Quang Ninh Self-driving tourist vehicles from China through Mong Cai border gate will be allowed to enter Ha Long with a maximum of 300 vehicles per month, each way.
According to the pilot management plan announced by the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province today, self-driving tourist cars from China will be allowed to operate within Mong Cai city, National Highway 18A, Ha Long - Mong Cai expressway, and Ha Long city.
Dongxing Street, Guangxi, China, September. Photo: Le Tan
Self-driving cars are vehicles with less than 9 seats, inspected and granted a transport license by the authorities of both sides. The cars have the logo of the organizing unit for easy identification, must travel in groups, have a Vietnamese car leading the group, and operate according to a predetermined route.
Self-driving car drivers must meet the requirements for driver's license, passport, visa, understanding and compliance with traffic regulations...; bring full vehicle documents such as safety inspection, insurance.
In the opposite direction, self-driving tourist vehicles from Vietnam to China also need to travel in groups, have a tour guide vehicle from the Chinese organizing unit, and carry out procedures and paperwork as required by the Chinese side.
The pilot program of self-driving tourist cars from China through Mong Cai border gate to Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province and vice versa has been in operation since September 2016. From September 2016 to the end of 2019, 35 cars and 108 tourists from Vietnam departed for China; 424 cars and 1,443 tourists from China entered Vietnam to travel to Ha Long, Quang Ninh. The program was then suspended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The self-driving tourist car service has received positive feedback and is considered to have potential, attracting tourists to Ha Long to use high-end services, different from the traditional Chinese road tourist market. This is a good tourism product, creating revenue for businesses, contributing to increasing revenue for the local budget. The pilot management of self-driving tourist cars will be implemented from now until September 30, 2026.
Preparations for the implementation of self-driving tourism services between Mong Cai City and Dong Hung City via Mong Cai International Border Gate have been completed. The Mong Cai International Border Gate Management Board has arranged a service area and a system of 300 benches to serve the needs of tourists while waiting for immigration procedures; repainted traffic warning lines at the control lines for exiting and entering vehicles; installed air conditioners at the working booths on both sides of the control lines for exiting and entering vehicles and imported goods.
Mong Cai City has conditions for facilities and synchronous traffic infrastructure, especially the newly put into use Van Don - Mong Cai highway, which meets the criteria and standards for fast and convenient travel of tourists.
In the first 9 months of 2023, Mong Cai City welcomed nearly 2 million visitors, an increase of 1.2 times over the same period in 2022. Total revenue from tourism services is estimated at 80 billion VND, an increase of 1.3 times over the same period in 2022.
Le Tan
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