As an important trade gateway on the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor, Lao Cai's border gate system plays a role in connecting trade activities between Vietnam and China.
Along with upgrading infrastructure, reforming administrative procedures and strengthening coordination between functional forces, import and export activities through the area are maintaining positive growth momentum.
Reporters' records on June 24th at the Lao Cai International Border Gate and Kim Thanh Road International Border Gate No. II show that the trade atmosphere is bustling.
At Lao Cai International Border Gate, tourists, border residents and workers carry out entry and exit procedures to Ha Khau quite smoothly.
Meanwhile, at Kim Thanh Road International Border Gate No. II, container trucks carrying goods continuously enter and exit the customs clearance area, and the inspection yard is bustling with workers and points of sale.
According to the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, from January 1 to June 15, 2026, the total value of import and export goods through border gates in the area reached 1.31 billion USD, an increase of 60% compared to the same period in 2025.
Of which, export turnover reached 663.54 million USD, up 62%; import turnover reached 465.1 million USD, up 35.5%. Other types such as temporary import for re-export, bonded warehouses, border gate transfer and transit reached 186.79 million USD, up to 171%.
Notably, the road international border gate continues to be a driving force for growth when the total value of import and export goods reached 1.09 billion USD, an increase of 72% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the railway international border gate reached 219.14 million USD, an increase of 17%.
Along with the increase in trade activities, the number of people and vehicles passing through the border gate is also maintained at a high level. From the beginning of the year to mid-June, the total number of people and vehicles entering and leaving the country reached 2,739,347, an increase of 5.3% compared to the same period in 2025.
Of which, there were 1,322,841 departures, 1,317,334 arrivals and 99,172 vehicle staff, an increase of more than 21%.
The total number of vehicles entering and leaving the country reached 134,269, an increase of 17%, including 43,353 Vietnamese cars and 90,506 Chinese cars. International intermodal trains alone reached 410 trips, down 38% compared to the same period last year.
Bustling import and export activities have generated significant revenue for the state budget.
Statistics from the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board show that total tax, fee and service revenue collected by Customs and member sectors managing border gates in nearly the first 6 months reached 1,140.2 billion VND, an increase of 69% compared to the same period in 2025.
In which, revenue collected by the Customs sector reached 1,064.65 billion VND, an increase of 74%. Road border gate customs collected 587.95 billion VND, and railway station customs collected 476.7 billion VND, an increase of 124%. Other member sectors collected 75.64 billion VND, an increase of 19%.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Vuong Trinh Quoc - Head of the Management Board of Lao Cai Economic Zone - said that the above results show that import and export activities through the area continue to maintain positive growth momentum.
The Economic Zone Management Board is coordinating with functional forces and the Chinese side to create favorable conditions for businesses, improve customs clearance capacity, limit goods congestion, and contribute to promoting the effectiveness of the border gate economic zone.
