Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations and direct costs incurred at airports primarily consisting of fees paid to the airport authority for takeoff and landing, gate and facility fees, and other related fees.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

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

- Definition

Date which lease or group of leases is set to expire, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Refers to the rate of aircraft lease in dollars per flight hour.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vhc_RateOfAircraftLease
Namespace Prefix:	vhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Refers to the term of notice for cancellation of lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vhc_TermOfNoticeForCancellationOfLease
Namespace Prefix:	vhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=vhc_K2InvestmentFundLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_AirTransportationEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Office and Aircraft Leases [Abstract]
Term of lease	10 years		10 years
Offices [Member]
Office and Aircraft Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease expiration date			Oct. 31, 2019
K2 Investment Fund LLC [Member] \| Aircraft [Member]
Office and Aircraft Leases [Abstract]
Rental fees incurred for use of aircraft	$ 579	$ 218	$ 1,262	$ 690
Term of lease	12 months		12 months
Rate of aircraft lease (in dollars per flight hour)			$ 8
Term of notice for cancellation of lease			30 days