First container train links Russia and Vietnam

The first container train from Russia to Vietnam welcomed at Yen Vien station

The train carrying cosmetic products departed from Vosrino station on the outskirts of Moscow, passing through Zabailkalsk-Manzhouli border gate of the Russia-China border and Piangxiang-Dong Dang border gate of the China-Vietnam border.

Travel duration was 23 days, including time for customs procedures at border gates. The time is only equal to half of that by sea, while the cost is much cheaper than by air.

Viacheslav Kharinov, Chief Representative of the Russian Trade Office in Vietnam, said this is an important milestone in the two countries’ trading activities as container transportation services by train will help facilitate the travel of goods, thus contributing to increasing import-export turnover.

The train route is part of an agreement between the Russian Railways (represented by RZD Logistics) and Vietnam Railways (represented by Rail Transport and Trading Company- RATRACO). The two sides are working to cut down the amount of time for travel to 18 days.

Recently, Vietnam Railways launched several container train routes connecting Hanoi and China’s Nanchang, Nanning and Guangzhou.