PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,303	[1]	$ 1,208	[1]	$ 2,215	[1]	$ 1,843	[1]	$ 255	[1]	$ 6,569	$ 4,401	$ 4,054	[2]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary											(6,680)	(4,483)	(4,125)
Other, net											(1,069)	(1,661)	328	[2]
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities											10,837	13,154	2,838	[2]
Investing activities:
Investment in subsidiary													48
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by investing activities											77,583	5,699	16,814	[2]
Financing activities:
Dividend payment on common stock											2,840
Additional cost of 2009 common stock issuance													48	[2]
Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities											(54,255)	(23,563)	(17,977)	[2]
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents											34,165	(4,710)	1,675	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period							5,035				5,035	9,745	8,070	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period											39,200	5,035	9,745
Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc
Operating activities:
Net income											6,569	4,401	4,054	[2]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary											(6,680)	(4,483)	(4,125)	[2]
Other, net											142	64	54	[2]
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities											31	(18)	(17)	[2]
Investing activities:
Investment in subsidiary													48	[2]
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by investing activities													48	[2]
Financing activities:
Dividend payment on common stock											(2,840)			[2]
Additional cost of 2009 common stock issuance													(48)	[2]
Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities											(2,840)		(48)	[2]
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents											(2,809)	(18)	(17)	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period							3,324				3,324	3,342	3,359
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period											$ 515	$ 3,324	$ 3,342

[1] Includes the tax effects of the aforementioned entries at the estimated annualized effective income tax rate applied during the respective reporting periods.

[2] (As Restated)