Nature of Operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Nature of Operations [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	1. Nature of Operations Vista Gold Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Vista," the "Company," the "Corporation," "we," "our" or "us") operate in the mining industry and are focused on the evaluation, acquisition, exploration and advancement of gold exploration and potential development projects, which may lead to gold production, as well as the realization of market value of our assets. As such, we are considered an Exploration Stage Enterprise. Our approach to acquisitions of gold projects has generally been to seek projects within political jurisdictions with well-established mining, land ownership and tax laws, which have adequate drilling and geological data to support the completion of a third-party review of the geological data and to complete an estimate of the gold mineralization. In addition, we look for opportunities to improve the value of our gold projects through exploration drilling, and/or technical studies resulting in changes to the operating assumptions underlying previous engineering work. We are continuing to move our more advanced projects through technical, engineering and feasibility studies so that production decisions can be made on those projects. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. These estimates and assumptions are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements. Accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at yearend. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results that can be expected for the full year. Please refer to the section entitled "Significant accounting policies" of "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all footnote disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial statements, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include certain information and note disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 ("2011 Form 10-K"). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary to present fairly in all material respects the financial position as of March 31, 2012, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

1. Nature of Operations

Vista Gold Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Vista," the "Company," the "Corporation," "we," "our" or "us") operate in the mining industry and are focused on the evaluation, acquisition, exploration and advancement of gold exploration and potential development projects, which may lead to gold production, as well as the realization of market value of our assets. As such, we are considered an Exploration Stage Enterprise. Our approach to acquisitions of gold projects has generally been to seek projects within political jurisdictions with well-established mining, land ownership and tax laws, which have adequate drilling and geological data to support the completion of a third-party review of the geological data and to complete an estimate of the gold mineralization. In addition, we look for opportunities to improve the value of our gold projects through exploration drilling, and/or technical studies resulting in changes to the operating assumptions underlying previous engineering work.

We are continuing to move our more advanced projects through technical, engineering and feasibility studies so that production decisions can be made on those projects.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. These estimates and assumptions are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements. Accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at yearend. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results that can be expected for the full year. Please refer to the section entitled "Significant accounting policies" of "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2011 Form 10-K for a discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all footnote disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial statements, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include certain information and note disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 ("2011 Form 10-K"). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary to present fairly in all material respects the financial position as of March 31, 2012, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, in conformity with U.S. GAAP.