Nghe An residents warmly welcome the Thong Nhat train

Passengers from across the country stepped off the train into the warm embrace of Nghe An locals, amidst the vibrant display of red flags with yellow stars.

The Thong Nhat train, numbered SE4, departed from Saigon Station at 19:00 on April 29 and spent more than 30 hours traveling along the S-shaped land of Vietnam. This was not just a trip, but a historical journey marking the 50th anniversary of the complete reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025).

With the theme “Thong Nhat Train – Connecting the Nation, Spreading Love”, the program was organized by the Vietnam Railways Corporation in coordination with many localities along the North–South railway line.

As soon as the train stopped at Vinh Station, passenger Pham Thi Tuyet Nhung emotionally shared: “More than 60 years of my life, and this is the first time I have experienced such a meaningful train journey. Coming to the beloved Central region right on this historic day, I feel truly proud and touched. The people of Nghe An welcomed us with all their hearts”.

The station had been buzzing with excitement beforehand, thanks to careful preparations by Vinh Station and related units. Volunteer youth groups, security forces, and railway staff were busy guiding passengers and assisting the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.

Mr. Cao Ngoc Tuan, Head of Vinh Railway Transport Station, said: “Vinh Station is honored to be one of the stops of the historic Thong Nhat train. This is an opportunity for us to show our hospitality and remind the younger generation of the sacred value of peace and national unification”.

Under the late-night lights, Vinh Station seemed sleepless. Handshakes, tight hugs, emotional calls to one another on this historic April night, and fluttering red flags with yellow stars – all created an unforgettable moment. The Thong Nhat train is not only a means of geographical connection but also a bond of human affection, a vivid symbol of the Vietnamese people's aspiration for peace, unity, and development today.

Train SE4 – one of the two special “Thong Nhat” trains – departed from Saigon Station at 19:00 on April 29, 2025, passing through a total of 25 stations along the North–South railway. The journey lasted nearly 35 hours, with its final stop at Hanoi Station at 5:40 AM on May 1.

Throughout the journey, train SE4 stopped at major stations such as Nha Trang, Dieu Tri, Da Nang, Hue, Dong Hoi… and arrived at Vinh Station – an important transit point in North Central Vietnam – at 23:04 on April 30. This was one of the journey’s key highlights, marking an emotional convergence between a heroic past and a bright present at this historically rich station.

Also on this special occasion, as an expression of gratitude to those who contributed to the revolution, from April 24 to May 9, the railway sector is offering a 40% discount on train tickets for war invalids, people entitled to war-invalid-equivalent policies, wounded veterans, and relatives of those who contributed to the revolution.