Determined to achieve $10 billion in import and export turnover by 2030.

The First Congress of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, for the term 2025-2030, set the goal that by 2030, the total value of goods exported and imported through the province will reach 10 billion USD.

Leaders of Lao Cai province (Vietnam) and Dali prefecture (China) witnessed the signing of economic contracts between businesses from both sides.

Mr. Vuong Trinh Quoc, Head of the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, said that a series of key policies and solutions have been, are being, and will be implemented synchronously with the highest determination to achieve that goal.

One of the top priorities is building a comprehensive and modern infrastructure. Currently, the Lao Cai Border Economic Zone has the Lao Cai - Ha Khau International Road Border Gate (via Ho Kieu II Bridge), the Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II (via Kim Thanh Bridge), and the Lao Cai - Ha Khau International Railway Border Gate (via Ho Kieu Bridge).

The Lao Cai Border Economic Zone benefits from its location on the Kunming (China) - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong (Vietnam) economic corridor. Along this corridor, infrastructure such as seaports, transportation systems, and power supply systems have been and are being upgraded. In particular, the commencement of construction on the standard-gauge railway line from Lao Cai to Hanoi and Hai Phong further ensures the improvement of infrastructure for import-export activities and border crossings in Lao Cai. Naturally, businesses involved in export activities and investors are increasingly recognizing this advantage of Lao Cai, leading to the development of investment strategies and production and business plans in the area.

Import and export activities at Kim Thanh Border Gate are bustling. Photo: Viet Vinh

Furthermore, connecting businesses and expanding the range and structure of export goods through the Lao Cai border gates is receiving attention. In reality, goods exported through the Lao Cai border gate are mainly agricultural products and fresh fruits. Meanwhile, domestic supply sources and export potential to diversify export goods through the Lao Cai border gate are still very large, especially for Vietnam's strong products such as fresh seafood and agricultural products and fresh fruits. These are also potentials and advantages for Lao Cai to continue exploiting and attracting businesses, including those in the South Central region – the "rice granary" and "fruit granary".

Simultaneously, efforts will be made to connect with and attract businesses involved in transit and transshipment activities to develop transit and transshipment services through the Lao Cai border gates.

Vehicles transporting goods through Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2. Photo: Viet Vinh

Regarding the pilot project for building a smart border gate at Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II and Ban Vuoc customs clearance point, Bat Xat commune, Lao Cai province, the second round of consultations has been conducted with relevant ministries and agencies. Further feedback has been incorporated and the project proposal has been refined before being submitted to the Prime Minister.

Once approved, the project will serve as a basis for attracting investors to invest in smart border gate infrastructure. The project aims to build border gates that apply scientific and technological advancements with the major goal of reducing time and costs associated with customs clearance, thereby contributing to improved customs clearance efficiency at border gates.

In addition, it is necessary to effectively plan for land allocation to attract investment in modern logistics systems, at least 4PL (contract logistics, where the logistics unit is responsible for managing the entire supply chain of the enterprise) or higher, according to international standards. Simultaneously, developing industrial parks and attracting more projects to them will increase the supply of goods and logistics through these parks, creating production value, jobs, and increasing revenue for the budget.

In 2001, the total value of goods imported and exported through the Lao Cai border gates reached nearly 210 million USD; in 2007, it increased to 723 million USD; the average growth rate during the period 2001-2007 was nearly 20% per year.

In 2019, import and export turnover through Lao Cai border gates reached 3.8 billion USD - the highest level before the Covid-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, import and export activities recovered strongly.

In 2024, the total value of exports and imports reached US$3.625 billion (a 68% increase compared to 2023). Lao Cai became the second largest gateway in the country for agricultural product customs clearance, with key products such as durian, watermelon, and mango.

In 2025, the total value of exports and imports is estimated to reach 3.12 billion USD.

One task that needs to be carried out regularly and continuously is to continue reforming administrative procedures. For businesses, the most important issue is time. "It is unacceptable for administrative procedures that have been publicly listed to take so long to complete," Mr. Vuong Trinh Quoc emphasized.

Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II is being developed into a smart border gate.

In reality, the Lao Cai border gate is not solely the property of Lao Cai, but a national border gate. Lao Cai has the responsibility to create the most favorable conditions for goods from Vietnam and China, as well as third countries, to pass through the border gate. Lao Cai is increasingly fulfilling its role as a "bridge" between the Yunnan market, southwestern China, and Vietnam and ASEAN, connecting them to seaports and vice versa.

Over the past period, with the attention of the central government, Lao Cai has been very proactive in investing in and improving infrastructure, especially transportation infrastructure, power supply infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. Simultaneously, it has focused on "soft" infrastructure, such as administrative procedures, digital transformation, and information sharing in logistics and goods, aiming to minimize logistics time and costs, and contribute to increased efficiency in customs clearance at border gates.

A delegation from Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province (China) surveyed the Kim Thanh Border Gate area, Lao Cai Province (Vietnam).

Entering 2026, positive signs continue to emerge at the Lao Cai border gates. With the Lao Cai - Ha Khau International Road Border Gate (via Ho Kieu II Bridge), there are 7,000-8,000 people crossing the border daily (during the 4-day New Year's holiday alone, there were approximately 50,000 crossings).

At Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2, import and export activities continued to be vibrant, with an average of about 500 container trucks passing through the border gate each day, without congestion. Also during the 4-day New Year's holiday in 2026, 703 customs declarations were processed, with 1,282 vehicles entering and exiting through the border gate; the total import and export turnover reached over 12.5 million USD…

On average, about 500 container trucks pass through Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2 each day.

With strategic, focused, and targeted solutions, along with clear goals and a roadmap, Lao Cai is confident that by 2030, the total value of goods exported and imported through the province will reach 10 billion USD.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/quyet-tam-dat-10-ty-usd-kim-ngach-xuat-nhap-khau-vao-nam-2030-post892122.html