Passengers buying train tickets 20 days in advance of their journey will have the price reduced, ranging from 20% to 50%, the Sai Gon Railway Transport JSC has announced.

Viet Nam Railway is offering numerous discounted fares for passengers during the summer. — VNS Photo Ngoc Diep

The promotion applies to trips of more than 1,000km on the Thong Nhat (North - South) route and TPHCM–Hue route at Sai Gon Train Station.

Passengers booking train tickets 20 days before the departure date will enjoy a cut of 20% to 30%, on routes from HCM City to the central provinces of Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Quang Ngai.

Price reductions will not apply for passengers on air-conditioned 4 sleeper-seat cabins.

Tickets can be returned or exchanged 72 hours prior to the departure date. In case of exchange, passengers have to pay 20-50%of its value, depending on the route.

Groups of over 10 passengers will see their ticket prices cut by 3-12%.

In addition, travel companies participating in the domestic tourism stimulus programme for 2018 will be offered a reduction of 10% to 40%.

The travel companies will receive an additional discount of 10% if they book tickets 30 days in advance for groups of more than 10 passengers.

The reduction in ticket prices will continue until 26 December, except during holiday periods from 25 April to 1 May, and from 30 August to 3 September.

New schedules

Ha Noi Railway Transport JSC (HARACO) will change its timetables of trains SE1, SE2, SE3 and SE4 linking Ha Noi and HCM City beginning on 15 May.

Accordingly, SE1 will depart at Ha Noi Railway Station at 10.20pm daily; SE2 will leave Sài Gòn Railway Station at 9.55pm daily; SE3 will depart at Ha Noi station at 7.30pm daily; and SE4 will leave Sai Gon Railway Station at 7.45pm every day.

In addition, some trains will change their pickup schedules at transit stations.

HARACO has also launched a promotion for groups of passengers from 3% to 7% beginning this summer.

Purchases made from 24 May to 12 August by groups of 20-50 people will be reduced by 3%, and for groups of 51-100 people, 5%. Groups of over 101 people will see a cut of 7%.

Depending on total number of people in each group (excluding tour guides), a discount will also be offered for their tour guides.

A group of 20-50 people will receive a discount for a tour guide, while a group of 51-100 people will have a reduction for 2 tour guides. Groups of over 101 people will enjoy a discount for three tour guides.

Each tour guide will receive a 70% discounted ticket price.

More promotions

Earlier, Viet Nam Railway announced its new promotions for 2018.

Accordingly, passengers who are Vietnamese heroic mothers or who took part in national liberation before the August revolution (19/8/1945) will receive a 90 per cent discount off train ticket prices.

A 30% discount will be given for those who are war invalids, policy beneficiaries, Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities.

There will also be a discount of 25% for children 6 to 10 years old; 15% discount for those 60 and above; and 10% discount for students at vocational schools, high schools, colleges, universities and academies (excluding postgraduate students).

Children under 6 years old accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. There is a limit of two children per adult.

(Source: VNS)