The capital city of Hanoi is set to launch a double-decker train designed to connect cultural heritage sites through a unique night tourism journey on August 19, as part of activities to attract visitors during the upcoming National Day holiday on September 2.
The city plans to roll out 20 night tourism products from now until the end of the year, and the most notable is the “Five Entrance Gates” train, which links heritage sites across the capital, said Tran Trung Hieu, deputy director of the municipal Department of Tourism.
The project aims to recreate the atmosphere of the Old Quarter, allowing travelers to journey through Hanoi’s traditional lifestyles in the heart of the modern city, he added.
According to Ha Trong Thang, deputy general director of Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company, the train is to be fully equipped with a newly designed, luxurious interior. It features an integrated bar, a stage for traditional performance art, such as “Xam” (blind wanderers' music), chèo (Vietnam’s traditional folk theatre), and Chầu văn (Vietnamese ritual spirit music), as well as a scenic viewing area under a glazed skylight roof.
This will be the first railway tourism product connecting Hanoi's inner city with the heritage region of Bac Ninh, home to landmarks such as Do Temple and traditional rural markets, via a stop at To Son Station.
Each day, the train will operate two trips, with each journey lasting around three hours. In the daytime, it will depart from Hanoi Station to Tu Son Station, connecting to local cultural sites via electric vehicles. In the evening, it will circle the Hanoi beltway, offering nighttime city views accompanied by art performances and cuisine.
Travel agencies have proposed that the railway sector support the sale of all-inclusive tour packages covering train tickets, accommodation, and sightseeing. They have also suggested adjusting train schedules and monument opening hours in order to better align with tourists' itineraries.
According to Hieu, the railway lines around Hanoi have the potential to become 'cultural experience journeys', with each station telling its own story about the thousand-year-old capital.
The “Hanoi-Five Entrance Gates” train route is expected to create a tourism boost during the peak National Day holiday.
As of the end of July, Hanoi welcomed approximately 18.36 million visitors, including over 4.2 million international arrivals. Tourism revenue is estimated to have reached VND 73 trillion.
According to the latest data from Booking.com, the capital city is among the top 10 domestic destinations searched for by Vietnamese tourists for the National Day holiday. The city attracts visitors across all segments, from families and groups of friends to couples and solo travelers.