Speaking about the project at a Tuesday meeting, the deputy head of the Dong Dang-Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Management Authority, Nguyen Vinh Phu, said that they had proposed a pilot scheme to the government on transforming international border gates linking them with Chinese localities, which will utilise AI, automated guided vehicles, and smart warehouse management system.
"The project is estimated to cost approximately VND 8 trillion (USD328.68 million), mainly mobilised from local businesses and companies," Phu said. "We expect to implement the pilot smart gate scheme between January 2026 and December 2028."
The official added that both sides will develop a command centre to monitor the operations of the smart border gates and connect and share data.
The smart border gates are expected to improve border customs throughput capacity and raise import-export turnover by threefold by 2027 and fivefold by 2030.
During a recent visit to China, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang witnessed the signing and handing of a framework agreement on jointly promoting the construction of smart border gates between the People's Committee of Lang Son Province, Vietnam and the Government of Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, China.
Two-way trade between Lang Son and the Chinese side reached an estimated USD4.78 million this year, up over 56 percent yearly.