On the evening of August 30th, Hanoi’s train station was bustling with people embarking on the long four-day holiday weekend. The festive atmosphere, typical of train stations during holiday periods, was even more special this year as the station was adorned with the vibrant red of the national flag.
Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, the General Director of the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), shared that the decision to don the colors of the flag, red with a golden star, was to showcase the employees’ patriotism, pride in their work, and belief in the railway industry. He expressed their desire to offer passengers a unique experience and foster connections between different regions of the country.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, a Hanoi resident, shared that she and a group of friends chose to travel by train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for the National Day holiday. They wanted to experience traveling on the Reunification Express, which runs from North to South Vietnam, during this special occasion. She was surprised by the impressive atmosphere, with the national flag’s red and gold colors prominently displayed throughout the stations, leaving a strong impression.
This National Day holiday, VNR sold 130,000 tickets, a 10% increase compared to the previous year. The majority of these tickets were for journeys from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces, with the outbound trips occurring on August 30th and 31st and the return trips on September 3rd. To meet the high demand, VNR operated additional trains on top of their regular schedule.
Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh attributed the increase in ticket sales to the convenience of multiple purchasing options, including online through their website, e-wallets, mobile apps, and in-person at train stations. Additionally, during this peak period, VNR maintained their policy of offering return trip discounts ranging from 5% to 7% and providing reduced fares for social policy beneficiaries, such as Vietnam’s heroic mothers, disabled veterans, senior citizens, and students.
According to the Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company, the extended four-day holiday for National Day significantly increased the number of passengers opting for train travel. They added several special trains to their regular schedule, and trains departing at prime hours on peak days were almost fully booked, with only a few remaining tickets for the third-floor berths in six-berth compartments. Trains departing Hanoi on the morning of August 31st, especially supplementary trains to Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, and Lao Cai, were also sold out.
Ms. Le Thuy Van, a Hanoi resident, shared that her family had initially planned to fly to Hue for the holiday but decided to opt for train travel after considering the high airfare for a family of four, which amounted to nearly 20 million VND. She stated that choosing the train not only reduced their expenses by half but also allowed them to experience traveling from North to South Vietnam and enjoy the scenic views during the National Day celebrations. Fortunately, they had booked their tickets ten days in advance, securing seats for the whole family.
To accommodate the surge in passenger demand during the holiday period, the railway sector in Ho Chi Minh City increased the number of trains on the routes to Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, and Da Nang. They also offered a 5% discount on return tickets for individuals and a 7% discount for groups of 20 or more. Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Saigon Railway Transport Branch, shared that VNR had added trains from Saigon to Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Da Nang and provided special discounts for travel agencies to boost tourism.
Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Tourism Media Company, added that the number of passengers choosing train travel had increased by nearly 30% compared to the previous year. He attributed this to the high airfare and the opportunity train travel provides to enjoy the scenery. Tours from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and Da Nang are currently the most popular among customers.
Following the holiday period, the Saigon Railway Transport Joint Stock Company launched a post-summer 2024 ticket discount program with attractive promotions. From September 4th to December 31st, 2024, passengers purchasing individual tickets for long-distance journeys on specific trains, such as the Reunification Express, will receive discounts based on the advance booking period. For example, booking 10-19 days in advance will result in a 5% discount, 20-39 days in a 10% discount, and 40 days or more in a 15% discount. However, these discounts do not apply to certain types of berths.
Additionally, a 10% discount is offered on return tickets, and a 5% discount is provided for union members purchasing individual tickets. For union groups of 20-39 people, there is a 7% discount, and for groups of 40 or more, a 10% discount is applied.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation, to support new university students enrolling in the 2024 academic year, the railway sector is offering a 10% discount on train tickets for new students and their accompanying family members. To avail of this discount, students must present valid identification and their university acceptance letter when purchasing tickets at train stations or authorized sales agents. This program will be valid until October 31st, 2024.
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