Play the Game of Life
Ryan Petersen's Blog

A fairly substantial export trade from China to Vietnam is conducted everyday using old bicycles loaded down with all manner of products, from manufactured goods to vegetables. All this has developed since 1992, when this border crossing at Hekou-Lao Cai was finally reopened after two decades of closure for political reasons. (Actually, I should say the bicycle-based trade "re-developed," as the Viet Cong were supplied from China in nearly the exact same manner throughout the American war in Vietnam. The goods were pushed thousands of miles over jungle trails to the front lines in then South Vietnam.)

The export of Chinese manufactured goods makes sense, as China is one of the world's lowest cost producers, however I would have thought that vegetables and other produce would be flowing the other way across the border. But in fact, nothing comes in from Vietnam at this crossing except empty bicycles ready to be loaded. I think this would be worth studying if there are any China-focused economic researchers looking for a good thesis out there.

Labels: business, china, video, vietnam