Allow self-driving tourist cars from China to enter Vietnam

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province has just issued a decision approving a pilot plan to manage self-driving tourist vehicles from China (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dongxing City, China) to Mong Cai City and Ha Long City (Quang Ninh Province) and coordinate the management of self-driving tourist vehicles from Vietnam to China via Mong Cai international border gate.

Accordingly, self-driving cars from China are allowed to operate within Mong Cai City and Ha Long City, National Highway 18A, and Ha Long - Mong Cai Expressway. Vehicles are not allowed to operate, stop, or park in military areas or other restricted areas.

Vietnamese self-driving tourist cars participating in traffic in Guilin City, China in 2018. (Photo: Thu Nguyen)

Specific requirements for self-driving tourist cars from Dong Hung City to Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh are as follows:

- Vehicles with less than 9 seats must be inspected and granted a transport license by the authorities of both sides. Vehicles must have the logo of the organizing unit for easy identification, must travel in groups, have a Vietnamese car leading the group, and operate on a predetermined route (vehicles cannot separate from the group and travel freely).

- Self-driving vehicle drivers must have a driver's license appropriate to the type of vehicle they are driving; Have a passport, visa or valid international travel documents as prescribed; Understand the rules, traffic conditions, operating range and sign system, and comply with the provisions of Vietnam's road traffic laws.

When Chinese self-driving cars are circulating in Vietnam, they must carry the following documents:

- Passport, valid border pass or international travel document and visa as required.

- Driving license appropriate for the type of vehicle being driven issued by Vietnam.

- Certificate of technical safety and environmental protection inspection for motor vehicles.

- Vehicle registration certificate issued by the competent authority of the country of vehicle registration and still valid.

- Certificate of civil liability insurance of motor vehicle owner valid in Vietnam, temporary vehicle import documents and transport license.

In the opposite direction, Vietnamese self-driving cars going to China must also travel in groups, with a leading vehicle from the Chinese organizing unit, and must follow the procedures and documents required by the host country.

The pilot program of self-driving tourist cars from China through Mong Cai border gate to Ha Long city, Quang Ninh and vice versa has been implemented since September 2016.

From September 2016 to the end of 2019, there were 35 cars, 108 tourists from Vietnam leaving for China for tourism, 424 cars, 1,443 tourists from China entering Vietnam, traveling to Ha Long. After that, the program was stopped due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The self-driving tourist car product has received positive feedback from tourists and has become a new, potential product, attracting tourists to Ha Long to use high-class services, different from the traditional Chinese road tourist market that is being deployed.

This is considered a good tourism product, creating revenue for businesses, contributing to increasing revenue for the local budget.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

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