Visiting Vietnam? While flights within the country are very inexpensive, consider going from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train! Here’s how we did it.
We love train travel, and couldn’t wait to try it out during our visit to Vietnam. Our plan to go by train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City came together with surprising ease, allowing for multiple stops in several cities. This was a great way for first-timers to get an in-depth look at a fascinating and welcoming country.
All aboard in Hanoi!
It’s true domestic flights within Vietnam are relatively inexpensive and quick, but there is much more to see between the two main cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (the former Saigon). If you’re going to visit Vietnam, we highly recommend you consider going from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (or the train from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi) by train. Breaking up our journey into multiple stops created so many opportunities to get beyond the “often-seen” into a more realistic glimpse of day-to-day life. We think the train is the best way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, provided you have the time.
How to Find Info on Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Train Routes and Ticketing
Our first and main go-to resource for anything to do with train travel anywhere in the world is The Man in Seat 61, whose section about Vietnam is highly comprehensive. The information on this site includes timetables for the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh train (and Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi train schedules) along with recommendations which validated our instincts in wanting to slow down and see the country. Going straight through by train Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is popular, but we didn’t want to overnight on the train. You may also get information and updated timetables at Tong Cong Ty Duong Sat Viet Nam (DSVN) but not every part of this website converts in English (just choose the little Union Jack icon in the upper right corner when you navigate to an interior page, if you can). Booking tickets on the DSVN site is impossible for Westerners who do not have a Vietnamese-issued credit card.
Interior configurations vary – have a plan B if your belongings won’t fit
While The Man in Seat 61 is our first informational resource, we used the Vietnam Railways System site to issue tickets for the individual stops from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Please note that this is not the “official” government site, but rather a booking agency. You will get double confirmations: one for receipt of your booking, and one for receipt of your payment. Printed copies can be shown to personnel to confirm your carriage and seat.
Types of Trains on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh Route
Vietnam trains are coded, and it’s helpful to know what you’ll be getting on a certain timetable. We booked SE trains, which are billed as a bit more modern and faster. Still, the condition of the trains and the seat-side amenities varied. We would have described none as new, although Seat 61 has indicated certain refurbishments are occurring. SE 1 and 3 trains supposedly make fewer stops than SE 5 and 7. Air temperature was relatively comfortable on each of the trains we took, and food and other refreshments were served at your seat and/or in a restaurant car. The same options are available on the Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi train.
Food trolley with hot selections. The large tub in lower right holds rice.
TN class trains stop at all stops and not all are air-conditioned. This will add a lot of time to your itinerary, and you’ll be in an older carriage.
Types of Seats on the Hanoi to Saigon Train (and vice versa)
Pay attention to the types of seats offered: hard seat – nothing more than a wooden bench, soft seat – individual cushioned seats, hard sleeper – 6 berths per compartment, soft sleeper – 4 berths per compartment. For the longer distances, many travelers prefer to book night trains, thereby saving the cost of hotels. We’ve traveled on night trains by private compartment, which is arguably a bit more comfortable, and still our sleep suffered. Knowing this led to our decision to make day trips only.
Soft seat carriage with TV screen
Cost of Trips:
Nha Traing – Saigon Boarding Pass
We were booking trips of one-day’s travel duration, two individual soft seats.
Hanoi – Hue was a very long day. We left at 9:00 am and arrived in Hue almost 14 hours later. With instructions provided by our hotel, we easily grabbed a taxi at the Hue station and were delivered to our hotel in about 15 minutes. While we generally try to avoid night arrivals, this couldn’t be helped and worked out fine. Cost per ticket: $45USD.
Hue – Dieu Tri (for Quy Nhon) – This was an 8-1/2 hour trip (8:56-17:26), with a ride from our Quy Nhon hotel awaiting us in the Dieu Tri station lobby. Cost per ticket: $35USD
Dieu Tri – Nha Trang – An easy-peasy 3 hour and 40-minute ride. Our Nha Trang hotel was five minutes by taxi from the train station. Cost per ticket: $27USD
Nha Trang – Saigon – Our 7-1/2 hour journey began at 8:35am, and arrival time was 4:05pm. Cost per ticket: $30USD
Total cost for two including taxes and fees: $284.96USD (for two people).
Experience On Board:
Amenities varied even in the SE class of trains. On all there was food delivery via cart, including a hot meal comprised of rice and meat or fish sauce, instant noodle packets and snacks such as sesame rice cakes, Pringles (boy, do the Vietnamese love their Pringles), local sweets. Bottled water, soda, hot coffee (beware, it’s the Vietnamese sweet coffee flavored with condensed milk, you’ll either love it or hate it) and tea are the beverage options.
Served with a wonderful smile!
The larger stations usually have a variety of food vendors, and many passengers carry their own food aboard. At least one stop allowed vendors on the train to sell food. They disembarked at the next stop, presumably to travel in reverse upon the opposite way’s arrival.
Pre-packed hot meal options
Overhead shelving is inconsistently sized, so you may or may not fit larger suitcases above you. There may or may not be luggage racks near the carriage entrances. In one case, we were able to stow large suitcases in an alcove; in another, they fit behind the last row of seats. We were grateful when there was sufficient room and a helping hand to give us a lift into the overhead. If you’re traveling with larger luggage, be ready to be flexible. Your fellow passengers will be traveling with a variety of baggage: we saw wrapped boxes, shopping bags, electronics and bulk foods, and even a bird in a large cage.
Bird on board!
While Vietnam Railways launched a pilot onboard wifi program a couple years ago, we saw no evidence of it. Instead, we made good use of strong cellular signals and tethered other devices to our iPhones as necessary. There were electrical outlets nearby our seats on a couple trains, on others there were none to be found. Be prepared and power up your portable charging devices prior to boarding in order to ensure the use of your phone, tablet or laptop.
Relax and enjoy the ride!
Summary:
Don’t be afraid to book a train trip in Vietnam on your own. Tickets for the entire length of the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route become available 60 days in advance. Individual legs open at various times within the 60-day window. Sites like the Vietnam Railways System booking agency we used will take your information and deliver your tickets in person or via email once confirmations are acquired.
Likewise, don’t be afraid to email your accommodations to ask for information on transferring from the train station to hotel. At the very least, they will provide detailed information you can show to a taxi. Many will send a driver who will be waiting for you upon arrival. (It’s always fun to disembark and see somebody who has your name on a sign!)
Our trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train ranks as one of the most memorable journeys in all our travels. We had a very poignant, life-changing encounter with a group of fellow passengers on one leg of the journey which we wrote about here: Reunification Express. Next time, we’d break up the itinerary into even smaller segments to stay in lesser-visited cities. While we are very happy with the segments we chose, now that we know the ropes we’re ready for an even deeper immersion.
Pinnable Image:
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Now you’ve sparked my interest! We love train travel and have been saying Viet Nam for some time now. . .I am book marking this post for its inspiration and information. Great post!
Hi Jackie – You’d really love it. While the carriages are far from luxurious, they are sufficiently comfortable for a day’s journey. It’s a great way to see a slice of Vietnamese life up close and personal.
What a perfect way to see the country. Your guide is very comprehensive and would be a great help if this is how we decided to see Vietnam. Thanks Betsy.
Hi Jenny – Happy to help! Thank you. 🙂
Travelling by train would be a great way to see some of the countryside while going from place to place (which is another reason to chose to travel by day). It is nice to be able to visit a few places along the way. I think the 14 hour day might have been a bit too long for me, but all the other legs sounded great. You’ve provided great information on using the train system in Vietnam and will be very useful if I’m ever in Vietnam.
Hi Donna – Yes, the 14 hour day was very long. Knowing what we know now, I’d be tempted to at least try the sleeper, or put an interim stop in between Hanoi and Hue.
HaHa – Pringles! We ran into them recently on the Moroccan trains and they were every bit as dreadful as I remember. We’ve talked about visiting Vietnam for years and I love the thought of watching the countryside go by outside the window. Although flights may be cheap I really can’t imagine a better way to travel and learn about Vietnam than by train and your tips and link to this post have been noted in my Vietnam info folder. Thanks, Betsy!
Hi Anita – Yes, we couldn’t decide which were worse, the Pringles or certain of the sesame rice crackers. We got lucky with the rice crackers we first purchased, but when we bought some others they were truly horrible. 🙂
Looks like a great way to see the countryside! I love train travel—except for the suitcase dilemma which always seems to crop up. When there isn’t room nearby, I always worry about theft—doesn’t make for a relaxing trip.
Hi Irene – After a year and a half and several trains, we’ve got it pretty well down. One big suitcase and a smaller carry-on. At least the carry on will fit on an overhead shelf, and then we just try to keep on eye on the larger suitcases if they don’t fit above. Valuables go in the small one, of course. 🙂
I was doing ok until I read about the bird… but I guess that is part of the charm. You really do see so much more when traveling by train. You become immersed in the culture, which is a good thing. Thank you for all of the details.
Hi Suzanne – The bird was a very good traveler. Not a peep out of him! 😀
What a great guide to riding the trains in Vietnam. It was really helpful. As for a 14 hour train ride…hmmm…..I’ll have to think about that. The compartments and seats don’t look that bad, although I certainly would not want to ride on a hard seat the entire way. You’ve certainly opened my eyes to another way to get around Vietnam.
Hi Janice – Yes, the 14 hour leg was a little too much. Live and learn! 🙂
What a wealth of info! I took the hard sleeper – 6 berths per compartment — overnight Hanoi to Hue and it was a pretty interesting journey! I’d return to Vietnam in a minute.
Hi Michele – I wouldn’t mind trying the sleeper. It’s the luck of the draw how crowded your compartment gets, right? I know there are people who buy the whole compartment just because they want more privacy. Vietnam really gets under your skin, doesn’t it?
We love train travel too. Great way to see places. Really like the idea of food carts as well.
Hi GypsyNesters – Yes, there were some very interesting things offered from the food cart. 🙂
I’m not a fan of night trains and prefer shorter day trips, although that 14 hour trip sounds little harsh. Still this is definitely the way to have a unique experience and I love traveling by trains around the world.
Hi Noel – Yes, we’d not go that long in one sitting next time. Instead, we now feel confident we would enjoy an interim stop or two along the way.
Train travel looks like a convenient way to travel through Viet Nam. I especially like those food trolleys!.
Hi Carole – Yes, the experience is really authentic and pleasant. 🙂
Sometimes it’s not about the end destination, the journey is the most delightful part of our travels!
Hi Bruno – Very true. Vietnam delivered in both aspects.
I’ve not done too much train travel except for relatively short journeys in Europe. I definitely have a wanderlust for trains and must do something about it. You did a wonderful job describing what to expect on a train tour in Viet Nam. It looks like it would be terribly interesting and fuel for lots of stories. Loved the bird cage photo!
Hi Sue – Yes, it’s the most interesting and entertaining way to get from point A to point B in our opinion. And you’re right, lots and lots of stories, not just this one. 😉
I love train travel and don’t do it nearly as much as I’d like to. such a great way to see more of the countryside and people. Your post was filled with so much helpful information, I think when my husband and I finally get to Viet Name (maybe 2017) train travel would be a great way to go for parts of the trip. Especially love the bird on board. He probably got the best sleep!
Hi Alison – Yes, it’s our most preferred way to travel. I think you’d enjoy it in Vietnam, too.
Thanks for the nice, informative story of train travel in Vietnam! This will be useful when we next visit.