La Lay International Border Gate: Surge in entrance and exit, import-export turnover

According to the La Lay International Border Gate management board, there has been a significant increase in the number of people entering and exiting the border gate and the import-export turnover in the first two months of 2024.

People are making procedures to enter Laos via the La Lay International Border Gate. Photo: L.T

During January - February, the number of people entering La Lay International Border Gate exceeded 20,870, of them, around 19,400 were Vietnamese, over 1,000 were from Laos, and nearly 450 were of other nationalities.

The number of people exiting the border gate reached nearly 14,000, with approximately 12,300 Vietnamese, about 1,500 from Laos, and around 150 from other nationalities.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Minh, the Chief of the La Lay International Border Gate’s Border Control Station, the average daily number of people entering and exiting this border gate is approximately 500-600, reaching around 700-800 during peak hours.

To improve the convenience for people, the unit has increased the number of officers and soldiers on duty during each shift to handle procedures and prevent illegal immigration.

Additionally, they have coordinated with other forces at the border gate to organize the flow of people in order and provide maximum convenience for customs clearance.

Most people exiting the border gate come from provinces and cities such as Nghe An, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, and Danang. They have found stable jobs in Laos, particularly in the four southern provinces of Sekong, Champasak, Salavan, and Attapeu.

Meanwhile, most foreign people staying in these provinces during the Lunar New Year were Lao staff and workers on duty and students back to Vietnamese provinces for education.

The La Lay Customs Office stated that since it separated two areas for immigration and import-export operations, customs clearance has become faster, reducing congestion at the border gate and increasing import-export volume.

In the first two months of 2024, the total import-export volume was estimated at 278,900 tons, equal to $37.25 million, up 51.5% and 52.3%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Le Truong – Khanh Khanh