Tourism needs new storytelling

Hanoi has just officially launched a tourist train named “5 gates”, an event that impressed people by the way the capital cleverly incorporates culture, memories and identity into public infrastructure. Looking from Hanoi, many people cannot help but wonder, is this the time when other localities like Thai Nguyen also need a new and deeper way of telling stories to “attract” tourists?

Classic and artistic space on the double-decker train connecting with Hanoi's cultural heritage. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

With the 5-gate train, Hanoi has done something that not every city has thought of, instead of just focusing on technology and utilities, they breathed culture into every detail on the train. The name of the train is also taken from the five gates of the ancient Thang Long Citadel, including: O Quan Chuong, O Cau Den, O Dong Mac, O Cau Giay and O Cho Dua.

This is not nostalgia, but a modern mindset, using transport infrastructure as a means of cultural communication. That is how Hanoi makes its people more proud, and tourists are eager to explore .

From the story of Hanoi's train, Thai Nguyen can find many suggestions. As the gateway to the capital, with convenient transportation, Thai Nguyen has a lot of potential for tourism development: rich natural scenery, green tea hills, poetic Nui Coc Lake, Ba Be Lake, famous Tan Cuong tea specialties, and a system of historical relics such as ATK Dinh Hoa, ATK Cho Don - places that bear the mark of heroic years of resistance.

However, the problem is not “what” but “how to tell”. In fact, Thai Nguyen tourism is still mainly individual tours, lacking depth and emotional connection. Visitors can come here to drink a cup of tea, visit a museum or a relic, but the journey lacks spiritual guidance, compelling stories or a profound experience.

What we need now is to know how to breathe life into existing values. At the end of 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with Vietnam Railways Corporation to organize a trial operation of the train connecting Hanoi - Thai Nguyen tourism, a step to evaluate and perfect the idea of exploiting tourism associated with promoting tea culture, while opening up a new direction for local tourism development.

However, people are still waiting and expecting this railway tourist route to be officially put into operation soon, contributing to promoting the local economy and elevating the brand of Thai Nguyen tea cultural tourism.

Looking at the way Hanoi made its mark with the “5-gate” train, the problem for us is to know how to tell our story in a subtle, inspiring and influential way. Thai Nguyen is facing a great opportunity to transform itself from a destination with potential to a destination with identity.

Lessons from the 'Hanoi 5-gate train' show that, with investment and creativity, even seemingly simple public services can become unique cultural experiences that retain tourists.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/du-lich-thai-nguyen/202508/du-lich-can-cach-ke-chuyen-moi-09222bd/