Sleeper train tickets from Hanoi to Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh Province on June 28-29 have been nearly sold out. Prime time slots on routes such as SE19 and SE17 have run out. Meanwhile, only three tickets remain on train SE1.

The Hanoi-Lao Cai route has no tickets left for June 28-29. In July, weekend tickets have been mostly sold out.

The same situation has also been reported on routes from HCM City to Phan Thiet and Nha Trang.

According to a travel firm representative, the demand for train travel this summer is 40 percent higher than last year. His firm often has to book a railway tour one month in advance to reserve it.

According to the Danang Department of Tourism, over five days across the April 30-May 1 holiday, the city welcomed over 16,000 visitors by train, a rise of 60 percent year on year. Many other localities, like Hue, Nha Trang, and Haiphong, also saw a surge in the number of tourists going by train.

Travel firms have noted a significant shift in customer preference towards trains, especially due to the high airfares. In response, the railway sector has stepped up, focusing on upgrading and enhancing infrastructure and services. This has led to the introduction of several luxury trains, including the high-quality SE19/SE20 on the Hanoi-Danang route, SE21/SE22 (Danang-HCM City), and the Hanoi-Haiphong train, specifically designed for food tours.