123-year-old station in Vietnam's Hai Phong becomes tourist attraction
In a move that blends heritage preservation with modern tourism, authorities in Hai Phong City have officially designated the city's 123-year-old railway station as a tourist destination, making it the first stop for visitors exploring the northern port city by train.
Built in 1902, Hai Phong Station stands as one of Vietnam's oldest railway stations.
Designed in classical French style, the station is a cultural and architectural relic that has witnessed more than a century of the city's evolution.
It holds historical significance as well--most notably serving as the arrival point for late President Ho Chi Minh upon his return to Hanoi from the Fontainbleau Conference on October 21, 1946.
Speaking at the announcement ceremony on Saturday, Tran Thi Hoang Mai, director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that the city is home to 942 historical and cultural relics, including Lan Ha Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, five special national relics, and numerous national and municipal-level heritage sites.
The station now becomes the 12th tourist destination in Hai Phong, joining other iconic landmarks like Hai Phong Opera House and Hai Phong Post Office, demonstrating local authorities' effort in preserving the heritage while transforming it into a vibrant cultural and tourist hub.
With a railway network dating back nearly 145 years, Vietnam boasts a number of century-old railway sites.
The North-South Railway was named one of the world's nine most spectacular train journeys by travel guide Lonely Planet in 2023.
Vietnam Railways has recently introduced a variety of new travel experiences designed to boost tourism and enhance passenger comfort.
These include high-quality trains between Hanoi and Da Nang, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, and routes connecting heritage sites between Hue and Da Nang.
Other additions include the Da Lat night train and the luxury Sjourney line.
Notably, the Flamboyant Flower Train on the Hanoi-Hai Phong railway line debuted on Saturday, featuring 20 carriages, including two VIP cars with 34 Indochine-style seats.
It also offers 56 seats with 180-degree rotation and 64 economy seats with flexible pricing.
Its amenities include semi-automatic doors, LED displays, free Wi-Fi, spacious hand-washing areas, and clean restrooms.
The exterior features a dominant red color inspired by the flamboyant flower, an iconic symbol of Hai Phong City.
The launch of the new train reflected the city's and Vietnam Railways' joint commitment to modernization, cultural pride, and green tourism, offering both residents and visitors an upgraded and immersive travel experience.
Tieu Bac - Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre News
(2025/05/12-11:21)
Tuoi Tre
- 06/16 17:45 Vietnamese tourists flock to South Korea for medical beauty services
- 06/16 17:41 Vietnam abolishes district-level administration in landmark constitutional amendment
- 06/16 17:39 Third round of Vietnam-US trade talks sees significant progress: ministry
- 06/16 10:22 Off-season floods take heavy toll on crops in central Vietnam’s flood-prone district
- 06/16 10:12 Vietnam weighs awarding Third-Class Labor Medal to Japanese professor
- 06/16 10:07 Vietnam’s newly-licensed Sun PhuQuoc Airways to launch ticket sales in Q4
- 06/16 10:03 Vietnam condemns dangerous escalations in Middle East conflict
- 06/13 18:23 American tech firm AMD partners with Ho Chi Minh City to develop regional hi-tech hub
- 06/13 18:10 Vietnam's AI economy projected to reach up to $130bn by 2040
- 06/12 17:32 Vietnam considers scrapping death penalty for 8 crimes, including corruption, bribery
- 06/12 17:29 Vietnam urged to take stronger action in taxing sugary drinks
- 06/12 17:26 Hanoi prepares for massive National Day parade with 40,000 participants
- 06/11 18:06 S.Korea supports Ho Chi Minh City in establishing metro operations, maintenance training center
- 06/11 17:55 Vietnam's Phu Quoc sets sights on becoming global eco-tourism hub
- 06/11 17:44 Ho Chi Minh City to pilot 2-tiered local administration model from June 12
- 06/10 18:36 Premium Vietnamese rice expected to be potential solution to Japan's deepening rice crisis
- 06/10 18:24 Filipino food fest takes place for five days in Hanoi
- 06/10 18:14 Investment alliance eyes $100bn north-south high-speed rail project in Vietnam
- 06/09 17:49 Vietnam’s Phu Quoc on track to become green APEC hub