International bus route connecting Ha Long

Officially put into operation from September 2024, the tourist bus route between Nanning City (Guangxi, China) and Ha Long (Quang Ninh, Vietnam) is a tourism product that realizes the policy of enhancing tourism cooperation between the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) and Quang Ninh Province (Vietnam). The new tourism product provides more flexible travel options for tourists from the two countries and two destinations.

The Ha Long - Nanning fixed-route bus will officially go into operation from September 2024. *Photo: Provided by the unit*

In early September 2024, the Department of Transport of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) and the Department of Transport of Quang Ninh (Vietnam) allowed the New National Line Group Transport Co., Ltd. (China) to cooperate with the Global China Vietnam Friendship Group Joint Stock Company (Vietnam) to carry out a fixed passenger transport route between Nanning City (China) and Ha Long City (Vietnam) via the North Luan Bridge II Customs Clearance.

Before officially operating, the bus route had a 3-month trial period for drivers to get familiar with the route, customs and immigration procedures. The Nanning - Ha Long bus picks up and drops off tourists according to a fixed international schedule departing from Phong Linh Passenger Station (Nanning, China) to Bai Chay Bus Station (Quang Ninh, Vietnam). The main route is: Nanning (G75 Lan Hai Expressway, G7511 Tan Dong Expressway) - Dong Hung - Dong Hung Border Gate (China) - Mong Cai Border Gate - Mong Cai - Ha Long - Bai Chay - Ha Long Expressway (Vietnam).

The journey departs from Phong Linh station at 9:00 (China time), stops at Dong Hung station at 11:00 (China time) every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with a frequency of 1 trip/day; arriving at Bai Chay Bus Station (Ha Long City) at 14:30 (Vietnam time) on the same day. The return bus from Ha Long to Nanning departs from Bai Chay Bus Station (Ha Long City) at 10:30 (Vietnam time) every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with a frequency of 1 trip/day, stops at Dong Hung station at 14:00 (China time), and arrives at Phong Linh station at 16:30 (China time).

Tourists take photos to check in at Bac Luan II Border Gate.

Along with the fixed bus route, Viet Trung Global Friendship Group Joint Stock Company (Vietnam) also provides non-fixed bus routes, running according to the special orders of companies, businesses or large groups with special needs. Along with that, there is also a tour package Ha Long - Nanning - Mong Cai lasting 3 days 2 nights.

With the Ha Long - Nanning - Mong Cai tour, tourists from Ha Long will visit famous destinations of Nanning city, the capital of Guangxi province (China), which is known as the green city of the country of a billion people. The highlight of the journey to Nanning is Tam Ngo Nhi walking street - a gentle blend of ancient, mossy beauty with modern, bustling features; Thanh Tu Mountain Park - the "green lung" of Nanning city or visit the Guangxi Zhuang Museum located in Chongzuo city to admire the massive collection of ancient bronze drums of the ethnic minority community of Guangxi.

On the other hand, for Chinese tourists traveling along the Nanning - Ha Long route, Viet Trung Global Friendship Group Joint Stock Company introduces to tourists outstanding tourism products of Quang Ninh such as visiting Ha Long Bay; enjoying Quang Ninh cuisine on a restaurant cruise in the heart of the heritage bay and enjoying music shows on the bay at night, relaxing at Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh - the first Japanese-standard hot spring resort in Vietnam, experiencing the double-decker bus to see the sights of Ha Long City. In particular, the company provides a 12-day connecting train tour product for tourists to explore the length of Vietnam from Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hue and vice versa.

Visiting and experiencing Ha Long Bay is a tourism product chosen by the majority of Chinese tourists.

Mr. Se Yichao, a Chinese tourist, said: Traveling by bus from Nanning to Ha Long is very easy and convenient. The procedures for tourists to go through the international border gate are done quickly and neatly, without having to wait long, only taking about 45 minutes for the whole group. After that, I can easily go to Ha Long and comfortably visit, shop and experience. Traveling to Quang Ninh for tourists like us is becoming more and more convenient and smooth.

Mr. Tran Duy Thang, Director of Viet Trung Global Friendship Group Joint Stock Company, said: The fixed bus route for tourists between Ha Long - Nanning was deployed very quickly. In just one month, we completed the necessary procedures for the fixed and non-fixed bus route Nanning - Ha Long to officially operate. This is thanks to the support and facilitation of functional agencies such as Customs, Border Guard, Border Gate Management Board... In the first month of operation, despite the impact of super typhoon Yagi, which had to temporarily stop operations for 10 days, we were able to make nearly 20 trips departing from both sides. The number of passengers is gradually stabilizing. We are currently promoting the procedures and applying for permission from the Ministry of Transport to pick up passengers from neighboring areas of Quang Ninh such as Hanoi and Hai Phong to reach the company's delegations, MICE passengers. This will be a potential passenger stream for this international bus product.

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