Vietnam’s history of railway was intimately linked to the French colonial past. The Hanoi - Saigon trans-Vietnam route, completed in 1936 and initially bearing the name of Trans Indochina, enabled the connection with the Chinese border at the time. Severely damaged during the Indochina war and separated into two sections in 1954, the historic railway rose from its ashes after the fall of the Saigon regime in 1975. An important element in the country’s transport system, the Hanoi - HCMC route quickly rose to become a symbol of reunification and Vietnam’s growth.
View of tàu Thống Nhất (the Reunification Train, the trans-Vietnam train) from the platform – PHOTOS: ADRIEN JEAN
The following photos capture some key moments of a journey through time and history, interspersed with some beautiful encounters and landscapes telling the story and the diversity of Vietnam.
What a wonderful view!
Conversations on the train platform at a station in central Vietnam
An inspector is folding bed sheets after passengers left the cabin
Coffee is available to passengers
A little girl is having a snack in the train corridor
The Hanoi central train station at night
The train passes through a residential area in Hanoi
On Tuesday, the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City organized an event to showcase sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, and its perfect pairing with Vietnamese cuisine.
The director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Do Dinh Hong, announced on Wednesday that the department is currently working on a dossier to propose the recognition of pho-cooking in the Vietnamese capital city as a national intangible cultural heritage.
On Tuesday, the Zhao Shang Yi Dun cruise ship arrived in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, with 721 Chinese passengers on board. These eager tourists were excited to explore the breathtaking Ha Long Bay, a renowned destination known for its natural beauty. Additionally, they were thrilled to visit various other popular tourist sites in the area. Their arrival marked the start of an unforgettable journey filled with exploration and discovery.
Son Doong Cave and Hang Va (Va Cave) in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, have been showcased in the renowned nature documentary series Planet Earth, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Son Doong Cave, recognized as the largest cave in the world, and Hang Va are both stunning natural wonders that captivate audiences with their breathtaking beauty and unique features. The inclusion of these Vietnamese treasures in such a prestigious documentary series is a testament to their significance and allure.
According to the website the Observer, Da Nang has become one of Vietnam's most rapidly expanding tourist destinations. The city has seen a larger number of international visitors this year, surpassing even the levels before the pandemic. The Observer is renowned for providing travel reviews on the top destinations around the world.
