On the evening of August 30, Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railway Corporation, said that the National Day holiday on September 2 this year lasted 4 days, so the number of passengers traveling by rail increased significantly.

“Reports from member companies show that 130,000 tickets were sold nationwide, an increase of over 10% compared to last year,” Mr. Khanh informed.

The Corporation has directed its member companies to prepare to serve train passengers attentively. In particular, the unit has also arranged security forces at level crossings to ensure safety.

“At stations with high passenger density, member units also arrange forces to increase inspections before, during and after the holidays to ensure passenger safety,” said Mr. Khanh.

According to a representative of Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company, in addition to the regular train pairs, there are dozens of additional special trains. The trips departing at “good” times on peak days such as August 30, 31 and September 2, 3 are almost sold out, with only a few tickets for the 3rd floor sleeper train with a 6-person compartment remaining.

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Passengers rush to board the train at Hanoi station on the evening of August 30. Photo: N. Huyen

Today alone, the peak day, the railway industry organized 10 trips on the North-South route, including 5 Thong Nhat Hanoi-Saigon passenger trains, 1 trip from Hanoi to Da Nang, 2 trips from Hanoi to Dong Hoi and 2 trips from Hanoi to Vinh.

“The trips mainly run at night, while there are only three Thong Nhat trains during the day. Short-distance trips such as Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh and long-distance trips such as Dong Hoi, Dong Ha, Hue, Da Nang are all sold out,” said a representative of the Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company.

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Today is the peak day, the railway industry organizes 10 trains on the North - South route.

Similarly, the Hanoi - Hai Phong train route is also fully booked even though the management unit has added two additional trips to the four regular trips.

A representative of Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company said that all trains departing tomorrow morning (August 31) to the South, especially the additional trains such as Hanoi - Thanh Hoa, Hanoi - Hai Phong and Hanoi - Lao Cai, are sold out. There are only a few tickets left for late night trips.

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On the occasion of September 2nd this year, all staff on the ships wore red flag shirts with yellow stars. Photo: N. Huyen

Waiting to board the train to Hue at 7:20 a.m. on August 30, Ms. Nguyen Hai Ha (Hoang Mai, Hanoi) shared that this year, instead of choosing a nearby place to stay, her whole room decided to book train tickets to Hue.

“About half a month ago, we agreed on a vacation plan. We hurriedly booked tickets but there were only the last ones left on the 3rd floor, 6-bed cabin. Luckily, we had booked enough tickets for the whole room,” Ms. Ha shared.

Although the train ride takes longer than the plane ride, Ms. Ha said the whole group was eager to experience this means of transport after many years of not using it.