A new heritage tourist experience in central Vietnam – expected to
launch late 2024 or early 2025 – is going full steam ahead thanks to a
partnership between Indochina Rail Tourist Service joint stock company
and hospitality consultancy, Wafaifo Optimisers.
Two original steam locomotives from the 1960s have been restored to
working condition. The locomotives will pull two retro-styled carriages
that can each seat up to 57 passengers, as well as a custom-made kitchen
carriage and a baggage carriage.
The Revolution Express will make a return trip between Danang city
and the former royal capital of Hue each day, travelling through Hai Van
coastal mountain range and stopping at Lang Co adjacent to lagoon and
beach scenery.
The locomotives are the last remaining working steam engines in
Vietnam, dating from the pre-independence era, both built locally in
Vietnam, based on a French design.
They have been restored using original parts and utilising the skills
of the last remaining steam engineers working for Vietnam Railways.
“We are proud to bring these old dames of rail back to life and to
showcase important periods in Vietnamese history from imperial through
colonial rule and finally the struggle to independence,” said Indochina
Rail’s chairman, Michael Gebbie.
Highlights of the tourist experience will include themed dining at
the three railway stations on the route: Kim Lien (Danang), Lang Co and
Hue. Each station will have its own menus and entertainment schedules to
meet the arrival of the Revolution Express.
In Hue, the original train maintenance building is being refurbished
as the Station Restaurant and will be themed in an imperial manner
befitting the history of Hue, the last bastion of the dynastic era in
Vietnam.
In Lang Co, apart from a full restaurant offering, food carts will be
on the station platform offering homemade ice cream, freshly squeezed
fruit juices, Vietnamese coffee, and newly pressed sugar cane.
The plan is that when the Revolution Express arrives at the stations
on the route a brass band in army regalia will greet disembarking
guests.
Wafaifo Optimisers will be responsible for marketing, booking and
catering for the Revolution Express and its stations. The company will
also open its own urban resort in the heritage city of Hoi An in the
third quarter of this year.