The “Hanoi 5 Cua O Train” (named after Hanoi’s five historic city gates) is running a special experience programme titled “Reunion Journey: Touching memories, continuing pride” from April 27 to May 3, 2026, departing from Hanoi Railway Station.

The journey combines sightseeing, cultural experiences and reflections on historical memory. The train is decorated with images, slogans and symbols associated with different periods of Vietnam’s history, particularly the spirit of reunion and national reunification following April 30, 1975.

The programme has attracted attention from residents and visitors during the holiday. For many passengers, it is not simply a means of travel or sightseeing, but an opportunity to look back on historical milestones through a more accessible approach. The recreated details on board help participants gain a sense of a past period, especially the moment when the country was reunified after years of war.

One highlight of the journey is a check-in activity with a soldier figure, held throughout the programme to create an interactive space for passengers, particularly families and younger visitors. Participants can observe, take photos and experience stories of the past more vividly.

Alongside historical elements, the programme also introduces aspects of Hanoi’s culture through familiar local treats such as Trang Tien ice cream, roasted sweet potatoes, che lam (a traditional sticky rice and peanut sweet), xu xe cake (a glutinous rice cake filled with mung bean paste) and lotus tea, evoking everyday life in the capital, past and present.

Incorporating historical elements into an urban experience product is seen as a new approach in cultural tourism. Rather than focusing only on visiting destinations, the journey focuses on emotions, memories and stories linked to the capital’s space. This gives residents and visitors another option during the holiday and a more approachable way to learn about history.

As tourism in Hanoi becomes more diverse, programmes combining travel, experience and cultural storytelling are attracting growing interest. For younger visitors, this format makes history feel closer and less distant. For those who lived through the war or post-war period, the journey can bring back memories of reunion, peace and the value of national unity.

Number of tourists soars during national reunification holidays

Vietnam’s tourism sector served an estimated 10.5 million domestic and international visitors during the public holiday from April 30 to May 4, marking a 31.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

Photo books on celebrations of national reunification, HCM City’s development launched

The opening ceremony for the photo exhibition and launch of two new photo books titled “50 Years of Vietnam’s Strength” and “City of Peace – Our City” by photographer Nguyen A was held at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet street in Hanoi on August 10.