Hanoi - Hue - Danang - Saigon-Train travel in Vietnam

Why trains are the best way to get around Vietnam...?

 

 You'd be crazy not to.  Vietnam's air-conditioned trains are safe, comfortable & inexpensive, the ideal way for independent travellers to get around and see Vietnam at ground level.  The train journeys are an experience in themselves, and become an integral part of your visit to Vietnam.  You might even meet some Vietnamese people.  Inexperienced travellers often mistakenly think they'll save time by using internal flights - in fact, an overnight train ride from Hanoi to Hue or Hanoi to Danang  is not only far more of an experience (and cheaper) than a flight, the train actually saves time compared to flying, because the train leaves Hanoi city centre in the evening and arrives in Hué city centre next morning.  Flying takes 4 or 5 hours out of your sightseeing day in getting to a remote airport, checking in, taking the flight itself, collecting your bags and getting back into the city centre.  And the sleeper trains saves a hotel bill, too.  And what's the rush anyway? 

Hanoi - Hue - Danang - Saigon

The North - South 'Reunification' Main Line...

Over the last decade the Hanoi-Saigon train service has been steadily improving and a whole range of daily air-conditioned trains now link Hanoi, Hue, Danang, Nha Trang & Ho Chi Minh Here are the principal trains, all running daily. There are additional trains at peak times, such as the Tet holiday period.

 The view from the train...

You'll see some amazing scenery from the train between Hanoi and Saigon. Easily the best section is between Hue and Danang over the Hai Van Pass, where the train runs along the coast past bays and islands and through the hills. The train travels at low speed up the fierce gradients, with an assisting locomotive at the rear and people sitting on the roof!