Lang Son leverages its gateway position and unique values to develop border trade tourism
Lang Son, a border land of the country, located in the midland and mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, plays a crucial strategic role on the Nanning – Lang Son – Ha Noi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic corridor. Serving as not only an international trade gateway between Vietnam and China, Lang Son also possesses great potential for developing border trade tourism. Its gateway position, combined with a rich ethnic cultural identity and diverse, unique geology and geomorphology, has created distinct values, opening up many prospects for sustainable tourism development and international integration.
Geographical location and border gate infrastructure – strategic advantages for developing border trade tourism
Lang Son shares a border line of over 231 km with China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, featuring a system of two international border gates (railway and road), two specialized goods transport routes and two customs clearance crossings within the international road border gate, one bilateral border gate, and seven auxiliary border gates (crossings). These are favorable conditions for promoting cross-border economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges. Border gate infrastructure is increasingly invested in to be modern and synchronous, linked with urban, commercial, and tourism service development. Inter-regional and cross-border transport connectivity is constantly expanding with the Bac Giang – Lang Son expressway and National Highway 1A, National Highway 4A connecting the provincial center with border districts and border gates. Many commercial centers and border markets such as Tan Thanh market, Dong Dang market, and Ky Lua market have been upgraded, allowing tourists to visit, shop, and experience the vibrant daily life and trade in the border region.
Diverse tourism products associated with historical – cultural – spiritual values
Border trade tourism in Lang Son is not merely shopping or commercial tourism but is increasingly shaped by unique products imbued with the cultural identity of ethnic groups in the border region. The province has been actively exploiting tourist attractions that combine historical – cultural – spiritual values such such as Dong Dang Mother Goddess Temple, Ky Cung Temple, Dong Dang Fortress relic, Memorial Area of Comrade Hoang Van Thu, and villages of the Nung, Tay, Dao ethnic groups, etc., with people-to-people exchanges and cross-border tourism activities. Notably, Lang Son Geopark has been officially recognized by UNESCO as a UNESCO Global Geopark, opening up many new opportunities for Lang Son's sustainable and unique tourism development.
With over 300 annual traditional festivals, many of which involve cross-border cultural exchanges, Lang Son becomes an attractive cultural destination for domestic and international tourists. Typical examples include Ky Cung – Ta Phu Festival, Long Tong Festival, Dong Dang Mother Goddess Temple Festival, and Tam Thanh Festival, attracting thousands of visitors every year, especially from Guangxi, China. These festivals are not only occasions to honor traditional cultural values but also opportunities to promote local agricultural products and unique local cuisine such as Mau Son alcohol, Lang Son roasted duck, Chi Lang custard apple, Bao Lam persimmon, Trang Dinh black sticky rice cake, etc. Flexible border tours are also organized, such as the Lang Son city – Dong Dang – Tan Thanh – Huu Nghi route, and tours using travel permit to Pingxiang (China) and vice versa in order to meet the needs of short travel, shopping, and cultural exploration of the border region. Additionally, Lang Son also cooperates with Northern provinces such as Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, and Ha Giang to develop inter-provincial and international travel itineraries, creating a diverse and rich chain of experiences.
The unique Ky Cung – Ta Phu festival in Lang Son. Photo: Chu Minh
Promoting international cooperation – expanding development space
To promote the potential of border tourism, Lang Son province has actively and proactively implemented tourism cooperation with China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, focusing on coordinating the organization of international trade – tourism fairs, Vietnam – China cultural – tourism weeks, developing cross-border tourism products and simplifying entry and exit procedures for tourists.
Opening Ceremony of the Vietnam – China International Trade and Tourism Fair (Lang Son 2024). Photo: Khanh Ly
Since 2023, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in building the Tan Thanh – Puzhai cross-border tourism cooperation zone, opening a new direction in developing international tours. In this framework, both sides have agreed to open tours using travel permits, allowing tourists to travel within the day or stay for a short period to visit, shop, and experience culture.
Especially, in April 2025, both sides agreed to increase the duration of stay for tourists using travel permits to 2 days and 1 night instead of just within the day as before. This creates conditions for tourists from both sides to have more time to experience, expands the scope of exploiting accommodation, dining, entertainment, and shopping services. Moreover, Lang Son is also promoting digital transformation and technology application in tourism promotion activities such as building an electronic tourism portal, digital maps of destinations and a virtual tour guide system. This helps enhance the ability to promote the local image internationally, especially in the Chinese market and ASEAN countries.
Announcement Ceremony of the 2-day, 1-night tour program for tourists using travel permits. Photo: La Viet
Border trade tourism – a driving force for economic development and people-to-people exchanges
In the context of extensive economic integration, border trade tourism plays an increasingly important role in promoting local economic growth and strengthening people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and China. The strong development of tourism associated with border trade has created more jobs, increased income for people in the border region, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, and sustainably developing border. Statistical data shows that in 2024, Lang Son province welcomed over 4.2 million tourists, of which international visitors reached over 142,000 arrivals, an increase of nearly 8% compared to the previous year. Revenue from tourism reached over 4,300 billion VND, accounting for an increasing proportion in the province's service economic structure. Particularly in Q1/2025, Lang Son welcomed nearly 2 million visitors, with approximately 56,000 international visitors, mainly from China through border tours. Besides economic value, border trade tourism is also an effective bridge for implementing people-to-people diplomacy, helping to enhance understanding and strengthen community cohesion on both sides of the border. Through cultural exchange activities, festivals, fairs, and trade – tourism promotion activities, relations between neighboring localities become increasingly close and trustworthy.
Tan Thanh Pagoda, a famous border trade tourism destination in Lang Son. Photo: Bui Thuan
Heading towards building Lang Son as a distinctive border trade tourism destination
In the coming time, Lang Son province will continue to prioritize developing border trade tourism in a professional, modern, and sustainable direction, with local culture and international links as the foundation. The focus will be Completing border gate tourism spatial planning, and improving service quality at tourism – commercial centers in the border area; Developing characteristic border tourism products, associated with ethnic culture, community tourism, border market experience tourism, folk festivals, and traditional cuisine; Strengthening regional links and international cooperation, especially with Chinese localities, expanding international tours, and improving infrastructure and supporting services; Applying digital technology in tourism promotion and management, building Lang Son's image as a friendly, safe, and attractive destination on the regional tourism map.
With continuous efforts in investment, innovation, and integration, Lang Son is gradually asserting its position as a vibrant, integrated border tourism center rich in cultural identity, actively contributing to socio-economic development goals and strengthening friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and countries in the region./.
Khong Nghia
