Exploring Hà Nội from a different perspective: A double-decker train tour for sightseers to appreciate the city's enchanting allure.
The Hanoi Double-Decker Train, also known as the Five Gates Train, made its grand debut on August 19, 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam's National Day celebrations. This innovative tourism product, a joint venture between Hanoi's Tourism Department and the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VRC), offers a unique blend of heritage-themed luxury travel, cultural performances, and panoramic sightseeing.
History and Purpose
Vietnam's first double-decker passenger train, the Hanoi Double-Decker Train, celebrates Hanoi's thousand-year history, particularly inspired by the ancient Thang Long Citadel and its five historic gates. Its purpose is to attract tourists by combining scenic travel with cultural and artistic entertainment onboard, contributing to the modernization of Vietnam’s railway sector and cultural tourism promotion.
Route and Schedule
The Hanoi Double-Decker Train operates between Hanoi city and the neighboring province of Bac Ninh, offering a unique travel experience during the national holidays and thereafter. The service is expected to start full operations from September 2025, although it was launched in August as part of holiday celebrations.
Train Composition and Theming
The train consists of 10 double-decker carriages: five are passenger carriages themed after the five ancient gates of Hanoi, and there are additional carriages dedicated for tourist check-in and exhibitions. Each passenger carriage seats 40 to 60 travelers and features luxurious interiors with wooden details, soft amber lighting, and traditional decorative motifs evoking old Hanoi's romance, along with panoramic windows including skylight roofs for expansive sightseeing.
Unique Features and Onboard Experiences
The Hanoi Double-Decker Train is described as a "moving museum," with each carriage’s design reflecting historical and cultural narratives tied to its gate's namesake. Onboard cultural experiences include live performances of traditional Vietnamese folk arts such as Xẩm, Chèo, Chầu văn, Quan họ, and Ca trù. A bar and a performance stage are integrated into the interior design to enhance entertainment during the journey.
Cultural and Tourist Significance
The journey is not just a train ride but also an engaging cultural event recreating Hanoi memories in a vivid and interactive way through music, exhibitions, and conversation spaces onboard. The train offers tourists a fresh perspective to admire Hanoi and Bac Ninh’s beauty and cultural depth while enjoying modern comfort and heritage aesthetics.
In summary, the Hanoi Double-Decker Train launched in 2025 offers a unique blend of heritage-themed luxury travel, cultural performances, and panoramic sightseeing on the route between Hanoi and Bac Ninh, representing a milestone for Vietnam’s railway tourism. The train will have three trips per day, departing from Hanoi Station and visiting various stations in Bac Ninh.
