest craze that you wait until the last minute to decide what your Southeast Asia travel plans might be.

GoodOlBoy made his border run plans through her a couple of months in advance and he was able to get his next 3 month visa approved before doing his border run down south at Mộc Bài, which allowed him to do exactly what you are asking (immediately re-enter Vietnam on his new visa)