The launch at Ha Noi Station on August 19 is part of 250 projects commenced and inaugurated nationwide to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the National Day.

Viet Nam Railways launches “Ha Noi 5 Gates” tourist train.

The biometric system, officially operational from August 19, authenticates passengers using chip-based citizen ID cards. It is fully connected with the national population database, ensuring accuracy, security, and high legal validity.

During its pilot phase from August 1 to 10, the system reduced average ticket-checking time to just three to five seconds per passenger, about 50% faster than QR scanning, with a recognition success rate above 98%.

Passenger surveys showed 92% rated the system as convenient or very convenient, with significant improvements in efficiency, particularly at peak times.

According to VNR General Director Hoang Gia Khanh, integration with the VNeID application will soon allow passengers to use digital ID data without carrying physical ID cards, paving the way for a fully electronic nationwide ticketing model.

Alongside the technology upgrade, VNR also unveiled the “Ha Noi 5 Gates” train (The Ha Noi Train), inspired by the historic gates of the ancient Thang Long Citadel.

Its carriages are named after five iconic gates: Cau Den, Quan Chuong, Cau Giay, Cho Dua, and Dong Mac, symbolising the capital’s thousand-year cultural heritage.

The train comprises five double-deck seated carriages and two check-in carriages, each designed with unique interiors and panoramic windows for scenic views.

On board, passengers can enjoy traditional cultural performances such as quan ho (love duet) folk sing, ca tru (ceremonial singing), cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera), and xam (blind wanderers’ music).

VNR emphasised that the “Ha Noi 5 Gates” train is more than a tourism product; it combines heritage preservation with modern innovation, aiming to bring rail travel closer to urban life while promoting cultural values and tourism.

The train is expected to enter service in September 2025.

PM urges swift, accountable implementation of key railway projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 9 called on ministries, sectors, and local authorities to take active and responsible roles in carrying out national key railway projects, stressing the need to avoid relying on others, delaying or evading responsibility to ensure that assigned tasks are swiftly translated into concrete actions and legal documents.

 

Vietnam’s North-South railway named one of world’s most incredible train journeys

Vietnam’s North-South railway, known as the Reunification Express, has been named among the world's 24 most incredible train journeys to book in 2025, according to Australian travel magazine Lonely Planet.

 

Luxury railway travel shows strong potential

Nearly a month after its launch, the luxury train service on the Ha Noi–Hai Phong route, named Hoa Phuong Do (Red Flamboyant), continues to attract strong interest. VIP tickets are consistently sold out well in advance, a promising sign that opens up new tourism opportunities for the railway industry and local destinations alike.

 

Ministries, localities urged to speed up land clearance for North-South high-speed railway project

The Deputy PM assigned the Ministry of Construction to work with each locality the railway passes through to review the project site, particularly the sections that run through core natural forest areas, cultural heritage sites, defence-security zones, or densly populated residential areas.

 

Private firms urged to fast-track documents for North-South railway construction

The Minister of Construction has requested VinSpeed High-Speed Rail Investment and Development JSC and Truong Hai Group Joint Stock Company (Thaco) to complete documents seeking approval of their proposals to invest in the North-South high-speed railway.

 

Viet Nam, France sign MoU to strengthen railway cooperation

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy had a working session in Ha Noi on May 27 with Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD) Rémy Rioux and representatives of the European Union Delegation in Viet Nam to discuss cooperation in transport and construction, within the framework of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Viet Nam.