Construction of Mong Cai – Dong Hung smart border gate

Implementing the Government's policy on modernizing import-export activities, aiming at the "one-stop, one-stop" model at international border gates, Quang Ninh province is urgently implementing the construction of a pilot project to build a smart border gate between Mong Cai (Vietnam) and Dongxing (China). This is considered a breakthrough in border management, contributing to improving competitiveness, promoting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The provincial working delegation surveyed and learned from the experience of the smart border gate model in Lang Son province. Photo provided by the unit

The Mong Cai (Vietnam) - Dongxing (China) border gate pair plays a particularly important role in trade in the northern border area, being a strategic connection point between Vietnam and the South China region (China). In the context of strong integration and digital transformation, building a smart border gate model here is an urgent requirement both in practice and strategy. Statistics show that the flow of people and goods through the border gate is increasing rapidly, averaging 18,000-20,000 people and nearly 800 vehicles per day, sometimes double the peak season, causing infrastructure overload, congestion, and increased costs. Meanwhile, the requirements for ensuring border security, preventing smuggling and epidemics are increasingly complicated, requiring a modern control system that applies real-time monitoring technology, big data, and AI to identify risks early. The construction of smart border gates will be a driving force for regional economic development, attracting logistics and e-commerce businesses, creating jobs, increasing budget revenue, and improving competitiveness with other border gates in the Vietnam - China and ASEAN - China regions.

This is also in line with the trend of international cooperation, when China is modernizing 95 border gates and developing a "smart connection" ecosystem by 2030, including Guangxi - the area bordering Quang Ninh. Practice at the Huu Nghi border gate (Lang Son) - Huu Nghi Quan (Bang Tuong - Guangxi) shows that this model helps shorten customs clearance time, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen security control. At the same time, it realizes high-level commitments between the leaders of the two countries on building a peaceful , stable, cooperative and mutually developing border area. In particular, in the Vietnam - China joint communiques (2022 and 2025), the two sides agreed to promote the "smart border gate" model, applying AI, big data and cloud platforms in import-export management and logistics.

To implement the project, in July 2025, the province issued a decision to consolidate the Steering Committee for the construction of smart border gates, with the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as the Head and the Economic Zone Management Board as the standing agency. This is the focal point for coordinating and coordinating with departments, branches and local authorities to implement the project.

On that basis, the Quang Ninh Economic Zone Management Board has coordinated with relevant units to develop a pilot project on smart border gates at Mong Cai - Dong Hung international border gate, sent a report to the Prime Minister and urgently sought opinions from 11 ministries and branches to complete the project content, ensuring consistency, feasibility and consistency with the general orientation on digital transformation in border trade management. At the same time, the province also sent a working group to survey and learn from the experience of the smart border gate model in Lang Son (Huu Nghi and Tan Thanh areas) in October 2025, as a practical basis for completing the project. Up to now, the project is being completed to submit to the Provincial People's Committee to report to the Prime Minister for approval.

According to the Project, in the Bac Luan II bridge area, technical infrastructure for smart border gates will be built, specialized channels will be installed and equipment will be provided to operate unmanned self-driving vehicles (IGV), operating 24/7.

According to the Project, the Mong Cai - Dong Hung smart border gate is built with a 2-phase roadmap. Phase 1 (2025-2026): At Bac Luan I bridge area, deploy a smart immigration control model for border residents, expected to be completed in 2025. At Bac Luan II bridge area, build smart border gate technical infrastructure, install specialized lanes and equipment to operate IGV unmanned self-driving vehicles, operating 24/7; build an Intelligent Operation Center (IOC) according to the framework plan, to be completed by the end of 2026. Phase 2 (2027-2030): Expand the scope and scale of Bac Luan I border gate, increase the number of automatic control lanes to serve both border residents and tourists. At Bac Luan II, continue to expand the smart border gate model for both people and goods. It is expected to apply the IGV or mono-rail (sky-rail) automatic freight transport model depending on actual needs. At the same time, it will invest in Bac Luan II Logistics Park, an e-commerce center - import-export exhibition center, a smart logistics warehouse and other supporting infrastructure, creating a modern border gate - logistics - trade complex, connecting Vietnam and China. In particular, the border gate management system will be completely digitized, applying facial recognition technology, fingerprint scanning, QR codes, electronic passports... synchronized with the National Database on population and immigration. The control of people, goods and vehicles passing through will be automated, shortening the time for procedures, reducing costs, limiting direct contact, contributing to preventing smuggling, trade fraud and ensuring border security.

According to the assessment of the Economic Zone Management Board, when put into operation, this model will help form a "one-stop, one-stop" mechanism, shortening customs clearance time from hours to just a few minutes, reducing congestion, increasing labor productivity and enhancing competitiveness for import-export enterprises. Along with that, supporting services such as warehousing, transportation, cross-border e-commerce will develop strongly, forming a digital border economic ecosystem. This is a strategic step to modernize border management, promote bilateral trade between Vietnam and China, and connect more deeply into the ASEAN-China regional supply chain, towards sustainable development and deep international integration.

With a proactive, creative and highly determined spirit, Quang Ninh province is striving to realize the goal of building the first smart border gate in Vietnam, creating a premise to replicate the model nationwide, contributing to bringing import-export activities and international trade to a more modern, professional and effective management stage.

Hoang Nga

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/xay-dung-cua-khau-thong-minh-mong-cai-dong-hung-3382082.html