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Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) said it will officially implement the “Flexible Fare” feature using artificial intelligence (AI) on its online ticketing system from May 1, 2026—two weeks earlier than planned—after a pilot phase produced positive results.
During the pilot week from April 22 to 29, 2026, the system sold 9,376 tickets, generating about VND 2 billion in revenue. Direct discounts to passengers totaled VND 523 million.
Seat utilization improved significantly, reaching 79% occupancy, which was up 9% year-on-year and 12% higher than the previous month. The share of passengers benefiting from the flexible pricing mechanism accounted for 10.36% of total passengers on the trains included in the pilot.
Under the operating mechanism, when a portion of seats on a train is sold for longer journeys, the AI system automatically scans relevant data, calculates, and sets discounts for remaining shorter segments at the time of ticket purchase.
The discount levels range from 15% to a maximum of 35%, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of rail transport against other modes.
From May 1, the program will apply to all train categories. Passengers can purchase flexible-priced tickets through official channels, including the websites dsvn.vn and vetau.com.vn, mobile ticketing apps, and e-wallet platforms.
To support transparency, seats applying discounted prices will be displayed in light blue on the system, with price information and the discount amount clearly shown so passengers can recognize and choose.
Railway industry representatives said applying AI to price management is intended to advance digital transformation and operational optimization, while expanding access to rail services at more affordable costs—particularly during peak periods.
In addition to the flexible pricing rollout, during this year’s April 30 and May 1 holidays, the rail sector will continue regular operations of 182 trains with nearly 90,000 seats available, and will add 47 additional trains, increasing more than 22,000 seats on key routes including Hanoi–Hai Phong, Hanoi–Lao Cai, Hanoi–Vinh, Dong Hoi, Da Nang, and Saigon–Phan Thiet, as well as Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, and Quang Ngai.
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