The Hanoi Train: A B2B Guide for Travel Agents (2026 Updated)

If a client or agent asks about “The Hanoi Train,” the first thing to confirm is which attraction they actually mean. This guide covers The Hanoi Train, officially named Ha Noi 5 Cua O, a brand new two-story heritage tourist train launched by Vietnam Railways in September 2025. It is a completely different product from Hanoi Train Street, the narrow residential railway lane in the Old Quarter, and confusing the two in a client-facing itinerary is an easy mistake to avoid once you know the difference.

1. The Hanoi Train Is Not Hanoi Train Street

This distinction matters enough to state plainly before anything else. The Hanoi Train (Ha Noi 5 Cua O) is a scheduled, ticketed, two-story tourist train that departs from Hanoi Railway Station and travels to Bac Ninh province and back. Hanoi Train Street is a fixed residential alley in the Old Quarter where an active commuter line happens to run close to houses and cafes and where group tours have been banned by the Hanoi Department of Tourism since March 2025. The two share overlapping keywords in English search because “Hanoi” and “train” appear in both names, but they involve different operators, different locations, different booking channels, and entirely different suitability for group travel. Agents quoting Vietnam itineraries should treat them as two separate line items.

2. What Is The Hanoi Train

The Hanoi Train, internationally branded as The Hanoi Train and locally called Ha Noi 5 Cua O, is Vietnam’s first double-decker cultural tourist train, operated by Vietnam Railways (VNR) on the Thang Long, Kinh Bac route between Hanoi and Bac Ninh’s Tu Son Station. The train has been officially operated by Vietnam Railways since September 6, 2025. It is positioned as a combined railway, culture, art, and culinary product rather than pure transport.

Quick facts about the Hanoi Train:

3. Why the Train Carriages Are Named After 5 City Gates

The name Five City Gates references the five historic gates of the old Thang Long citadel, and each of the train’s carriages is designed around one of these five gates: O Cau Den, O Quan Chuong, O Cau Giay, O Cho Dua, and O Dong Mac, telling a different slice of Hanoi’s history and culture through its decor. The double-decker train has 10 carriages in total, including a bar counter and a stage for folk performances such as xam, cheo, and chau van singing, plus a glass roof section for viewing the illuminated city at night. 

4. Route and Schedule

The Thang Long, Kinh Bac tourist route runs two trips per day: a morning departure at 8:00 returning at 11:30, and an afternoon departure at 13:30 ending at 17:00. From Hanoi Station, the train passes through Long Bien, Gia Lam, and Yen Vien stations before reaching Tu Son Station in Bac Ninh, then returns along the same route.

On select dates, an additional evening trip runs on a loop around the inner city to view Hanoi lit up at night, though this is not offered on a fixed daily basis. Agents should confirm current departure dates directly with the operator before quoting this evening option to clients. 

5. Ticket Pricing (Verify Before Quoting)

Reported pricing has varied between sources published a few months apart, most likely reflecting a price adjustment since launch. As of the most recent published source:

Children under 6 travel free sharing a seat with an accompanying adult, and children aged 6 to under 10 receive a 15 percent discount off the adult fare. The ticket price includes one drink plus a sweet or savory snack, the onboard cultural experience, and shuttle transport for the Den Do temple visit and local cultural activities in Bac Ninh. 

Earlier launch-period sources quoted 550,000 to 750,000 VND across the same tiers, so this is a product where agents should reconfirm the current rate card with the operator before publishing it in a quote, rather than treating any single published figure as fixed.

6. The Onboard and Bac Ninh Experience

Passengers are treated to folk performing arts during the journey, including quan ho folk singing, ca tru, cheo, and xam, with onboard staff doubling as cultural guides who explain the meaning behind each carriage’s theme. Large panoramic windows let passengers take in the Red River, Long Bien Bridge, and Hanoi’s streets along the way.

After stopping at Tu Son Station, passengers transfer by shuttle to Den Do temple, where they can interact with local quan ho singers, listen to Bac Ninh folk singing at the Thuy Dinh pavilion, and try traditional crafts such as Dong Ho woodblock painting and phu the wedding cake making.

7. Operational Notes for Agents and DMCs

A few details are easy to miss if you are used to booking standard Vietnam Railways tickets:

• Booking channel: tickets are not sold through the standard Vietnam Railways ticketing system. Tickets are sold exclusively through the operating travel company’s own channels rather than the national rail booking platform. Agents should confirm the current appointed sales channel before advising clients where to book.
• Identity verification: the ticketing system uses biometric verification tied to citizen ID or passport for security and operational purposes, and passengers must present a valid ID or passport matching the ticket at boarding, with arrival recommended at least 15 minutes before departure for biometric check-in and seating. Foreign clients should be told in advance to bring their passport, not a photocopy.
• Advance booking: seats sell out early, particularly on weekends and holidays, so booking around 5 to 7 days ahead is advisable for group allocations.
• No confirmed private charter product: as of 2026, published information does not describe a dedicated private full-train charter option for corporate events. Agents wanting to reserve a full carriage or multiple blocks for a MICE group should contact Tonkin Legends, our experts are pleased to help at anytime!

8. How This Differs From Hanoi Train Street in an Itinerary

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hanoi Train the same as Hanoi Train Street?

No. The Hanoi Train (Hanoi 5 Cua O) is a scheduled double-decker tourist train launched in September 2025, running between Hanoi and Bac Ninh. Hanoi Train Street is an unrelated residential railway lane in the Old Quarter where group tours are currently banned.

Can a DMC book The Hanoi Train for a group?

Yes, this is a seated, scheduled product designed for group and individual bookings alike, unlike Hanoi Train Street. Confirm current group booking terms directly with the operator, since a standardized wholesale or MICE rate is not published.

How much does The Hanoi Train cost?

Published fares range from roughly 605,000 to 805,000 VND per adult depending on carriage and deck, though pricing has changed since launch, so agents should reconfirm the current rate before quoting clients.

Where does The Hanoi Train depart from?

It departs from Hanoi Railway Station at 120 Le Duan Street, with two fixed daily trips at 8:00 and 13:30, traveling to Tu Son Station in Bac Ninh and back.