By constantly innovating products, improving service quality, especially launching high-end products, the railway industry is showing its efforts to innovate to bring Vietnam's railway tourism to new heights.
The SJourney train with 5-star service standards attracts many international visitors to experience. Photo: PYS Travel
Take advantage
With the advantage of owning a railway system of more than 3,000km, including many beautiful routes, Vietnam's North-South railway has been highly appreciated by international media. Specifically, in 2018, the world famous travel magazine Lonely Planet voted Vietnam's railway to be at the top of the list of 8 most worth-experiencing train journeys in the world . In 2019, Sputnik news agency (Russia) voted Vietnam in the top 10 most beautiful railway routes in the world . Most recently, in February 2025, Lonely Planet magazine continued to announce the list of 24 most wonderful train routes in the world in 2025, in which Thong Nhat train (Vietnam's North-South railway) topped the list. This is not only the pride of Vietnam's railway industry but also a factor that helps attract many international tourists.
Assessing the advantages of rail tourism, General Director of Flamingo Redtours Tourism Company, Nguyen Cong Hoan, said that the increase in domestic airfares has led to a 10-15% increase in tour prices, causing tourists to choose other means of transportation, opening up opportunities for train tourism to develop. "Traveling by train is cheaper than air travel, is safer and offers many experiences," said Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan.
Recently, railway tourism has flourished with many chartered tours (renting the whole trip) fully booked. From 2021, the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club has coordinated with the Railway Transport Joint Stock Company (HARACO) to implement a cooperation program to organize tours to: Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Nghe An, Lao Cai... Chairman of the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club Truong Quoc Hung said that with the upgrade of train cars and stable service quality, railway tourism products are attracting tourists. Many chartered trips organized by Hanoi tourism agencies are fully booked, becoming one of the attractive products.
Not only domestic tourists, Vietnam's railway tourism is increasingly attracting international visitors. In November 2024, the railway industry welcomed 400 Chinese tourists entering through Lao Cai International Border Gate to participate in a cross-Vietnam experience by rail. This is just one of 16 railway charter groups that have signed cooperation agreements with travel and tourism companies to organize in 2024 and continue to expand in 2025.
Impressed with high-end products
Not only popular products, railway tourism is attracting attention with high-end products, increasing attraction to luxury customers. Many localities have started to build railway tourism products to attract tourists. Typically, last May, Vietnam Railways Corporation "joined hands" with Hai Phong city to organize the "Hoa Phuong Do" train, enhancing the experience of tourists, contributing to shaping high-end tourism products. The impression of this product is the redesign of the train cars in a luxurious style, combining modern beauty and traditional Asian colors. Among the 20 newly invested train cars, there are 2 VIP cars with a 36-seat compartment design including 16 single sofas, 5 long sofas with 20 seats arranged in three different spaces. The attractive thing is that tourists only have to pay from 100,000 - 300,000 VND/person/trip to experience a new and quality journey.
Most recently, Vietnam Railways Corporation has also coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Nguyen to pilot a tourist train connecting Hanoi - Thai Nguyen with many experiences such as enjoying Thai Nguyen tea, Hanoi specialty cakes, listening to Then singing and Tinh lute, experiencing OCOP products and local agricultural products at the arrival stations... Previously, in March 2024, the tourist train on the Da Nang - Hue route called "Connecting Central Heritage" was also welcomed by tourists.
The success of trains with unique experiences is opening up a new direction for Vietnamese tourism, effectively exploiting the high-spending customer stream. In December 2024, the train named SJourney was designed with 5-star international standards, the journey lasted 8 days and 7 nights across Vietnam, connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with a price of 220 million VND/person/tour, causing a "fever" for the Vietnamese tourism industry. The surprise is not only in the price but also in the change in the mindset of doing tourism. The SJourney train emphasizes personalized service, with a limited number of guests, only 10 sleeping cars, 30 rooms and a maximum of 60 guests per trip. All services from accommodation to cuisine meet 5-star standards. Visitors also experience a tailor-made itinerary. Mr. Tran Sy Son, Director of PYS Travel Company - the unit implementing the SJourney train, said that the train not only expands the limits of traditional tourism products but also creates a new symbol for high-end tourism in Vietnam.
Vietnam's railway tourism is undergoing a clear change in quality and quantity. Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said that the trains not only connect geographically but also connect experiences, contributing to promoting and spreading regional values to domestic and foreign tourists in a unique way, contributing to opening a new form of tour in the development of Vietnam's tourism in the coming years.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/suc-hut-moi-cua-du-lich-duong-sat-20250801150313971.htm
Comment (0)