STORY: Burgeoning cross-border tourism shows China's vitality in opening-up
SHOOTING TIME: April-May 2024
DATELINE: June 11, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:58
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China-Vietnam cross-border tourism related footage
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): VANG VAN DAT, Vietnamese tour guide
3. various of China-Vietnam cross-border tourism related footage
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHONG YUANJIAN, Chinese tourist
5. various of China-Vietnam cross-border tourism related footage
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LUO JINGWEN, Store owner in Hekou County, Yunnan
7. various of China-Vietnam cross-border tourism related footage
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): PAN YUXIAN, Sales manager of a travel agency in Hekou County, Yunnan

STORYLINE:

China is witnessing a notable surge in China-Vietnam cross-border tourism.

The influx of Vietnamese tourists in southwest China's Yunnan Province and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the major China-Vietnam border ports are located, significantly contributes to this trend.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): VANG VAN DAT, Vietnamese tour guide
"When I was a child, I watched Chinese TV series, such as 'Journey to the West.' In recent years, I have often visited China. I quite like China's beautiful scenery and culture."

Meanwhile, Vietnam is gaining popularity as a travel destination for Chinese tourists.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHONG YUANJIAN, Chinese tourist
"I went to Lao Cai in Vietnam for travel this time. The food culture in Vietnam is different from that in China. It's generally cooked with less oil, which is good for people's health."

The Tourism Information Technology Center of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism highlights China as a key driver for Vietnam's tourism growth, with a remarkable 112,000 arrivals in April alone, which topped the growth rate among Vietnam's international tourist markets.

In recent years, one-day tours to Chinese border prefectures have gained popularity among Vietnamese tourists.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LUO JINGWEN, Store owner in Hekou County, Yunnan
"Our store is near the newly built joint inspection building, so there are more tourists from both China and Vietnam. Vietnamese tourists mainly come to buy shoes, hats, and exquisite ornaments, while Chinese tourists like to buy coffee, snacks, and handicrafts."

Infrastructure improvements and supportive amenities have further boosted tourism insiders' confidence in cross-border tourism.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): PAN YUXIAN, Sales manager of a travel agency in Hekou County, Yunnan
"Thanks to convenient transportation, many Vietnamese come to travel to China. With the deepening cooperation between China and Vietnam, I hope the tourism in Hekou will improve."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)