2026 China-Vietnam Border Tourism Festival opens in Guangxi

The 2026 Guangxi (Pingxiang) China-Vietnam Border Tourism Festival opened at Friendship Pass in Pingxiang on Sept. 22, bringing together guests from ASEAN countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia to strengthen tourism ties and cross-border cooperation.

The 2026 Guangxi (Pingxiang) China-Vietnam Border Tourism Festival opens at Friendship Pass in Pingxiang on Sept. 22, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The festival marks both the launch of the 2026-2027 China-Vietnam Tourism Cooperation Year and the 70th anniversary of Pingxiang's establishment as a city.

Located on China's border with Vietnam, Pingxiang is an important gateway for cooperation with ASEAN. Over more than three decades, the festival has grown from a trade event into a platform for tourism, culture, sports, and business exchanges.

The 2026 Guangxi (Pingxiang) China-Vietnam Border Tourism Festival opens at Friendship Pass in Pingxiang on Sept. 22, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

This year's program features 11 activities, including a China-Vietnam cultural gala, familiarization tours of Chongzuo for 100 travel agencies from the two countries, and cross-border driving and cycling tours. At the opening ceremony, 20 Chinese and Vietnamese companies signed agreements to work together on tourism development, cross-border logistics, trade, and other projects.

Visitors enjoyed a range of cultural and culinary experiences, from fruit feasts and coffee markets to performances featuring the tianqin, a traditional musical instrument of China's Zhuang ethnic group, and the Vietnamese monochord. 

The 2026 Guangxi (Pingxiang) China-Vietnam Border Tourism Festival opens at Friendship Pass in Pingxiang on Sept. 22, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The joint evening gala brought performers from Vietnam's Lang Son province together with Chinese artists, while fishing, football, and pickleball events offered further opportunities for exchanges between border communities.

The festival also promoted business cooperation through product showcases, a cross-border e-commerce livestreaming competition, and events focused on the durian industry and Silk Road e-commerce. It featured demonstrations of AI translation devices and interactive robots.

To improve the visitor experience, Pingxiang has introduced a dedicated tourist transport service linking Pingxiang East Railway Station, the city center, and the fruit trading center, alongside ticket-based discounts at attractions, restaurants, and hotels.

Building on its border heritage and growing reputation as a "City of Durian," Pingxiang aims to use the festival to further develop cross-border tourism and strengthen cooperation with ASEAN.