Since the beginning of this year, border crossings at Hekou Port have reached 1.01 million, marking a 12.7% year-on-year increase and making it Yunnan’s first port of entry to surpass one million crossings. Among these, 562 Vietnamese tourist groups, totaling 11,000 individuals, entered China via Hekou Port using passports—a rise of 12.1% and 10% respectively compared with last year. 

The popularity of Yunnan among Vietnamese tourists is unmistakable at Hekou Port. They arrive with empty suitcases—but what scenic wonders and special gifts do they take home?

From Sightseeing to Immersion: Capturing Yunnan’s Beauty

During the recent Spring Festival holiday, Hekou Port was bustling from early dawn. Holding a tour guide sign, Ruan Feilong greeted visitors in both Chinese and Vietnamese—a part-time job he took on during the holiday. 

“Everyone was extremely enthusiastic; some started queuing as early as 5 a.m. The whole hall was packed with travelers,” Ruan recalled. After crossing the border, tourists visited popular attractions such as Dishui Miao Village (Pingbian), Taiping Lake Forest Park (Mile), Jiaozi Snow Mountain (Kunming), Shaxi Ancient Town, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Lijiang). They explored both urban and rural areas, immersing themselves in authentic local life. “They love taking photos, capturing every picturesque landscape with their cameras,” Ruan observed.

Beyond natural scenery, unique immersive experiences have become a major draw for Vietnamese tourists. They no longer settle for quick visits but seek deeper engagement: dressing in ethnic costumes for photos at iconic sites, riding miniature trains through parks, watching seagulls, wandering flower markets, and savoring local delicacies.

“Vietnamese tourists love renting ethnic costumes to take photos in places like Lijiang Ancient Town and Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, blending themselves into the scenery,” said Li You, a tourism professional with over a decade of experience. In March, Vietnamese tourist Huang Ying booked the Lijiang Imperial Banquet, where she wore Hanfu, enjoyed local cuisine accompanied by music and dance, and experienced an authentic traditional Chinese royal feast.

From Classics to New Trends: Taking Yunnan’s Charm Home

Amid the tourism boom, shopping in Yunnan has become increasingly popular among Vietnamese visitors. In Hekou Yao Autonomous County, Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, a Vietnamese woman born in the 1990s, was buying electric fans, bamboo mats, and slippers at a local supermarket. “Chinese products come in a wide range and offer great value for money,” she said. “It’s very convenient for me to cross the border three to four times a month.”

Wang Zhibin, owner of Hekou Fuxin Supermarket, opened his shop attracted by the vibrant market, never expecting it to become so popular among tourists. The shopping preferences of Vietnamese customers are evolving: they no longer stick to traditional souvenirs but increasingly select practical daily goods and distinctive cultural items.

Along the classic Lijiang-Dali-Shangri-La travel route, visitors no longer fill their suitcases solely with silver jewelry and jade. Now, they pack Chinese snacks, sportswear from brands like Anta and Li-Ning, unique intangible cultural heritage products from Yunnan, and even blind boxes and trendy cultural merchandise representing Chinese IP. As Ruan Mengli noted, “Flower pastries and mushrooms are must-buy specialties. Tourists also pick up cost-effective items like hair dryers, rice cookers, and smart electronic gadgets.”

With more travel routes opening in Yunnan and an increasingly diverse selection of new souvenirs, Vietnamese travelers are expected to arrive with even bigger empty suitcases—and return home filled with wonderful local products and cherished memories of Yunnan.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Doe, Flynn)