Techniques are described for forwarding packets in a VPLS using multi-homing PE routers configured in an “active-active” link topology. As described herein, a PE router receives a packet from a multi-homed VPLS customer site, and processes the packet to determine a portion of a MAC domain to which the packet corresponds. When the packet is determined to correspond to a portion associated with the PE router, the PE router forwards the packet to the destination in accordance with forwarding protocols executing on the PE router. When the packet is determined to correspond to a portion associated with a second PE router, the PE router forwards the packet to the second PE router via a pseudowire that is external to the VPLS domain, and the second PE router forwards the packet to the destination in accordance with forwarding protocols executing on the second PE router.