In August alone, nearly 2,700 passengers crossed the border by train, an 89% increase over the previous month, supporting greater mobility, trade cooperation, and people‑to‑people exchange between the two countries.

Vietnam and China share close ties in geography and culture. In recent years, economic, trade, and cultural exchanges have deepened, with cross‑border travel becoming increasingly frequent. In late May, the railway sectors of both countries restored the Vietnam-China international passenger train service. Departing in the evening from Nam Ninh Station (Nanning, China) and arriving in the morning at Gia Lam Station (Vietnam), the service is equipped with soft sleeper carriages. This arrangement reduces accommodation costs and shortens travel time, appealing to both business travelers and tourists.

For Zong Jianhui, a Chinese cross‑border businessman with partners in Vietnam, the service has become his preferred choice. He said, “If I leave Nam Ninh in the morning and travel via Huu Nghi Quan to Hanoi, Vietnam, it takes a whole day with no productive time. By taking the international passenger train, I can arrive the next morning and start work immediately. It is very convenient.”

For Vietnamese students studying in China, especially in Guangxi, the train service is a convenient option that saves time and costs. Nguyen Phan Nhan Tran, a Vietnamese student at Guangxi University said, “The train is very convenient. It only takes one night to travel from Hanoi to Nam Ninh, and tickets are affordable.”

The restoration of the Vietnam–China international passenger train service has significantly facilitated trade and tourism between the two countries, while stepping economic cooperation.

Over the past eight months of this year, cross‑border trains from Guangxi have transported 24,000 standard export containers, a 179% increase from the same period last year. More than 20,000 tonnes of fruit from ASEAN member states such as durian, mangosteen, and jackfruit have entered China via the Bang Truong railway border gate, enriching the fruit basket of Chinese consumers.

To improve cross‑border passenger service, the Nanning Bureau of China State Railway Group has introduced bilingual Vietnamese–Chinese announcements on trains and trained staff in Vietnamese, English, and passenger services. Train staff are now fluent in both languages and familiar with the customs of both countries, thus becoming “cultural ambassadors” on board.

Lan Qiushuang, chief conductor of the Vietnam-China international passenger train, said the service has seen growing demand since resuming operations. Passengers mainly include business travellers, tourists, and students, with Chinese and Vietnamese passengers comprising the majority. The service also carries passengers from more than 30 countries, including Myanmar, Thailand, and Italy, serving as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and other nations.

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