Journey of Wonders: Exploring the Heritage Route on the Hue - Phong Nha Train
WVR - The "Journey of Wonders – World Heritage" tourist train connecting the ancient capital of Hue with Phong Nha (Quang Tri) officially began ticket sales on August 17, offering an additional experience option for tourists exploring the famous heritage and scenic spots of Central Vietnam.
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Major discounts in the first week of operation
According to Vietnam Railways, from August 29 to September 5, to celebrate the launch of the Hue - Phong Nha tourist train, passengers will receive a 50% discount on tickets for all classes. After the discount, ticket prices for the journey from Hue Station to Tho Loc Station range from 210,000 to 380,000 VND per person.
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| Interior design of the tourist train connecting Hue - Phong Nha. (Source: Van Hoa) |
From September 6 until the end of 2026, ticket prices will continue to be reduced by 15%. Notably, passengers purchasing round-trip tickets will receive an additional 10% discount on the return journey. Vietnam Railways is also implementing special offers for group travelers, travel agencies, and certain policy beneficiaries.
The train, named “Journey of Wonders – World Heritage”, is operated by the HQ1/HQ2 train pair, covering a journey of approximately 190 km, with a travel time of over 4 hours.
Train HQ2 departs from Hue Station at 7:15 AM and arrives at Tho Loc Station at 11:55 AM. Conversely, train HQ1 departs from Tho Loc Station at 1:15 PM and returns to Hue Station at 5:25 PM daily.
Along the journey, the train stops to pick up and drop off passengers at Hue, Dong Ha, My Trach, Dong Hoi, and Tho Loc stations. This route also directly connects many destinations rich in historical, cultural, and natural value in Central Vietnam, from the Complex of Hue Monuments, Quang Tri Citadel to the Vinh Moc Tunnels and the gateway area of Phong Nha - Ke Bang cave system.
The organization of the train route to connect destinations rather than merely serving transportation needs is expected to contribute to the creation of a new experiential tourism product, allowing tourists more time to enjoy the scenery along the railway.
A heritage-inspired experience space
A notable feature of HQ1/HQ2 is its design, which is built with a distinct identity, highlighting the unique cultural, tourism, and heritage values of Hue and Quang Tri. The train consists of 8 carriages, serving over 300 passengers.
Among them, 5 swivel seat carriages are designed for passengers to conveniently observe the scenery on both sides. The train also includes a VIP carriage with 24 seats, a community carriage for social interaction, and an entertainment service carriage – a model introduced for the first time on Vietnam Railways.
This spatial organization demonstrates the intention to make the railway journey part of the travel experience, rather than merely a means of transporting tourists from one point to another.
The landscapes, local culture, and heritage sites along the route are expected to collectively create a journey with connectivity and identity.
The Hue - Phong Nha route also expands the tourism linkage space among Central provinces, enabling tourists to combine multiple destinations in a single trip.
Notably, connecting the ancient capital of Hue with the Phong Nha area provides more travel options for both international and domestic tourists, while also creating opportunities for travel agencies to develop new tours based on the railway.
Previously, since 2024, Vietnam Railways has operated the “Central Heritage Connection Journey” train on the Hue - Da Nang route and vice versa. This product initially created a positive effect in connecting destinations, promoting the image of Central Vietnam tourism, and offering new experiences for passengers.
The continued development of the Hue - Phong Nha route is expected to extend the railway tourism model associated with heritage, while also contributing to the formation of an inter-regional tourism product network, effectively exploiting the unique cultural, historical, and natural values of Central Vietnam.
