Driving force for railway tourism development

Railway is the means of transport chosen by many tourists when coming to Hai Phong .

Hai Phong is a city with great potential for developing railway tourism . The Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line, which began construction in 1901, is not only an important transportation route but also carries many cultural values ​​and profound significance for the Port City. Railways are not only a means of transportation but also a place associated with many cultural and historical heritages of the country.

Untapped potential

According to Vietnam Railways Corporation , the Hanoi - Hai Phong railway route has recorded very positive signals of recovery and growth in the number of train passengers. Specifically, in 2023, the number of train passengers reached 1.46 million, and in 2024, the number of train passengers continued to increase to 1.53 million. As of April 22, 2025, Hai Phong Station welcomed more than 325,000 passengers. The number of passengers traveling on holidays and weekends is very high, averaging over 3,500 passengers/day, and on holidays it can welcome up to 8,000 passengers/day/route.

Assessing the potential of this railway, Mr. Luu Hoang Diep - Director of S9 Hai Phong Travel Company Limited expressed: "Tourists coming to the Port City will be able to eat, listen, and experience. In addition, the city can build restaurants that meet all the criteria for cuisine, music culture, etc. so that tourists do not have to travel much but can still feel all the beauty of the city. Traveling by train will be a part of the tour, not just a means of transportation."

Sharing the same view, Mr. Truong Quoc Hung - Chairman of the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club commented: "We see in this route a great opportunity to build and form vertical tourism routes connecting 3 potential cultural - economic - tourism centers: Hanoi - Hai Duong - Hai Phong.

Not only a means of transportation, the Hanoi - Hai Phong railway also plays an important role as an important connecting axis. This route facilitates the connection of inter-provincial tourism products, forming diverse and flexible tours and routes suitable for student tourism, weekend tourism or international visitors, tours to experience local culture, connecting destinations, connecting experiences from cultural heritage to nature and peaceful countryside. In the trend of green tourism and sustainable development, the railway is also an effective introduction to help reduce emissions and pressure from roads. At the same time, it increases the experience of slow, deep and quality tourism.

Need a strong "handshake"

In the current context, the aviation sector is showing signs of overload, while the maritime sector has not yet developed strongly enough to welcome domestic and foreign tourists. This is considered a golden opportunity for the railway sector to take advantage of the opportunity to accelerate and become an important means of transport in the tourism industry's value chain.

Mr. Truong Quoc Hung said: “To promote the potential of this railway line, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between the railway industry and travel businesses and localities in designing combined tourism products. Improve on-train services from explanations, meals to cultural experience areas in tourist compartments. At the same time, we must pay attention to the on-train experience because trains cannot compete with cars, but if we do a good job of the experience, we can compete with a group of tourists. Developing tourism associated with railways is not only an economic solution but also a strategy to enrich tourist experiences and connect cultural and regional values. The journey from Hanoi - Hai Duong - Hai Phong is a clear demonstration of that potential.”

In fact, Vietnam's tourism industry is gradually recovering and developing strongly. After the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the connection and cooperation between sectors, especially between the railway industry and the tourism industry, is an urgent and strategic factor.

Mr. Nguyen Chinh Nam - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation said: “We are well aware of the advantages of railway transport such as safety, environmental friendliness, stability, reasonable prices, suitability for many customer segments and are gradually promoting those strengths. At the same time, we also turn limitations and shortcomings into competitive advantages and unique characteristics, in order to provide sustainable and effective development solutions. However, to effectively exploit this potential, we really need the companionship, comments and close cooperation from tourism businesses, travel organizations, state management agencies and the whole society”, Mr. Nam added.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/luc-day-phat-trien-du-lich-nganh-duong-sat-2025050909541199.htm