Tickets for the HQ1/HQ2 service went on sale on August 17, with the route scheduled to begin operating on August 29.
From August 29 to September 5, passengers will receive a 50 per cent discount across all ticket classes. Promotional fares for the Hue-Phong Nha route, terminating at Tho Loc Station, will range from VND 210,000 to VND 380,000 (USD 7.9-14.3).
A 15 per cent discount will then apply from September 6 to December 31, 2026.
Under the timetable, HQ2 will leave Hue Station at 7.15 am and arrive at Tho Loc Station at 11.55 am. The return service, HQ1, will depart Tho Loc at 1.15 pm and reach Hue at 5.25 pm.
The journey covers about 190km and links Hue, Dong Ha, My Trach, Dong Hoi and Tho Loc stations, taking more than four hours.
The stations along the route are located near several major tourist attractions, including the Hue Monuments Complex, the Quang Tri Citadel near Dong Ha Station, the Vinh Moc Tunnels near My Trach Station and the gateway to the cave systems of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park near Tho Loc Station.
The stations are also being developed as tourist stops where visitors can take photographs and explore and purchase products certified under Vietnam's One Commune One Product programme.
The train will consist of eight carriages and can accommodate more than 300 passengers. Five carriages will feature rotating seats allowing passengers to enjoy views of the scenery along the route.
The train will also include a 24-seat VIP carriage, a community carriage designed to encourage interaction among passengers, and an entertainment and services carriage offering experiences described as new to Vietnam's railway network.
Vietnam Railways Group executives said the Hue-Phong Nha service was expected to become a distinctive experiential tourism product, expanding links between destinations in central Vietnam while creating a tourism asset with long-term potential.
