this is the waterfront at dongxing where trade flows across the beilun river from dawn to dusk. stevedores here have a fundamental grasp of economics - for when there's a slowdown, like now, the loads on their backs are lighter. >>guofu: due to the weakness of the vietnam currency, the rmb appreciation, the dollar's weakness, dongxing'sexports have dropped. >>reporter: he won't get much sympathy, however, from the vietnamese. for dongxing's dealers with their sacks of shoes, socks even suitcases have been ahead of the cross border game, ever since the day the frontier re-opened in 1989 after a decade of bitter hostilities. >>guoning: hundreds streamed across the river then to buy the likes of flasks, tea cups, bowls, chopsticks and plates. they bought up everything! dongxing folk realised there was money to be made ! everyone, even those who had the likes of flasks, tea cups, bowls, chopsticks and plates. they bought up everything! dongxing folk realised there was money to be made ! everyone, even those who had never done any business before, started to trade. >>reporter: commer