On the afternoon of November 22nd, Vietnam Railways' "Connecting Central Heritage" journey was honored as the leading category for impressive experiential activities and services in the "Top 9 Impressive Hue Tourism Products 2024" selection program. After 8 months of operation, the "Connecting Central Heritage" train has welcomed nearly 170,000 domestic and international passengers, offering them a truly unique experience along the most beautiful railway route in Vietnam.
A unique and unforgettable experience.
With a length of over 100km, featuring many winding sections like a silk ribbon along the mountain pass, with majestic mountains on one side and the vast ocean on the other, the Thua Thien Hue- Da Nang railway line evokes many emotions.
For many travelers, the journey on the train is filled with joy and happiness as they travel, admire, and explore the beauty of nature, allowing them to relax, "heal," and recharge after months of busy and stressful life.
The enchanting scenery, nestled amidst the clouds, blue sea, forests, and rocky mountains of Hai Van Pass, known as the "most magnificent pass in the world," captivates visitors. In the distance, the verdant waves stretch as far as the eye can see, and clusters of white butterfly flowers bloom profusely along the roadside, stirring the hearts of those who behold them.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural scenery, witnessing the sunrise and sunset over Lang Co Bay – one of the most beautiful bays – and experience a feeling of relaxation, tranquility, and peace.
Clean, spacious, and well-equipped trains with ample luggage space and seating, attentive and dedicated staff, and many new services to meet the diverse needs of passengers, offering a fun and unique experience – these are the impressions of Professor, Doctor, and People's Teacher Nguyen Ngoc Long, Rector of the University of Transport and Communications, and many tourists on the heritage-connecting train.
For the first time traveling by train, Ms. Nguyen Thao's children, passengers on train HD4, were very excited and engrossed in admiring the beautiful scenery. Through the train window, Ms. Thao pointed out to her two children, Anh Tuan and Anh Tu, the distant Lap An lagoon, the fishing village, the tranquil Lang Co beach with its long stretch of white sand, and Tien Sa port…
During a road trip, Ms. Hai Yen from Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung (Hanoi) took the train to Hue with her child for a unique experience, while her husband picked them up at Hue train station alone. Ms. Le Thi Loi from Cau Hai, Phu Loc (Hue) chose to rent a private car to go to Da Nang to admire the beautiful scenery from the top of Hai Van Pass, and on the return trip, she chose to take the train to fully experience both places in one.
Admiring and enjoying the picturesque scenery bestowed by nature, passengers enthusiastically filmed and photographed, not missing a single wonderful moment.
Every time I pack my bags and hit the road, it's a new experience, making me love my country even more. Nguyen Minh Quang, a student from Giai Phong, Dong Da (Hanoi), shared that this train trip gave him new inspiration and he'll have a beautiful photo collection to share on Facebook. Foreign tourists marveled at the breathtaking scenery whizzing past along the romantic route.
During the journey, the train stops at Lang Co station for 10 minutes, giving passengers more time to admire the beauty or take photos and check in at a station with a strong imprint of old French architecture.
Upon hearing about the heritage-connecting train, John Phan, a Vietnamese-American originally from Hue, found it very interesting that he flew to Da Nang and then took the train back to his hometown. "I haven't traveled by train in decades, it's so different from the subsidy era, and now so many cherished memories are flooding back," he shared.
Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Kiem from Tan Binh District (Ho Chi Minh City) confided that every time she hears a song about Hue, her heart overflows with an overwhelming longing for her homeland. “The train is beautiful, there’s no longer that ‘train smell,’ the restrooms are clean, the air conditioning is cool, the doors to the carriages are automatic, the loudspeakers announce the route, making it comfortable to relax and enjoy the scenery for nearly three hours. I also get to enjoy special cultural performances and delicious food with the flavors of my hometown. I am very satisfied,” she happily said.
The sounds of music and singing emanating from the community carriage invite travelers to discover and enjoy the most special experience on the Heritage Connection train journey.
Stepping into the community carriage, passengers feel as if they have entered an ancient royal palace, with its layout and patterns reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the former imperial capital, and distinctive features mimicking the Dragon Bridge, bathed in the golden hues of Da Nang—a livable city boasting some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.
Artists dressed in traditional costumes performed with passion, showcasing Hue folk music, the melodious flute tune of "Longing for the Ancient Capital," the poignant "Da Nang, Oh, the People's Love," evoking images of homeland and stirring the hearts of those far from home, and the deep saxophone melody of "A Realm to Return To" by the talented musician Trinh from Hue.
Enthusiastic passengers and artists joined in, immersing themselves in cheerful, lively melodies, and singing along to the song "My Train Passes Through the Mountains" as the train slowly made its way through the Hai Van Pass. The music, the scenery, and the emotions of the people intertwined to create an indescribable feeling of exhilaration.
"Besides enjoying the serene and vibrant cultural performances, and connecting and interacting with others, we also got to savor delicious and flavorful Hue cuisine," shared Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan from the University of Banking Ho Chi Minh City and a group of visitors from the South.
On train HD3, Ms. Hoa Phuong from the Vietnam Women's Publishing House felt that many activities truly brought moments of relaxation and happiness to passengers. She expressed her wish that the railway industry would both modernize and retain its lovely and precious charm, and did not forget to donate the book "There's a Yellow Apricot Tree in Front of the House" to the library on the train.
The community carriage has become an impressive "mobile" check-in point. Train conductor Nguyen Ngoc Son enthusiastically shared that many groups of tourists from various provinces and cities come to experience it, and foreign visitors are surprised and impressed by this special train, sometimes immersed in sweet, lyrical melodies, sometimes excitedly singing, dancing, and having a blast, exploring the culinary delights of Hue, and shopping for unique souvenirs. During the summer, the average occupancy rate is 90%, reaching 100% on weekends.
With convenient schedules, travel times, facilities, and service staff, some travel companies are also interested in designing and incorporating train journeys into tours for international tourists visiting Vietnam during the autumn and winter seasons.
Journey of Connection
Experiencing a wonderful journey filled with emotions, good service, enthusiastic, welcoming, and friendly staff, the railway industry has undergone many changes, and the number of passengers is increasing… positive feedback and reviews are a source of encouragement for train crews to strive for excellence.
Employee Le Thi Bich shared her thoughts, saying that because the train connects cultural heritage sites and attracts many tourists, they must strive to improve their skills, keep the carriages clean, provide attentive and considerate service, and communicate politely so that customers will return to experience it again and spread the word to their friends and family to continue exploring the train.
Train conductor Le Minh Duc of train HD3 said that Luong Xuan Thuong, Director of the Dong Hoi Railway Transport Branch, always checks, reminds, and listens attentively to the thoughts and aspirations of the train crew in order to continuously improve the quality of service, so that each train attendant becomes an "ambassador" connecting and contributing to spreading cultural values.
The launch of the "Connecting Central Heritage" train on the 49th anniversary of the liberation of Thua Thien Hue on March 26, 2024, demonstrates the spirit of continuous innovation, creative thinking, and daring action, affirming the role and position of the railway industry in the new era.
Recalling the "difficult beginnings," Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Railways Corporation, Dang Sy Manh, said that the proposal from Hue City coincided perfectly with the Corporation's idea of exploiting the beautiful route not only to promote tourism and connect regional heritage but also to serve passengers with convenient and safe travel. Therefore, the two sides joined hands with high determination in the spirit of sharing benefits and supporting each other.
The innovative mindset goes beyond simply transporting passengers between two points of origin and destination; it also offers a story of cultural discovery and unforgettable experiences for tourists throughout their journey. This has strengthened confidence and overcome preconceived notions and anxieties about the investment's failure, especially since traditional commuter train services had to be shut down previously.
Leaders and staff of the Vietnam Railways Corporation, along with the artists, worked day and night to meet the deadline, simultaneously constructing the public carriages and adjusting everything from color schemes and materials to lighting, transforming the concept into reality. Then came a mountain of work: investing in and upgrading equipment, locomotives, carriages, signaling systems, renovating stations, arranging VIP waiting rooms, and cleaning the railway line to ensure it was green, clean, and beautiful… all completed urgently in just over a month of implementation.
Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang City are also actively involved, coordinating smoothly to create favorable conditions for train passengers to disembark at stations, connecting them conveniently with dining and entertainment options, offering discounts on hotels and restaurants, and providing opportunities to visit historical sites and tourist attractions.
The "Connecting Central Heritage" train not only connects historically rich destinations but also connects staff, performers, and tourists, as well as tourists themselves.
The Heritage Connecting Train is a visually striking model product, paving the way for the launch of more railway transport business products that combine tourism, history, and culture services, effectively meeting market demands in the future.
Success is just the beginning; it requires constant innovation, striving for improvement, and creating a positive impression on both domestic and international tourists. Preventing passengers from getting bored and taking the train simply out of curiosity or for a one-time experience is a significant challenge.
Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen promotion, connect with tourism companies to attract customers, continue to improve carriages and equipment, enhance staff communication skills and foreign language proficiency, keep trains clean, beautiful, and civilized, expand and deepen service quality, and cater specifically to high-end customers, so that each train journey provides passengers with a more enjoyable experience, contributing to the dissemination of Vietnamese culture and image.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/an-tuong-tau-ket-noi-di-san-5029505.html
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