The Hanoi Heritage Train – Hanoi's 5 Gates Heritage Train

Overview

Amid the vibrant rhythm of modern Hanoi — where old and new neighborhoods intertwine to create a distinctive visual symphony — the launch of the Hanoi's 5 Gates Heritage Train has introduced a fresh highlight to the capital’s tourism scene. More than just a means of transportation, this train is a moving cultural space that revives the memories of the ancient city gates — historical intersections of the Thang Long Citadel. Operated by the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), the train recreates the imagery of five symbolic city gates: O Cau Den – O Quan Chuong – O Cau Giay – O Cho Dua – O Dong Mac, with each carriage representing a unique cultural slice and telling its own story through distinctive interior design and Hanoi — inspired floor names.

Route and Schedule

The train departs from Hanoi Railway Station, passes through Long Bien – Gia Lam – Yen Vien – Tu Son (Bac Ninh), and returns to the city center. Though the journey lasts only 3 – 4 hours, it is long enough to unfold an entire story of Hanoi’s culture, cuisine, music, and daily life.

The Five Gates tourist train operates on a fixed schedule with two daily departures, ensuring stable service for both domestic and international travelers. In the morning, the train departs from Hanoi Railway Station at 8:00 AM and returns around 11:30 AM, offering a light and refreshing journey — perfect for those who want to enjoy Hanoi in its morning calm.

In the afternoon, the train departs at 1:30 PM and ends at 5:00 PM, an ideal time for sightseeing and unwinding after a busy morning.

Carriage Structure

The Hanoi Train includes 5 carriages: O Cau Den, O Quan Chưong, O Cau Giay, O Cho Dua, O Dong Mac. Each carriage is inspired by the culture of each historic city gate and is designed with two levels (with mezzanine floors in some carriages), featuring large windows and interiors that blend nostalgic and modern elements.

Car 1 – O Cau Den (64 seats)

The O Cau Den Carriage brings a nostalgic transformation inspired by Hanoi during the subsidy period – a time of hardship yet filled with warmth, simplicity, and a deeply romantic spirit. The design combines elements of dark wooden tones embrace familiar memories, complemented with black leather seats. The wooden slatted ceiling and square patterns resemble old townhouses with warm yellow lighting. The terracotta-style tiled floor evokes coziness and nostalgia. Beige fabric curtains recreate the look of the “Old Hanoi homes”.

• 1st floor (24 seats): Small Alleys of Hanoi
• Mezzanine (6 seats): Windy West Lake
• 2nd floor (34 seats): Windy West Lake

How to Choose the Best Option?

• For vloggers: choose seats near windows No. 1-4.
• Traveling with kids: choose middle-zone seats for easier access to the service carriage.
• Group travelers: book seats in the same row for convenience and cultural interaction.

Car 2 – O Quan Chuong (65 seats)

O Quan Chuong carriage is conceived as a mobile museum of memory, where the flow of history and art is interwoven through every layer of material and line. Stepping into this gate, you feel as if you are present in a painting at the intersection of the solidity of railway heritage and the romance of Indochinese–French colonial architecture—precious fragments of Hanoi.

The train carriage celebrates the symbols of the railway and Long Bien Bridge through mechanical details such as sleeper bars on the walls, rails beneath the floor, and the sturdy frames of tables and chairs. That sturdiness is softened by moss-patinated yellow walls, classic encaustic-tile floors, graceful riveted window frames, Red River wave motifs, and jade-green louvered shutters that evoke old villas.

The carriage interior is further elevated by Eastern philosophy, expressed in the curves of the tables and chairs combined with rattan, wood, and rustic canvas. Together, they create a space that is profound yet refined, at once steadfast against time and romantically resonant in the rhythm of the journey.

• 1st floor (25 seats): Beer & Peanuts
• Mezzanine (10 seats): Hanoi Pho
• 2nd floor (30 seats): Hanoi Pho

Car 3 – O Cau Giay (58 seats)

The O Cau Giay Carriage is designed like a “small window of Hanoi,” carrying a classic charm, refined in every detail, and filled with emotions from a truly memorable journey. Stepping onboard, passengers are not just moving — they are beginning a journey of connection, sensation, and appreciation of the unique beauty along the way. The carriage offers both elegance and comfort — a miniature Hanoi on the train. The upper deck features a skylight for spacious views, perfect for travelers who love photography and immersive check-in experiences.

• 1st floor (24 seats): Hanoi Never Rushes
• Mezzanine (10 seats): Vong Village's Com
• 2nd floor (24 seats): Vong Village's Com

How to Choose the Best Option?

Couple Seats: Two facing seats by large windows – ideal for couples, best friends, or guests who love private conversations.

Family Area (3-seat & 6-seat options): Six seats facing each other with a shared table or rows of three facing the window – Perfect for snacks, bonding time, or small family activities.

Group Zone: Long-arranged rows: 10 facing seats (5 on each side), located on the mezzanine deck – designed for friend groups or travel teams who enjoy social interaction.

Car 4 – O Cho Dua (VIP – 44 seats)

O Cho Dua Gate is a perfect blend of the bustling urban spirit of old Hanoi and modern neoclassical design. This is a space dedicated to a premium travel experience, where elegance and comfort are placed above all. This is a VIP carriage, the space is usually more spacious and “worth the atmosphere.” All the seats in the carriage are designed as soft, plush sofas, with fewer seats (44 seats compared with 54 or more in other carriages) and private rooms suitable for group travelers or private events. With an elegant predominant color palette and refined decorative details, the carriage offers a sense of luxury and nobility while harmonizing with the distinctive aesthetics of East Asian culture.

O Cho Dua is not merely a train carriage, but a classy mobile lounge. It invites travelers to enjoy the journey in a relaxed manner amid the intersection of Western classical beauty and Eastern cultural depth.

• 1st floor (18 seats): Hanoi's Fall
• Mezzanine (10 seats): Hanoi's Fall
• 2nd floor (16 seats): Hanoi's Fall

How to Choose the Best Option?

• If you’re traveling with family, small children, or older adults, 1st floor is the most convenient and comfortable option.
• On the other hand, if you want a more private experience with fewer people and a more cinematic photo vibe, go for 2nd floor. But keep in mind – 2nd floor has only 16 seats and sells out fast, so booking early is the key.

Car 5 – O Dong Mac (50 seats)

The O Dong Mac carriage follows the “Urban Interplay” style, accurately reflecting this gate’s location: an area of bustling streets tied to Hanoi’s rhythm of life and development. Inspired by the powerful transformation of the eastern area of Thang Long, from an outlying land into a vibrant commercial center. 

The O Dong Mac carriage is a double-deck car, optimized for sightseeing space. 

• 1st floor (20 seats): Loudspeakers of Hanoi
• Mezzanine (10 seats)
• 2nd floor (20 seats): Hanoi Opera House

How to Choose the Best Option?

• Couples: Double seats on the 2nd deck by the window (Rows A, B). Private, with panoramic views—ideal for watching Long Biên Bridge together.
• Solo travelers: Single seats on the 1st or 2nd deck (near the aisle/standing balcony area). Easy to move around, interact, or observe daily-life spaces and cultural performances on the train.
• Families: 4-person tables on the 1st deck (or facing seats with a table). Convenient for snacks and chatting. The 1st deck shakes less, making it safer for small children.

Car 6 – Check In 

Inspired by Long Bien Bridge – a witness to more than a century of Hanoi – the Check-in carriage is a two-storey architectural structure with gentle iron waves, offering travellers a resting space amid their journey. 

Unlike the seated carriages, the Check-in carriage features a long wooden deck along the central axis, open and airy on both sides, protected by curved iron railings. This central deck creates a clear visual leading line, giving every shooting angle depth. When standing in the middle and photographing along the length of the carriage, the railings become two guiding lines drawing the eye toward the subject, while the sky and tracks create a backdrop that truly feels like a “heritage journey.”

When the train stops at Long Bien Station, one of the capital’s oldest stations, this open space becomes a place where travellers can step out for some fresh air, view the city at a different rhythm, and capture a few memorable moments. The carriage is one of the unique and exclusive highlights available only on The Hanoi Train.

• 1st floor 
• 2nd floor 

Experiential Activities

Explore the stopover destination: Do Temple, Bac Ninh

Upon arrival at Tu Son Station, the group will be transported by vehicle to visit the Do Temple complex (Bac Ninh)—a Special National Relic dedicated to the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty, a lineage that left a profound mark on the nation's history. Here, visitors not only sightsee but also immerse themselves in a folk cultural atmosphere, enjoying traditional experiences such as hand-crafting Dong Ho paintings... You can also enjoy Quan Ho singing performances presented by male and female singers from Bac Ninh at the water pavilion.

Cultural Interaction Experiences Onboard

All Carriage frequently host intimate and warm performance activities — connecting passengers with the soul of Hanoi. On the train, passengers do more than just admire the scenery; they immerse themselves in a unique cultural atmosphere. Performances of "Quan ho", "Ca tru", "Cheo", and "Xam" take place right on board, transforming the journey into a mobile artistic performance in the heart of the city.

Enjoying Hanoi's cuisine

Cuisine on the Hanoi's 5 Gates Heritage Train is the highlight that makes the journey of experiencing Hanoi by rail truly different. More than just a way to see the city from a new angle, the Hanoi Five City Gates Train also offers a very distinctive way to savor the culinary essence of Hanoi. Instead of elaborate meals, the cuisine on the Hanoi Five City Gates Train is expressed through compact, refined “Hanoi treats”, given to each passenger as a gentle greeting from the capital.

Actual dishes that passengers may be served include:

• Green sticky rice with young rice flakes from traditional villages such as Làng Vòng or Mễ Trì
• Old Quarter fried glutinous rice doughnuts, especially the ones from Hàng Chiếu Street
• Sticky rice with cassava or sticky rice with corn
• Green rice cake or chewy mung bean layer cake for celebrations
• Grilled rice crackers or sesame rice crackers
• Lotus-scented tea, jasmine tea or traditional Vietnamese tea
• Mineral water served with the treat set