Cross-border tourism between China and Vietnam has experienced remarkable growth in early 2026, with Hekou North Station in Yunnan province emerging as a critical gateway. This border railway facility has processed over 10,000 Vietnamese tourists by late February, representing a substantial 35.45% increase compared to the same period last year.
The surge reached a milestone on February 26th when the C560 train departed from Hekou North Station carrying more than 430 Vietnamese tourists toward Kunming South Railway Station. This significant volume of travelers was achieved a full month earlier than in the previous year, indicating accelerated growth in cross-border tourism.
China Railway Kunming Group has implemented strategic coordination with travel agencies, customs, and border inspection departments to manage the increasing passenger flow effectively. The collaboration focuses on predicting travel patterns and optimizing transportation capacity to accommodate the growing demand.
Nghiem Viet Chung, Consul General of Vietnam in Kunming, acknowledged Yunnan’s rising popularity among Vietnamese tourists. He emphasized that enhanced visa procedures and improved transportation infrastructure could further boost tourist numbers between the neighboring nations.
The broader border activity at Hekou Port reinforces this trend, with recorded entries and exits surpassing 1.01 million by February 24th—a 12.7% year-over-year increase. This achievement marks Hekou as the first port in Yunnan province to exceed one million cross-border movements in 2026.