New bridge from travel experience

VHO - In the context of globalization and increasingly deep regional integration, international Caravan tourism (cross-border self-driving tourism) is gradually becoming a new trend, opening up a space for cultural exchange, connecting people and promoting regional cooperation.

The Vietnam-China cross-border Caravan journey, especially from Hanoi to Guangxi, is not only a spectacular excursion on border roads but also a symbol of a tourism approach associated with peace , friendship and sustainable development.

Caravan – when tourism becomes soft diplomacy

Unlike traditional tours with fixed schedules, the Caravan format allows visitors to take control of their own journey: drive, explore and create their own experiences.

Vietnamese tourists cross Mong Cai - Dong Hung border gate, officially starting Caravan journey to explore Guangxi, China

With this model, each vehicle becomes a “mobile home”, each stop is an open cultural space, and each tourist is an unofficial people's ambassador.

Starting from Hanoi, the Caravan moved through international border gates such as Mong Cai - Dong Hung or Huu Nghi - Bang Tuong to enter China.

Vietnamese tourists experience camping at 1466 Lac Nghiep area in the middle of the sea of clouds, an emerging destination in Guangxi that attracts the community of adventure travel enthusiasts.

The moment of “one step, two countries” – where just one bridge connects two countries, becomes a symbolic image of the exchange and harmony in the diversity between two cultures.

In Guangxi, the group stopped at unique destinations such as Hao Khon Lake with its crystal clear water, the 1466 Lac Nghiep campsite in the middle of a sea of clouds, or the "Thien Chu Van Hai" structure suspended in mid-air.

These experiences not only bring emotions to tourists, but also show how China has invested systematically in developing landscape tourism combining ecology and experience.

Beautiful scenery of Hao Khon Lake - a stop of the Caravan - with clear blue water and charming scenery among the mountains and forests of Guangxi.

“The trip gave me a sense of freedom and connection like never before. Being able to drive through the mountains, resting in the pine forest and eating with the locals – those were unforgettable moments,” said Nguyen Van Huy, a tourist participating in the Caravan.

Journey of connection and understanding

Along with the experience journey are cultural, business and local exchange activities. Recently, in Nanning City (China), more than 100 travel businesses from Vietnam attended a tourism cooperation conference with Guangxi partners, signing many memorandums of understanding on opening routes, optimizing services and promoting bilateral tourism products.

Vietnamese tourists drive through the winding mountain pass in the border area, enjoying the feeling of freedom and initiative on the Caravan journey.

Traditional cultural, culinary and musical exchanges held along the journey help tourists not only "watch" but actually "live" in the local cultural space.

Vietnamese tourists do not hesitate to join the fire dance with the Dao Quan Trang people in Ca Gia Tu valley, while Chinese tourists are excited to try the gai cake and lam cake of the Vietnamese highlands. The connection happens naturally, without barriers or scripts.

Caravan members conquer offroad routes with ATVs in Nandan (Guangxi, China)

“I didn’t think I would be so moved when I heard an old Dao man talk about the custom of worshipping wine in a cave. The cultural story here made me realize that I had missed so many meaningful things in my previous hasty trips,” said Pham Ngoc Han, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City.

The Caravan model is not only for entertainment purposes, but is becoming an effective tool to promote economic - cultural - social cooperation between neighboring countries.

The Guangxi government has favorable policies such as issuing short-term visas, supporting temporary license plates, bilingual digital maps, and a system of specialized stops for Caravan vehicles.

On the Vietnamese side, many localities such as Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang... are in favorable gateway positions to expand the Caravan journey connecting to China and even further to Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar in the future.

Investing in infrastructure such as caravan parks, international standard motels, and cultural check-in points will be an important lever to welcome the wave of self-driving tourists in the coming time.

According to Mr. Nguyen Nang Minh, Director of World Media and Travel Services Joint Stock Company, this Vietnam - China caravan journey is not only a trip to explore beautiful scenery, but also a vivid proof of the connection of trade, culture and tourism between the two countries.

Driving yourself and exploring the unique routes and destinations of Guangxi not only brings an adventurous experience but also opens a new door for independent travel, promoting connections and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

However, for Caravan to truly develop, Mr. Nguyen Nang Minh said: “It is necessary to establish a Cross-border Caravan Coordination Center to standardize operating procedures, handle situations and promote common destinations. At the same time, businesses of the two countries need to cooperate to build a two-way cultural tourism product chain, in which the local element is the center instead of just focusing on famous destinations.”

Caravan is a journey of pioneers, where every wheel is a bridge between cultures. It is not just a journey across borders, but a journey to overcome prejudices, barriers and distances to reach understanding, cooperation and common development.

In the near future, Caravans will not only carry tourists but also the hope of a more open and connected East Asia and Southeast Asia region, where borders are no longer limits, but starting points for sincere relationships.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/cau-noi-moi-tu-trai-nghiem-du-lich-158827.html