由 lltx1822 Chongqing’s GMS International Road Transport Launches Direct Service to Hai Duong, Vietnam: Opening a New Land Route Between China and Vietnam
On August 4, 2025, a cargo vehicle loaded with electronic components departed Chongqing Highway Logistics Base, reaching Hai Duong Province, Vietnam, in 48 hours. This marked the launch of the GMS International Road Transport route “Chongqing, China-Hai Duong, Vietnam,” achieving Chongqing’s breakthrough in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) road transport and opening an efficient, stable land route for China-Vietnam cross-border trade.
I. A New Land Option Between China and Vietnam Under the GMS Framework
Established in 1992, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation mechanism includes China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, aiming to boost regional economic integration through infrastructure connectivity. International road transport is a core focus, with corridors like the “North-South Economic Corridor” and “East-West Economic Corridor” already operational. However, land transport between southwest China and Vietnam long relied on border ports like Pingxiang (Guangxi) and Hekou (Yunnan), forcing Chongqing and other central-western cities to transship cargo via road to borders before entering Vietnam—often taking over 72 hours with heightened damage risks from multiple transfers.
The “Chongqing-Hai Duong” route breaks this pattern. Stretching ~1,200km, it departs Chongqing, passes Zunyi (Guizhou) and Nanning (Guangxi), exits via Youyiguan Port, then travels through Lang Son and Hanoi (Vietnam) to Hai Duong. As a key northern Vietnamese industrial province, Hai Duong hosts production bases of Samsung Electronics, Luxshare Precision, and other multinationals, with high demand for electronic components and parts.
A Chongqing Highway Logistics Base official explained: “This route achieves two ‘firsts’—the first direct service from Chongqing to Vietnam’s interior, and the first ‘one-time customs declaration, 全程通关 ‘ model. Previously, cargo from Chongqing to Hai Duong required 3 border transfers; now, China-Vietnam dual-license vehicles operate 全程 without transshipment, reducing damage rates from 5% to below 0.3%.”
II. Efficiency Revolution: From “Multi-Stage Transshipment” to “Seamless Connection”
The route’s efficiency stems from innovations in customs clearance and transport organization.
Customs-wise, Chinese and Vietnamese customs jointly launched a “Cross-Border Road Transport Express Clearance System.” After enterprises submit electronic declarations in Chongqing, data synchronizes real-time to Youyiguan, Lang Son, and other 沿线 customs. Vehicles pass through smart inspection channels (equipped with license plate recognition and cargo scanning) in 3 minutes, 2-3 hours faster than traditional methods. During June 2025 trials, clearance efficiency improved 80% vs. traditional routes.
Transport-wise, the route operates on a “fixed schedule, fixed route” basis. Two daily departures from Chongqing use 13.6m refrigerated container trucks (suitable for temperature-sensitive electronics), with dual drivers rotating to minimize stops (except refueling and customs). Vehicles feature Beidou positioning and video monitoring, allowing Chongqing’s dispatch center to adjust routes promptly during congestion.
Tran Minh Chau, an official from Hai Duong’s Department of Industry and Trade, stated: “Chongqing is a key Chinese electronics hub, while Hai Duong leads Vietnam’s electronics manufacturing. This route acts as an ‘industrial artery,’ linking our industrial chains. Hai Duong enterprises now receive Chongqing-sourced materials in 48 hours vs. 72, boosting inventory turnover by 30%.”
III. Multi-Dimensional Value for Regional Trade
The route benefits not only Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises but also reshapes regional economic dynamics.
For Chongqing, it strengthens its role as an “inland international logistics hub.” As the starting point of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Chongqing previously relied on maritime transport (via Guangxi’s Beibu Gulf) and railways (China-Laos Railway) for cross-border logistics, lacking direct land routes to Vietnam. The new route cuts transport costs by 15% and improves efficiency by 40%, 预计 driving 25% growth in Chongqing’s exports to Vietnam—particularly for 优势 products like laptops and auto parts.
For Vietnam, it provides a more stable supply chain for northern industrial zones. Vietnam has absorbed significant electronics transfers in recent years but relies on imports for 60% of raw materials, mostly from China. Traditional transport faced disruptions from weather and border congestion—e.g., a 3-day closure of Youyiguan Port due to heavy rains in 2024 nearly halted Samsung’s Hai Duong factory. The “Chongqing-Hai Duong” route’s regular operation offers a “backup channel,” enhancing supply chain resilience.
Regionally, it extends the GMS “North-South Economic Corridor.” Future extensions to Ho Chi Minh City and connections to Lao and Thai road networks could form a “Chongqing-Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand” cross-border land network. Experts from China’s Ministry of Transport Planning and Research Institute noted: “The route demonstrates that inland cities can anchor cross-border road transport, offering a new model for central-western China to connect with ASEAN markets.”
IV. Challenges and Optimization: Enhancing Route Smoothness
Despite a strong start, long-term operation requires addressing challenges.
First, infrastructure disparities: Chinese sections use highways, while parts of Vietnam’s Lang Son-Hai Duong route are two-lane secondary roads, limiting speeds for large trucks. Vietnam plans a 2026 widening project to four lanes, aiming to cut travel time by another 2 hours.
Second, unified transport standards: Differences in truck load limits and size regulations mean some Chinese heavy trucks cannot enter Vietnam. The route currently uses “China-Vietnam dual-standard trucks,” but their capacity is 20% lower than Chinese domestic trucks. Experts propose aligning GMS member states on cross-border truck standards—e.g., adopting the international 12-ton axle load standard to boost single-truck efficiency.
Additionally, 沿线 service networks need expansion. Limited rest areas and repair stations increase breakdown risks. Chongqing logistics firms are negotiating with Vietnamese partners to establish joint service stations in Nanning and Hanoi, offering maintenance, refueling, and driver rest facilities.
To expand influence, Chongqing plans “road-rail” intermodal products: transporting goods from Sichuan and Shaanxi to Chongqing by rail, then to Vietnam via the “Chongqing-Hai Duong” route, forming a “central-western China-Chongqing-ASEAN” distribution network. It will also launch “cold chain dedicated lines” for time-sensitive agricultural products, ensuring 3-day delivery of Vietnamese tropical fruits to Chongqing.
The “Chongqing-Hai Duong” route epitomizes China-Vietnam infrastructure connectivity. Under the fully effective RCEP, this 1,200km land corridor shortens cargo distances and strengthens economic ties between central-western China and ASEAN, fueling regional industrial chain collaboration.