HCMC – France has expressed its interest in organizing a luxury vintage train service for sightseeing purposes, connecting Hanoi and HCMC.
During a recent meeting with the Ministry of Transport, the French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet, said that several renowned luxury fashion brands, including Louis Vuitton, are eager to arrange a vintage train journey between Hanoi and HCMC to cater to tourist demand.
To realize this vision, vintage train cars that have been in service for over 30 years would require refurbishment and renovation before being brought to Vietnam, he added.
France has also requested exclusive rights to operate the train on the Vietnamese railway system.
While Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang supports the idea of organizing a vintage train service, he wants to know specific details about the exclusive rights that France is seeking. He emphasized the necessity of further discussions on these matters. If the issues fall beyond the ministry’s purview, they will be forwarded to the prime minister for consideration.
During the meeting, Ambassador Olivier announced that France would provide Vietnam with a non-refundable aid package of 700,000 euros. This financial assistance is offered with the expectation that permission will be granted to a French company to conduct a survey and restoration of the historic Long Bien Bridge.
Vietnam and France also expressed their mutual interest in collaborating on railway electrification projects, including routes such as Thu Thiem-Long Thanh, Hanoi-Haiphong, and various urban railway initiatives in Hanoi and HCMC.
