-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IbDQzVTnZrxYNhBJxLla67ggR8nZF75lMPZM4Iw/Y+HkvcokUoHjYHmMNE3ZzruL
 p7cEeiPlMFPRL02NFeHZUw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231488-11-000018.txt : 20110224
<SEC-HEADER>0001231488-11-000018.hdr.sgml : 20110224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110224125655
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231488-11-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Burdette Thomas E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001511736

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28635
		FILM NUMBER:		11635121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4035 RIDGE TOP ROAD SUITE 550
		CITY:			FAIRFAX
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22030

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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2011-02-14</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001511736</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Burdette Thomas E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4035 RIDGE TOP ROAD SUITE 550</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFAX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22030</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>2011-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Krista DiVenere, as attorney in fact for Thomas E. Burdette</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----