Railway industry sells Tet train tickets to passengers from October 1

To best serve the travel needs of passengers and organize passenger transportation well during the 2016 Lunar New Year, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) has planned to operate trains, increase trips on the Thong Nhat railway line and sell train tickets for the Lunar New Year from October 1.

Passengers buy train tickets at Hanoi station. (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, VNR continues to regularly operate 5 main Thong Nhat passenger train pairs such as SE1/2, SE3/4, SE5/6, SE7/8, TN1/2 (or TN17/18); and operate additional Thong Nhat train pairs including SE17/18, SE13/14, SE29/30 and TN3/4, TN5/6, TN7/8 between Saigon and Hanoi and vice versa.

In addition, to meet maximum passenger demand at each time, the railway industry also organizes additional Thong Nhat passenger trains SE9/10, SE11/12, SE15/16, and TN21/22.

Specifically, before Tet, the SE9/10 train pair will run from Hanoi to Nha Trang; after Tet, the SE9/10 train pair will run between Saigon and Dong Hoi; before and after Tet, two SE11/12 and SE15/16 trains will run between Vinh and Saigon and one TN21/22 train pair will run between Thanh Hoa and Saigon and vice versa. The total number of seats on the Thong Nhat train is 12,000 seats/day.

During the Tet holiday, Vietnam Railways Corporation still regularly operates 5 pairs of Thong Nhat trains running from Hanoi to Saigon and vice versa SE1/2, SE3/4, SE5/6, SE7/8 and SE13/14 to serve passengers returning home for a late Tet holiday, traveling or visiting to wish a happy new year.

On peak days, to increase transport capacity and based on actual annual demand, VNR organizes ticket sales to convert the first floor sleeper seat type into 3 soft seats (applicable to soft sleeper carriages with 4 beds).

The Tet train schedule is calculated from January 25, 2016 to February 25, 2016 and is divided into 3 stages: before Tet (from January 25 to February 6), Tet holidays (from February 7, 2016 to February 10, 2016) and after Tet (from February 11, 2016 to February 25, 2016).

In addition, Vietnam Railways Corporation also plans to organize Tet ticket sales for passengers traveling on the Thong Nhat train.

Accordingly, VNR will reserve about 20% of the total ticket sales for Thong Nhat passenger trains to handle for groups from September 25 to September 30, 2015, then will put all remaining seats on the electronic ticket sales system to serve passengers.

Passengers can buy tickets through the websites www.dsvn.vn, vietnamrailway.vn and vetau.com.vn and ticket sales points.

From October 1, 2015, transport companies will sell tickets to individual passengers on the website and at ticket sales points. Each customer can book on the website at a time no more than 4 tickets for one way.

In case of ticket refund, the railway industry will deduct 5% of the ticket price for passengers buying individual tickets whose personal information on the ticket matches the name and number of legally recognized identification documents and 20% of the ticket price for passengers buying group tickets to travel by train.

If passengers change their tickets, they will have to pay a fee of VND 10,000/ticket and return or collect the difference (if any) compared to the purchased ticket when all conditions regarding ticket exchange time as prescribed are met; have the same departure and arrival stations; can only exchange tickets once; the exchanged ticket must have at least one of the following information changed compared to the purchased ticket such as change of train date, train trip or type of carriage or the railway industry can arrange seats according to the passenger's request./.

Train schedules during peak times are: Even-numbered Thong Nhat trains depart from Saigon from 0:00 on January 29, 2016 to 24:00 on February 6, 2016 (ie from 0:00 on December 20 to 24:00 on December 28, At Mui year).

The odd-numbered Thong Nhat train departs from Hanoi from 0:00 on February 11, 2016 to 24:00 on February 23, 2016 (ie from 0:00 on January 4 to 24:00 on January 16, Binh Than year).

According to VIETNAM+