Hue–Da Nang Heritage Train Ranks 10th Among World's Favorite Rail Journeys

A Three Hour Journey Joins the World's Rail Favorites

Vietnam's Central Heritage Connection between Hue and Da Nang has placed 10th among 20 rail journeys in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, bringing international attention to a service that carried more than 440,000 passengers in its first two years. The roughly three hour trip passes the Tam Giang–Cau Hai lagoon system, Lang Co Bay and Hai Van Pass, combining coastal scenery with traditional performances aboard the train.

The Vietage by Anantara, which connects Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Nha Trang, placed 14th. Together, the two services put different versions of travel through central Vietnam on the same list: a heritage train with a listed fare of about US$11 and a luxury service with private compartments and meals served along the way.

The results of the 39th annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards were announced on October 6, 2026. Voting ran from April 1 to June 30 and drew 798,867 votes across the awards' travel categories. Readers selected their preferred experiences, making the railway list a measure of passenger appeal.

For the Hue–Da Nang service, the recognition follows a substantial refresh unveiled on March 26, 2026, exactly two years after its launch. Vietnam Railways introduced seats that turn to face the direction of travel, a carriage inspired by Hue's imperial interiors and redesigned spaces for food and cultural activities.

What Passengers See Between Hue and Da Nang

Hue Station and Da Nang Station bookend a route where lagoons, mountains and the sea become part of the journey. The Tam Giang–Cau Hai lagoon system provides stretches of open water before the route reaches Lang Co Bay and the mountain slopes around Hai Van Pass.

Hai Van Pass is central to the train's appeal. Along this section, the railway follows a landscape with the Truong Son mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Passengers can watch the terrain change from their seats while travelling between the two cities.

Morning and afternoon departures give visitors different opportunities to see the coast in changing light. At the service's launch, Da Nang's authorities promoted the possibility of seeing sunrise or sunset around Lang Co Bay, depending on the journey chosen.

The experience also extends inside the train. Quiet carriages provide space to rest, while two community carriages are described in the awards coverage as hosting traditional music and dance. Passengers can choose between watching the landscape in a calmer setting and spending part of the trip around live cultural activities.

How the Heritage Service Began

Vietnam Railways and the authorities of Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang launched the Central Heritage Connection on March 26, 2024. The date coincided with the anniversary of the liberation of Thua Thien Hue and came shortly before Da Nang's corresponding anniversary on March 29.

Da Nang's official launch announcement described five carriages with air conditioning and soft seats, plus a community carriage. The initial seven carriage formation also included a carriage supplying power and supporting train operations.

Dang Sy Manh, chairman of Vietnam Railways, presented the service as a way to connect local heritage experiences and different regions. He also set out an ambition to develop more tourism services and eventually cooperate with other transport providers so that passengers could use one ticket across a wider journey.

Practical arrangements at the two stations supported that aim. Waiting rooms were provided, and visitors could rent bicycles outside the stations by scanning QR codes. Hue also offered a discount on local tourist attractions, usable once for each train ticket. These measures connected the railway trip with activities after passengers stepped off the train.

What Changed in March 2026

Vietnam Railways and the Hue City People's Committee unveiled the redesigned train on March 26, 2026. The railway's redesign announcement describes 12 carriages with 56 soft seats each, replacing the earlier seats with versions that rotate 180 degrees. Passengers can therefore face the direction in which the train is moving.

A VIP carriage with 32 seats draws on the appearance of Hue's imperial interiors. A table runs along the windows, creating space for passengers to drink coffee, listen to live music and watch the scenery around Hai Van Pass. The announcement describes both the standard seating carriages and this distinct premium space.

The exterior combines purple associated with Hue, light grey associated with Da Nang and a bronze coloured logo. Inside, the community spaces use decorative references to Hue's old roof tiles, Hoi An's architecture and lanterns, with mother of pearl inlay and blue ceramics.

Vietnam Railways also reported LED lighting, sound systems and LCD screens providing journey information and entertainment. Food, local products and cultural activities remain part of the community carriage experience. The redesign makes the train itself a place to spend time, alongside its role in moving passengers between cities.

Two Years of Passengers and Tourism Partnerships

Vietnam Railways said the service had carried more than 440,000 passengers on over 2,800 train journeys by its second anniversary. It reported that those journeys had operated safely and that the transport operator had partnered with more than 140 travel and tourism businesses in Hue and Da Nang.

The railway also reported a substantial share of international passengers, although it gave no percentage. For tourism businesses, the combination of a scheduled train and partnerships with local operators creates opportunities to include the journey in trips covering both cities.

The Central Heritage Connection had already been named among Hue's Top 9 Impressive Tourism Products of 2024. At the March 2026 event, authorities also announced Hue Station's recognition as a tourist destination, adding the station itself to the visitor experience.

That decision gives the station a role beyond arrivals and departures. Vietnam Railways described its historical and architectural value as part of the attraction. Together with bicycle rentals and links to local businesses, the station's new status places more of the visit around the railway rather than treating it simply as a transfer point.

Fares and Timetables Need Their Dates Attached

The ranking coverage lists a one way Central Heritage Connection fare of around US$11 and describes it as the least expensive journey among the 20 selected. The official launch announcement gives a different price reference: an introductory fare of 150,000 dong during the launch month in 2024, alongside a monthly ticket costing 900,000 dong.

Vietnam Railways also offered discounts of 10% to 50% for passengers in eligible policy groups at launch. The current fare for a particular departure and carriage category is not specified in the announcements, so travellers need to check the price when booking.

The original timetable provided two daily round trips, with morning and afternoon departures in both directions. From Hue, HD1 was scheduled to leave at 7:45 a.m. and reach Da Nang at 10:35 a.m.; HD3 departed at 2:25 p.m. and arrived at 5:40 p.m.

From Da Nang, HD2 was scheduled to leave at 7:50 a.m. and arrive in Hue at 11:05 a.m.; HD4 departed at 3 p.m. and arrived at 5:45 p.m. Those launch schedules put journey times between two hours 45 minutes and three hours 15 minutes, explaining the commonly used description of a roughly three hour trip. Passengers should confirm the timetable for their travel date.

The Vietage Offers a Different Coastal Experience

The Vietage by Anantara, in 14th place, serves the same broad coastal region with a stronger focus on privacy and dining. Its carriage has six private compartments accommodating up to 12 passengers, with large windows looking out onto rice fields, villages and coastal mountains.

The Da Nang–Quy Nhon journey takes about six hours, roughly twice the usual duration of the Hue–Da Nang heritage trip. Passengers receive a meal of three courses inspired by Vietnamese and French cooking. On the Quy Nhon–Nha Trang service, afternoon tea includes local caviar, Vietnamese cheeses and premium teas.

The two Vietnamese entries therefore give travellers different choices within the same ranking. Central Heritage Connection combines a shorter trip, conventional seating and shared cultural spaces. The Vietage places a small number of passengers in a setting built around dining and a more private journey.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express took first place in the global list, followed by Rovos Rail and Rocky Mountaineer. Golden Eagle Danube Express and Andean Explorer completed the top five. Vietnam's two entries put both an accessible heritage service and a luxury coastal experience alongside those established international names.

Steam Trains Are Being Tested on Hai Van Pass

Vietnam Railways is also working with Hue and Da Nang on plans for tourist trains pulled by steam locomotives. In early October, two locomotives completed technical test runs between Kim Lien Station in Da Nang and Lang Co Station in Hue, crossing Hai Van Pass.

The trials examined both the locomotives and the route infrastructure, including bridges with limited load capacity and tight curves. A run carrying a load supported locomotive inspection and bridge load testing. Such tests check how the equipment and track structures perform under the weight and forces involved in operation.

No date for passenger steam services was given. The project would add another form of railway tourism to a route already drawing passengers for its scenery and cultural activities.

The main developments have unfolded over several stages:

• March 26, 2024: Central Heritage Connection launched between Hue and Da Nang.
• During 2024: The service was named among Hue's Top 9 Impressive Tourism Products.
• March 26, 2026: Vietnam Railways unveiled the refreshed train and reported more than 440,000 passengers over two years.
• April 1 to June 30, 2026: Voting took place for the Readers' Choice Awards.
• October 6, 2026: The awards results placed Central Heritage Connection 10th and The Vietage 14th.
• Early October: Two steam locomotives completed technical trials through Hai Van Pass.

Key Points

• Central Heritage Connection ranked 10th among 20 rail journeys in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards; The Vietage by Anantara ranked 14th.
• The Hue–Da Nang trip takes about three hours and passes lagoons, Lang Co Bay and Hai Van Pass.
• Vietnam Railways reported more than 440,000 passengers and over 2,800 journeys in the service's first two years.
• The March 2026 refresh introduced rotating seats, redesigned community spaces and a VIP carriage with 32 seats.
• The ranking coverage lists a fare of about US$11; the official 150,000 dong fare applied during the 2024 launch month.
• Steam locomotives have completed technical trials, with no passenger launch date announced.