"Moving" tourism with railways, attracting tourists to visit and experience

The 5-gate cultural heritage train, also known as The Hanoi Train, is operated by BHL Tourism Trade Service Joint Stock Company in cooperation with the Railway Corporation and is attracting visitors to visit and experience.

For the first time, a tourist train has been specially designed to introduce Hanoi culture through a railway journey.

According to Mr. Tao Duc Hiep, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BHL Company, inspired by the 5 famous gates in Hanoi's history, this product aims at a model of cultural and experiential tourist train on the Hanoi-Tu Son route ( Bac Ninh province), connecting the capital with neighboring heritage areas, reviving memories and bringing tourists back to the unique values of Kinh Bac region.

It can be seen that, while many previous train routes mainly served travel needs, now when combined with tours and exploration of local culture, these routes have become part of the package tour product.

Metro-railway transportation experience tourism not only brings people and tourists "in motion" with urban railways and inner-city trains, but also increases the efficiency of exploiting and operating a type of transportation.

For urban railway lines, Hanoi has metro line 2A Cat Linh-Ha Dong and elevated line 3 Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station.

There are currently two tourism products built on this route: Green Journey with Hanoi Metro Green Journey - Van Phuc Silk Village and Green Journey with Hanoi Metro Green Journey - Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam - experience visiting Phu Luong depot station area.

At this time, urban railway lines are both a means of transportation and a cultural highlight, connecting famous tourist destinations in Hanoi.

Mr. Khuat Viet Hung, Chairman of the Board of Members of Hanoi Railway One Member Limited Liability Company, said that Hanoi Metro aims to develop long-term, unique products for the capital, expanding connections with shopping and dining spots, hotels and accommodation facilities so that tourists do not have to stay in the center at high costs.

The unit is also building applications, information leaflets and has deployed daily and weekly tickets, thereby improving the passenger experience. With the metro line 2A schedule, visitors can easily access cultural, historical, culinary, entertainment destinations... during the route stopping at each station.

Along with that, using the metro helps reduce traffic congestion, while also providing new opportunities to explore the capital in a convenient and environmentally friendly way.

Mr. Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism, assessed that tourism and railways have a mutual relationship, creating more convenient, safe, and rich experience options for tourists, also helping the railway industry expand its market.

With innovation in products and services, the connection between the tourism and railway industries will become a model for inter-industry connection, bringing socio-economic benefits and a good image to the country.

At this time, railways are a safe, economical and environmentally friendly means of transport, and are also part of the tourist experience. At the same time, tourism provides railways with a stable and diverse source of customers, helping to optimize operational efficiency and expand the market.

On the side of Vietnam Railways Corporation, we continuously improve service quality; comprehensively renovate and upgrade passenger cars with convenient interiors such as semi-automatic doors, LED screens, free wifi, and modern design images, blending with the diverse local architecture and culture, thereby enhancing the experience of people and tourists.

Along with that, the railway industry also invested in high-quality trains such as SE19/20, SE21/22, Hoa Phuong Do train, Hue-Da Nang heritage train, Sjourney train across Vietnam, La Reine Da Lat-Trai Mat train; community car rental service (charter), luxury car The Vietage on the Da Nang-Quy Nhon route; exploiting package tours by train to Hue, Da Nang, Quang Binh.

The Hoa Phuong Do train line running from Hanoi to Hai Phong has quickly attracted a large number of passengers, contributing to growth in both output and revenue.

Compared to 2024 (when there was no Hoa Phuong Do train but only fast passenger trains), the number of passengers increased by 8%, while revenue increased sharply by 46%.

At the peak in May 2025, when the city celebrated the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day, the entire Hanoi-Hai Phong route had 263 trains, transporting more than 142,000 passengers, with revenue exceeding 14 billion VND, up 17% and 52% respectively over the same period last year.

The main passengers on the train are young people, students, and foreign tourists... to experience food tours and city tours during the day.

Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, shared that these innovations not only increase revenue but also expand the customer base, contributing to building the Vietnam Railways brand associated with heritage, culture and experience.

In the coming time, the railway industry will continue to coordinate with localities to develop many new products and services with regional characteristics to meet market demand and stimulate tourism.

In addition, not only stopping at the on-train experience, the railway industry is also coordinating with the tourism industry to upgrade the stops. Long Bien, Gia Lam, and Co Loa stations will be renovated into exhibition spaces, cultural events such as the Gia Lam train factory will be developed into a railway museum.

Through that, each train station is not just a stopping place but becomes a storytelling point, each vehicle is a different way to feel the "beat" of the city.

In the context of increasing demand for new and unique tourism products, tourism is breathing new life into old railway lines, while opening up prospects for many new railway lines.

The combination of the railway industry, localities and travel businesses not only helps diversify tourism products, contributes to promoting the image of Vietnam as a heritage, creative and friendly destination, but also contributes to the sustainable development of long-standing means of transport such as railways./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/du-lich-chuyen-dong-cung-duong-sat-thu-hut-du-khach-tham-quan-va-trai-nghiem-post1066218.vnp