Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Balances, beginning of period	$ 25,283	$ 43,013
Balances, end of period	27,065	25,283
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax
Balances, beginning of period	25,283	43,013
Balances, end of period	27,065	25,283
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Balances, beginning of period	11	(59)
Balances, end of period	(35)	11
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax
Balances, beginning of period	11	(59)
Balances, end of period	(35)	11
Accumulated due to realization of gain/(loss) on marketable securities [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Other comprehensive loss due to change in fair market value of marketable securities during period before reclassifications	(34)	21
Reclassifications	(12)	(24)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax
Other comprehensive loss due to change in fair market value of marketable securities during period before reclassifications	(29)	18
Reclassifications	(10)	(20)
Accumulated due to write-down of marketable securities [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Reclassifications		73
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax
Reclassifications		62
Accumulated other comprehensive income after tax [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Balances, beginning of period	10	(50)
Balances, end of period	(29)	10
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax
Balances, beginning of period	10	(50)
Balances, end of period	$ (29)	$ 10

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTaxAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51821188&loc=d3e1436-108581

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodBeforeTaxAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51821188&loc=d3e1436-108581

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74512-122707

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29-31)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

n/a

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vgz_AociAttributableToParentNetOfTaxAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vgz_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=vgz_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAfterTaxMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: