Border bridge

Vietnam: Vietnam and China have agreed to construct a new bridge spanning the Red River in the Lao Cai-Hekou border area.

Construction of the new bridge is expected to help further develop trade along the Kunming-Hekou-Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong economic corridor. It is also hoped the new bridge will increase trade and tourism between the Western Region of Vietnam and China's Yunnan Province.

At present there are two bridges in Lao Cai Province that link to Yunnan. Trade has increased by +30% between the two provinces in recent years, causing congestion and delays at existing border crossings for goods and people.

In 2005, 2.2 million tonnes of goods and over 1.4 million people used the existing bridges.