However, in the current period, agricultural exports through border gates face many challenges from new regulations of the Chinese market, requiring effective solutions to update information and innovate production activities, quarantine, and customs clearance of goods.

Strengthening quality control

According to the Management Board of Dong Dang-Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, in the first two months of 2025, import and export activities through border gates, dedicated roads, and customs clearance routes in Lang Son Province continued to be maintained stably and smoothly.

The total number of vehicles carrying import and export goods in the first two months of 2025 reached 69,908, an increase of 14.4% over the same period in 2024. Exports reached 15,391 vehicles, down 33.5% and imports reached 54,517 vehicles, up 43%. The total import-export turnover of all types in the first two months of 2025 reached over 10.6 billion USD, an increase of 21.9% over the same period in 2024.

The number of exported vehicles decreased because agricultural products still accounted for a large number of total goods exported through border gates in the province, while in the first two months of this year, China tightened the inspection of imported goods quality, applied several additional measures to Vietnamese fruits, especially the requirement to test cadmium and the banned substance auramine O (also known as yellow O) on durian and jackfruit, causing several containers of goods to not be cleared through customs.

However, up to this point, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Dong Dang-Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Hoang Khanh Duy said the export of agricultural products and fresh fruits to China, including durian, has been going smoothly. Currently, durian testing laboratories recognised by China in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Ca Mau have been operating, so businesses have fully prepared procedures related to product quality testing.

According to the General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association Dang Phuc Nguyen, China’s testing of yellow spots on exported durian from the end of December 2024 poses a challenge for Vietnamese businesses in approaching and responding to unexpected changes in product quality requirements from this market.

Not only with durian, China is currently showing an increasing trend of increasing quality control for most fruits as well as other agricultural and aquatic products, requiring businesses to update to avoid the situation of containers being returned. In addition, the volume of goods exported to China through border gates is very large, so the operation of import and export activities at the border gate area to remove difficulties and obstacles, especially for agricultural product export activities, is very important.

The Management Board of Dong Dang-Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone has continuously discussed and requested the Chinese authorities to facilitate customs clearance of goods. The Vietnamese authorities have also proactively developed plans and schemes to divide “green lanes”, regulate cargo vehicles early, and avoid prolonged congestion.

Vehicles carry agricultural products preparing for export via the dedicated road transporting goods through Tan Thanh and Van Lang border gates, Lang Son Province.

Completing infrastructure and logistics in the border gate area

Goods exported through border gates in the provinces bordering Vietnam-China are mainly agricultural products, however, the export volume is still limited compared to the production and processing potential of Vietnam. Therefore, completing the infrastructure to serve trade at border gates is an important requirement. In Quang Ninh, since the beginning of February 2025, the agricultural and food laboratory at the Bac Luan II border gate has been put into operation.

The testing room with modern equipment is capable of accurately analysing many food safety indicators such as residues of plant protection chemicals, antibiotics, toxins, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and yellowing substances. In addition to providing testing services for food, agriculture, forestry and fishery products, the laboratory also popularises China’s import control policy, supporting relevant agencies and businesses in proactively monitoring the quality of agricultural products before export.

In Lang Son, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Doan Thanh Son said the province always creates the best conditions for businesses that meet the export procedure requirements, however, all goods must meet the requirements of the importing country.

Currently, relevant departments, branches, units and businesses continue to closely coordinate in managing, controlling and operating import and export activities, ensuring the maintenance of a public and transparent business environment. Since the end of 2024, Viettel Post Joint Stock Corporation (Viettel Post) has held the opening ceremony of Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park in Thuy Hung and Phu Xa communes, Cao Loc District, Lang Son Province with a construction scale of 143.7 hectares.

Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park includes many sub-areas such as an Inter-sector building - Management and operation centre; automatic loading area using telescopic conveyor; e-commerce and express delivery goods processing area using an autonomous robot system; exhibition and commercial live streams area; agricultural product trading centre and logistics service area. Currently, Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park has fully integrated customs clearance, import and export of goods functions.

The activities of Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park include cargo and logistics transit services such as regular container yard and refrigerated container yard; bulk cargo warehouse, cold storage; import and export support services; bonded warehouse, temporary import and re-export storage; customs inspection and storage area; Vietnam-China vehicle transit yard. Lang Son aims to have Huu Nghi International Border Gate become a “model border gate” by 2025 and Tan Thanh Border Gate play the role of an “agricultural trade centre”.