In 2025, Lao Bảo Border Gate recorded 272,877 vehicle crossings and 1.23 million tons of cargo, equivalent to approximately 748 trucks per day, showing that the area is operating at high intensity and approaching capacity limits during many periods.
Once ICD VSICO Lao Bảo becomes operational at its designed capacity, handling capability is expected to increase to approximately 1,000 trucks per day, equivalent to an additional 252 trucks daily (~34%) compared to the current situation.
This increase will not only help reduce congestion pressure at the border gate, shorten waiting times, and improve transport planning flexibility for businesses, but more importantly, it will transform the way logistics flows are organized across the EWEC (East–West Economic Corridor).
Instead of vehicles and cargo moving directly to the border gate, the system will be reorganized through cargo consolidation, coordination, and traffic distribution at the ICD before customs clearance, thereby improving operational efficiency across the entire corridor.
In the long term, ICD VSICO Lao Bảo will not only serve as a transit hub but also become a strategic logistics node capable of regulating and absorbing cargo growth, contributing to the restructuring of logistics operations along the East–West Economic Corridor connected to Central Vietnam seaports such as the Lăng Cô – Chân Mây – Huế Port Cluster, Mỹ Thủy Port Cluster, and Cửa Việt – Quảng Trị Port Cluster.
This integrated ICD–Seaport logistics chain is expected to strongly support the development of Central Vietnam’s logistics sector while targeting a 10–15% reduction in regional road logistics costs.
