Hoa Phuong Do: the Hanoi - Hai Phong luxury train
Salon Club Class, the Indochine VIP salon carriage
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Hoa Phuong Do is Vietnam Railways' luxury train between Hanoi and Hai Phong, launched on 10 May 2025 to mark the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong's liberation. Its signature feature is Salon Club Class, a 34 seat VIP lounge carriage with wood paneling, LED mood lighting, embroidered fabric seating and a bar serving one free drink per ticket. The ride takes under 2 hours 30 minutes, which makes Hai Phong, famous for its street food, an easy day trip from Hanoi, and a stepping stone toward Cat Ba Island and Ha Long Bay.
| Launched | 10 May 2025, for the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation |
|---|---|
| Operator | Vietnam Railways (Duong Sat Viet Nam) |
| Carriages | 20 new Indochine style carriages |
| Classes on board | Salon Club Class (34 seat VIP), first class (56 seat, 180 degree swivel seats), economy (64 seat). YesMyTrips currently books Soft Seat and Salon Club Class on this route. |
| Route | Hanoi Railway Station (120 Le Duan) to Hai Phong Railway Station, about 102 km |
| Duration | 2 hours 25 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes depending on the train |
| Onboard perks | One free drink at the bar, free wifi, electronic info displays |
| Demand | 1.5 million plus passengers in 2024; Salon Club Class often sells out on weekends and holidays |
| Best for | A Hai Phong food tour day trip, or the first leg toward Cat Ba Island and Ha Long Bay |
| Book online | YesMyTrips.com |
What is the Hoa Phuong Do train?
Hoa Phuong Do, meaning "Red Flamboyant" or "Red Phoenix Flower", is a Vietnam Railways service launched on 10 May 2025 between Hanoi and Hai Phong, timed to the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong's liberation. It runs on 20 newly built Indochine style carriages and takes its name from the flamboyant flower (Delonix regia), the flower long associated with Hai Phong, sometimes called the City of Red Flamboyants.
The train carries three classes: Salon Club Class, a 34 seat VIP lounge carriage; a 56 seat first class with 180 degree swivel seats; and a 64 seat economy class. On YesMyTrips, this route currently books Soft Seat and Salon Club Class fares, with Salon Club Class being the fare that corresponds to the VIP lounge carriage described below.
The Salon Club Class carriage in detail
Salon Club Class is what sets Hoa Phuong Do apart from a regular Vietnam Railways service. Instead of standard rows, the carriage is a 34 seat lounge with natural wood floors, wood panel walls, decorative LED lighting and embroidered fabric upholstery, arranged as 16 single sofas plus 5 long sofas across three lounge zones. A bar counter serves one complimentary drink per ticket, chosen from juice, tea, coffee or water, and the carriage has free onboard wifi, electronic information displays and uniformed staff throughout the journey.
- Interior Natural wood floors and wood panel walls, in an Indochine style
- Lighting Decorative LED mood lighting throughout the carriage
- Seating 16 single sofas and 5 long sofas, embroidered fabric upholstery, mixed orientations
- Bar One complimentary drink per ticket: juice, tea, coffee or water
- Wifi and displays Free onboard wifi and electronic info displays, plus uniformed staff
- From June 2026 Vietnam Railways plans to add AI service robots to the Salon Club Class carriage
Which seat to pick in Salon Club Class
The 34 seat carriage is split into three lounge zones with a mix of single and long sofas, so seats do not all face the same way like a regular carriage. Here is what to expect from each zone:
- Window sofas Single sofas set along the windows, the pick for anyone who wants a view of the Red River Delta countryside on the way to Hai Phong.
- Facing long sofas Long sofas arranged in facing pairs, best for groups and families traveling together who want to sit face to face.
- Bar side seats Seats closest to the bar counter, convenient if you plan to get your free drink early and enjoy it while people watching in the lounge.
These zone figures come from the carriage's published layout; the exact seat map is shown when you select Salon Club Class during booking, where you can pick your seat directly.
Hoa Phuong Do schedule: Hanoi to Hai Phong
Five trains run the Hanoi to Hai Phong direction daily, and Salon Club Class is available on four of them. Always confirm live times and seat availability when you book, schedules can change.
| Train | Depart Hanoi | Arrive Hai Phong | Duration | Salon Club Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP1 | 06:00 | 08:25 | 2h25 | Yes |
| LP9 | 07:15 | 10:07 | 2h52 | No, Soft Seat only |
| LP3 | 09:25 | 12:00 | 2h35 | Yes |
| LP5 | 15:15 | 18:00 | 2h45 | Yes |
| LP7 | 18:10 | 20:55 | 2h45 | Yes |
LP9 does not carry a Salon Club Class carriage: it runs Soft Seat only.
Return journey: Hai Phong to Hanoi
Salon Club Class also runs on the return leg, on trains HP2, LP2, LP6 and LP8, which makes a same day round trip to Hai Phong straightforward from either city.
Why take the Hoa Phuong Do train
The main reason travelers ride this line is Hai Phong's food scene: banh da cua crab noodle soup, banh mi que, and som bread, all an easy walk from Hai Phong Railway Station, itself a restored French colonial building worth a look on its own. With five daily departures and a sub 2 hour 30 minute ride, a morning train out and an evening train back turns Hai Phong into a full day trip from Hanoi without an overnight stay.
Hai Phong is also a practical gateway toward Cat Ba Island and Ha Long Bay: many travelers ride the Hoa Phuong Do train into Hai Phong, then connect onward by bus or boat, rather than doing the whole trip from Hanoi by road.
How to book without a Vietnamese phone number
You can book Hoa Phuong Do tickets on YesMyTrips in your own language, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and receive an official Vietnam Railways QR e-ticket by email, no Vietnamese SIM card or phone number required. On the results page, select the Salon Club Class fare to book the VIP salon carriage described above; Soft Seat is the regular seat class on the same trains. If you have questions, our founder Maxence is reachable on WhatsApp.
Fares change with demand, so check live prices and availability on your travel date before you commit to a train.
Hoa Phuong Do train: frequently asked questions
What is the Hoa Phuong Do train?
Hoa Phuong Do is a Vietnam Railways luxury train between Hanoi and Hai Phong, launched on 10 May 2025 for the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation. It runs 20 new Indochine style carriages and is named after the flamboyant flower, Hai Phong's symbol.
What is Salon Club Class, the VIP salon carriage?
Salon Club Class is the 34 seat VIP lounge carriage on the Hoa Phuong Do train: wood floors, wood panel walls, decorative LED lighting, embroidered fabric sofas, a bar with one free drink per ticket, and free onboard wifi.
Which trains have the Salon Club Class carriage?
Salon Club Class runs on trains HP1, LP3, LP5 and LP7 from Hanoi to Hai Phong. LP9 does not carry it and runs Soft Seat only. On the return leg, Salon Club Class runs on HP2, LP2, LP6 and LP8.
How much is a Hoa Phuong Do Salon Club Class ticket?
Fares vary by day and demand, weekend and holiday tickets typically cost more than weekday ones. Check live fares and availability for your travel date on YesMyTrips before booking.
How long is the Hanoi to Hai Phong train?
The journey covers about 102 km and takes 2 hours 25 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, depending on the train.
Can I do Hai Phong as a day trip from Hanoi?
Yes. With five daily departures each way and a ride under 2 hours 30 minutes, you can take an early train like HP1 out and an evening train like LP7 back, both of which carry Salon Club Class, and still have a full day in Hai Phong.
Is Salon Club Class worth it compared to Soft Seat?
Salon Club Class costs more than Soft Seat but adds a lounge style carriage, a free drink at the bar, and roomier sofa seating instead of a standard row. For a short ride and a special occasion or a food tour day trip, many travelers find it worth the upgrade; for a strictly budget trip, Soft Seat covers the same route and schedule.
Can I get to Cat Ba Island or Ha Long Bay this way?
Yes, Hai Phong is a common gateway: ride the Hoa Phuong Do train into Hai Phong, then continue onward by bus or boat toward Cat Ba Island or Ha Long Bay, rather than traveling the whole route from Hanoi by road.
How do I book without a Vietnamese phone number?
Book on YesMyTrips in your own language, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and get an official Vietnam Railways QR e-ticket by email. No Vietnamese SIM card or local phone number is needed.
Do I need to print the ticket?
No. The QR e-ticket emailed to you after booking is accepted directly from your phone at Hanoi and Hai Phong railway stations.
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