China-Vietnam border Hekou port crossings top 5 million in 2026, up 6.12%
In short
Cross-border traffic at the Hekou port in Yunnan, China's largest land crossing on the border with Vietnam, passed 5 million people for the year as of October 6, according to the Hekou Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station. The station counted 5.0003 million crossings and an average of 17,900 travellers a day, up 6.12% from a year earlier. Chinese state media linked the volume to growing cross-border tourism.
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Cross-border traffic at Hekou port on the China-Vietnam border in Yunnan province passed 5 million people for the year, the Hekou Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station said. CLS and Jiemian reported that the count reached 5.0003 million as of 12:00 on October 6, with an average of 17,900 travellers a day, up 6.12% from the same period a year earlier. The China News Service gave the same volume and growth rate, dating the count to October 6. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Hekou port sits in Hekou Yao Autonomous County in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and the China News Service described it as the largest land port on the Yunnan section of the China-Vietnam border, facing Vietnam's Lao Cai city across a river. Because it has both an expressway and a railway, the report said it is a preferred entry point for travellers visiting Yunnan. [ 4 ]
The China News Service described steady flows at the port's joint inspection building on October 6, with travellers processing in order. It quoted Vietnamese tour guide Wu Ruqiong saying she was leading a group of Vietnamese tourists on a one-day trip to Hekou to see the scenery and try Chinese food. [ 4 ]
The border inspection station said it has been analysing passenger trends in advance, using a big-data monitoring system to adjust staffing, opening additional inspection lanes as needed and diverting traffic, according to the China News Service. It also listed tourist-group pre-declaration, online form filling and multilingual services among measures intended to keep crossings fast and orderly while maintaining border security. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The figure points to a continued recovery in cross-border movement between China and Vietnam through a land port that handles both road and rail traffic. For readers outside the region, it is a gauge of tourist and people flows at one of the main China-ASEAN land gateways, though the documents give no national totals for comparison.
Key facts
- As of 12:00 on October 6, 2026, Hekou port recorded 5.0003 million inbound and outbound crossings this year, per the Hekou Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The daily average was 17,900 travellers, up 6.12% year on year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Hekou port is in Hekou Yao Autonomous County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, and is described as the largest land port on the Yunnan section of the China-Vietnam border. [ 4 ]
- It faces Lao Cai city in Vietnam across a river and has both an expressway and a railway. [ 4 ]
- The border inspection station said it uses big-data monitoring to deploy staff, opens extra inspection lanes as needed and offers tourist-group pre-declaration, online filing and multilingual services. [ 4 ]
- Chinese News Service reported that travellers were processed in orderly fashion at the port's joint inspection building on October 6. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How the 5.0003 million crossings split between Chinese and Vietnamese travellers, or between tourists and other travellers. None of the documents give a breakdown by nationality or purpose of travel.
- Whether the 500-million milestone referenced by the reports is counted to 12:00 on October 6 or to the end of that day. CLS and Jiemian say the count is as of 12:00 on October 6, while the China News Service article says only as of October 6.
- Further details from Xinhua's own reporting. Document 3 carries only a headline, with no article text or summary body.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Hekou port's 2026 inbound and outbound crossings reach 5.0003 million, according to the border inspection station count cited by CLS and Jiemian (dated October 6). [ 1 , 2 ]
- CLS publishes the milestone figure. [ 1 ]
- Jiemian publishes the same figure, citing Xinhua. [ 2 ]
- Xinhua publishes a headline on the milestone. [ 3 ]
- China News Service publishes its report with details on the port and cross-border tourism. [ 4 ]