Trade between China and Vietnam is on the rise, and rail is playing a primary role especially for Chinese exports. During the first half of 2025, TEUs shipped from China to Vietnam by rail increased by 283% compared to H1 last year, for a total of 18,870.
The largest contributors to this growth were auto parts and fiberboard, according to the Chinese government. The former doubled, reaching 2,528 TEUs, while the latter posted an astounding 398% rise, totalling 4,580 TEUs. This surge has been accompanied by an increase in frequency. The Chinese government highlighted that there has been a jump from five to 14 weekly trips.
Cargo coming from various Chinese regions is consolidated in Nanning, the capital of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which borders Vietnam. For example, “auto parts and motorcycle parts from provinces such as Jiangsu in east China and Guangdong in south China” are sent to Nanning. From there, the China-Vietnam rail freight services takes goods to a hub in Yên Viên, northwest of Vietnam’s capital Hanoi.
China and Vietnam strengthening ties
China and Vietnam are also working on building a new railway from the Vietnamese port of Haiphong to Lao Cai, on the border between the two countries, passing through Hanoi. The line would connect Vietnam to the Chinese region of Yunnan, creating a new 400-kilometre artery in the north. The cost for this project is estimated at around 7,6 billion euros. Cross-border traffic along the old line along this axis was discontinued in 2002.