Tay Ninh establishes a digital border gate at Moc Bai, investing nearly 962.4 billion VND in comprehensive development.

Recently, Ms. Ho Thi Hoang Yen, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Standing Deputy Secretary of the Tay Ninh Provincial Party Committee, along with Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and leaders of various departments and agencies, conducted a field survey of the Moc Bai International Border Gate area.

The survey focused on evaluating the overall plan for the Moc Bai infrastructure development project until 2030 – a project expected to create a new look for one of the most important trade gateways on the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

The design plan for upgrading and expanding the Moc Bai Border Gate Joint Control Station has been selected by relevant departments and agencies (Photo: Tay Ninh Provincial Information Portal).

Pressure from increasing immigration and emigration volumes.

The Moc Bai International Border Gate is located on the Trans-Asian Highway, playing a crucial role in connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region with Cambodia and other countries in the region. In recent years, the volume of people and vehicles passing through the border gate has continuously increased, creating an urgent need to expand the area, improve control capacity, and reorganize traffic.

According to data from the Border Guard, the total number of people entering and exiting through Moc Bai increased from approximately 1.289 million in 2015 to over 2.08 million in 2025, an average annual increase of 4.91%. It is projected that this number could reach 2.645 million by 2030 and nearly 6.91 million annually by 2050.

Tay Ninh province is establishing a digital border gate at Moc Bai, investing nearly 962.4 billion VND in comprehensive infrastructure (Photo: Tay Ninh Provincial Electronic Information Portal).

If infrastructure is not upgraded in a timely manner, congestion pressure at border gates will increase, especially when the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai expressway comes into operation and the volume of goods transported along the cross-border economic corridor continues to increase.

The Moc Bai infrastructure development project until 2030 received investment approval from the Provincial People's Committee in early 2026. Key components include the construction of a road connecting the end point of the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai expressway with the border gate; the renovation and expansion of the Joint Border Control Station; landscaping around Border Marker 171; investment in a drainage system; and research into a dual-use canal along the border.

Based on feedback from departments, localities, and relevant authorities, the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board has studied three overall options. The third option is preferred because it can utilize existing facilities, minimize relocation of operating agencies, and reduce the impact on customs clearance during construction.

According to the initial plan, approximately 1,500 m² of the existing Joint Control Station will be renovated, while approximately 4,500 m² will be newly constructed on both sides. The project also includes a 1.25 km long road for importing goods and a 5.41 km long canal system, with a total estimated investment of approximately 1,235 billion VND.

Following the review process, the items were streamlined to suit the available capital, shorten the preparation time, and minimize the need for procedures to adjust the investment plan. The total projected capital was kept at VND 962.39 billion, consistent with the approved amount.

Direct highway connection, passenger and cargo flow management.

One of the key components is a 4.45 km long road connecting the end point of the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai expressway with the border gate area. The scale and basic alignment remain unchanged to ensure the seamlessness of the transportation network when the expressway is put into operation.

For the Joint Border Control Station, the revised plan will renovate approximately 1,500 m² of the existing area and construct approximately 1,900 m² of new space on both sides, bringing the total area for immigration control to approximately 3,400 m². The canopies will also be narrowed to create a more open and harmonious space for the national gateway area.

The route for imported goods vehicles will initially be invested in for approximately 418 meters according to the approved plan. If there are savings after the bidding process, the authorities will report to the competent authority for consideration of implementing the remaining portion, but without exceeding the total investment of the project.

The drainage system will be implemented with a length of approximately 3.53 km. The dual-use border canal will be studied in a separate project jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, thereby avoiding overlap and ensuring synchronization between drainage requirements and national defense and security objectives.

The working group inspected the highway connection route, the area designated for imported goods vehicles, Milestone 171, the Joint Control Station, barriers, and checkpoints. The current state of the customs inspection area, wharves, national defense land, and the potential for forming a logistics system around the border gate were also carefully considered.

The discussions at the meeting focused on separating passenger and cargo flows, arranging passenger pick-up and drop-off areas, increasing processing capacity, connecting customs inspection areas, and ensuring uninterrupted immigration and customs operations during project implementation.

The revised plan was assessed as still meeting the core objectives: smooth traffic flow, convenient connection to the expressway and logistics system, effective utilization of existing infrastructure, while maintaining requirements regarding landscape, foreign relations, national defense, and security.

Laying the foundation for smart border crossings.

Beyond simply expanding the area and building more roads, the project also aims to transform the operational methods at Moc Bai. New infrastructure will be prepared to gradually integrate digital platforms, supporting the control of people and vehicles, managing goods, sharing data between forces, and shortening processing times.

According to this orientation, passenger and cargo flows will be organized separately; control areas, parking lots, inspection yards, and bonded warehouses will be connected into a unified operational chain. This is a necessary preparatory step for Moc Bai to move towards a digital and smart border gate model according to the roadmap.

Concluding the survey, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Ho Thi Hoang Yen stated: The Moc Bai infrastructure development project is of special significance to the socio-economic growth of Tay Ninh. The project must not only serve the needs until 2030 but also align with the vision until 2045 as outlined in the general planning for the Moc Bai Border Gate Economic Zone approved by the Prime Minister.

The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee requested the Provincial People's Committee to continue directing the Economic Zone Management Board and relevant agencies to finalize the feasibility study report, planning documents, and investment procedures. The final plan must ensure the quality of spatial organization, functionality, architecture, and technical infrastructure; it must be both modern and efficient, while meeting the requirements of national defense, security, and foreign relations.

Provincial leaders also emphasized the need for a comprehensive study of the dual-use canal system, bonded warehouses, border markets, parking lots, and transportation network in the area. These items should be considered as a whole, avoiding fragmented investments and ensuring long-term connectivity.

Source: Brand and Public Opinion Online Magazine