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

In recent years, trade between Vietnam and Laos has been growing steadily. However, according to trade experts, the import and export turnover has not yet fully exploited the actual potential of the two countries. The Laotian market is situated between three vibrant markets: China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Through Laos, Vietnamese goods can be transported to the markets of Northeast Thailand and Myanmar, which serve as testing grounds for Vietnamese goods before entering these two markets. Therefore, gradually increasing the market share of Vietnamese goods in the Laotian market is crucial. Upgrading the Long Sap - Pa Hang border gate to an international border gate is strategically significant, leveraging Son La's advantages over other provinces in promoting trade cooperation and penetrating the Laotian market.

On December 22, 2020, the Government issued Resolution No. 182/NQ-CP on upgrading the Long Sap main border gate in Son La province to an international border gate. Subsequently, on December 31, 2020, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Lao side informing them of the Vietnamese Government's decision to upgrade the Long Sap main border gate in Son La province to an international border gate and requesting the Lao side to promptly upgrade the Pa Hang main border gate in Hua Phan province to an international border gate.

Milestone 255 in the Long Sap International Border Gate area.

In implementing Government Resolution No. 182, the People's Committee of Son La province developed a plan for the Long Sap border gate area and submitted it to the Government for consideration and decision. On December 8, 2021, the Government issued Resolution No. 41/NQ-CP approving the area of ​​the Long Sap International Border Gate with an area of ​​60.8 hectares; on December 13, 2023, the People's Committee of Son La province issued Decision No. 2707/QD-UBND approving the detailed construction plan for the Long Sap International Border Gate in Moc Chau district, with a planned area of ​​10 hectares and a total investment of 325 billion VND.

On July 12, 2024, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 349/NQ-HĐND approving the adjustment of the investment plan for the project to build the Long Sap main border gate in Son La province into an international border gate. Accordingly, the adjusted investment scale includes: a national gate combined with a joint control station; a weighing and inspection station; a quarantine station; a customs and quarantine inspection yard; a bonded warehouse; a preliminary processing yard; an unloading yard; an exit bus station; an entry bus station; an export vehicle yard; a border guard station; a customs station; a medical station; green spaces and technical infrastructure. In addition, the project includes the construction of a road system according to urban road standards and the construction of technical infrastructure. The project implementation period is in 2024 and 2025, with a total adjusted investment of 83 billion VND.

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

Positive impacts

According to the overall socio-economic development plan of Son La province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045, the goal is to strengthen Son La province's position in the Northwest sub-region, striving to become the center of the Northwest sub-region based on economic restructuring and innovation of the growth model to exploit the potential and advantages of the Northwest region.

To achieve the development goals set for Son La province from now until 2030, in addition to solutions on economic restructuring and innovation of the growth model, promoting import and export activities, immigration, maximizing the potential of border gates, and developing the border gate economy are major resources contributing to development. Therefore, upgrading the Long Sap main border gate to an international border gate is essential to facilitate the development of the economy, services, tourism, and import and export, contributing to the achievement of growth targets and economic restructuring in Son La and the Northwest sub-region.

Joint patrol between the Joint Patrol Team of Long Sap Border Gate 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: Upgrading to an international border gate facilitates entry and exit for citizens of third countries through the Long Sap International Border Gate, shortening travel distances and time to provinces and cities in the region, contributing 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 the country, visit relatives, and conduct trade to develop the economy.

With the upgrade to an international border gate, according to legal regulations and agreements between the two sides, entry and exit procedures, as well as import and export activities, will be expanded. Specifically, people, vehicles, and goods from third countries, such as Thailand, China, and Myanmar, can cross the border, transit through, temporarily import, and re-export. This will open up opportunities for the development of tourism and border trade, especially since Moc Chau district has been recognized as a National Tourist Area and a leading natural destination in the world. Many tourism promotion and trade agencies have come to explore opportunities to open routes connecting Dien Bien, Moc Chau, and Hanoi (Vietnam) with Sam Neua, Vieng Xay, Xieng Khouang, or Luang Prabang (Laos).

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial Tourism Association, shared: The Association is strengthening links with domestic and Hua Phan province tourism and travel agencies to develop new products and diversify experiences for tourists. The upgrading of the Long Sap – Pa Hang border gate to an international border gate will create a breakthrough to boost potential international tourism, forming international routes and tours through this border gate (Red River Delta region, Hanoi – Moc Chau – Northern Laos – Northwest provinces, Northern Vietnam – Hanoi, Red River Delta).

Ready for the grand opening

To finalize the legal procedures for the inauguration 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 Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, and the Hua Phan provincial delegation, led by Mr. Phut Phan Keo Vong Xay, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor of Hua Phan province, held discussions to agree on the content and program for the ceremony. The Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 223/KH-UBND dated November 7, 2024, on organizing the inauguration ceremony of the Long Sap international border gate pair, Moc Chau district, Son La province - Pa Hang, Sop Bau district, Hua Phan province.

According to the plan, the opening ceremony of the new international border gate will be held on November 19, 2024, on a national scale, jointly organized and chaired by Son La province and Hua Phan province at the Long Sap - Pa Hang International Border Gate area. The ceremony will include an art program, the announcement of the Government's resolution, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a demonstration of immigration and customs procedures, and an exhibition and promotion of OCOP products and safe agricultural products.

As the venue for the opening ceremony, Moc Chau district actively coordinated with relevant departments and units to ensure thorough preparation. Mr. Le Trong Binh, Chairman of the Moc Chau District People's Committee, informed: The district has developed a plan to coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command to arrange reception services for delegates and the opening ceremony of the border gate, as well as a reception; ensuring shared transportation for delegates. In coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the district will display Vietnamese, Lao, and red flags alternately; decorate main roads with flags and flowers; and develop a plan to ensure food safety and hygiene at the event venues.

Meeting to prepare the content for the ceremony announcing the opening of the Long Sap international border gate in Son La province and the Pa Hang border gate in Hua Phan province.

The communes of Moc Chau district located along the road from Moc Chau town to the Long Sap border gate area have mobilized and encouraged people to display the national flag, replacing torn and faded flags; carried out cleaning, clearing, and tidying of main roads along the national highway, and cleaned up the surrounding environment to create a clean and beautiful landscape.

Mr. Lo Hai Yen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Sap commune, said: "As the venue for the opening ceremony, the commune has done a good job of publicizing the special solidarity, friendship, cooperation, and comprehensive development between Vietnam and Laos. In addition, the People's Committee of the commune, in coordination with the Provincial Border Guard Command, mobilized 100 local people wearing traditional costumes to attend the opening ceremony at Border Marker 255."

The area around the Long Sap - Pa Hang International Border Gate.

Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, informed: The organization of the opening ceremony of the border gate aims to promote international cooperation, deep and sustainable international economic integration, and strengthen defense, security, and border defense foreign relations. The Provincial People's Committee focuses on directing relevant units, departments, and localities to carry out assigned tasks according to the plan, coordinating closely with Hua Phan province in the process of organizing the opening ceremony as planned.

With thorough preparation from all levels, sectors, units, and localities of Son La and Hua Phan provinces, it is believed that the inauguration ceremony of the Long Sap - Pa Hang international border gate will be solemn, meaningful, and safe, contributing to promoting the potential and attracting investment to Son La province in general and Moc Chau district in particular; strengthening international cooperation and deep, rapid, and sustainable international economic integration; and maintaining and developing the special solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive development cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Source: Son La Newspaper