On the afternoon of April 24, Hai Phong’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Vietnam Railways Corporation and the Hai Phong Tourism Association, hosted a conference to connect tourism businesses with the rail sector.

At the event, Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of Hai Phong’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the city’s status as a national-level first-class urban center located in the Northern Key Economic Zone. With its strategic seaport, rail, road, and air transport infrastructure, Hai Phong offers seamless connectivity with domestic and international destinations.

The city is also home to rich tourism potential, boasting special national historical sites, unique traditional festivals, folk art forms, and iconic destinations such as Cat Ba and Do Son.

In recent times, an increasing number of tourists have chosen to visit Hai Phong by train, particularly for food tours, finding the experience both novel and enjoyable.

“Railways are more than just a mode of transport. They are tied to the nation’s cultural and historical heritage. Railway tourism is gaining popularity in Vietnam, appealing to both international and domestic travelers,” said Mai.

She added that the recent memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Vietnam Railways Corporation reflects growing recognition of railway tourism as a viable and strategic product. “This creates a foundation for localities with potential to study, build, and develop railway tourism experiences,” she noted.

The Hanoi–Hai Phong railway line, which began construction in 1901, holds deep cultural and historical significance. Hai Phong Station is considered one of Vietnam’s most beautiful and historic train stations, retaining original French colonial architecture and century-old features such as its main building, iron roof supports, and 100-year-old tracks.

As of April 22, 2025, Hai Phong Station had welcomed nearly 326,000 passengers this year, averaging 3,500 travelers per day during holidays and weekends.

To meet increasing travel demand and align with Hai Phong’s tourism development goals, Vietnam Railways has renovated 20 train cars for the Hoa Phuong Do train, offering a range of seating options from standard to luxury class.

The exterior features Hai Phong’s symbolic red flamboyant color, along with identity markers such as the flamboyant petal logo, three ocean waves symbolizing historic naval victories on the Bach Dang River, and an image of the Tan Vu–Lach Huyen sea-crossing bridge. These visual cues make the train easily recognizable as a gateway to Hai Phong.

The interior design follows an Indochine style, blending modern lines with traditional East Asian tones to evoke elegance and cultural richness.

According to Director Mai, the Hoa Phuong Do train is scheduled to begin operation on May 10, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong’s liberation and coinciding with the annual Red Flamboyant Festival.

As part of the conference, the Vietnam Railways Transport Corporation and the Hai Phong Tourism Association signed cooperation agreements to jointly develop and promote Hai Phong’s railway tourism products.

Hoai Anh