From 10/8, Vietnam Railways put into operation a high-quality passenger train on the Hanoi - Dong Hoi (Quang Tri) route, with ticket prices ranging from 600,000 to 1.1 million VND per trip for various seating and sleeper options. Passengers received a 10% discount during the first 10 days of operation.

Train QB1 departs at 8:05 PM from Hanoi station on even-numbered days, arriving at Dong Hoi station at 6:10 AM the next morning. In the opposite direction, train QB2 departs at 3:20 PM from Dong Hoi station on odd-numbered days, arriving in Hanoi at 4:15 AM the following morning.

At 6 PM on 10/8, Nguyen Thi Tuyet (far left), a Hanoi resident, and her colleagues arrived at Hanoi station, preparing for their company trip. The group of nearly 30 people booked two soft sleeper cars.

A group of international tourists were also present on the day the high-quality Hanoi - Dong Hoi train made its inaugural run.

The 13-car passenger train was newly built by Jinxin Vietnam Railway Transportation and Tourism Company using Chinese technology. The train is equipped with Wi-Fi, adjustable air conditioning, 360-degree rotating seats, and sleeper berths with entertainment televisions. Previously, this train model was tested on the Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang route.

Initially, Tuyet was worried about cramped sleeper cars, unsanitary restrooms, and poor sound insulation. However, she was surprised when she boarded the train with its hotel-like modern amenities.

"I've heard friends recount many less-than-positive experiences traveling by train, but this Hanoi - Dong Hoi trip is completely different," Tuyet said.

Upon entering the cabin, the Hanoi tourist found clean beds, TVs, Wi-Fi, and hot and cold water. The restrooms were clean and tidy. The smooth, stable ride allowed her to sleep soundly throughout the night.

Inside a 4-berth cabin, each ticket costs between 1 million and 1.1 million VND depending on the location.

Tran Thanh Tung, who was also on the Hanoi - Dong Hoi train to return to Ninh Binh, said that he had been on many North-South train trips, but this experience was quite different.

He and his sister chose soft seats because of the short distance. "The soft seats can recline, each seat has a charging port, and there's free Wi-Fi. The food is at market price," Tung said.

Inside the air-conditioned soft seat car.

A group of 18 Spanish tourists were the first international travelers to experience the train. They planned to spend 9 days in Vietnam, and Dong Hoi was part of their itinerary.

This photo was taken at Tho Loc station in Bo Trach, Quang Tri, 30 km from Dong Hoi station.

Miguel (left), one of the 18 tourists, expressed surprise at how clean, comfortable, and pleasant the train in Vietnam was. Having traveled by train in many countries, he rated the train a 9/10 and would recommend it to friends back home.

Foreign tourists enjoy the Vietnamese countryside from the train window.

According to several travel companies, Vietnamese tourists are increasingly fond of train travel, especially during the summer, to save 40% on airfare. The railway industry is constantly innovating and upgrading its services, transforming train travel into a travel experience rather than just a means of transportation.

Mai Anh