Across China: Spring Festival holiday drives cross-border travel surge between China and Vietnam

NANNING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cross-border tourism between China and Vietnam experienced a robust expansion during the recent nine-day Spring Festival holiday, as shared cultural traditions fueled a vibrant two-way travel surge.

According to local official data, 249,000 cross-border trips were recorded through ports in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the holiday period that ended on Feb. 23.

For many Vietnamese travelers, interest has shifted from simple border-crossing trips to in-depth tours of China's interior. Nguyen Nhat Truong and his wife Do Thi Kieu Anh, from Vietnam's Lang Son province, embarked on their second self-guided tour of China this month.

"We plan to explore the border area first, then take a bus to Nanning City, the capital of Guangxi, and transfer to a high-speed train to Guangzhou City," Nguyen said. "We want to try Chinese hot pot, Peking duck, and other local specialties, and see the sights."

Dongxing, a border city in Guangxi that sits across the river from Mong Cai in Vietnam, serves as a vital gateway. Chen Yongshan, head of Dongxing Junda International Travel Agency, said that her company handled over 3,500 tour groups from Vietnam entering through Dongxing Port in 2025, with a single-day peak of 600 visitors.

"From Feb. 18 to 20, we saw an influx of Vietnamese family groups coming to experience the strong festive atmosphere here -- the fireworks, the night views and the holiday mood," she explained.

The shopping scene in Dongxing tells another part of the story. Many visitors come here specifically to pick up goods for New Year celebrations and get ready for the festive season. A Vietnamese tour guide said that he led two to three tour groups weekly to supermarkets in Dongxing before the holiday.

"We also celebrate the Spring Festival, and more and more people are coming to Dongxing to travel. We especially like to buy Chinese jelly, cookies and various beverages," he added.

To capitalize on the momentum, Dongxing has diversified its offerings. Fan Guoqing, director of the city's bureau of culture, radio, television, sports and tourism, outlined a comprehensive schedule of holiday activities, including basketball games, intangible cultural heritage displays and seafood night markets, alongside the Dongxing, China -- Mong Cai, Vietnam Lantern Festival Friendship Football Match.

Beyond the festive boom, China and Vietnam have implemented policies to facilitate cross-border travel year-round.

A prime example is the China-Vietnam Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone in Chongzuo City in Guangxi. Since its official operation in October 2024, the cooperation zone has welcomed more than 100,000 cross-border visitors. Travelers can move between the two countries within the zone after submitting information for clearance.

"The holiday surge in cross-border travel results from the convergence of policy empowerment, demand compatibility and emotional resonance. This momentum will help both countries build regionally influential tourism brands and unlock new possibilities for border cooperation," said Liu Minkun, director of the tourism science research center at Guangxi University. ■