On October 24, in Trung Khanh district, Chairman of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh chaired a meeting with leaders of departments, agencies, the Border Guard Commands of Cao Bang province and Trung Khanh district on preparation to upgrade the Tra Linh Border Gate to international level and conditions for the operation of the Na Doong opening; the situation of implementing the agreement on cooperation in protecting and exploiting tourism resources of Ban Gioc (Detian) waterfall between Vietnam and China.

The implementation of the agreement on cooperation in protecting and exploiting tourism resources of Ban Gioc (Vietnam) – Detian (China) waterfall has created a new, transnational tourism product, which is appreciated by tourists and travel businesses.

For site clearance to build control posts, border fences, and surveillance camera systems, the projects have not been registered by the investor (Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area Management Board) and the list of projects to submit to the Provincial People's Council for issuance of a resolution belongs to the list of land recovery projects, so there is no basis to carry out site clearance.

However, to ensure timely pilot operation, the installation of control booths and surveillance camera systems was temporarily installed by the People's Committee of Trung Khanh district in coordination with the Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area in accordance with the regulations.

Regarding the number of visitors entering the landscape area on both sides of Vietnam and China, from September 15 to October 10, immigration procedures were conducted for 1,153 people, including 768 people from Vietnam (442 passports, 326 travel documents), and 385 people from China (233 passports, 152 travel documents, 152 visas issued).

The functional forces recommend that the Cao Bang People's Committee continue to invest in construction works in the Ban Gioc Waterfall Landscape Area such as: control booths, barriers on traffic roads, hard fence systems, soft fence systems, especially works serving sightseeing, tourism... and renovating and upgrading facilities to ensure accommodation and working conditions for the forces working in the control station area.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presides over and coordinates with the Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area and related units to strengthen propaganda, and promotion of tourism; giving advice on building unique, quality tourism products at Ban Gioc Waterfall Landscape Area, which are imbued with the unique culture of the Cao Bang mountainous region.

It is recommended that the Management Board of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area strengthen the management and coordination of travel companies participating in the pilot operations of the site to comply with relevant regulations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and savings to left a good impression on tourists from both sides.

Chairman of Cao Bang Province Hoang Xuan Anh emphasized the importance of upgrading Tra Linh Border Gate to international level. At the same time, he affirmed that this is a big event for Cao Bang because it will open up many new development opportunities from the border trade economy, especially goods in transit through to third countries.

With that meaning, the Chairman proposed that inter-sectoral forces, especially customs forces, propose that the General Department of Customs equip new equipment to serve professional work and maximize the application of information technology in handling work, ensuring facilities and conditions to gradually form a green and clean border gate system with the goal of quick and effective customs clearance; preparing conditions to ensure the official operation of Tra Linh as an international border gate and conditions to expand the scope from the border gate to the Na Doong opening in December 2023.

Bạt Tuấn và nhóm PV, BTV