The northern province of Quang Ninh will begin trans-border self-drive tours between its city of Mong Cai and bordering Dongxing city in China within one year.

Mong Cai city.

The tours will be taken via Mong Cai international border gate.

The provincial People’s Committee assigned the Hong Gai tourism and service company, to operate the scheme.

On December 31, Mong Cai city welcomed its one millionth tourist - who was from Shanghai, China.

Last year, Vietnam welcomed nearly 8 million foreign tourists, up nearly 1 percent from 2014, thanks to the two-week visa exemption for those from France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy and Belarus.

China remains the largest source of arrivals in Vietnam, with nearly 2 million visitors last year, or one fourth of the total in Vietnam.

VNA