The Hanoi Train: Heritage Train Day Trip to Do Temple, Bac Ninh

For a hundred years, trains have rattled out of Hanoi Station and across Long Bien Bridge. This half-day trip puts you on the newest of them: the Hanoi Train, a double-decker heritage train that began running in September 2025, its five carriages named after the old gates of the city. You sit by a wide window with the Red River below, while musicians in the carriage play quan ho, ca tru and cheo, three styles of northern folk music most visitors never get to hear live.

About forty minutes later the train pulls into Tu Son, in Bac Ninh, the old land of Kinh Bac. A shuttle takes you to Do Temple, where the eight kings of the Ly dynasty are worshipped, and the founder of Thang Long was born nearby. In the water pavilion, local singers in traditional dress perform quan ho, the call-and-response love songs listed by UNESCO, before the train brings you back to Hanoi. Choose the morning or the afternoon departure; it is an easy, unusual way to see the countryside beyond the city in just three and a half hours. Back by five on the afternoon train? It is the right time to join our Hanoi street food tour, and our Hanoi travel guide has more ideas.

You can also book this trip on our TourRadar page. It is the same heritage train journey, arranged by the same Sondax Travel team.

1. Choose morning or afternoon – 08:00 or 13:30 departure from Hanoi Station.
2. Bring your passport – ID is checked when you board the train.
3. Arrive 30 minutes early – meet your guide at Gate 1C, north lobby of Hanoi Railway Station, 120 Le Duan Street: 07:30 for the morning train, 13:00 for the afternoon train.

Meet at Hanoi Railway Station

Gate 1C, north lobby, 120 Le Duan: 07:30 for the morning train or 13:00 for the afternoon train. Time to look around the carriages before boarding.

08:00 or 13:30 – Depart on the Hanoi Train

Over Long Bien Bridge and through Gia Lam and Yen Vien, with live quan ho, ca tru and cheo in the carriage and a light snack on board.

Arrive at Tu Son station (about 40 minutes)

A shuttle takes the group to Do Temple.

Do Temple and quan ho singing (about 1.5 hours)

Walk through the temple of the Ly kings and watch local singers perform quan ho in the water pavilion.

Back to Hanoi Station

The morning train is back around 11:30; the afternoon train around 17:00.

Included

• Ticket on the Hanoi Train, round trip Hanoi – Tu Son
• English-speaking guide
• Light snack on board
• Live folk music on the train
• Shuttle between Tu Son station and Do Temple
• Visit to Do Temple and a quan ho performance

Not included

• Hotel pickup (meet at Hanoi Station)
• Extra food and drinks
• Tips and personal expenses