Pilot operation of Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam)

The Standing Office of the Coordinating Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Protecting and Exploiting the Tourism Resources of Ban Gioc Waterfall (Duc Thien) Vietnam - China in Cao Bang Province said that the unit has agreed with the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) on opening the Ban Gioc - Duc Thien passage and piloting the operation for tourists to visit the landscapes on both sides.

Ban Gioc Waterfall in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, is considered the pearl of Cao Bang tourism. Photo: Chu Hieu/VNA

The two sides agreed to jointly organize a pilot operation ceremony for tourists to cross the Ban Gioc waterfall landscape area (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China) at the Control Station of the area of landmark 834/1 on September 15. The pilot operation period is from September 15, 2023 to September 14, 2024. During the pilot operation period, tourists from both countries must register in advance in groups. The number of each group must not exceed 20 people. The stopping time of each group on the other side must not exceed 5 hours.

The pilot operation of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Landscape Area demonstrates the determination of the two countries to build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed border. The cooperation model of the two countries - the two areas plays an important role in economic development cooperation, friendly exchange in the border area, especially tourism development, enhancing people-to-people exchange between the two provinces, especially building a model of cross-border tourism and green tourism.

Mr. Pham Van Cao, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Cao Bang province, said that during the pilot period, tourists from both countries must register in advance in the form of outgoing and incoming groups, with each group not exceeding 20 people. In the first 3 months of the pilot period, the number of tourist groups crossing the border from each side must not exceed 10 groups/day (each group not exceeding 20 people). Tourists from both sides entering from the Scenic Area use passports (no visa required), exit and entry permits. Exemption of entrance fees for tourists from Vietnam entering the Chinese side, the tour organizer on the Vietnamese side must purchase insurance for tourists before entering the Scenic Area on the Chinese side, and other services must be paid for by themselves according to actual costs. Tourists from China entering the Vietnamese side must purchase tickets, the ticket price is 70,000 VND/time/person (including insurance, excluding other service fees).

When put into pilot operation, it will become a model of cross-border tourism and green tourism, unprecedented in the border area, and at the same time help Cao Bang province promote its strengths and tourism potential to create jobs, opportunities for local socio-economic development, promote understanding, friendly exchanges and substantive cooperation between the border localities of Vietnam and China./.

Dan Hung