The China-Vietnam international passenger train services resumed on Sunday, marking the restart of direct rail connections between Nanning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, after a five-year hiatus.
Train T8701 departs from Nanning Station daily at 18:05 Beijing time, heading to Hanoi's Gia Lam Station, with stops at China's Chongzuo and Pingxiang stations, Vietnam's Dong Dang and Bac Giang stations along the way. The return train departs from Hanoi at 22:20, arriving in Nanning the following morning at 10:06.
The international route now extends farther to Beijing, operating twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. After arriving at Nanning Station, passengers will board Train T8701 for a journey to Hanoi.
With the three-day Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) holiday set to begin on Saturday, the stations along the route have made full preparations for the expected cross-border travel rush, said Li Jun, a passenger services organizer at Pingxiang Station.
"To ensure smooth operations of the international passenger train services during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, we are closely monitoring ticket sales in real time, coordinating our station staff with train crew and staff at the Dong Dang Station in advance, and working with customs and immigration officials to facilitate passengers' cross-border procedures, so as to ensure the punctual departure of the international passenger train," Li said.
Tickets for the train are available only at railway station counters, with a 10-day pre-sale period. Passengers can buy tickets with a passport at railway stations in Guilin, Nanning, Chongzuo and Pingxiang. Travelers must obtain a paper visa or prepare visa-free documents in advance and complete customs procedures at border stations.
China-Vietnam passenger train resumes after five-year suspension
