The event marked a significant milestone in preserving, continuing and spreading the sector’s proud historical, cultural and traditional values. The entire heritage space was designed to simulate the structure of a train (bearing the identification number VNR-145) travelling from north to south, with each section representing a historical carriage and a stage in the formation and development of Viet Nam’s railway system, connected by “memory stations” spanning 145 years of history and 80 years of the sector’s heroic tradition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dang Sy Manh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Members’ Council of the Viet Nam National Railway Corporation, affirmed: 145 years ago, the first railway tracks were laid across the S-shaped land, marking the beginning of a special journey for Viet Nam’s railways, associated with the history of the struggle for national liberation, reunification, national construction and development. From the first more than 70 kilometres of railway, the country now has more than 3,000 kilometres of national railway lines and more than 300 stations, connecting regions, cities, border gates and seaports, as well as connecting people, with passenger and freight services operating between Viet Nam and many countries around the world.
“But I think that if we only talk about these figures, they still cannot fully tell the story of 145 years of Viet Nam’s railways. This is because railway history is, first and foremost, the history of people. Right here, on his birthday, May 19, 1955, President Ho Chi Minh visited Gia Lam Railway Factory, toured the workplaces and spoke intimately with officials and workers. More than 70 years have passed, but the image of President Ho Chi Minh standing right here and his words of guidance remain extremely precious memories, providing faith and motivation for generations of railway workers to preserve, build and develop the sector,” Manh said.
The centre of the traditional heritage building preserves two valuable artefacts, including the original set of tables and chairs where President Ho Chi Minh once sat at Hai Phong Station (October 21, 1946), and a replica of a letter from President Ho Chi Minh to the Director of the Viet Nam Railway Department (November 18, 1946), in which he wrote: “Railway work is an important task in the construction of the nation. I hope that the staff of the Railway Department will always remain united and make every effort to fulfil their duties.” The area also displays documents and materials about Party, State and Government leaders throughout different periods who directly visited and encouraged railway workers or travelled by train on official duties.
These images demonstrate the attention paid by Party and State leaders to the railway sector throughout different periods. The consistent attention of the Party and State, together with the system of prestigious orders and medals displayed in front, has provided great spiritual motivation for the railway sector to persevere in its contributions over the years.
At the area dedicated to the digital era and the future of high-speed railways, visitors are introduced to a modern railway system featuring an electronic ticketing system, real-time train surveillance cameras, the new-generation SE train series, and a highlight consisting of a model of the north-south high-speed railway line operating at 350 kilometres per hour, helping shorten the journey across Viet Nam to approximately 5.5 hours. At the end of the journey, delegates experience a 3D cinema showing the documentary film “The train of time - A breath across the centuries”.
According to Dang Sy Manh, the traditional railway heritage area of Viet Nam and the world is not merely a place for preserving documents, images and artefacts, but also a space for continuing, introducing and spreading the sector’s historical, cultural and traditional values. The heritage journey is a profound tribute to the hands, minds and steadfast sacrifices of countless generations of railway workers.
On the same day, the railway sector also organised the 14th Viet Nam Railway Workers’ Singing Festival in 2026.
