The first episode of a documentary programme on a north-south journey throughout Vietnam by train was aired on the evening of July 16.

The 52-episode programme was produced by the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) and Vietnam Television’s VTV24 news centre. 

It tells the stories of people, who experience the journey, alongside invited guests, who are writers, poets and cultural researchers. 

Along the north-south railway, built in the late 19th century and one of the most ancient routes of its kind in the world, the cultural features of each destination are depicted.    

To help viewers plan their own journey, the TV programme also gives information on local weather, tours and popular destinations.

Its episodes are scheduled to be broadcast on VTV1 every Monday starting at 8:05 p.m and VTV3 every Tuesday starting at 6:50 a.m. 

The UK-based Telegraph newspaper recently included Vietnam’s North-South railway line on its list of the top ten best train journeys in Asia for international visitors in 2018.

On the website www.telegraph.co.uk, a tour is recommended on the express train Thong Nhat (Reunification) connecting Hanoi and HCM City, and running through many Vietnam’s famous tourist destinations such as Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang. The train takes passengers on a 1,600-km journey along peaceful landscapes of ancient pagodas, paddy fields and farmers wearing conical hats, as well as beautiful coastline and mountains.

Vietnam’s railway line boasts a deep-rooted history, with the first railway section spanning 70 km from Saigon to the Mekong Delta city of My Tho was built by the French in 1881, marking the birth of the country’s railway system.