Cambodia and Viet Nam have officially opened the Chrey Thom-Khanh Binh international border gate, a move expected to facilitate cross-border travel, boost trade and strengthen economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The Kandal Provincial Administration and Viet Nam’s An Giang Provincial Administration held the inauguration ceremony on Saturday at the Khanh Binh International Border Gate in Viet Nam, opposite Cambodia’s Chrey Thom International Border Gate in Kandal province.
The ceremony was presided over by Kandal Governor Kuoch Chamroeun and Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee Ho Van Mung, with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries and institutions, local authorities and armed forces from both countries.
The upgrading and official opening of the border gate marks another important milestone in the development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Viet Nam, according to the Kandal Provincial Administration.
“The opening of the border gate is seen as an important step in enhancing connectivity between Cambodia and Viet Nam and creating greater opportunities for trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges along the shared border,” the provincial administration said in a statement issued yesterday.
The international crossing is expected to facilitate the movement of Cambodian and Vietnamese citizens, as well as international tourists, while improving the efficiency of imports and exports between Kandal and An Giang provinces and the two countries.
It is also expected to strengthen cooperation in maintaining security and public order along the border and contribute to developing border areas into peaceful, stable and economically prosperous communities, the administration said.
The opening comes as Cambodia and Viet Nam continue efforts to deepen bilateral economic ties, with the two governments renewing their commitment to increase bilateral trade turnover to $20 billion.
The growth of cross-border commerce is being supported by improved infrastructure connectivity, streamlined agricultural processing and preferential tariff arrangements for selected Cambodian products.
Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Viet Nam reached $5.98 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 7% year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.
Viet Nam was Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner during the period, after China and the United States.
Cambodia’s major exports to Viet Nam included paddy rice, rubber, cashew nuts, cassava, corn, bananas, mangoes and tobacco, while imports from Viet Nam included construction materials, machinery, fuel, electrical and electronic equipment, fertilisers, spices, fruits and vegetables.
The figures highlight Cambodia’s growing role as a supplier of agricultural products to regional markets, while imports from Viet Nam remain important for the country’s industrial production and consumer demand.
Vice-President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce Lim Heng attributed the growth in bilateral trade to strong cooperation between the two governments and their respective private sectors.
“Upgrading border checkpoint operations, enacting trade facilitation pacts and enhancing regional transport and infrastructure links contribute to deepening economic integration between Cambodia and Viet Nam,” Heng said.
Investment ties have also expanded. Viet Nam currently has 223 investment projects in Cambodia with total registered capital of nearly $3.4 billion, according to data from the Vietnamese embassy.
Vietnamese companies operate in sectors including agriculture, particularly large-scale farming, finance and banking, telecommunications, aviation, processing, trade and services.
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu has previously said that current conditions are favourable for businesses and investors to expand cooperation in specific economic sectors.
He noted the embassy and private sector will keep channeling corporate proposals to both governments to improve the investment climate.
The latest border-gate development comes ahead of an official visit to Cambodia by newly appointed Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, scheduled for October 9 and 10.
The visit was announced on September 28 during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong in Phnom Penh.
During the meeting, Cuong emphasised that the upcoming visit – Prime Minister Le Minh Hung’s first official trip abroad – underscores Viet Nam’s deep commitment to its relationship with Cambodia.
Source: Khmertimes
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<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
