Over 5,000 people completed exit procedures to China by 12:30 p.m. on 30/4, according to the Lao Cai International Border Gate Station. This number was three times higher than on 29/4, setting a record for outbound travelers during the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and April 30-May 1 holiday period.

Anticipating the surge, many tour companies sent staff to the border gate at 10 p.m. on 29/4 to hold spots for their groups, aiming for quick departures the following morning. However, Ngoc Cham, a representative for Top One Travel, stated that authorities instructed everyone to leave and only allowed queuing to begin at 7 a.m. on 30/4.

Thousands of people queued at Lao Cai international border gate on the morning of 30/4. Photo: NVCC

On 30/4, Top One Travel facilitated travel for about 1,300 tourists to China via land border gates, with the majority passing through Lao Cai. Cham noted that proactive preparation of documents and early coordination of tour groups ensured a smooth immigration process.

Compared to previous holidays, tourist coordination at both ends of the border gate was significantly improved this year. Despite many tour operators reporting the highest number of visitors since the pandemic, most groups experienced no issues.

Hoang Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared that his group completed entry procedures after waiting for about one hour. The cool weather made queuing less tiring. In China, the Hekou train station was not crowded early in the morning, but guides warned of potential congestion at major attractions such as Lijiang and Kunming.

Vietnamese tourist groups queued at Pingxiang international border gate on the morning of 30/4. Photo: NVCC

At Lao Cai international border gate, groups using passports were prioritized for entry over those using border passes.

Exit processing times ranged from 40 minutes to two hours. Cham explained that procedures at Lao Cai were faster than at Mong Cai international border gate (Quang Ninh) and Huu Nghi international border gate (Lang Son) due to a greater number of immigration lanes. Specifically, Hekou international border gate on the Chinese side has 16 entry lanes, while Pingxiang international border gate (adjacent to Huu Nghi) only has three lanes for tourists.

According to Hoang Tuyet, a representative of Yunnan Group Tours, the May 1 holiday period is also a peak season for domestic tourism in China, leading to a large number of local visitors. Tour providers proactively booked services one month in advance to ensure uninterrupted itineraries. However, some destinations in Kunming, such as the train station or the jacaranda tree-lined street, were expected to be crowded, requiring longer travel times.

The jacaranda tree-lined street in Kunming. Photo: Economic Daily

Land travel to China remains the preferred choice for Vietnamese tourists, especially given the cancellation or suspension of many charter flights, according to a Yunnan Group Tours representative. Thanks to investments in border gate infrastructure, which facilitate convenient immigration, and competitive tour prices, the market maintains stability.

This year, land tour prices increased by 10-12% compared to regular days due to higher transportation and accommodation costs in China during the holiday. Tour programs range from three to seven days, with the Pingbian - Mengzi route being the most affordable, priced at about 3,9-5,9 million dong. The Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La route is the most expensive, ranging from 7,5 to 13 million dong depending on the destination and departure date.

Tu Nguyen