HCM CITY — Passengers buying train tickets 20 days in advance of their journey will have the price reduced, ranging from 20 per cent to 50 per cent, the Sài Gòn Railway Transport JSC has announced.

The promotion applies to trips of more than 1,000km on the Thống Nhất (North - South) route and TPHCM–Huế route at Sài Gòn Train Station.

Passengers booking train tickets 20 days before the departure date will enjoy a cut of 20 per cent to 30 per cent, on routes from HCM City to the central provinces of Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang and Quãng Ngãi.

Price reductions will not apply for passengers on air-conditioned four sleeper-seat cabins.

Tickets can be returned or exchanged 72 hours prior to the departure date. In case of exchange, passengers have to pay 20-50 per cent of its value, depending on the route.

Groups of over 10 passengers will see their ticket prices cut by 3-12 per cent.

In addition, travel companies participating in the domestic tourism stimulus programme for 2018 will be offered a reduction of 10 per cent to 40 per cent.

The travel companies will receive an additional discount of 10 per cent if they book tickets 30 days in advance for groups of more than 10 passengers.

The reduction in ticket prices will continue until December 26, except during holiday periods from April 25 to May 1, and from August 30 to September 3.

New schedules

Hà Nội Railway Transport JSC (HARACO) will change its timetables of trains SE1, SE2, SE3 and SE4 linking Hà Nội and HCM City beginning on May 15.

Accordingly, SE1 will depart at Hà Nội Railway Station at 10.20pm daily; SE2 will leave Sài Gòn Railway Station at 9.55pm daily; SE3 will depart at Hà Nội station at 7.30pm daily; and SE4 will leave Sài Gòn Railway Station at 7.45pm every day.

In addition, some trains will change their pickup schedules at transit stations.

HARACO has also launched a promotion for groups of passengers from 3 per cent to 7 per cent beginning this summer.

Purchases made from May 24 to August 12 by groups of 20-50 people will be reduced by 3 per cent, and for groups of 51-100 people, 5 per cent. Groups of over 101 people will see a cut of 7 per cent.

Depending on total number of people in each group (excluding tour guides), a discount will also be offered for their tour guides.

A group of 20-50 people will receive a discount for a tour guide, while a group of 51-100 people will have a reduction for two tour guides. Groups of over 101 people will enjoy a discount for three tour guides.

Each tour guide will receive a 70 per cent discounted ticket price.

More promotions

Earlier, Việt Nam Railway announced its new promotions for 2018.

Accordingly, passengers who are Vietnamese heroic mothers or who took part in national liberation before the August revolution (19/8/1945) will receive a 90 per cent discount off train ticket prices.

A 30 per cent discount will be given for those who are war invalids, policy beneficiaries, Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities.

There will also be a discount of 25 per cent for children 6 to 10 years old; 15 per cent discount for those 60 and above; and 10 per cent discount for students at vocational schools, high schools, colleges, universities and academies (excluding postgraduate students).

Children under six years old accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. There is a limit of two children per adult. — VNS