According to a report by the Coc Nam Border Gate Customs, the import and export turnover through the Coc Nam border gate (Coc Nam customs clearance point, area near border markers 1104-1105) in the four years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) only reached approximately 8 million USD/year – the lowest compared to other border gates in the province. In 2025, although the import and export turnover through the Coc Nam border gate is expected to exceed 116 million USD, this figure is still not commensurate with the advantages of this border gate.
Low turnover
One of the reasons businesses are not clearing goods through the Coc Nam (Vietnam) – Lung Nghiu (China) border crossing is that, over a long period, the Chinese side has undergone changes in cross-border trade activities through this crossing. Accordingly, the list of goods eligible for import and export procedures through the Coc Nam (Vietnam) – Lung Nghiu (China) border crossing has at times been less than 10 items. Furthermore, the processing time for customs officers at the Lung Nghiu (China) border crossing is only 6 hours per day (from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM; and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM), and they are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, there are times when the physical inspection time for goods by customs at the Lung Nghiu border gate (China) is quite long, with some shipments waiting 5-10 days for inspection, significantly reducing the efficiency of customs clearance at the border gate.
These factors have affected the import and export plans of businesses. Therefore, import and export businesses have shifted to declaring and completing import and export procedures at other border gates. As a result, the value of goods imported and exported through the Coc Nam border gate area has decreased sharply for many years.
Focus on resolving issues.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Tuan, Team Leader of Coc Nam Border Gate Customs, said: Given the current situation, in order to promote import and export activities through Coc Nam border gate (Coc Nam customs clearance point, area of markers 1104-1105), the forces at the border gate area, especially Coc Nam Border Gate Customs, have regularly exchanged information and held discussions with functional agencies at Lung Nghiu border gate to gradually resolve obstacles in customs clearance operations.
Accordingly, in the past period, the Coc Nam Border Gate Customs has coordinated with functional units at the border gate to organize two talks with Huu Nghi Quan Customs and Lung Nghiu Border Gate Customs. In addition to direct talks, Coc Nam Border Gate Customs and related units also regularly exchange information by phone with Chinese customs to agree on solutions to improve the convenience of customs clearance of goods through the Coc Nam - Lung Nghiu border crossing.
Through discussions, exchanges, and direct work, the "bottleneck" regarding the working hours of the functional forces at the Lung Nghiu border gate has been resolved since the beginning of 2026. Currently, working hours have been increased by 2 hours. Furthermore, the forces on both sides of the border gate have agreed to extend working hours to 18 hours when the volume of import and export goods increases dramatically.
In particular, from mid-2025 to the present, through six level-level talks between departments and agencies of Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi (China), many goods such as peeled wood veneer, various wood products, handicrafts, consumer goods, frozen food, seafood, fresh fruits, etc., have been cleared through the Coc Nam - Lung Nghiu customs checkpoint. At the same time, the processing time for a shipment from Vietnam has also been standardized (to be processed within 24 hours).
Thanks to the efforts of the Coc Nam Border Gate Customs and related agencies, in the first six months of 2026, the number of import-export businesses regularly processing customs procedures at the unit increased significantly (currently nearly 500 businesses), a 300% increase compared to the same period in 2025; the value of import-export goods through the area reached approximately 212 million USD, an increase of 96 million USD compared to the value of 2025.
We need a long-term solution.
Despite positive signs, the reality shows that the import and export turnover of goods through the Coc Nam customs checkpoint is still not commensurate with the importance of this border gate, especially since the Coc Nam customs checkpoint, in the area of markers 1104-1105, is now under the jurisdiction of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Tuan, Team Leader of Coc Nam Border Gate Customs, added: "All the solutions that Coc Nam Border Gate Customs has implemented recently are aimed at promoting import and export activities through this border gate. However, the situation of import and export of goods through this border gate area has not yet reached the unit's expectations."
The reason is that the road connecting the Coc Nam and Lung Nghiu border gates is too narrow, only accommodating one lane of traffic. This causes localized congestion, significantly reducing vehicle speed, prolonging customs clearance time, posing a potential traffic safety risk, and limiting the capacity of the border gates to receive and release goods. This results in additional costs for businesses related to warehousing, storage, and preservation of goods, as well as other related expenses.
Ms. Bui Thu Ha, representative of An Khang Co., Ltd. (a company specializing in exporting food and agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, headquartered in Dong Dang commune), shared: Some obstacles were promptly resolved by the authorities, which helped speed up customs clearance. However, the fact that exported goods are still required to be transshipped before export, and the infrastructure at the border gate area, especially the narrow customs clearance lanes, means that customs clearance has not yet fully met the expectations of businesses involved in import and export activities in this area.
In a discussion with Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Head of the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Economic Zone Management Board, it was learned that the Board has reported to the province on the difficulties, especially regarding the investment and upgrading of the road connecting the two border gates. They have also proposed and advised the Provincial People's Committee to report to the competent authorities on the implementation of a plan to upgrade the connecting road to at least two lanes (one for export, one for import) or to open a new, larger-scale dedicated road for customs clearance of goods. Furthermore, they have reported and advised the Provincial People's Committee on the necessity of investing in and upgrading the infrastructure of the Coc Nam border gate area. If these things are done soon, it could help boost the capacity of import and export activities and customs clearance of goods through the Coc Nam border gate area in the coming years.
Hopefully, with the solutions that have been, are being, and will be implemented, import and export activities through the Coc Nam border gate area will achieve high efficiency, thereby aiming for the import and export turnover through the Coc Nam border gate area to reach 500 million USD or more by 2027, and 1 billion USD by 2030.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/go-vuong-thuc-day-thong-quan-hang-hoa-qua-khu-vuc-cua-khau-coc-nam-5097178.html
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