The Mong Cai International Border Gate City is considered an excellent starting point for the Tonkin Gulf coastal economic belt to exchange goods and services between Vietnam and China, as well as a tourist resort and entertainment site.

The government has also given the go-ahead to Quang Ninh province to build the 18A Highway - Mong Duong-Mong Cai section, Van Gia port and the Mong Cai Free Trade Area as a “Special Economic Zone” between the two countries. The bulk of the construction is scheduled for completion by 2020.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Quang Ninh province have been directed to work with Guangxi province in China to come up with a plan to regulate the operations of the Mong Cai Free Trade Area in order to boost trade between Vietnam and China as well as other countries in the region.