[Objective] The characteristics and driving force of land use change in the border zone between Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and Vietnam were explored to provide a basis for the optimization of land structure utilization.[Methods] The spatial-temporal characteristics of land use change in the China-Vietnam border zone of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 1980 to 2018 were analyzed using the land use dynamic index, land use change matrix, and Moran index. A multiple linear regression model was built to explore the driving force.[Results] ① The comprehensive land use dynamic degrees of the China-Vietnam border zone of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the periods of 1980-2000, and 2000-2018 were 0.43% and 4.50%, respectively. Before 2000, the land use change was relatively mild, and the pace accelerated thereafter. ② Land-use-type transfer occurred for all the lands. In the stages of 1980-2000 and 2000-2018, the overall transferred land acreages were 4 775.92 and 46 730.06 hm², respectively. In addition, the construction land and water area expanded, and the arable land, woodland, grassland, and unused land decreased. Moreover, 9 134.47 hm² was added to the construction land, and 90% can be traced back to arable land, woodland, grassland, and unused land. ③ The types of land in the China-Vietnam border zone of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region showed an obvious positive spatial autocorrelation and a relatively high space agglomeration effect, and changes and transfers occurred in the regional space due to agglomeration effect. ④ A principal factor contributing to the land utilization change in the area was border trade, which was accompanied by population, economy, policy, and other factors affecting the land use change in the China-Vietnam border zone of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.[Conclusion] The land use change in the China-Vietnam border zone of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has obvious spatial differentiation characteristics. With the acceleration of border opening and development, the evolution of land use patterns accelerated.