Passengers travelling from areas with a high or very high risk of COVID-19 must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from the disease within six months and possess a test negative for the virus from within the 72 hours prior to departure.
They will be offered seats in separate coaches in order to minimise the risk of transmission.
Such passengers are advised not to stop midway when moving from a station to their place of residence, notify the local authorities of their arrival, and monitor their health and quarantine themselves in line with the specific local regulations.
Train drivers and other staff workers on the train are also subject to the same requirements on vaccination and COVID-19 recovery.
Negative test results are valid for seven days for train drivers and 72 hours for other staff workers.
Train stations are required to prepare spaces for health declaration, QR code scanning and rapid testing as well as well-ventilated temporary quarantine rooms or areas.
During the pilot period from October 13-20, the north-south service will have two trains each day, with the Hanoi Station-bound train leaving at 6 am on October 13 and the Saigon Station-bound train departing at 6 am on October 15.
The trains will stop at 23 stations including Hanoi, Phu Ly, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bim Son, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Yen Trung, Huong Pho, Dong Hai, Dong Ha, Hue, Da Nang, Tam Ky, Quang Ngai, Dieu Tri, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, Thap Cham, Binh Thuan, Bien Hoa, Di An and Saigon.
On the Hanoi-Hai Phong line, the trains from Hanoi will depart Long Bien Station every weekday at 3:30 pm and at Hanoi Station at 3:20 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The trains from Hai Phong will leave at 9:05 am.
Stops on the route include Gia Lam, Cam Giang, Hai Duong and Phu Thai.
After the trial period ends, the Vietnam Railway Corporation will conduct an assessment and make the necessary preparations for the restoration of other services.
