The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), in coordination with the French National Railway Company (SNCF), on November 4 held a twinning ceremony between Hai Phong Station and Pontorson Mont-Saint-Michel Station, alongside the unveiling of a twinning plaque between Da Lat Station and Trouville-Deauville Station.
Earlier, the twinning agreement between Da Lat Station and Trouville-Deauville Station had been signed by VNR at the French Embassy in Vietnam on May 7, 2026.
Through these partnerships, VNR aims to advance bilateral cooperation in three key areas: exchanging expertise on preserving and promoting railway heritage; sharing insights on developing railway stations integrated with tourism, commercial services, and multimodal transport; and co-promoting railway tourism products.
The twinning initiatives are grounded in shared architectural, historical, and tourism characteristics. Built in 1901 and officially commissioned in 1902 by France, Hai Phong Station has long been anchored to the historic Hai Phong – Hanoi – Lao Cai – Yunnan (China) railway. In 2025, the station was officially designated as a tourist destination.
Meanwhile, Da Lat Railway Station was constructed between 1932 and 1938 by French architects and recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic in 2001. The station was historically connected to the Thap Cham – Da Lat cog railway line, of which only the Da Lat – Trai Mat section currently remains operational for tourism.
In France, Pontorson Station serves as a strategic gateway for visitors traveling to Mont-Saint-Michel, while Trouville-Deauville Station connects travelers to iconic destinations across Normandy. According to VNR, Trouville-Deauville Station historically inspired the French architects who designed Da Lat Station nearly a century ago.
According to VNR, the shared foundation among these stations extends beyond architectural and heritage values to their roles as tourism gateways, cultural exchange hubs, and transport focal points deeply connected to urban life. Modern railway stations are oriented toward multifunctional development models that integrate passenger handling, commerce, and advanced technical infrastructure.
Under the partnership framework between Hai Phong Station and Pontorson Mont-Saint-Michel Station, both sides agreed to establish a joint working group comprising station masters and operational support teams. The group will convene at least once a year to review collaboration progress and outline future joint initiatives.
SNCF operates across railway infrastructure, station management, passenger transport, freight forwarding, logistics, and urban transit systems in France. The French rail operator also runs the high-speed TGV rail network, which operates at speeds of 300 to 320 km/h on dedicated corridors.
Google translate