Passengers can use e-visa when traveling by train from Hanoi to China.

The Hanoi -Nanning train was restored after a five-year interruption due to Covid-19 in May. Photo: Xinhua/Lu Boan .

In early December, the Government issued a resolution, adding to the list of international border gates that allow foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas (e-visas).

Accordingly, from December 2, passengers traveling by train between Vietnam and China can use e-visas when going through the Dong Dang international border gate ( Lang Son province).

Previously, people traveling by MR1/MR2 international trains were required to use paper visas, e-visas were not accepted. This regulation caused inconvenience to many travelers when choosing to travel by rail between Vietnam and China.

The addition of Dong Dang to the e-visa accepting border gate system is expected to help passengers "lighten the burden" of procedures, making it easier to experience cross-border journeys.

Vietnam - China international train service resumed from May 25. Photo: Vietnam Railways.

This resolution also expands 41 more international border gates allowing the use of e-visas, including 4 air border gates, 11 land border gates and 26 sea border gates, bringing the total number of e-visa acceptance points nationwide to 83 border gates.

Many strategic airports and seaport systems stretching from North to South have been added, forming a synchronous and widespread international passenger reception network.

Expanding the scope of e-visa application is expected to facilitate tourists, promote trade, and contribute to increasing Vietnam's attractiveness on the international tourism map.

Train staff check cabins before picking up passengers. Photo: Xinhua/Lu Boan.

The Vietnam-China international passenger train route was restored on May 25 after a period of interruption due to Covid-19.

MR1 departs from Gia Lam station at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, arriving in Nanning at 10:06 a.m. the following day. In the opposite direction, MR2 departs from Nanning at 6:05 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Gia Lam station at 5:30 a.m. the following day.

Train tickets are sold directly at stations and online on the website of Vietnam Railways Corporation. Ticket prices for the Hanoi - Nanning route are about 1 million VND/trip; for the Hanoi - Beijing route are about 9.378 million VND/trip.

Children under 4 years old are free, children from 4-12 years old get 50% discount (each adult can bring one child). Groups of 6 or more will get 25% discount.

Passengers must be present at the departure station at least one hour before the train departs to ensure enough time to complete procedures. The railway industry will not handle cases of late arrival after the train departs.

By the end of September, the intermodal route had welcomed 8,400 passengers, of which Vietnamese passengers accounted for 20%, Chinese passengers accounted for 75%, and the rest were passengers from other countries.

Source: https://znews.vn/khach-co-the-dung-e-visa-khi-di-tau-lien-van-ha-noi-trung-quoc-post1609766.html