HANOI: Tourists will have a special way to discover the capital city and neighbouring province of Bac Ninh during the holidays onboard the country's first ever double-decker train.
The train tour by the Hanoi Tourism Department and the VietnamRailway Corporation, is a new and interesting tourism product in addition to many exciting music and art performances and exhibitions organised to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (Aug 19, 1945) and National Day (Sept 2, 1945 - 2025).
The Hanoi Train consists of 10 carriages, of which five for passengers are built according to the theme of the five ancient gates associated with the history of the city, Quan Chuong, Cau Den, Dong Mac, Cau Giay, and Cho Dua.
The interior is luxuriously designed, integrating a bar, a stage for performing folk arts such as xam (blind busker's singing), cheo (traditional opera), and chau van (ceremonial singing) and a space for sightseeing through the skylight roof.
"The Hanoi Train or Hanoi Five-gate Train is boldly and creatively designed to serve tourists," Tao Duc Hiep, chairman of the Board of Directors of BHL Tourism Investment Company - investor of the project, said.
"Of the 10 carriages, seven will be completed first and brought into operation. Five are named after the city's ancient gates while the rest are for checking-in.
"In the second phase, we will continue to put to use the remaining three carriages which will be decorated in the style of old restaurants and cafes of Hanoi."
Each carriage of the train is named after city's five ancient gates.
Mai Van Ngoc, director of the Gia Lam Railway Joint Stock Company's carriage workshop, added: "For this double-decker train, we have been working on the design for two years and spent about six months building it.
"We have carefully crafted every detail to ensure its aesthetic appearance. We also have to make up the interior so that passengers can both enjoy the scenery outside and check-in with the interior which evokes old images and turns memories into a living part of the modern space.
"Tables and chairs and other stuff are under classic design but bring comfortable feeling for passengers. As of today, the train is 97 per cent complete."
The train will officially operate from Aug 19, with three trips per day, departing from Hanoi Station via Long Birn, Gia Lam, Yen Vien and Tu Son (Bac Ninh) stations, then returning. The departure times are 8am, 2pm and 8.30pm, giving passengers a variety of options between daytime or nighttime travel with great sightseeing on offer.
In addition to the cultural images on the body and interior of the carriages, many activities will be organised throughout the journey to entertain tourists. Music performance, mini exhibitions and conversation spaces, all aim to recreate Hanoi memories in a special and vivid way.
Previously, Hanoi also impressed travellers with the “Tram Line No 6 – Hanoi Street Museum” in Truc Bach Lake area.
The project was creatively designed with eight train carriages with the theme of Heritage Echoes. Each carriage recreated a different aspect of culture, history and cuisine, allowing visitors to experience and interact. - Vietnam News/ANN
