Railways "join forces" with tourism.

DNO - The North-South railway line passes through central provinces and cities such as:

Quang Binh, Hue, Da Nang , Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa , ... offer great potential for diversifying tourism products.

The Reunification Express train, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, brought tourists to Da Nang station at noon on April 30th. Photo: Xuan Son

Positive results

Hopes for developing tourist railway lines along Central Vietnam have yielded initial positive results from local authorities. No longer just simple journeys, these trains now carry an added mission of promoting tourism.

In July 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation was signed between the Vietnam National Tourism Administration and the Vietnam Railways Corporation, marking not only the commitment to cooperation between the two sectors but also opening up many new opportunities to promote sustainable tourism development.

In Da Nang, in March 2024, the Hue-Da Nang tourist train, with its "Connecting Central Vietnam Heritage" route, was launched, taking tourists through the majestic Hai Van Pass - one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world.

According to Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, the "Connecting Central Vietnam Heritage" train journey is a practical and attractive product that contributes to diversifying tourism products. It is also a safe, comfortable, and tourist-friendly transportation option, helping to reduce pressure on road traffic and attract international tourists on the heritage tourism route of the three localities of Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam.

Tourists experience the "Connecting Central Vietnam Heritage" journey on the Hue - Da Nang cruise ship. Photo: Xuan Son.

In Quang Nam province, in January 2025, tourists from the luxury SJourney cruise train will disembark at Tra Kieu station (Duy Xuyen district) for the first time to visit and experience some unique and famous eco-tourism products such as: Hoi An ancient town, Cam Phu - Go Noi village (Dien Ban town), Thanh Ha pottery village, Cam Thanh coconut forest village...

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, based on the cooperation agreement between the People's Committee of Quang Nam province and the Quang Nam Railway Corporation for the period 2024-2030, the relevant parties have issued a joint plan on cooperation in promoting and developing tourism in Quang Nam and the railway sector for the period 2024-2026. This plan aims to diversify tourism products, develop railway-based tourism products; contribute to increasing the number of tourists arriving in Quang Nam by rail through Tra Kieu and Tam Ky stations; expand the connecting route of the "Central Vietnam Heritage Train" between tourist destinations; and connect and promote tourism development linkages between the railway and tourism service businesses in the province.

The first group of passengers from the luxury SJourney tourist train arrived at Tra Kieu station (Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province) in January 2025. Photo: Xuan Son

Meanwhile, the launch of two luxury tourist trains on the Da Nang - Quy Nhon and Nha Trang - Quy Nhon routes, equipped with international-standard amenities such as 5-star hotels, by Binh Dinh province's tourism industry has also contributed to attracting tourists to the area. According to a report from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinh province, the average number of tourists arriving by train at Dieu Tri and Quy Nhon stations each day is nearly 600.

Increase investment in new tourism products associated with railways.

According to the National Tourism Administration's assessment, despite initial potential and positive results, railway tourism in Vietnam, including the Central region, still faces many limitations: railway infrastructure is not yet modern, train speeds are slow and do not meet the needs of tourists for fast travel; onboard services are not attractive; there is a need to upgrade the quality of carriages, catering services, and entertainment; connections between train stations and tourist destinations are poor, and there is no efficient transfer system.

Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, Ha Van Sieu, suggested that Vietnam's railway tourism could learn from the experiences of many countries. For example, there are long-established railway lines serving tourism maintained in many European countries, the "floating" train running through the Pa Sak Jolasid dam during the rainy season in Thailand, the Panoramic Train in Indonesia with its large windows, swivel seats, automatic curtains, and many high-end amenities, allowing tourists to fully enjoy the journey from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, or the China-Laos train line contributing to the promotion of tourism in Laos.

International tourists arrive at Da Nang train station. Photo: Xuan Son

In the context of the upcoming merger of Quang Nam and Da Nang, the potential for developing railway tourism in the (new) city of Da Nang after the merger is enormous. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, in the future, Quang Nam will have a railway station system connected to railway lines passing through the area according to the national railway plan, the existing North-South railway line, the North-South high-speed railway line, and the Da Nang - Central Highlands railway line. There will also be research into investing in two urban railway lines connecting to the urban railway network of Da Nang city, including a line connecting from Chu Lai International Airport and a line connecting from Hoi An city.

In light of these opportunities, Mr. Hong proposed intensifying efforts to attract investment in product development, incorporating more distinctive, green, and sustainable products from each locality, such as culture and arts, cuisine, and OCOP products, into the railway ecosystem to enhance the experience; developing specialized products for entire carriages or trains according to demand; expanding and connecting localities to build and form unique railway tourism products and product chains to attract tourists; and encouraging travel companies to develop new tourism products associated with railways.

"Railway tourism has great potential for development in our country with a railway network stretching from North to South, running through diverse terrains from plains to mountains and coastal areas; rail tourism is considered a safe and efficient means of transportation, offering many unique experiences for tourists."

(Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration)

XUAN SON

Source: https://baodanang.vn/du-lich-da-nang/202505/duong-sat-bat-tay-voi-du-lich-4006764/