Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos tackle cross-border logistics bottlenecks

Vietnamese logistics businesses are pivoting from traditional transportation intermediaries to integrated supply chain partners, but structural obstacles at regional borders are limiting growth. At the Vietnam Logistics Forum 2026, industry leaders and government officials identified three critical problem areas: inconsistent transit procedures across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, limited data interoperability between agencies and private operators, and bottlenecks at key waterway border crossings like Vinh Xuong and Thuong Phuoc. Gemadept Group specifically highlighted that barges arriving after 5 PM face extended waiting times, increasing costs and reducing reliability for cross-border shipments.

These operational constraints prevent Vietnamese logistics providers from fully participating in regional supply chains and competing for higher-value services. The consensus from stakeholders including FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) and Cambodia's Ministry of Transport points to a need for synchronized procedural reform alongside infrastructure investment. Key recommendations include extending border gate operating hours to 24/7, eliminating duplicate documentation requirements, establishing data-sharing platforms between customs, ports, warehouses and transport companies, and prioritizing maintenance of inland waterways.

Success requires coordination between national governments and private sector participation in areas like cold storage and multimodal hubs. Without these changes, regional trade will continue to face avoidable delays and cost inflation that undermine Vietnam's competitive position in global supply chains.