BEIJING: As coffee transforms from a popular lifestyle choice into a rapidly expanding industry, it is creating new opportunities for cross-border cooperation at China-Vietnam border ports.
Dongxing City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region borders Vietnam's Mong Cai City.
Here, Vietnamese-style cafes have surged in popularity, offering an immersive atmosphere that blends both cultures.
"My cafe is situated on the Sino-Vietnamese border, boasting a truly exceptional location," says Lu Shaoyuan, a cafe owner in Dongxing City. "To the left, you can see the Chinese border bridge, while to the right, you can enjoy views of the Vietnamese landscape. Sitting here enjoying a coffee, you can take in both countries at a single glance."
Coffee culture has steadily taken root in Dongxing, evolving from small street stalls to specialised cafes. The city is now home to more than 60 cafes of various sizes.
Meanwhile, in south-west China's Yunnan Province, Hekou, adjacent to the Vietnamese province of Lao Cai, has become a key hub for Vietnamese coffee processing and production.
In June 2025, Hekou launched its first large-scale coffee processing production line.
"The processing plant primarily focusses on screening, grading, roasting and packaging Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans, providing a stable supply of raw materials for coffee enterprises both within and outside Yunnan Provinc," says Zhu MIn, deputy general manager of a supply chain company in Hekou. "The project is expected to achieve an annual output of 20,000 tonnes in the first year." - Xinhua
