Quang Ninh (VNA) – The pilot of self-drive tours at border areas of
Vietnam and China is resumed after a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The northern province of Quang Ninh recently approved a pilot programme on the management
of personal vehicles from China to the border city of Mong Cai and vice versa
through the Mong Cai International Border Gate.
Under the programme, which lasts until September 30, 2026, Vietnamese
tourists are allowed to drive 600 kilometres into China on the Mong Cai –
Dongxing – Fangcheng – Liuzhou – Guiline route. The cars must undergo sufficient
procedures and get documents granted by the Chinese authorities, and follow the lead vehicles from the Chinese side.
Meanwhile, Chinese visitors are able to enter Vietnam‘s Mong Cai city and Ha Long city,
and not allowed to stop at military zones and other restricted areas.
Cars with nine seats
or less coming for tourism purposes are eligible to engage in the pilot
programme. They must be examined by competent authorities of both sides, get
transport licenses, have logo of tour organisers, and follow a predetermined
route.
Each group must not exceed 10 automobiles, and is not allowed to stay more
than five days for a travel permit. An extension of maximum three days are available
in case of broken vehicles and traffic accidents with recognition from relevant
authorities.
Earlier, the tours of this kind were piloted in September 2016. Until 2019, the
time before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, there had been 35 cars carrying 108
Vietnamese tourists to China, and 424 with 1,443 Chinese visitors to
Vietnam./.