At 7.20 p.m. the crew of SE1 was getting it ready for the last cross-country ride of the lunar year, which ended Saturday.
Some foreigners showed up at the last minute to buy tickets, and the counter clerks speeded up things so that they could board.
“15 minutes before midnight the staff will invite passengers to the dining area to celebrate the new year,” crew member Nguyen Xuan Khanh said.
A group of nearly 30 foreign passengers get on board. They were traveling to Thua Thien Hue Province.
“This will be the first time my family celebrate the New Year on a train,” Tran Trung Kien of Nghe An Province said. “I hope we can still see fireworks at midnight.”
Train conductor Pham Van Thuc, 51, said he has celebrated the New Year 10 times on the train.
“I am sad I have to work while most people are spending time with their family. The staff will celebrate the New Year together.”
A Ministry of Transport official came on board to give customers and staff li xi (red envelope), a traditional gift of cash to wish good luck to the recipient.
