Two bridges across the Ka Long River in Quang Ninh have become home to over 1,000 trucks that have been unable to cross the border.
Some have been there for a few days, and others for two months. Drivers have to pay a parking fee of VND100,000 ($4.3) a day.
Around 100 vehicles are allowed to cross the bridges into China each day, meaning trucks have to wait on the road for their turn.
Each truck takes 10-15 minutes to complete customs procedures after China tightened safety measures.
Nguyen Ba Tai, 33, has not been able to return to his hometown in the central province of Khanh Hoa for two months as he waits to drive his truck into China.
It is carrying frozen fish from the southern province of Tien Giang, but has not been allowed to cross the border for 40 days. He has rented a cold storage to keep the fish at a cost of VND1.5 million a day.
Although Mong Cai customs authorities have advised truck drivers to stop coming to the gate, dozens still show up each day.
If trucks stop coming, they estimate the pileup will be cleared by Tet, the New Year in both countries, which is in the first week of February this year.
