Tourists flock to exit through Lao Cai International Border Gate

On the first day of the April 30 - May 1 holiday, at Lao Cai International Border Gate, tourists from all over the country were busy completing customs clearance procedures to China.

It was 7:00 a.m. Vietnam time before the time to complete immigration procedures at the border, but since early morning, in the front yard and surrounding areas of the Lao Cai International Border Gate Management Center building, thousands of tourists had lined up to complete procedures. Authorities also increased their forces to ensure safety, security, and order in this area.

Tourists arrive early to wait for customs clearance.

According to the reporter's observations, tourists leaving the country during this time are mainly traveling on tours through travel agencies, each group has from a few dozen guests, large groups up to 140 people. Tourists come from provinces and cities across the country. Although the demand for departure is high and the weather is quite hot, there is no jostling, pushing, or unsafety. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the opening time and waiting for their turn to complete procedures to start their journey across the border.

Tourists line up to wait their turn, without jostling, pushing, or disorder.

Ms. Nguyen Hai Lan, a tourist from Phu Tho shared: I have never traveled to China, but through the media, social networking sites, especially listening to friends who have traveled there share about the scenery and cuisine, I really liked it so I decided to book a 3-day, 2-night tour with my family to visit Hekou - Lijiang.

Not only with the desire to explore new horizons like Ms. Lan, many people choose foreign tours through Lao Cai International Border Gate to Yunnan, China because the prices are affordable, suitable for the budget of many families. A guest calculated, domestic airfares are constantly increasing, a pair of round-trip tickets during the holidays costs about nearly ten million VND, even more, while a land tour to China costs from 3.5 to 7 million VND/tour/person for about 4 days and 3 nights.

Vietnamese tourists come to Yunnan, China with an eagerness to explore.

According to statistics from the authorities, compared to the April 30 - May 1 holidays of previous years, this year's holiday saw a 1.5-fold increase in the number of tourists leaving the country. In order to facilitate tourists to clear customs quickly, conveniently and safely according to regulations, the authorities have developed plans, ensuring all conditions regarding facilities and personnel to perform tasks at all stages, from ensuring security, order, arranging in order, guiding procedures...

Border guards guide people through customs clearance procedures.

Major Dao Van Ninh, Head of the International Border Guard Station, Lao Cai Border Guard Station, said: During the April 30 - May 1 holiday this year, the number of visitors increased dramatically compared to previous years. Tourists mainly travel on tours or in groups, with few individual visitors like in previous years. To facilitate quick customs clearance for tourists, the Station has increased its force and added more booths to handle exit procedures for tourists to ensure speed and courtesy.

... Vietnamese tourists complete entry procedures into China.

As of 9am on April 27, there were approximately 2,000 passengers leaving for China via Lao Cai International Border Gate. All customs clearance procedures were carried out quickly and in accordance with regulations, bringing satisfaction to passengers.

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh, a tourist from Lao Cai city, said: People's lives are getting better and better, and the demand for tourism is increasing. Taking advantage of the long holiday, people choose to travel to China more than every year, partly because the tour costs are very affordable. This morning, there were many groups lining up to do the procedures. We were given specific instructions on the steps by the authorities, so the customs clearance was very smooth and quick.

At noon on April 27, there were still many tourist groups coming to Lao Cai International Border Gate to complete customs procedures to go to China.

Not only attractive because of the low cost, China road tours also satisfy the psychology of wanting to go abroad, learn about the culture, landscape, cuisine... of foreign destinations on the journey to discover new lands of Vietnamese tourists. According to statistics of the tourism industry, the destinations that tourists choose to visit the most are Hekou, Honghe District, Jianshui, Lijiang, Kunming (Yunnan)... with the majority of stays being 4 days, 3 nights.

Source