The popularity of the Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" has extended beyond the country's borders, with the hit movie drawing in film fans from neighboring Vietnam who specifically traveled to China to watch the film.
The film has shattered numerous box office records since it was released on the Chinese mainland on Jan. 29, and has already surpassed Disney's 2024 picture "Inside Out 2" to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.
The hype around the movie has seen many cinema lovers from Vietnam crossing at the Hekou Port, a major land port on the China-Vietnam border connecting to the Hekou Yao Autonomous County in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Data showed that since the film's release, Vietnamese tourists have accounted for about 5 percent of the total audience figures in the county.
Among the visitors is Chau Da Mei, who traveled with friends to Hekou not only to watch the film but also to explore the city during the recent Chinese New Year holiday period.
"I came to Hekou during the Spring Festival holiday to watch 'Ne Zha 2'. I heard it will also be later released in Vietnam. I plan to bring my whole family to see it," she said. Hekou, located across the river from Vietnam's Lao Cai City, has become a popular destination for Vietnamese visitors due to its convenient entry-exit policies and rich tourism resources.
Many Vietnamese people, like Dang Thi Hong, have chosen to work and live in Hekou. She said she was particularly impressed by how the movie, a sequel to the 2019 animated adventure "Ne Zha", portrayed the mythological theme, with its cutting-edge special effects highlighting China's cultural charm.
"The Chinese traditional cultural elements in 'Ne Zha 2' are incredibly fascinating. I'm already looking forward to 'Ne Zha 3'," she said.
Vietnamese film fans flock across border to view hit Chinese film
