Built by the French in the early 20th century, the Kunming–Hai Phong Railway runs from Kunming to Hekou on Vietnamese border, and then continues to Vietnam.

As late as the last years of the 20th century, every Friday and Sunday, a train would depart from Kunming North railway station to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The Yunnan Railway Museum (云南铁路博物馆, Yúnnán Tiělù Bówùguǎn) is adjacent to the station's tracks.

[2] As of 2012, most of the museum is closed due to the Kunming Metro construction and the replacement of the terminal building, but its historical railcar exhibit is still open.

Historic railcars and locomotives are settled in a trainshed across from the newly constructed terminal building, and are accessible by a footbridge across the railway station.