1/ The geographical characteristics and natural conditionsThe land border line between Vietnam and Cambodia starts at the crossroad of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (belonging to Kon Tum province), running to the coastal edge of Hà Tiên, Kiên Giang province, through to 10 Southwestern border provinces of Vietnam (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Bình Phước, Tây Ninh, Long An, Đồng Tháp, An Giang and Kiên Giang), adjacent to 9 border provinces of Cambodia (Ratanakiri, Mondunkiri, Kompongcham, Carache, Sveyreng, Preyveng, Kandan, Takeo and Kampot) with a length of 113 km. The climatic conditions in this region are influenced by the tropical, monsoon climate with high humidity, favourable to industrial and agricultural plant growing and aquaculture, thus helping form some large industrial plant growing areas or the rice fields stretching as far as the eyes could see. Normally, the monsoon season starts from April or May to September or October, accounting for 90% of the annual rainfall. The dry seasons starts from September or October to April or May the next year. Average annual temperature varies from 26 degrees to 27 degrees.
Different from the border lines between Vietnam and Laos and Vietnam and China, this border line has a relatively smooth terrain with less dangerous mountains and hills. So, the communications system connecting the two countries by roads and river ways have developed favourably, forming the road lines such as the inter-national, national, provincial roads, the river water ways and many trails, particularly when in the future there will be the trans-Asia railway line and road linking the big trade centres of the region, thus making an important contribution to pushing ahead the exchange and mutual understanding as well as bringing about the practical economic and trade benefits for the inhabitants in the two sides of the border. Apart from the improved communications system the border gate system has been invested by the Governments of the two countries. As of March 2011, Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to open 10 international border gates and 12 main border gates, in which there are 19 road border gates and 03 river border gates Thường Phước (Đồng Tháp) – Cookroca (Preybeng); the Tiền river (An Giang) – Ca Om Sam No (Kandan); Vĩnh Hội Đông (An Giang) – Kom Pung Kroxang (Ta Keo). This border gate system has helped the exchange of goods between the two countries develop fast.
The names of border gates duo of Vietnam and Cambodia Vietnam Cambodia
I. International border gates
Lệ Thanh An Đông Pếch
(Gia Lai) (Ratanakiri)
Hoa Lư Trapaing Sre
(Bình Phước) (Kratie)
Xamat Trapeang Phlong
(Tây Ninh) (Kong Pông Chàm)
Mộc Bài Bà Vét
(Tây Ninh) (Svey Rieng)
Bình Hiệp Pray Vo
(Long An) (Svey Rieng)
Dinh Bà Bon Tia Chắc Cray
(Đồng Tháp) (Prây Veng)
Thường Phước Côk Rô Ca
(Đồng Tháp) (Prây Veng)
Tiền River Ca Om Sam No
(An GIang) (Kân Đan)
Tịnh Biên Phơ Nông Đơn
(An Giang) (Tà Keo)
Hà Tiên Prek Chak
(Kiên Giang) (Kam Pôt)
II. Main border gates
Đắc Ruê Chi miết
(Đăk Lăc) (Môn-đun-ki-ri)
Bu Prăng Đăc Đam
(Đăc Nông) (Môn-đun-ki-ri)
Đắc Peur Bu Sara
(Đắc Nông) (Môn-đu-ki-ri)
Hoàng Diệu La Pakhê
(Bình Phước) (Môn-đun-ki-ri)
Kà Tum Chăn Mun
(Tây Ninh) (Kông-Pông-Chàm)
Tống Lê Chân Sa Tum
(Tây Ninh) (Kông-Pông-Chàm)
Chàng Riệc Đa
(Tây Ninh) (Kông-Pông-Chàm)
Phước Tân Bố Môn
(Tây Ninh) (Svay-riêng)
Mỹ Quý Tân Xòm Rông
(Long An) (Svay-Riêng)
Khánh Bình Chrây Thum
(An Giang) (Kần-Đan)
Vĩnh Hội Đông Kom Pung Kroxăng
(An Giang) (Tà Keo)
Giang Thành Ton Hon
(Kiên Giang) (Kăm-Pốt)
2. Vietnam-Cambodia land border lineUnder the French rule, the Northern section of the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia was determined by the Decree of the Governor-General of Indochina. The Southern section of the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia was planned by the Convention between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Southern Governor-General and clearly defined by the Decrees of the Governor-General of Indochina.
a. The Northern border section was determined by the Decree on December 06, 1904 and July 04, 1905 of the Governor-General of Indochina. Particularly the section running along the Dak Dam river of Dăc Lăc province and the short section along the Sê San river of Pleiku (now Gia Lai province) was determined by the Decree of the Governor-General of Indochina signed on March 30, 1932 and March 04, 1933 (stipulating the administrative boundary in the West of these provinces along the stream Dak Dam and the Sê San river). This Northern border section was yet to be planted with border markers in the field.
b. The Southern border section was determined and planted with markers as follows:
From the Trung Kỳ-Nam Kỳ-Cambodia crossroad (now Đăc Lăc province) to the confluence point of the Tonle Tru-Tonle Cham (now Tây Ninh province), it was determined by the Decree on Jult 26, 1893 of the Governor-General of Nam Kỳ (Southern part) and the Decree on July 31, 1914 of the Governor-General of Indochina.
From the confluence point of the Tonle Tru-Tonle Cham to Hòa Thành (now Kiên Giang province), it was determined by the France-Cambodia Agreement on July 09, 1870 and the France-Cambodia Treaty on July 15, 1873 signed by the Governor-General of Nam Kỳ representing for the colonial region and the King of Cambodia representing the protectorate region. This border section was determined by 124 border markers in the field and then continued to be reflected the Decree on July 26, 1893 of the Governor-General of Nam Kỳ and the Decrees of the Governor-General of Indochina (The Decree on July 31, 1914, the Decree on March 30, 1932, the Decree on December 06, 1935, the Decree on December 11, 1936 and the Decree on July 26, 1942).
From marker 124 (Hòa Thành village) to the Hà Tiên coast, it was determined by the planning minutes on April 05, 1876, the minutes on June 15, 1896 and on January 20, 1897, the minutes adjusting the planning on November 28, 1888 and Article 1 and Article 2 of the Decree on July 31, 1914 of the Governor-General of Indochina.
3. A summary of the process of the negotiation on planning the land border line between Vietnam and CambodiaAfter 1954, Vietnam and Cambodia had many times planned to negotiate and exchange of ideas on the border and territory of the two countries. After the Indochinese war was put to an end, the two sides had made efforts to negotiate and signed 5 following treaties and agreements on the border:
- The Treaty of peace, friendship and co-operation between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of Cambodia signed on February 18, 1979.
- The Agreement on the historical water area of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of Cambodia signed on July 07, 1982.
- The Treaty on the principle of settling the border issue between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of Cambodia signed on July 20, 1983.
- The Agreement on the border regulation between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of Cambodia signed July 20, 1983.
- The Treaty on planning the national border between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of Cambodia signed on December 27, 1985.
With the Treaty on planning the national border between Vietnam and Cambodia in 1985, the two countries had fundamentally resolved the planning work of the land border, marking an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. This is the Treaty signed between the two independent and sovereign countries on the basis of mutual respect of the territorial integrity in conformity with the international law and reality. In 2005, the two sides signed the added Treaty on planning the national border in 1985. This Treaty reaffirmed the value of effect of the 1985 Treaty.
4. The land border demarcation and marker planting between Vietnam and Cambodia
Along with the negotiation, the two sides had step by step carried out the demarcation and marker planting work. After signing the Treaty on planning the national border between Vietnam and Cambodia in 1985, from 1986 to 1988, the two sides started the border demarcation along the length of 212km, planted 72 border markers. Yet, the border demarcation and marker planting has to be temporarily suspended. On December 22, 2005, the two sides had approved the master plan on demarcation and marker planting and the Rule on activities of the Joint Committee of demarcation and marker planting between the two countries. The two sides unanimously agreed to plant 371 markers on the whole length of the border line (excluding the marker planted at the crossroad of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia).
On September 27, 2006, the first marker No. 171 was planted by the representative agencies of the two sides at the international border gate duo Mộc Bài (Tây Ninh province)-Bavet (Svay Riêng province), starting the process of demarcation and marker planting on the whole line.
As of March 2011, the two sides had determined 209 marker positions and transferred the drawing of about 1,084km of the border line, obtaining 95.3% of the length of the border.
Even though important progress had been made in the process of demarcation and marker planting, to implement the desired progress of demarcation and marker planting of the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia by the end of 2012 as agreed upon by the senior leaders of the two countries, the concerned agencies of the two sides need to make greater efforts to implement the planned goals.
It can be said that despites the difficulties in the process of negotiation, demarcation and marker planting of the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia due to different reasons, with efforts made by the two Governments and the support given by the people of the two countries, the process of demarcation and marker planting will certainly record fine achievements, making a contribution to building an environment of peace and stability in the region, serving the national defense and economic development as well as the aspirations of the people of the two countries.
Source: The National Border Committee