<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>97</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>192</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>33</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>8</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00010 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00100 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00101 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Income/(Loss) And Comprehensive Income/(Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLossAndComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Income/(Loss) And Comprehensive Income/(Loss)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00300 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements Shareholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements Shareholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00400 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10101 - Disclosure - Nature of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureNatureOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10201 - Disclosure - Liquidity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureLiquidity</Role>
      <ShortName>Liquidity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10301 - Disclosure - Recent Accounting Pronouncements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureRecentAccountingPronouncements</Role>
      <ShortName>Recent Accounting Pronouncements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10401 - Disclosure - Other Investments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureOtherInvestments</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Investments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10501 - Disclosure - Mineral Properties</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureMineralProperties</Role>
      <ShortName>Mineral Properties</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10601 - Disclosure - Plant And Equipment</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosurePlantAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>Plant And Equipment</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10701 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10801 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapital</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10901 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11001 - Disclosure - Commitments And Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments And Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11101 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureFairValueAccounting</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11201 - Disclosure - Geographic And Segment information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureGeographicAndSegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Geographic And Segment information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30403 - Disclosure - Other Investments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureOtherInvestmentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Investments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30503 - Disclosure - Mineral Properties (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureMineralPropertiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Mineral Properties (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30603 - Disclosure - Plant And Equipment (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosurePlantAndEquipmentTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Plant And Equipment (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30803 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30903 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>31101 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureFairValueAccountingTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40101 - Disclosure - Nature of Operations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureNatureOfOperationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of Operations (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40201 - Disclosure - Liquidity - (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureLiquidityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Liquidity - (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40401 - Disclosure - Other Investments (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureOtherInvestmentsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Investments (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40402 - Disclosure - Other Investments (Summarizes Our Investment) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureOtherInvestmentsSummarizesOurInvestmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Investments (Summarizes Our Investment) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40403 - Disclosure - Other Investments (Summary Of Financial Information For Midas) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureOtherInvestmentsSummaryOfFinancialInformationForMidasDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Investments (Summary Of Financial Information For Midas) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40501 - Disclosure - Mineral Properties (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureMineralPropertiesNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Mineral Properties (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40502 - Disclosure - Mineral Properties (Schedule Of Business Acquisitions By Acquisition) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureMineralPropertiesScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Mineral Properties (Schedule Of Business Acquisitions By Acquisition) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40503 - Disclosure - Mineral property (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureMineralPropertyDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Mineral property (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40601 - Disclosure - Plant And Equipment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosurePlantAndEquipmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Plant And Equipment (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40701 - Disclosure - Debt (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureDebtNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40801 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40802 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Schedule Of Additional Paid-In Capital) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalScheduleOfAdditionalPaidInCapitalDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Schedule Of Additional Paid-In Capital) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40803 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Warrant Activity) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfWarrantActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Warrant Activity) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40805 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of the Fair Value Of All Awards issued Under Stock Compensation Plans) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfFairValueOfAllAwardsIssuedUnderStockCompensationPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of the Fair Value Of All Awards issued Under Stock Compensation Plans) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40806 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Option Activity) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfOptionActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Option Activity) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40807 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of The Status Of Unvested Stock Options) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfStatusOfUnvestedStockOptionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of The Status Of Unvested Stock Options) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40808 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Restricted Stock Units Activity) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfRestrictedStockUnitsActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Restricted Stock Units Activity) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40809 - Disclosure - Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Assumptions) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAdditionalPaidInCapitalSummaryOfAssumptionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Paid-In Capital (Summary Of Assumptions) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40901 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Reconciliation Of Amounts Contained In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReconciliationOfAmountsContainedInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Reconciliation Of Amounts Contained In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41001 - Disclosure - Commitments And Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments And Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41101 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureFairValueAccountingNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41102 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting (Assets Measured At Fair Value By Level Within The Fair Value Hierarchy) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureFairValueAccountingAssetsMeasuredAtFairValueByLevelWithinFairValueHierarchyDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting (Assets Measured At Fair Value By Level Within The Fair Value Hierarchy) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41201 - Disclosure - Geographic And Segment Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://vistagold.com/role/DisclosureGeographicAndSegmentInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Geographic And Segment Information (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_StockholdersEquity had a mix of decimals attribute values: -3 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '40403 - Disclosure - Other Investments (Summary Of Financial Information For Midas) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00100 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00101 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Income/(Loss) And Comprehensive Income/(Loss)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00400 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013'</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>vgz-20140930.xml</File>
    <File>vgz-20140930.xsd</File>
    <File>vgz-20140930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>vgz-20140930_def.xml</File>
    <File>vgz-20140930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>vgz-20140930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
