From around 6h, Nguyen Linh, a Hanoi resident, was already at Lao Cai border gate to complete procedures for a road trip to China. Tour company staff had secured slots the previous night, which reduced Linh and her group's waiting time to about 4 hours upon arrival. By approximately 13h, most procedures were complete, and the group moved to Hekou station to take a high-speed train to Hong Ha station.

"It was hot, like a sea of people around us. I don't know what would have happened if the travel agency hadn't arranged our slots beforehand," Linh said. She added that she had seen many photos of the packed Lao Cai border gate during holidays but still decided to go because the tour price was reasonable.

Ngoc Cham, a representative of Top One Travel, a company specializing in China road tours, stated that queue management at the border gates was better managed this year, benefiting from previous experiences. The company's earliest group cleared customs at Lao Cai border gate at 8h, after about 1,5 hours of waiting. The latest group waited approximately 3 hours.

Groups crossing Huu Nghi border gate (Lang Son) to Nanning or Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) to Dongxing did not experience long waits.

Visitors at Lao Cai border gate on 25/4. Photo: NVCC

According to Hoang Tuyet, a representative of Van Nam Group Tours, interest in China road tours, particularly via Lao Cai border gate, has significantly increased. This is due to competitive pricing amid rising airfare costs, convenient procedures, and suitable travel times for both short and long trips.

Road tour prices range from 3,9 million VND to 13 million VND depending on the route. Binh Bien is the cheapest, and the Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangrila route is the most expensive. These prices have increased by 10-12% compared to the same period last year, primarily due to higher transportation and accommodation costs.

This year, the company served 3,300 visitors through various border gates, a 110% increase from last year, with nearly 650 visitors served on 25/4 alone. With the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and 30/4 holidays closely spaced, many tourists are opting for 4-6 day tours. This allows them to optimize costs and enjoy a more comprehensive experience compared to shorter 2-3 day trips.

Huu Nghi border gate on 25/4. Photo: Van Nam Group Tours

Van Nam Group Tours predicts that pressure at the border gates will intensify from 30/4, especially on 29/4 and 30/4. Customs clearance times could extend by 30-60 minutes if visitor numbers surge. It is likely that all groups will need to depart and queue earlier to ensure their schedules.

Luu Thi Thu, Deputy Director of Hoang Viet Travel, stated that their land tour partners anticipate total visitor numbers through Lao Cai border gate on the morning of 30/4 could reach 8,000-10,000, double that of previous holidays. Consequently, passenger vehicles from Hanoi must depart by 22h the previous day at the latest. Tour guides are required to strictly manage visitors, preventing them from straying and delaying departure times.

Tu Nguyen