On social media, posts about the “very Hanoi” ticket for the Nhổn – Hanoi Station metro have become a viral trend. The ticket is designed in a circular shape, featuring an image of Khuê Văn Các.
Nhổn – Hanoi Station Ticket Goes Viral Online
Upon hearing the news that the elevated urban railway line Nhổn – Hanoi Station would commence commercial operations on August 8, Đức Anh (29 years old, from Cầu Giấy district) arrived at the station early in the morning.
After standing in line, he was surprised to receive a black circular train ticket embossed with the image of Khuê Văn Các, unlike the usual rectangular paper or plastic tickets.
“The ticket looks like a cookie, with a simple design but very Hanoi,” he remarked.
As he passed through the ticket gate, Đức Anh and other passengers used the ticket to swipe open the turnstile, and when they got off at their station, they inserted it into the machine to exit. The ticket is only valid for 20 minutes after purchase; if passengers do not board the train, they must visit the ticket counter to update it.
The train ticket featuring Khuê Văn Các – A symbol of Hanoi (Photo: Provided by the subject).
After work, Nguyễn Minh (35 years old, from Hà Đông district) took the opportunity to experience the Nhổn – Hanoi Station train line. What impressed him the most was the unique circular ticket design, which differs from the rectangular tickets of the Cát Linh – Hà Đông line he usually takes.
“The ticket is an improvement over traditional paper tickets, preventing them from getting crumpled. However, it is a bit small and can easily get lost during travel, especially for the elderly and children. I have to put it straight into my wallet after getting on the train,” the office worker shared.
Later in the afternoon, Trần Anh Đạt, a 20-year-old third-year student at Hanoi University of Industry, invited four friends to walk to Nhổn Station to take the train and snap some photos with the unique ticket. The student commented that the ticket’s design is interesting and embodies the unique essence of the capital.
“The ticket is elegant and compact, yet it contains the soul of Hanoi with the image of Khuê Văn Các. It truly leaves a remarkable impression. I think other public transport systems should consider adopting it,” Đạt said.
Đạt’s group (in the middle) holding the viral train ticket that has been trending on social media (Photo: Provided by the subject).
On social media, posts about the “very Hanoi” ticket for the Nhổn – Hanoi Station metro have become a viral trend. Many young people have been taking check-in photos with the ticket, encouraging others to experience the train.
According to the Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board, the ticket for the Nhổn – Hanoi Station railway line is used as a token, designed in a circular shape, featuring the image of Khuê Văn Các – a symbol of Hanoi.
The token is black to avoid glare that could affect the reading capability of the TVM (automated ticket vending machine) or the gate.
A representative from the Traffic Management and Operation Center of Hanoi under the Hanoi Department of Transport stated that the basic technical requirement for the token is simply a circular shape in a dark color, while the image on the token will be designed by the center.
“Hanoi’s policy allows children under 6 years old traveling with adults to ride for free, so there’s no worry about losing the ticket,” the representative noted.
Passengers enjoying the modern electronic ticket (Photo: Thành Đông).
According to a quick statistic from Hanoi Metro, the Nhổn – Hanoi Station electric train line welcomed over 34,000 passengers on its opening day.
Alongside the number of residents experiencing the service, many workers and students have immediately utilized this means of transportation for their daily commutes to school and work.
This is not the first time Hanoi has introduced a circular electronic ticket embossed with Khuê Văn Các.
In November 2023, Hanoi piloted an electronic ticketing system for multi-modal public transportation, which was implemented on 13 regular bus routes and the BRT rapid bus line.
Accordingly, the electronic ticket in the token form, either white or blue, features the image of Khuê Văn Các. Passengers only need to present the electronic ticket to swipe it at the bus’s card reader to complete their payment. The electronic ticket will be collected at the exits.
The BRT bus ticket in a circular green shape, featuring Khuê Văn Các (Photo: Minh Nhân).
Khuê Văn Các – A Symbol of Hanoi
Khuê Văn Các was built in 1805 and is one of the five gates dividing the inner area of the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám into five different spatial zones. The Khuê Văn Các gate belongs to the second spatial zone – Thành Đạt area, situated between the Đại Trung and Đại Thành gates.
Located within the Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám heritage site, it symbolizes the cultural development process of Vietnam. Historically, the Khuê Văn Gác served as a venue for reviewing the best essays of candidates who passed the royal examinations.
The highlight of the structure is in its central pavilion, which has circular openings on all four walls, with eight wooden beams extending outward.
Symbolically, this represents the Khuê star shining in the sky with rays of light spreading out, implying the concentration of the essence of heaven and earth around human learning…
Khuê Văn Các – A symbol of Hanoi (Photo: Hữu Nghị).
The Khuê Văn Các structure is an eight-roofed square pavilion, consisting of four upper roofs and four lower roofs, built on a square foundation laid with Bát Tràng bricks, elevated approximately 1 meter above ground level. The upper level is a two-story wooden structure, with a two-tiered roof covered with tube tiles.
Each side of the pavilion is adorned with intricately carved wooden eaves, surrounded by a balustrade. There are four circular windows on the four sides of the pavilion, with wooden beams radiating outward, symbolizing the rays of the Khuê star.
With its profound thoughts and philosophies, honoring the Vietnamese tradition of valuing education, Khuê Văn Các is regarded as a symbol of Vietnam’s cultural heritage. In 1999, Khuê Văn Các was officially chosen as the symbol of Hanoi.
