Possessing a strategic geo-economic location at the border tripoint, Dien Bien province is proactively transforming itself into an important transshipment hub connecting the ASEAN economic space with the Southwest China region.
In mid-September 2026, the locality continuously promoted international cooperation programs, expanded trade in goods and connected cross-border service infrastructure with Laos, Thailand and China.
The focus in Dien Bien's foreign economic relations is to maintain a stable pace of trade with 6 northern provinces of Laos.
According to the report assessing one year of implementing the Memorandum of Cooperation for the period 2025-2027 between the Department of Industry and Trade of localities, the import and export turnover and border trade between Dien Bien and 6 northern provinces of Laos from September 2025 to September 2026 is estimated at 88.7 million USD, an increase of 7.4% compared to the same period.
Notably, the province's export value reached 66.86 million USD, an increase of 14.5% thanks to strong commodities such as building materials, agricultural products and consumer goods.
In parallel with trade, the two sides actively support businesses in linking rubber latex supply sources, importing construction sand, surveying coffee and macadamia raw material areas and proposing to upgrade Huoi Puoc - Na Son border gate into an international border gate, towards building a second-class logistics center in the area.
At the same time, the province deployed a field survey trip to Bo-Keo province (Laos) and two provinces Chieng Rai, Chieng Mai (Thailand). This activity aims to promote the inter-regional economic - tourism linkage chain.
Notably, the parties discussed in depth the direction of forming a cross-border road tourism and trade route from Dien Bien through Tay Trang International Border Gate to Udomxay, Bo Keo and then to Chieng Rai.
In Chieng Mai, the two localities agreed to promote the signing of a sisterhood agreement, and at the same time study the possibility of opening a direct Dien Bien - Chieng Mai air route to shorten travel time, creating strong momentum for investment capital and tourists passing by.
On September 18, the locality organized the Trade Promotion Conference, promoting import and export in the Northern region in 2026 with the theme "Digital Transformation and Green Trade: Driving force for breakthrough border trade between Vietnam - Laos - China".
The event gathered a large number of representatives of management agencies and the business community of the three countries to remove logistics bottlenecks and modernize border trade processes.
The breakthrough solutions agreed upon include: switching to 24/7 non-paper customs, ASEAN electronic C/O exchange, establishing a "Green Channel" for fresh agricultural products and promoting cashless payments at border gates.
At the same time, border localities such as Pu'er (Yunnan, China) and Udomxay (Laos) are jointly promoting the connection of cold supply chains, digitizing planting area codes and piloting the model of livestreaming transnational sales through e-commerce.
A series of memorandums of understanding on cooperation (MOU) between businesses from the three countries were signed at the conference.
The above series of activities has affirmed Dien Bien's goal in shaping smart trading methods, bringing the border trade economy to develop in a deep and sustainable direction.
