Dongzhong-Hoanh Mo Port inspection channel opens for travel

The Dongzhong Port. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]

The Dongzhong-Hoanh Mo Port travel inspection channel between China and Vietnam opened on Feb 25, marking a new milestone in connectivity between the two nations. This development is expected to significantly boost personnel exchanges, tourism cooperation, and economic trade.

Located in Dongzhong town, Fangchenggang city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, it is a crucial land route for China to ASEAN. The opening of the travel inspection channel at Dongzhong represents a breakthrough in infrastructure connectivity and serves as a catalyst for regional economic development. It enhances cross-border tourism experiences and upgrades border trade.

In 2024, the Dongzhong Highway checkpoint, including the Lihuo Channel, processed 501,000 metric tons of cargo, marking a 50.77 percent year-on-year increase. The total trade value reached 13.18 billion yuan ($1.82 billion), up 35.21 percent from the previous year. The checkpoint also handled 405,000 vehicle crossings, averaging 1,110 daily, a rise of 28.70 percent compared to last year. With the introduction of a new travel inspection channel, annual passenger crossings are projected to reach 122,000.

Designed with an annual capacity of 500,000 passengers and 30,000 buses, the channel features advanced facilities like self-service inspection channels, digital verification platforms, and intelligent information collection. The average clearance time for travelers is reduced to 3-5 minutes.

The smart port is poised to improve efficiency and open new opportunities for digital economic cooperation between China and Vietnam. It also aims to ease border traffic and provide an efficient channel for cross-border tourism, business, and family visits.