Chinese tourists to Mong Cai International Border Gate
According to local authorities, the number of Chinese tourists entering Vietnam through the Mong Cai International Border Gate to visit Quang Ninh has increased sharply. The province has also seen a rise in Chinese visitors arriving by air or through other border checkpoints across the country.
Managers of several four and five-star hotels in Bai Chay reported that Chinese guests almost entirely book their rooms through the end of this year.
Data from the Mong Cai International Border Gate Management Board show that daily cross-border traffic through Mong Cai, including the Bac Luan 1 and 2 gates, has exceeded 20,000 people, comprising both tourists and those travelling for other purposes.
Since the beginning of 2025, more than 5.9 million people have crossed through Quang Ninh’s border gates and openings, with Mong Cai alone accounting for over 5.6 million crossings, up 7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chinese tourists have long made up a large share of Quang Ninh’s international visitors, representing about 35 to 40 per cent in 2018.
In 2024, Quang Ninh recorded 551,250 Chinese tourist stays and 370,500 arrivals through Mong Cai. During the first nine months of 2025, Chinese tourist stays reached 427,650, equivalent to 115.9 per cent of the same period last year, while 248,800 visitors entered via Mong Cai, up 4.4 per cent.
Authorities forecast that by the end of 2025, Quang Ninh may welcome between 350,000 and 400,000 Chinese tourists, including many large tour groups of 1,000 to 2,000 travellers each.
Compared to previous years, Chinese tourists now tend to use higher-end services, with around 70 per cent staying in four or five-star hotels. Most visitors follow a three-day, two-night tour itinerary (accounting for 50 to 60 per cent), while the longer three-day, four-night packages are gaining popularity among travellers.
In addition to sightseeing at Ha Long Bay, Chinese tourists have shown growing interest in spiritual and cultural destinations such as Yen Tu and in MICE tourism (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Quang Ninh welcomed over one million Chinese tourists annually, peaking at more than 1.6 million in 2018 and 1.5 million in 2019.
