Taking culture as a material for new tourism products
From February 25, 2025, Binh Lieu district (Quang Ninh province, Vietnam) and the People's Government of the Imperial Citadel (China) have officially implemented customs clearance procedures for tourists and residents living on the border through the Hoanh Mo (Vietnam) - Dong Trung (China) border gate pair. The subjects eligible for clearance include citizens of the two countries with passports, entry and exit clearance (XNC) or border clearance for XNC. The customs clearance time is applied from Monday to Friday every week, with the time frame from 8:00 to 9:00 (morning) and 15:00 to 16:00 (afternoon) according to Hanoi time.
The implementation of customs clearance is the result of the meeting program in early spring 2025 between the Secretaries of provinces/regions and the 16th Conference of the Joint Working Committee between the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang (Vietnam) and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China). The goal of the program is to promote comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, especially in the field of tourism and border trade.
According to Mr. Vi Ngoc Nhat, Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Binh Lieu district, this is a great opportunity to develop local tourism. From February 25 to March 12, 2025, Binh Lieu district welcomed more than 1,000 Chinese tourists, an average of 100 visitors per day, mainly visitors returning home during the day. The district is also actively promoting the signing of bilateral tourism agreements to attract more tourists.
In 2025, Binh Lieu district aims to welcome 500,000 tourists, including 20,000 international visitors. To achieve this goal, the district has implemented many tourism stimulus programs, typically the Luc Na communal house festival with attractive activities such as traditional royal decree rides, traditional martial arts championships... attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate.
In addition, Binh Lieu district also focuses on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups associated with tourism development.
Festivals such as Soong Co, Kien Gio, Muon Vang, Hoa So will be maintained and renewed. The district also implemented the Project of cultural villages of the Tay, San Chi, and Dao people, while effectively protecting and exploiting famous relics such as Luc Hon terraced fields, Khe Van waterfall, Cao Ly mountain, Cao Xiem mountain, Cao Ba Lanh mountain, and Song Mooc waterfall.
Shaping the tourism products of the vibrant border city
In the Mong Cai border area, the city focuses on effectively implementing the Tourism Development Project to 2025, with a vision to 2030, along with the pilot project for the night-time economic development model.
The goal is to improve the quality of existing tourism products and develop new unique products, such as eco-tourism, community tourism associated with traditional historical education, and high-end resort tourism in Tra Co Long. The city also promotes and promotes tourism through events such as the "Imprints at the Fatherland's Head" program, the "Seas and Islands at the Fatherland's Head" race, and the Border sim Flower Festival. Cultural, artistic and sports activities will be held at famous tourist destinations such as Tra Co Long Beach, Sa Vy, and Vinhomes Golden Avenue Mong Cai Urban Area.
According to Mr. Vu Tuan Anh, Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Mong Cai city, as of March 11, 2025, the total number of tourists reached 455,840, an increase of 12% over the same period. The city is reactivating tourism products such as self-driving tourism vehicles, day tourism, and developing new products such as cross-border cycling. The cross-border cycling tournament is expected to be held from April 30 to May 1, 2025. In addition, the two sides are also surveying to deploy tourism on the Bac Luan border river, expected to come into operation in the second quarter of 2025.
With specific efforts and plans, border localities of Quang Ninh are aiming to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the locality and strengthening cooperative relations with international partners, especially China.
