Nearly 5,000 tractor-trailers carrying agricultural products to be exported to China have been stuck at three border gates in nothern Vietnam over the past weeks.

As of Saturday, about 4,800 tractor-trailers were waiting for produce clearance at Tan Thanh, Huu Nghia, and Chi Ma Border Gates in Lang Son Province, according to statistics from the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.

At Tan Thanh Border Gate, there were approximately 2,800 vehicles, most of which carried jackfruits, mangoes, dragon fruits, and watermelons from southern Vietnamese provinces.

Huynh Tan Dung, a 57-year-old trucker, said he had stayed at the border gate for 20 days.

Dung, who has nearly two decades of experience, stated he had never gone through such a situation before.

“We have to spend VND400,000 [US$17] per day on parking fees and VND300,000 [$13] a day on fuel, which is needed to run the refrigerator to keep the fruits fresh,” the driver explained.

“We also have to pay for food, showering, and toilet fees.”

If the situation lingers for a few more days, the products will rot and cannot be sold, which will result in heavy losses for both drivers and businesses, Dung said.

Dinh Trung Kien, deputy director of the management center of Tan Thanh Border Gate, stated that China previously halted import-export activities at the border gate on Wednesday due to some “network errors.”

The activities were resumed on Saturday but were suspended again later the same day, Kien continued, adding that the Chinese side did not announce any reason this time.

Import and export were also suspended at Chi Ma Border Gate on December 8, the official elaborated.

Meanwhile, produce clearance has been going at a snail's pace at Huu Nghi Border Gate, he added.

Authorities in Lang Son have been negotiating with their Chinese counterparts to speed up the product clearance process.

Local businesses have been advised against transporting more products to these border gates during this period.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ho Tien Thieu confirmed on Saturday he had tasked relevant agencies with drawing up a plan to disinfect products prior to exportation.

The administration will then discuss with the Chinese side the COVID-19 prevention and control procedures for imports and exports between Vietnam and China, Thieu stated.

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