At 11:50 a.m. on the third day of the Lunar New Year (January 31, 2025), taxi driver Mai Van Nam had an appointment to take a passenger from Quang Xuong district to Thanh Hoa station to catch the noon train to Hanoi. This was the third taxi trip he took that morning to the station.
Entering Thanh Hoa station, unlike the deserted scene of normal days, the waiting hall was crowded and bustling. The waiting rows were full. Many people had to stand with their luggage and personal belongings.
Many passengers took the opportunity to check information on their tickets, text their relatives to wish them a happy new year, chat with friends or take a few minutes to catch some sleep before boarding the train.
Waiting for the train at the waiting hall with her personal bag and Tet sweets, Ms. Nguyen Kim Anh (27 years old) said she had booked a train ticket departing from Thanh Hoa station at 12:45. She had registered all the procedures on the online ticketing system a day before.
At the time of booking, Ms. Kim Anh said that when she checked the information, most of the soft air-conditioned seats and sleeper cars were orange, with the message "seats sold".
Train ticket prices are divided into different categories for each route. For example, from Thanh Hoa to Hanoi, the ticket price for a 6-seat sleeper with air conditioning is 347,000 VND/ticket; a 4-seat sleeper with air conditioning is 420,000 VND/ticket; the ticket price for a soft seat with air conditioning is 206,000 VND/ticket...
Information such as departure station, arrival station, train symbol, departure time, carriage number, seat and passenger information are all displayed on the electronic ticket to board the train. Ms. Kim Anh only needs to present a copy for the ticket inspector to check.
According to Lao Dong reporters, at 12:45, train SE8 passed Thanh Hoa station. 15 minutes before the train's departure time, the alarm bell rang and the loudspeaker announced that the train was about to enter the station.
The station staff reminded passengers with luggage to gather at the exit. The ticket inspectors checked each passenger one by one, most of whom had printed or electronic tickets available, helping the process of passing through the gate to be quick.
When the train stopped at the platform, the staff reminded the passengers to board quickly. The atmosphere was urgent but orderly.
On the SE8 train, all the cars were full, many sleeping compartments and seats were full. The temperature recorded on the train at noon on the 3rd day of Tet was 24 degrees Celsius, the weather was cloudy and dry, favorable for the journey after the Tet holiday.
According to the 2025 Tet train operation plan of Vietnam Railways Corporation, from January 15, 2025 (ie December 16, Giap Thin year) to February 16, 2025 (ie January 19, At Ty year) is the peak time to serve passengers traveling during Tet.
To serve the needs of people during the Lunar New Year 2025, the Railway industry has increased the number of North-South trains.
Railway Transport Joint Stock Company notes that passengers must bring compact luggage, each passenger ticket must not exceed 20kg and must take care of their luggage; follow the instructions of station and train staff, and must not bring prohibited items according to regulations. Passengers must bring valid identification documents (ID card/CCCD, passport, or other documents according to regulations).
The railway industry organizes the control of boarding passes, identification documents and documents to verify the discount eligibility of passengers at the station entrance and train car doors.
