In recent years, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has been accelerating the pace of urban rail transport development, and the much-anticipated Hanoi Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 (Cát Linh-Hà Đông Line) has not only eased the traffic pressure in the city, but also quietly changed the lifestyles and social cultures of the young generation since its commissioning. Nowadays, this 13-kilometre-long modern elevated light rail line has gradually become a brand new place for local youth to ‘check in’, ‘go out’ and ‘explore the city’.
A ‘new landscape’ for urban transport
With the official opening of Hanoi Light Rail Transit Line 2, the 13-kilometre elevated rail line has quickly become a new travel and leisure option for young people in the city. Efficient for commuting on weekdays, it has become a ‘hit route’ on weekends, attracting a large number of young people between 18 and 30 years old to experience it.
With a clean interior, a wide view and smooth operation, many young passengers take photos and record short videos on the train, and post content such as ‘light rail diaries’ and ‘city travel vlogs’ on social media platforms, making the train not only a means of transport, but also a space for digital content creation. This makes the LRT not only a means of transport, but also a space for creating digital content.
The stations along the LRT cover many university areas, shopping centres and creative districts, providing young people with a rich scene for exploration, and coffee shops, food streets, bookstores and trendy shops around the stations such as Cát Linh, La Khê and Yên Nghĩa have gradually formed a new type of urban consumption zone integrated with the rail transit.
According to the data released by the Hanoi Urban Railway Authority, the average daily passenger flow of LRT Line 2 now exceeds 30,000, with the frequency of young people continuing to rise, making it one of the most dynamic user groups in the city. Rail transport is gradually integrating into people’s daily lives and forming a new travelling culture of socialising, leisure, and commuting among young people.
Vietnam’s version of the ‘commuter social circle’
Compared to traditional buses and motorbike commuting, the LRT provides a quieter, safer, and more comfortable space, which inadvertently fosters a new ‘social attribute’. From the frequent selfies, group chats, and sharing of electronic devices in the carriages to the youth photography exhibitions and environmental bazaars organised outside the stations, the LRT is gradually evolving into a new public social space for young people in the city.
‘The LRT is not just a means of transport, it is more like a mobile platform connecting the city with youth life.’ Tran Duc Anh, a researcher at the Hanoi Transportation Institute, pointed out that the LRT lines cover several university districts, business incubators, and cultural and creative neighbourhoods along the route, which are naturally endowed with the function of attracting young groups. ‘Especially in the age of internet socialisation, young people are more focused on experience and communication, and the LRT provides just the right scenario for this.’
Technology and design fuelling travel revolution
As Vietnam’s first urban light rail line, Hanoi LRT Line 2, which was built by Sino-Vietnamese cooperation, has a 13-kilometre line with 12 stations and an elevated structure running through the southwestern city to the central area. The trains, manufactured by China Railway Corporation, have an automatic driving system, real-time electronic information display, and voice announcement system, and can carry 960 passengers per train.
‘The density of trains is currently maintained at one train per five to 10 minutes, and departures will be encrypted during peak hours of operation to maximise the demand for commuting.’ According to the Hanoi City Railway Company, the trains have become one of the high-frequency commuting modes used by the public, with stable operational efficiency and an average punctuality rate of more than 99 per cent.
The design of LRT stations also reflects the combination of modern aesthetics and local culture, such as La Khê station, where the walls are made of traditional Vietnamese patterns combined with modern lighting technology, making it a popular spot for young people to take photos. Some stations also feature reading corners, self-service ticketing experience zones, and interactive screens to enhance passenger convenience and engagement.
Social benefits and future layout
According to the plan of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, Hanoi will complete the layout of 10 urban rail lines by 2030, with a total length of 417 kilometres, covering the main urban and suburban areas. As a ‘pioneer’, LRT Line 2 has not only accumulated operational experience but also provided a reference for the construction of subsequent lines.
Experts pointed out that the development of urban rail transport will effectively reduce motorbike dependence and air pollution, while improving traffic congestion. ‘Light rail is an inevitable choice for the future development of a big city like Hanoi, which is densely populated and has limited road resources.’ Le Minh Hai, a transport economist, said.
What is more noteworthy is that the high acceptance of LRT by young groups is prompting relevant authorities to rethink transport not only as a functional service, but also as an extension of cultural space. In the future, the Hanoi municipal government also plans to add youth activity spaces, creative exhibition areas, and cultural and tourism bazaars along the LRT, so that the LRT can truly integrate into the city’s daily life and serve the city’s vitality and cultural output.
Leave a comment