-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IG6MU/bJ0uIc7pLLKTEXnpM8Qw6fJvQaRqvHzOaiFzGzVnHzETte5FxeLcnv5uyZ
 thkbrRBrp8MFgDqnsE+NyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231488-10-000013.txt : 20100326
<SEC-HEADER>0001231488-10-000013.hdr.sgml : 20100326
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100326163121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231488-10-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100324
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100326
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100326

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WALTERS ARTHUR L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182350

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28635
		FILM NUMBER:		10708006

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4935 N 30TH ST
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VIRGINIA COMMERCE BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001099305
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				541964895
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5350 LEE HIGHWAY
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7035340700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5350 LEE HIGHWAY
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099305</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIRGINIA COMMERCE BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vcbi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WALTERS ARTHUR L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4935 N 30TH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2178501</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were sold pursuant to a pre-approved 10b5-1 plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arthur L. Walters</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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