Key Facts
Border gate: Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom International Road Border Gate
Cambodian side: Chrey Thom, Kandal province
Vietnamese side: Khanh Binh, An Giang province
Official opening: October 3, 2026
Upgrade basis: Vietnam Government Resolution No. 219/NQ-CP, dated August 7, 2026
First eight months of 2026 bilateral trade: Approximately US$5.97 billion, according to the source provided
Cambodian exports to Vietnam: Approximately US$2.95 billion in the first eight months of 2026
Cambodian imports from Vietnam: Approximately US$3.02 billion in the same period
Bilateral trade growth: About 7% year on year, according to the source provided
Longer-term target: US$20 billion in Cambodia-Vietnam bilateral trade
A New International Gateway Between Kandal and An Giang
The Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom crossing has long served as an important connection between Kandal and An Giang. Its elevation to an international road border gate gives the crossing a broader role in facilitating international movement and trade.
The opening ceremony was jointly organised by the People's Committee of An Giang province and the Kandal provincial administration on October 3.
Official An Giang provincial information confirms that Vietnam's Government issued Resolution No. 219/NQ-CP on August 7, 2026, approving the upgrade of the Khanh Binh main border gate to an international road border gate.
Following the inauguration ceremony, delegates observed the first cargo-carrying vehicles passing through the border gate and inspected procedures for imports, exports, people and vehicles.
Why the Border Gate Matters for Trade
The new international status is expected to make cross-border commercial activity more convenient between the two provinces and their wider markets.
Kandal is strategically positioned near Phnom Penh and provides connections to Cambodia's central economic areas, while An Giang is part of Vietnam's Mekong Delta and has strong agricultural and commercial links with Cambodia.
The provincial authorities have described the border gates between the two provinces as important economic links supporting trade, investment, agricultural-product exchanges and people-to-people connectivity.
The opening therefore adds another formal gateway for the movement of goods and people between Cambodia and Vietnam.
Cambodia-Vietnam Trade Reaches Nearly US$6 Billion
According to the figures provided in the source, Cambodia exported approximately US$2.95 billion worth of goods to Vietnam during the first eight months of 2026.
Imports from Vietnam reached approximately US$3.02 billion during the same period.
Combined, bilateral trade reached approximately US$5.97 billion, representing an increase of about 7% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
The figures put the two countries on a larger trade trajectory as their governments work toward increasing bilateral trade to US$20 billion.
Cambodia-Vietnam Trade Snapshot
| Indicator | First 8 months of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cambodia's exports to Vietnam | Approx. US$2.95 billion |
| Cambodia's imports from Vietnam | Approx. US$3.02 billion |
| Total bilateral trade | Approx. US$5.97 billion |
| Year-on-year growth | Approx. 7% |
| Longer-term bilateral trade target | US$20 billion |
Cambodia Needs More Value-Added Exports
The opening of another international border gateway could create opportunities for Cambodian exporters, but economic experts have also highlighted the need to strengthen the country's export capacity.
Socio-economic expert Chey Tech said the new checkpoint provides an opportunity for Cambodia and Vietnam to increase trade, but Cambodia needs to better understand the Vietnamese market.
He specifically highlighted agricultural products including cashew, rice, rubber and cassava.
The broader issue is not simply moving more goods across the border, but increasing the value generated from Cambodian exports.
Cambodia has significant agricultural production, but exporting more processed products could potentially create additional value for farmers, traders and businesses compared with relying primarily on raw agricultural commodities.
Linking Cambodian Producers With Vietnamese Buyers
Chey Tech called for stronger connections between Cambodian exporters and Vietnamese buyers.
Such business-to-business links could help Cambodian producers better understand demand, quality requirements, pricing and distribution channels in Vietnam.
For agricultural businesses, a more coordinated export process could also improve the movement of products through the border and strengthen links between producers, processors, exporters and buyers.
This is particularly relevant for commodities such as rice, cassava, rubber and cashew, which already form part of Cambodia's agricultural export base.
Tourism and People-to-People Connectivity
The new international border gate is not only about merchandise trade.
The source also highlights its potential importance for tourism, logistics, transportation and people-to-people connectivity.
A more accessible international crossing can allow travellers to combine destinations in Cambodia and Vietnam within a single journey.
For tourists, border connectivity between Kandal and An Giang could provide another route between the two countries, while businesses in transportation, hospitality, restaurants and tourism services may benefit from increased cross-border movement.
Official An Giang authorities similarly identified tourism, logistics, services and people-to-people exchanges among the areas expected to benefit from the opening.
A Second International Border Connection Between Kandal and An Giang
The Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom crossing is particularly significant because it provides another international connection between Kandal and An Giang.
Official Vietnamese information describes Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom as the second international border-gate pair between An Giang and Kandal, following Vinh Xuong-Kaam Samnor.
This gives the two provinces additional infrastructure for cross-border trade, transportation and cooperation.
The opening also forms part of broader efforts to strengthen connectivity between Cambodia's and Vietnam's border provinces.
Border Trade Already Showing Strong Activity
The Vietnamese provincial government reported that Khanh Binh had already recorded significant activity before its upgrade.
In the first nine months of 2026, the border gate recorded more than 194,000 entries and exits, while import-export turnover reached approximately US$617.42 million. Import and export turnover in 2025 was also reported to have increased by about 13% compared with 2024.
These figures provide an indication of the economic activity already taking place around the crossing before its formal upgrade to international-road-border-gate status.
Strengthening Logistics and Regional Connectivity
Beyond the immediate border area, the new crossing is connected to wider transport and logistics planning in An Giang.
Vietnamese authorities have been working on transport connections involving the Khanh Binh border gate, including links associated with the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway and National Highway 91C.
Improved road connectivity can be important for reducing transport bottlenecks and linking border trade with larger markets.
For Cambodia, stronger road and border connections could also improve access for exporters and logistics operators seeking to reach Vietnam's Mekong Delta and beyond.
Cambodia-Vietnam Border Cooperation
The inauguration also carries a broader diplomatic and regional-cooperation dimension.
Kandal authorities described the border-gate upgrade as strengthening traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam.
The two provincial administrations are expected to continue coordinating on transportation, trade, agricultural-product movement, security and people-to-people exchanges.
At the border itself, effective cooperation between customs, immigration, transport and security authorities will remain important to ensuring that increased traffic can move efficiently while maintaining border controls.
A New Opportunity for Cambodia's Exporters
For Cambodian businesses, the new border gate creates an additional channel to reach Vietnamese customers.
However, access to a new gateway does not automatically translate into higher exports.
Cambodian producers and exporters will still need to understand Vietnamese consumer demand, comply with relevant standards, establish buyer relationships and improve processing and packaging where appropriate.
For agricultural businesses in particular, the opportunity may be greatest when border connectivity is combined with stronger supply chains and higher-value processing.
What Happens Next?
The opening of Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom establishes the international framework for the crossing, but its longer-term economic impact will depend on how businesses and authorities use the new gateway.
Several areas will be important to watch:
Growth in bilateral merchandise trade
Movement of agricultural products
Cross-border tourism
Logistics and transportation activity
Investment around the border
Processing and value-added exports
Efficiency of customs and border procedures
Cooperation between Kandal and An Giang
Vietnamese authorities have also set a longer-term goal of reaching approximately US$1.2 billion in import-export turnover through the Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom border-gate pair by 2030.
Angkor Times Analysis
The opening of Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom comes at a strategically important time for Cambodia-Vietnam economic relations. With bilateral trade already approaching US$6 billion during the first eight months of 2026, additional border infrastructure can support the movement of goods, people and services between the two markets.
For Cambodia, however, the opportunity extends beyond simply increasing the volume of exports. The greater economic opportunity lies in connecting Cambodian producers with Vietnamese buyers while increasing processing and value addition, particularly for agricultural commodities.
The border gate's potential will ultimately depend on more than the infrastructure itself. Efficient customs procedures, reliable logistics, business-to-business connections, tourism promotion and stronger supply chains will determine how effectively Cambodian businesses can use the new gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Cambodia-Vietnam border gate?
The Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom international border gate connects Chrey Thom in Cambodia's Kandal province with Khanh Binh in Vietnam's An Giang province.
When did the border gate officially open?
The Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom international road border gate was officially inaugurated on October 3, 2026.
Why was Khanh Binh upgraded?
Vietnam's Government approved the upgrade of the Khanh Binh main border gate to an international road border gate through Resolution No. 219/NQ-CP dated August 7, 2026.
How much did Cambodia and Vietnam trade in the first eight months of 2026?
According to the figures supplied in the source, bilateral trade reached approximately US$5.97 billion during the first eight months of 2026.
What does the new border gate mean for tourism?
The crossing provides another international route for travellers between Cambodia and Vietnam and could support tourism, transportation and people-to-people exchanges.
What Cambodian exports could benefit?
The source specifically highlights cashew, rice, rubber and cassava, while stressing the importance of developing higher-value exports and stronger connections with Vietnamese buyers.
How many international border-gate pairs connect Kandal and An Giang?
The Khanh Binh-Chrey Thom crossing is the second international border-gate pair between Kandal and An Giang, after Vinh Xuong-Kaam Samnor.
What is the longer-term trade target for Cambodia and Vietnam?
Cambodia and Vietnam have pledged to work toward US$20 billion in bilateral trade.