Commercial

Vietnam, November 2026 – The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), in coordination with France’s National Railway Company (SNCF), held a twinning ceremony on 4 November between Hai Phong Station and Pontorson Mont-Saint-Michel Station. The event also marked the unveiling of a twinning plaque between Da Lat Station and Trouville-Deauville Station, formalising an agreement signed in May 2026.

The partnerships focus on three areas: preserving and promoting railway heritage, sharing expertise in developing stations integrated with tourism, commercial services and multimodal transport, and jointly promoting railway tourism products. The participating stations were selected for their shared architectural, historical and tourism characteristics.

Hai Phong Station, built in 1901 and commissioned in 1902, is associated with the historic railway connecting Hai Phong, Hanoi, Lao Cai and Yunnan in China. It was officially recognised as a tourist destination in 2025. Da Lat Station, constructed between 1932 and 1938 by French architects, received National Historical and Cultural Relic status in 2001. It was historically part of the Thap Cham–Da Lat cog railway, of which the Da Lat–Trai Mat section remains operational for tourism.

The French stations also serve as gateways to major visitor destinations. Pontorson provides access to Mont-Saint-Michel, while Trouville-Deauville connects passengers to destinations across Normandy. According to VNR, the latter station historically inspired the French architects behind Da Lat Station, creating a shared heritage foundation for the partnership.

Under the Hai Phong–Pontorson agreement, both sides will establish a joint working group involving station managers and operational support teams. The group will meet at least annually to review progress and identify further cooperation opportunities. The initiative reflects a broader shift towards multifunctional railway stations that combine passenger services, commercial activity, tourism and transport connectivity.

Source: VnEconomy