With the introduction of the “Red Flamboyant” train, Hai Phong aims to go beyond passenger transport and offer an immersive travel experience. This symbolic product, tied to the image of the port city, serves as an efficient means of connecting prominent tourist destinations both within and outside the city.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the train’s design will blend modern aesthetics with traditional East Asian colours. It will feature green tones representing flamboyant tree leaves, the red of flamboyant blossoms, and blue shades symbolising the sea. Parallel design lines will evoke waves and reflect the identity of the port city.
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The design for the furniture of the VIP train cars on Hanoi – Hai Phong route |
Out of the 20 new carriages, two will be VIP cars featuring 36 seats, including 16 single sofas and 5 long sofas arranged across three separate spaces. These VIP cars will offer a luxurious interior, live music performances, and an onboard bar.
The remaining 18 cars will each include 56 swivel seats, plastic carpet flooring, decorative floral fabric ceilings, dual LED aisle lighting, LCD screens, and LED advertising frames.
The new train is expected to become a highlight of railway tourism, enriching the travel experience for visitors.
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Hai Phong Railway Station was constructed over 120 years ago. |
Director of Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Tran Thi Hoang Mai, the “Red Flamboyant” train will be more than just transportation as it will be a space where passengers can enjoy the unique cuisine of both Hanoi and Hai Phong. It also provides easy access to food tours upon arrival in Hai Phong.
Once operational, the railway tourism programme will involve many local restaurants. Passengers holding train tickets will receive discounts on dining, shopping, and accommodation services. These initiatives will revitalise Hai Phong’s food tours and enhance the overall visitor experience.
The city will also organise customer conferences combined with tourism promotion programmes related to many areas such as island and beach tourism, sports and golf tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and cultural-culinary city tours.
These efforts not only diversify options for visitors but also promote Hai Phong’s image in a more dynamic and engaging way.
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Visitors can use Nhan Dan Newspaper's digital technology to learn about the history of Hai Phong Station. |
Special culinary festivals will be held at the station, allowing guests to sample iconic dishes from the port city and even participate in cooking alongside local chefs.
Signature foods such as banh da cua (crab noodle soup), nem cua be (crab spring rolls), bean sprout salad with seafood, and various fresh seafood will be presented with innovative flair, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of Hai Phong’s culinary heritage.
The space of Hai Phong Station will be transformed into a “living museum”, where visitors can interact and take photos with historical railway models, vintage locomotives, and even try on traditional uniforms of railway staff from earlier times.
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Many young people choose train as a means of travelling to Hai Phong. |
Mai emphasised that Hai Phong is increasingly asserting its position as a new tourism hub in northern Vietnam, thanks to its strategic location, well-connected transport infrastructure, and rich natural and cultural potential.
The 2025 Red Flamboyant Festival will be an opportunity for Hai Phong to debut a range of new tourism products, with the railway tourism initiative playing a central role.
This occasion will also help promote Hai Phong Station as a historical and cultural symbol of the city, while inspiring other localities to explore tourism development linked to transport infrastructure.
The luxury “Red Flamboyant” train, operating on the Hanoi–Hai Phong route, is expected to be inaugurated before May 13, 2025, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong’s Liberation (May 13, 1955 – 2025).
