Experience a luxury and low-carbon travel with train ride in Vietnam

Tim Pile is a first-hand experience personality and veteran SCMP contributor who has written more than 300 travel articles for this site. He expressed that he had travelled to more than 100 countries, witnessed having to drag suitcases down to the train platform and squeeze into crowded train compartments with a feeling of desperation to find an empty seat. However, the experience on the luxurious The Vietage by Anantara train brought a completely different experience.

Impressive and unforgettable experience

Departing at 2pm on The Vietage by Anantara train from Nha Trang to Quy Nhon, Tim enjoyed champagne, cocktails, caviar and snacks on the train for the first time. The experience of the trip gave him an unforgettable impression of train travel in Central Vietnam, Tim wrote about his experience on The Vietage by Anantara train.

The Vietage by Anantara train (Photo: The Vietagetrain)

The Vietage train was developed by the Anantara brand, launched in 2020. The train offers memorable luxury travel journeys. Two separate train cars run daily journeys in opposite directions, one departing in the morning from Da Nang to Quy Nhon and then to Nha Trang and the second departing Nha Trang in the afternoon to Quy Nhon and heading towards Da Nang.

Once on the train, staff will lead passengers to experience the train compartments, each compartment will have two seats and windows to view the surrounding world during the journey. After passengers settle down, staff will start serving champagne.

According to Tim, the train moves at an average speed of 50km/h (31mph), very suitable for sightseeing along the way. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking coastal views, bays and beaches. Tim had moved from the private room to the bar area. Here, staff prepare a variety of food and drinks, passengers can choose alcoholic drinks or soft drinks.

When looking out the train window, the scene flashed past Tim's eyes like movies. Tim wrote that he was especially impressed with the scene in Vietnam, the image of farmers wearing conical hats leading buffaloes around rice fields or cranes wading in lotus ponds to search for food.

(Photo: The Vietagetrain)

Tim also shows concern about emissions and the environment. Tim said that travelling by train instead of by car will help reduce emissions by about 80%, limiting global warming. Therefore, train travel is also an option for the green planet.

Attractive cuisine

In addition to the bar area serving drinks, The Vietage by Anantara also serves passengers afternoon tea, including lobster and caviar, followed by finger sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam. “What a decadent delight” Tim exclaimed.

Afternoon tea on board (Photo: The Vietagetrain)

According to chef Vinh Tran, 80% of the ingredients served on The Vietage are locally sourced, including lobster, caviar, cheese and jam. Vietnam is known as the second largest coffee growing country and the fifth largest tea producer in the world, so premium coffee and teas are always available to serve passengers. Tourists' culinary journey continues with charcuterie, lemon tart and strawberry cheesecake before arriving at Dieu Tri station, Quy Nhon.

Tim arrived at the Anantara Quy Nhon Villas beach resort as night fell. The room Tim booked has a private pool and can watch the sunset every day.

The next morning, Tim went to a local market and experienced choosing and buying ingredients for lunch with chef Vinh Tran. Then visit the Twin Cham Towers relics from the 12th century in a large space with an area of ​​up to 6,000 square metres. Twin Cham Towers is one of eight remaining clusters of Cham towers in Binh Dinh today, one of the Cham cultural architectural relics with unique religious colours. Quy Nhon Twin Cham Towers are also among the best-preserved monuments in Vietnam, giving visitors a glimpse of the treasure trove of architectural and cultural heritage of the ancient Champa civilization.

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