More than 10 large parking lots along the road leading to the border gate have been full over recent days. Most of the trucks carry agricultural products including jack fruits, durian, dragon fruits and fresh chilli from some central and southern provinces to be exported to China.
Manager of a parking lot in Cao Loc District said that dozens of trucks had been staying at his lot for many days waiting for customs clearance.
"Each truck carries about 20 tonnes of goods," he said.
A driver, Ngo Van Linh, said that he started transporting over 20 tonnes of dragon fruit from Tien Giang Province on February 13 and arrived at Huu Nghi Border Gate on February 17.
“Despite parking here, we're having to operate the refrigeration around the clock to prevent the fruits from rotting," Linh said. "I and another driver have to take turns to care for the goods."
Linh added that they are having to pay VND100,000 a day for parking.
"We've been informed that the Chinese side has yet to return to work after the Lunar New Year holiday," he said. "And so we have to wait."
Another driver, Pham Huu Tam, said that he had also waited for the Chinese side to receive his goods for four days.
Customs officers check the goods at Tam's truck.
"I arrived here on February 18 with 17 tonnes of fresh chilli from the southern province of Dong Thap," Tam said. "We're facing more losses each day waiting here."
According to the Customs Department at Huu Nghi International Border Gate, they are doing customs clearance for some 100 container trucks.
"Many trucks have been stuck here because their Chinese partners are still off for the Lunar New Year Holiday," the department said. "We will inform the drivers as soon as the Chinese sides arrive to take their goods."