Applying high technology to build smart border gates.

The construction of smart border gates aims to improve customs clearance capacity and efficiency, shorten administrative procedure processing time, reduce waiting times for vehicles, goods, and passengers, and save costs for citizens and businesses.

This is also a strong step contributing to promoting administrative reform, improving the investment and business environment to be open, transparent, and fair, creating a fair and equal competitive environment; contributing to stabilizing and improving the lives of people in border areas; maintaining political security, social order and safety, national border sovereignty, and ensuring cybersecurity.

To better understand the significance of deploying smart border gates, a reporter from the News and Nation newspaper interviewed Major General Do Ngoc Toan, Director of the Border Gate Department, Border Guard Command, on this issue.

Major General Do Ngoc Toan, Director of the Border Gate Department, Border Guard Command, answers questions from a reporter of the News and Ethnic Groups newspaper (VNA). Photo: Viet Ton.

Sir, where did the idea of ​​building smart border gates originate, and in which areas are we currently building smart border gates?

During their visit to Vietnam in March 2023, the Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee and the Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee proposed the issue of coordinating the construction of a "smart border gate" model.

Based on reports and proposals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , in June 2023, during the Prime Minister's visit to China, the People's Committee of Lang Son province and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) signed a Framework Agreement on jointly promoting the pilot construction of smart border gates.

To implement this Agreement, the People's Committee of Lang Son province reported to the Prime Minister and sought opinions from relevant ministries and agencies on the policy of developing a pilot project to build a smart border gate at the dedicated goods transport route in the area of ​​markers 1119 - 1120 and markers 1088/2 - 1089 belonging to the Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan international border gate pair; on August 17, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 865/QD-TTg approving the pilot project to build a smart border gate in Lang Son province.

Currently, Lang Son province and relevant ministries and agencies, in accordance with their assigned functions and tasks by the Government, are actively implementing infrastructure construction projects to ensure their operation, expected by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026.

In addition to the pilot project for building smart border gates in Lang Son province, on January 26, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 164/QD-TTg approving the pilot project for building smart border gates at the Mong Cai (Vietnam) - Dongxing (China) international border gate pair, and on March 18, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 453/QD-TTg approving the project for building smart border gates at the Kim Thanh road bridge customs clearance point and the Ban Vuoc customs clearance point of the Lao Cai international border gate.

Currently, Lao Cai and Quang Ninh provinces, along with various ministries and agencies, are actively implementing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister's Decision. Based on its functions and responsibilities, the Border Gate Department has advised the Border Guard Command to report to the Ministry of National Defense on the development of a Ministry of National Defense plan to implement the assigned tasks according to the Prime Minister's Decision.

The Prime Minister has issued Decision No. 164/QD-TTg approving the pilot project for building smart border gates at the Mong Cai (Vietnam) - Dongxing (China) international border gate pair. Photo: Hoang Hieu/TTXVN

How do you assess the impact of building smart border gates on immigration and import/export activities, sir?

Smart border crossings have been implemented by China at several border crossings with neighboring countries, but this is a new concept for Vietnam. Essentially, smart border crossings utilize AI technology to transform the methods and procedures for transporting and delivering goods at border crossings.

Smart border gates can operate 24/7, reducing processing time for personnel and increasing cargo clearance capacity. This aligns with current trends in administrative procedure reform, digital transformation, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as trends in countries around the world and in the region. It creates a transparent and streamlined process for entry and exit, and import/export activities through border gates, contributing to the economic development of the border regions of both countries and serving as a bridge for socio-economic development and trade between the two nations.

Against the backdrop of the increasingly strengthened and developed comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China, the coordinated pilot project to build smart border gates in Lang Son, Quang Ninh, and Lao Cai provinces will contribute to deepening the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, and building a strategically significant "Vietnam-China Community with a Shared Future".

The implementation of the "one-stop" administrative procedure at Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II is quick, safe, and efficient. Photo: Hoang Hieu/TTXVN

To implement the smart border gate model in the near future, what policies and solutions has the Border Gate Department developed, sir?

To implement the smart border gate model in the three provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, and Lao Cai, the Border Gate Department has actively and proactively advised the Party Committee and the Border Guard Command to report and propose to the Ministry of National Defense the implementation of assigned tasks in the Projects, including the development of guidelines for ensuring security and order in the smart border gate area of ​​the Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan international border gate pair.

In the coming period, we are focusing on developing a plan to implement the task of building smart border gates at the Mong Cai - Dongxing and Lao Cai - Ha Khau international border gates.

At the same time, we will advise on the procurement of modern equipment such as automatic immigration control gates, AI surveillance camera systems, and other border gate operational equipment... to meet the requirements of managing and controlling people, vehicles, and goods entering and exiting the country, and import and export through smart border gates.

Along with developing the implementation plan and procurement investment, the Border Gate Department is actively coordinating with ministries and agencies to advise, build, and finalize the institutional framework for managing and controlling people and vehicles passing through smart border gates, such as: managing IGV vehicles, expanding the scope of those allowed to enter and exit through automated control gates, etc.

Thank you very much, sir!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/ung-dung-cong-nghe-cao-xay-dung-cua-khau-thong-minh-20260603053245448.htm