From "floating port" to "dry port"

- During the years when the US imperialists bombed our country, Lang Son became a "floating port" in receiving and transporting food, weapons, and ammunition to support the battlefield in the South. From a resilient "floating port" at that time, Lang Son has now become one of the centers and hubs for import-export (XNK), trade, services, tourism, and key border gate economic (KTCK) activities in the Northeast region; at the same time, it is also an important gateway for trading goods of ASEAN countries with the Chinese market and other countries.

Provincial People's Committee leaders inspect the import and export situation of goods at Huu Nghi International Border Gate

Lang Son has a 231.74 km long border adjacent to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; there are 10 border gates, including 2 international border gates, 1 bilateral border gate, 7 secondary border gates/market pairs, 4 customs clearance lanes/specialized roads for transporting goods at Huu Nghi International Border Gate.

Glorious history

In late 1964, American planes continuously bombed our country. In the following years, the US launched increasingly large-scale attacks on the North. They dropped bombs, mines, and torpedoes to blockade the borders, coasts, and seaports. At that time, the strategic port in Hai Phong was almost paralyzed, so Lang Son became a "floating port" to receive and transport goods. This place became a place to store and transport goods, weapons, ammunition, and gasoline from the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and China by rail across the Vietnam-China border into Vietnam to safely support the battlefield in the South.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh (born in 1954), former Head of Dong Dang Station from 1995 to 2001, shared: With its location at the forefront, during the destructive war of the US imperialists, Dong Dang Station became a "floating port" receiving all aid from socialist countries and international friends. In 1972, when the US imperialists blockaded along the coast and Hai Phong, the central government decided to "strategically turn" the transport to the North, the activities of Dong Dang International Station on the strategic railway line Hanoi (Vietnam) - Huu Nghi Quan (China) became even more important. From here began a period of bustling and continuous activities of Dong Dang International Station until the victorious end of the great resistance war against the US to save the nation.

Customs officers at Huu Nghi International Border Gate receive and process customs declarations of import-export enterprises.

Along with station staff, thousands of soldiers, youth volunteers and people in the province were mobilized to transport and clear goods to safe areas before the enemy attacked.

Mr. Hoang Van Nguyen (born in 1954), a former youth volunteer from Ky Lua ward, recalled: In June 1972, I joined the youth volunteer squad 8, unit C572, with the task of clearing roads, filling bomb craters in Dong Mo town (now Chi Lang commune) and unloading rice and goods at Lang Son station. At that time, American planes bombed and damaged many of our roads. Regardless of day or night, wherever the road was blocked, we cleared it to ensure that army vehicles could carry weapons, ammunition, food, and provisions to serve the battlefields.

During those fierce years, soldiers, youth volunteers and local people in the province overcame all dangers, hardships and shortages, worked without eating or sleeping, and contributed with the transport force to transport millions of tons of goods, weapons and ammunition to support the large front line in the South. According to preliminary statistics, in 1972 alone, forces were mobilized to unload, transport and clear more than 1.3 million tons of goods to safe areas before the enemy launched large-scale attacks.

Having survived the rain of bombs and bullets, during the renovation period, Lang Son continued to play the role of a trade gateway. The transformation of Lang Son from a “floating port” during the war to a “commercial port” during the integration period bears the deep imprints of the Vietnam-China cooperative relationship.

Promote potential and advantages

Lang Son has the advantage of being an international gateway connecting to China, an important focal point in the Nanning (China) - Lang Son - Hanoi - Hai Phong (Vietnam) economic corridor. The province is identified as an important "bridge" in economic and trade connections between Vietnam, ASEAN countries, China and Europe.

Over the years, the province has always identified the development of the stock market as one of the key tasks to focus on directing and operating. At the 17th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, the Provincial Party Executive Committee proactively developed action programs to focus on leadership, direction and implementation, in which one of the four key economic programs was identified as: "Continue to focus on rapidly developing the stock market, creating a driving force to promote the province's economic growth".

Accordingly, the province focuses on completing the transport infrastructure system, especially inter-regional expressways and connecting with China. Lang Son and Guangxi also increase the opening and upgrading of border gates and actively deploy the pilot construction of smart border gates.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Head of the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, said: In the period of 2021 - 2025, Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone was selected by the Government as one of the eight key Border Gate Economic Zones to focus on investment and development. In order to promote its potential and advantages, the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone has advised the Provincial People's Committee to mobilize internal resources and effectively use central capital sources to gradually complete the intra-provincial transport system, focusing on completing the routes to the border gates. In addition, the unit also actively contacts, exchanges and attracts businesses to invest in projects in the province's border gate areas.

Currently, in the Economic Zone, there are 153 non-budget investment projects, including 12 foreign investment projects with a total investment capital of 82.355 million USD and 141 domestic investment projects with a total investment capital of over 26,060 billion VND. A number of projects have been completed and put into use, making an important contribution to promoting customs clearance of goods such as: the road serving import and export connecting Tan Thanh border gate with Kha Phong control area (China); expanding the import and export route of Chi Ma bilateral border gate; expanding the freight transport route in the area of ​​landmarks 1119-1120 of Huu Nghi International Border Gate; Phase 1 Duty Free Zone projects; Cargo Transit Area project...

Up to now, the infrastructure of the border gate area has been gradually invested in a spacious and synchronous manner, facilitating the import and export of goods through the province's border gates.

Mr. Nguyen The Bang, Deputy Head of the Customs Branch of Region VI, said: In recent times, import and export activities through border gates in the province have been stable. Customs clearance activities have achieved high customs clearance efficiency, averaging about 1,500 to 1,600 vehicles/day. Thanks to that, the total import and export turnover through border gates in the area in the first 8 months of 2025 reached over 53.5 billion USD, an increase of more than 41% over the same period in 2024. From now until the end of the year, the branch will drastically implement solutions to facilitate customs clearance of goods; strengthen inspection and supervision of the implementation of procedures for import and export goods and means of transport entering and leaving the country in accordance with the provisions of law; promote administrative procedure reform, customs modernization, ensure smooth operation of the electronic customs clearance system associated with the implementation of the digital border gate platform.

From a resilient "floating port" that received and transported goods to support battlefields in the past, with thorough investment in infrastructure and transportation, Lang Son is on track to become one of the most important trading gateways and land freight transit centers in the ASEAN - China free trade area.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/cang-noi-kien-cuong-xua-va-nay-5056641.html