China's 1st cross-border tourism cooperation zone starts operation

On Oct 14, China and Vietnam jointly announced the launch of the Detian (Ban Gioc) Waterfall Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone, marking the start of operations for China's first cross-border tourism zone. The inauguration ceremony took place the following day on Oct 15.

The Detian Waterfall, located in Guangxi's Daxin county, connects with Vietnam's Ban Gioc Waterfall, creating Asia's largest transnational waterfall. The scenic area attracts numerous visitors with its stunning “rainbow bridge” phenomenon, where sunlight reflects off the mist from the cascading waters.

China and Vietnam share both geographical and cultural ties, making their tourism industries mutually reliant. To strengthen cooperation, the two governments signed an agreement in 2015 to jointly develop the Detian (Ban Gioc) Scenic Area. Since then, both sides have worked on enhancing tourism infrastructure and services.

During the trial period, cross-border tourists were able to book group tours with streamlined one-stop customs services. This model, which allowed same-day border crossings, has set a precedent for future cross-border tourism collaboration.

As of Oct 10, the zone welcomed around 17,991 tourists in 1,232 cross-border tour groups, and with its launch, daily visitor capacity is expected to double to 1,000 people. This initiative serves as a model for utilizing shared border resources and fostering stronger bilateral ties.

The Detian (Ban Gioc) Scenic Area. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]