Vietnam, China expand self-drive tours in border area
Vietnam and China are set to expand self-driving tours in a border region, heard a conference co-held by Vietnam’s northern Quang Ninh province and Dongxing city in China’s southwest Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region on May 9.
Cars driven by Chinese tourists enter Vietnam through Mong Cai border gate (Photo: dantri.com.vn)
Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam andChina are set to expand self-driving tours in a border region, heard aconference co-held by Viܫetnam’s northern Quang Ninh province and Dongxi🔥ng city inChina’s southwest Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region on May 9.
The tours are currently allowed to runbetween Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai city and Dongxing city. At the conference, the two sidesagreed to expand the area for the tour from Vietnam-China border to Guangxi’scities of Fangchenggang, Nanning and Guilin and Quang Ninh’s Ha Long city inthe future. The Vietnamese government has allowedQuang Ninh to pilot self-drive tours from China to the province’s Ha Long citysince March. Self-drive tours throughVietnam-China border have become a new attraction after the launch of the MongCai - Dongxing route in November 2016. As of April 2018, a total 146 vehiclescarrying 569 visitors travelled between the two cities. During the four-day holidays from April28 celebrating National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day, the bordercity of Mong Cai welcomed about 50,000 tourists, with some 10,000 Chineseholiday-makers travelling through Mong Cai International Border Gate each day. More than 4 million Chinese people visitedVietnam last year, representing a year-on-year surge of 48.6 percent. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnamserved over 1.35 million Chinese tourists, a year-on-year rise of 42.9 percent.-VNA
The People’s Committee of northern Quang Ninh province has allowed cars driven by Chinese nationals to enter Ha Long city through Mong Cai border gate for tourism purposes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has suggested China’s Guangxi consider building a cooperation agreement with Vietnam in the domains of economics, trade, industry and investment, thus further promoting partnerships among the two countries’ enterprises.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh welcomed about 530,000 visitors during the four-day holidays from April 28 celebrating National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Cars driven by Chinese tourists enter Vietnam through Mong Cai border gate (Photo: dantri.com.vn) 
