HCMC – Several border gates between Vietnam and Laos, such as Lao Bao, La Lay and Nam Can, returned to normal operations on May 9.
At the Lao Bao international border gate in Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province, on the morning of May 9, truck drivers from Vietnam only needed to show proof of their Covid vaccination status to be eligible to enter Laos. Earlier, a driver exchange was required at the border gate to prevent the spread of Covid-19, reported news site VnExpress.
Similarly, others who want to enter Laos for work only need to show proof of full vaccination. Those without a Covid vaccination certificate should have a negative test result taken within 48 hours.
The resumption of normal trading activities also applies to the La Lay international border gate in Dakrong District in this central province.
The border gate reopening has facilitated the travel of local residents and tourists. Also, removing the driver exchange mandate has helped reduce the time needed for customs clearance and eased the traffic congestion facing National Highway 9 near the Lao Bao border gate. Besides, local people in Huong Hoa District can now go to Laos easily to do business.
At the Nam Can international border gate in the north-central province of Nghe An, entry and exit procedures in Laos have been relaxed as well. On the morning of May 9, the provincial border guards conducted entry and exit procedures for over 30 people.
An official of the Nam Can international border gate forecast that the travel demand through the border gate will rise further in the next few days. Before the pandemic, an average of 100-120 people, along with tens of vehicles transporting materials and farm products, passed through the border gate per day.
