Long Sap main border gate was established on March 1, 1990 according to the 1990 Vietnam - Laos Border Regulations Agreement, the border gate is located in Phieng Cai village, Long Sap commune, Moc Chau district; opposite is Pa Hang border gate in Pa Hang village, Sop Bau district, Hua Phan province, Lao PDR. The border gate area has Landmark 255.

In recent years, trade between Vietnam and Laos has been growing. However, according to trade experts, the import-export turnover has not fully exploited the actual potential of the two countries. The Lao market is located between three vibrant markets: China, Vietnam and Thailand. Through Laos, Vietnamese goods can be brought to the Northeastern markets of Thailand and Myanmar, which are the markets to test our goods before going to these two markets. Therefore, gradually increasing the market share of goods from Vietnam in the Lao market is very important. Upgrading the Long Sap - Pa Hang main border gate pair to an international border gate pair is of strategic significance, promoting Son La's advantages over other provinces in promoting trade cooperation and penetrating the Lao market.

On December 22, 2020, the Government issued Resolution No. 182/NQ-CP on upgrading Long Sap Main Border Gate, Son La Province to an international border gate. Then, on December 31, 2020, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Lao side notifying the Vietnamese Government of its decision to upgrade Long Sap Main Border Gate, Son La Province to an international border gate and requested the Lao side to soon upgrade Pa Hang Main Border Gate, Hua Phan Province to an international border gate.

Milestone 255 at Long Sap International Border Gate area.

Implementing Resolution No. 182 of the Government, the People's Committee of Son La province has developed a project to plan the scope of Long Sap border gate and submitted it to the Government for consideration and decision. On December 8, 2021, the Government issued Resolution No. 41/NQ-CP dated December 8, 2021 on approving the scope of Long Sap international border gate area with an area of ​​60.8 hectares; on December 13, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2707/QD-UBND on approving the detailed planning for the construction of Long Sap international border gate, Moc Chau district with a planning area of ​​10 hectares, total capital of 325 billion VND.

On July 12, 2024, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 349/NQ-HDND approving the adjustment of the investment policy for the Long Sap Main Border Gate Construction Investment Project, Son La Province into an International Border Gate. Accordingly, the investment scale after adjustment includes: National Gate combined with Joint Control Station; weighing and scanning station; quarantine station; chemical and quarantine inspection yard; bonded warehouse; preliminary processing yard; unloading yard; exit bus station; entry bus station; export bus yard; Border Guard Station; Customs Station; Medical Station; trees and technical infrastructure. In addition, the road system will be built according to urban road standards and the technical infrastructure system will be built. The project implementation period will be in 2024 and 2025, with the total investment after adjustment being 83 billion VND.

On July 17, 2024, the Son La Provincial Border Steering Committee received Notice No. 214/UBBG-PT dated July 9, 2024 from the National Border Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam regarding the Lao side upgrading the main Pa Hang border gate to an international border gate.

Positive impacts

According to the master plan for socio-economic development of Son La province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, it contributes to strengthening the position of Son La province in the Northwest sub-region, striving to become the center of the Northwest sub-region on the basis of economic restructuring, innovating the growth model to exploit the potentials and advantages of the Northwest region.

To achieve the development goals of Son La province from now to 2030, in addition to solutions on economic restructuring and growth model innovation, promoting import-export and immigration activities, maximizing the potential of border gates and developing the economy of border gate areas is a great resource contributing to development. Therefore, upgrading Long Sap main border gate to an international border gate to facilitate economic development, services, tourism, import-export, contributing to the implementation of growth targets and economic restructuring of Son La and the Northwest sub-region is very necessary.

Joint patrol between the Joint Patrol Team of Long Sap Border Guard Station, Son La Provincial Border Guard Command and Border Guard Company 214, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command.

Captain Tran Nam Anh, Head of the Long Sap Border Gate Joint Control Station: The upgrade to an international border gate facilitates third-country citizens to enter and exit through the Long Sap International Border Gate, shortens the distance and time to travel to provinces and cities in the region, and contributes to economic development. Each officer and soldier of the Station will further enhance their spirit and responsibility, creating the most favorable conditions for people to enter and exit, visit relatives, and trade to develop the economy.

When upgrading to an international border gate, according to the law and agreement of both sides, entry and exit; import and export are expanded. Specifically, people, vehicles, goods from third countries, such as Thailand, China, Myanmar ... can go back and forth, or transit, intermodal, temporarily import, re-export. This will open up opportunities for tourism development, border trade economy, especially when Moc Chau district has been recognized as a National Tourist Area, a leading natural destination in the world; many units promoting, trading, and surveying tourism activities have come to seek opportunities to open routes from Dien Bien, Moc Chau, Hanoi (Vietnam) - Sam Neua, Vieng Xay, Xieng Khouang or Luang Prabang (Laos).

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of Son La Tourism Association, shared: The Association is strengthening links with domestic tourism and travel agencies and companies as well as Hua Phan province to build new products and diversify experiences for tourists. With the Long Sap - Pa Hang main border gate pair being upgraded to an international border gate pair, it will create a breakthrough to promote potential international tourism, forming international routes and tours through this border gate pair (Red River Delta region, Hanoi - Moc Chau - Northern Laos - Northwestern provinces, Northern Vietnam - Hanoi, Red River Delta).

Ready for the opening ceremony

To complete the final legal procedures for the Opening Ceremony of the Long Sap (Son La Province) - Pa Hang (Hua Phan Province) international border gate pair, on October 7, 2024, the Son La Provincial Delegation led by Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, and the Hua Phan Provincial Delegation led by Comrade Phut Phan Keo Vong Xay, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Deputy Governor of Hua Phan Province, held talks to discuss and agree on the content and program of the Ceremony. The Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 223/KH-UBND dated November 7, 2024 on organizing the Opening Ceremony of the Long Sap, Moc Chau District, Son La Province - Pa Hang, Sop Bau District, Hua Phan Province international border gate pair.

As planned, the ceremony to announce the opening of the pair of international border gates will be held on November 19, 2024 at the national level, co-organized and chaired by Son La province and Hua Phan province at the Long Sap - Pa Hang international border gate area. At the ceremony, there will be an art program, the announcement of the Government's resolution, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, witnessing the experimental entry and exit, import and export activities, and activities to display and promote OCOP products and safe agricultural products.

As the venue for the opening ceremony, Moc Chau district actively coordinated with relevant departments, branches and units to carry out the preparation work well. Mr. Le Trong Binh, Chairman of Moc Chau District People's Committee, informed: The district has developed a plan to coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command to arrange a reception for delegates and the ceremony to announce the opening of the border gate, a reception party; ensure shared vehicles to pick up and serve delegates. Coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to plant Vietnamese flags, Lao flags, and red flags alternately; decorate flags and flowers on main roads; develop a plan to ensure food hygiene and safety at event venues.

Meeting to prepare content for the opening ceremony of the Long Sap international border gate pair, Son La province - Pa Hang, Hua Phan province.

Communes of Moc Chau district located along the route from Moc Chau town leading to Long Sap border gate area have mobilized and propagated people to hang national flags, replace torn and faded flags; conduct sanitation, clearing, and cleaning main roads along the national highway, cleaning the surrounding environment, creating a clean and beautiful landscape.

Mr. Lo Hai Yen, Chairman of Long Sap Commune People's Committee, said: As the venue for the opening ceremony, the commune has done a good job of promoting the solidarity, special friendship, cooperation and comprehensive development between Vietnam and Laos. Along with that, the Commune People's Committee coordinated with the Provincial Border Guard Command to mobilize 100 local people in traditional costumes to attend the foundation block of the opening ceremony at Milestone 255.

Long Sap - Pa Hang International Border Gate Pair Area.

Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, informed: The organization of the ceremony to announce the opening of the pair of border gates aims to promote international cooperation, rapid and sustainable international economic integration, and strengthen activities in defense diplomacy, security diplomacy, and border diplomacy. The Provincial People's Committee focuses on directing relevant units, departments, and localities to carry out assigned tasks according to the assigned plan, closely coordinate with Hua Phan province in the process of organizing and organizing the opening ceremony according to the plan.

With the careful preparation of all levels, sectors, units and localities of the two provinces of Son La and Hua Phan, we believe that the Opening Ceremony of the Long Sap - Pa Hang international border gate pair will take place solemnly, meaningfully and safely, contributing to promoting the potential and calling for investment in Son La province in general and Moc Chau district in particular; promoting international cooperation, international economic integration quickly and sustainably; maintaining and promoting the special solidarity, friendship and comprehensive development cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

According to: Son La Newspaper