The Luxury Train Travel market in South East Asia is getting more and more interesting. It already has some of the most luxurious trains in the world. Now the luxury comes not just in the terms of a full train but also as a carriage attached to a regular train. If this gets popular, it is certainly going to open a lot of options and many other operators will be looking towards it with a renewed interest.
Here comes another short but quite sweet journey, this time in Vietnam. Vietage is an exclusive 12-seat reservation-only luxury railway carriage developed by Anantara to create memorable journeys between two quintessential locations on Vietnam’s Central coast: Anantara Hoi An Resort and Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, providing a unique luxury travel experience through the Vietnamese countryside. Those who are familiar with Vietnam will know that Hoi An is a popular tourist town, with a lot of influence from Chinese culture. Vietnam has a long railway line that connects the North and the South, and between some stretches it is considered as one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. A night train from Hanoi for Da Nang is favoured by tourists, and on this particular journey a stretch between Hue and Da Nang offers the best view one can ever have. There is an existing rail service between Da Nang and Quy Nhon, a six -hour journey via Dieu Tri.
Well, keeping its date despite a COVID-19 mayhem across the world, Vietage departed for its inaugural journey on Wednesday 1st July 2020 and now brings luxury railway journeys through the Vietnamese countryside connecting Da Nang and Quy Nhon cities. On Vietage, as part of the onboard experience in the custom-designed carriage, guests will enjoy stunning views through the big picture windows, a sit-up bar to socialise at, a three-course, exclusively-curated menu with free flow drinks, and a head and shoulder treatment. The six-hour journey passes through a diverse range of vistas from rural villages and rice paddy fields to glimpses of beach life and mountainous landscapes.
The Vietage has been developed by Anantara to introduce memorable journeys between Anantara Hoi An and Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, a unique Vietnamese luxury travel experience for its guests. The Vietage runs on a daily return railway route between Da Nang and Quy Nhon in South Central Vietnam, offering luxury train travel experiences for guests exploring Vietnam. The Vietage departs from Da Nang station every morning for the six-hour journey to Quy Nhon and returns in the evening. The custom-designed opulent carriage immerses its guests into the culture, nature, and history of the country through the stories of its daily return journey, heralding a new age of glamorous train travel. The cabin is tastefully designed, with the light wood flooring blending effortlessly with the beige compartments and yellow chairs. The broad use of yellow in different shades give the train interiors an Indochinese, tropical aura. This is also the first boutique-concept train designed and built by a Vietnamese team.
The Vietage carriage boasts sleek-lined modern interiors, big picture windows and large comfy seats, while a sit-up bar offers a change of scenery and the chance to enjoy local craft beers, wines and snacks over conversation with friends, before the main culinary experience. The Vietage’s six spacious booths feature two comfortable window seats, offering everyone on board views of Central Vietnam’s verdant plains, forested mountains and sparkling shores. This beautifully designed carriage also features its own sit-up bar, gourmet dining, private restroom and a dedicated area for head and shoulder treatments.
During the journey, guests encounter a plethora of taste sensations as the countryside rolls by. An exclusively curated menu evokes the essence of Vietnam with a French twist, through an explosion of creative flavours and local ingredients. Dishes such as Quy Nhon seafood salad, barley risotto and braised Wagyu neck will excite plant, carnivore and seafood lovers alike. Sweet endings come in the form of local Da Lat strawberries, passion fruit tart and a typical French-style crème brulée made with superior Dong Nai chocolate from Vietnam. A dedicated area with spa treatment chairs offers head and shoulder treatments on the go as the train passes through local villages, rural countryside and stops at a few stations on the way.
While The Vietage has been created to provide luxurious cross-country transfers for guests travelling between Anantara Hoi An Resort and Anantara Quy Nhon Resort, the journey is open to all. But as we say, luxury does not come cheap. A one-way ticket aboard The Vietage costs US$185 (around 13,860 INR) per person, including a three-course, pre-ordered meal, free-flow wines, beers and soft drinks, bar snacks and a 30-minute head and shoulder treatment. An à la carte menu also offers premium wines, champagnes and treats such as local caviar and the finest selection of both local and international cheeses, all available for pre-purchase.
The Vietage departs from Da Nang every morning at 09:31, arriving at Dieu Tri station in Quy Nhon at 15:43. The return journey departs from Dieu Tri at 17:29 and arrives in Da Nang at 23:01. The Vietage runs for eleven months each year, taking a break during the annual Vietnamese Tet holiday period. Next time you are in Vietnam, give this trip a try if suit your budget. It will be worth it!
घूमने जाने के लिए इच्छा जाग्रत हो गई है।
नदीम जी, अगर ऐसा है तो हमारा मकसद पूरा हुआ!