The Trial Operation Commencement Ceremony of the Sino-Vietnam Detian-Ban Gioc 
Waterfall Cross-border Tourism Cooperation Zone (hereinafter referred to as the 
"Co-op Zone") was held at the Chinese-Vietnamese border checkpoints on 
September 15, at 10:00 am.

At the ceremony, performers from both China and Vietnam showcased music and 
dances representing their respective peoples. For instance, the Vietnamese 
tianqin (string instrument)/vocal song Ban Gioc Charms is brisk and sweet, the 
Chinese song Guangxi Nidiya is passionate and energizing, the Vietnamese 
music/dance Beautiful Cao Bang Mountains and Waters is graceful and beautiful, 
the Chinese Early Spring of Zhuang Village is soft and profound. The show 
culminated in Vietnam and China sung by both Chinese and Vietnamese performers, 
with the lyrics "Vietnam and China, joint by mountains and waters. Like the 
mountains and seas we share, our friendship shall last as long as the sun 
shines. We drink water from the same river, we see each other during the day, 
we safeguard one another at night" signifying the promising future of this 
cooperation. After the end of the ceremony, members of the first-ever tour 
groups of the China-Vietnam Co-op Zone respectively passed through checkpoints, 
crossed national borders and began touring in the other country, according to 
the Publicity Department of Daxin.

The Co-op Zone, located in Daxin county, has started its trial operation, which 
is set to last from September 15, 2023 to September 14, 2024. During the span 
of trial operation, a management model will be implemented that includes group 
tour reservation, limited group tour availability, limited time for 
cross-border travel, entry and exit only for tour groups, and designated 
touring routes. Within the trial operation, the Co-op Zone is only open to 
tourists holding valid Passport of the People's Republic of China, Entry and 
Exit Permit of the People's Republic of China, Passport of the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam and Entry and Exit Permit of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam. For tourists visiting the Co-op Zone from Vietnam, it is necessary to 
first register for tour group via the WeChat Mini Program "CTG-QUBIANGUAN", 
with each group requiring a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 20. 
During the first three months of the trial operation period, there is a ceiling 
of ten tour groups per day.

Beginning in the fourth month, daily quota for cross-border visitors will 
increase to 500 persons. All cross-border visitors will need to enter and exit 
as a part of a tour group. Border checkpoints are open for entry each day from 
(all time shown in Beijing time) 10:00 in the morning until 15:00 in the 
afternoon, and before 17:00 all cross-border tour groups must return across the 
border back to country of origin. Each group shall not spend more than five 
hours touring across the border, and unlawfully staying behind in the territory 
of the other nation is strictly prohibited for any cross-border visitor. During 
the span of trial operation, the tour route inside the Co-op Zone for 
Vietnamese visitors will be Co-op Zone entry and exit channel checkpoint - Ban 
Gioc Waterfall tourism and scenic zone - Ban Gioc hotel and restaurant - Co-op 
Zone entry and exit channel checkpoint. Ticket price for Vietnamese visitor is 
VND 70,000/person/visit (around RMB 21 per current exchange rate, including 
personal accident insurance, excluding other recreation fees), and visitors 
must wear Vietnamese badge during the tour. 

Source: The Publicity Department of Daxin

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   Caption: The Trial Operation Commencement Ceremony of the China-Vietnam 
Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall Cross-border Tourism Cooperation Zone