nown as “train streets”, the tracks of the Reunification Express through Old Quarter Hanoi have become a part of locals’ lives and are used as normal roads, with the train traveling in narrow streets only five to sixteen feet away from local homes. Locals are so used to the train that they clear the roads when they hear the trains’ bell. After it passes, they continue to carry on with selling produce, cutting vegetables to prepare for meals, and laughing and playing with their children, despite having a huge metal machine passing through their lives at high speed.
Construction on the rail began in 1899 under French Colonization, but the tracks weren’t completed until 1936, nearly forty years later. The railway was forced to halt operations in 1954 when the Vietnam War began, because a demilitarized zone separating the North and South was established near Hue. During this time the railway was repeatedly bombed and abandoned, resulting in 1,334 bridges, 158 stations, and 27 tunnels needing repair by the end of the war in 1975. The new socialist government made a promise that seemed impossible to keep at the time—to restore the railway in 20 months and have the first train run on the tracks by December 31, 1976. The enthusiastic spirit of a united people successfully repaired the tracks before the 20-month deadline. To this day, Reunification Express is seen as a symbol of the unity of the North and South, and a reminder of this remarkable historic event.
The Reunification Express traverses seemingly endless rice fields, offering views of glistening beaches, hillside tracks, waterfalls, and the beautiful South China Sea right outside the window.
Although some passengers take the full 36-hour journey, many choose to jump on and off at one of the 20 stations along the way, including the famous Da Nang beachfront, imperial city of Hue, the 72-meter tall Lady Buddha Statue in Nha Trang, and other cultural landmarks.
One highlight of the railway is the Hai Van Pass, the “Ribbon of Perfection”. The Pass is 500 meters above sea level and travels through the Truong Son Mountains. Hai Van means “Ocean Cloud” and the pass earned its name from the mist that rises from the sea. However, the pass was not always known for its idyllic views. It served an important role during the Vietnam War by connecting the two war-heavy cities of Hue and Da Nang. During that time, the pass was known as the “Street Without Joy”, in contrast to its current-day perception of being a magical route connecting the ocean to the sky.
Air conditioning and television have helped modernize the journey. The Express provides four different types of tickets: Hard Seat (wooden seats), Soft Seats, six beds in a Hard Berth cabin, and four beds in a Soft Berth cabin. The Reunification Express has four daily trains that leave from Hanoi and Saigon and operations have not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Train Streets of Hanoi
Photo by Daniel Mennerich via Creative Commons (some rights reserved).
August 30, 2020
Locals are so used to the train that they clear the roads when they hear the trains’ bell.
K
nown as “train streets”, the tracks of the Reunification Express through Old Quarter Hanoi have become a part of locals’ lives and are used as normal roads, with the train traveling in narrow streets only five to sixteen feet away from local homes. Locals are so used to the train that they clear the roads when they hear the trains’ bell. After it passes, they continue to carry on with selling produce, cutting vegetables to prepare for meals, and laughing and playing with their children, despite having a huge metal machine passing through their lives at high speed.
Construction on the rail began in 1899 under French Colonization, but the tracks weren’t completed until 1936, nearly forty years later. The railway was forced to halt operations in 1954 when the Vietnam War began, because a demilitarized zone separating the North and South was established near Hue. During this time the railway was repeatedly bombed and abandoned, resulting in 1,334 bridges, 158 stations, and 27 tunnels needing repair by the end of the war in 1975. The new socialist government made a promise that seemed impossible to keep at the time—to restore the railway in 20 months and have the first train run on the tracks by December 31, 1976. The enthusiastic spirit of a united people successfully repaired the tracks before the 20-month deadline. To this day, Reunification Express is seen as a symbol of the unity of the North and South, and a reminder of this remarkable historic event.
The Reunification Express traverses seemingly endless rice fields, offering views of glistening beaches, hillside tracks, waterfalls, and the beautiful South China Sea right outside the window.
Although some passengers take the full 36-hour journey, many choose to jump on and off at one of the 20 stations along the way, including the famous Da Nang beachfront, imperial city of Hue, the 72-meter tall Lady Buddha Statue in Nha Trang, and other cultural landmarks.
One highlight of the railway is the Hai Van Pass, the “Ribbon of Perfection”. The Pass is 500 meters above sea level and travels through the Truong Son Mountains. Hai Van means “Ocean Cloud” and the pass earned its name from the mist that rises from the sea. However, the pass was not always known for its idyllic views. It served an important role during the Vietnam War by connecting the two war-heavy cities of Hue and Da Nang. During that time, the pass was known as the “Street Without Joy”, in contrast to its current-day perception of being a magical route connecting the ocean to the sky.
Air conditioning and television have helped modernize the journey. The Express provides four different types of tickets: Hard Seat (wooden seats), Soft Seats, six beds in a Hard Berth cabin, and four beds in a Soft Berth cabin. The Reunification Express has four daily trains that leave from Hanoi and Saigon and operations have not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
