Over 700 durian trucks stuck at Vietnam-China border

By Viet An, Duc Minh June 1, 2023 | 06:09 pm PT

Trucks are stuck at Vietnam’s border gates with China in the northern province of Lang Son in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Some 700 trucks, most of them carrying durian, are stuck trying to enter China from Vietnam’s Lang Son Province, thanks to high demand during the fruit’s harvest season.

The congestion has clogged northern border crossings for more than a week, especially at the Huu Nghi border gate, where the export of fresh durian to China is officially allowed, said Hoang Khanh Duy, deputy head of a government office that manages Lang Son border gates.

But authorities have tried to reassure travelers by reporting that all five border gates in the province are operating normally, and together they can still let through over 1,000 vehicles each day.

Duy said Vietnamese officials have proposed that their Chinese counterparts work overtime to increase traffic at Huu Nghi.

They have also suggested the Tan Thanh border gate be granted permission to officially oversee the durian trade. On Tuesday alone 63 durian trucks passed through this gate.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on government bodies Wednesday evening to speed up the passing of trucks carrying produce to China.

Procedures should be simplified to increase traffic so fruit can stay fresh, he added.