train travel

A daring 30-hour journey across Vietnam! This is a candid review of a 40-something father's experience riding the Reunification Train from Nha Trang to Hanoi with his family. It includes everything from his train experience to seat selection and dining tips. This one article will answer all your questions about long train journeys!

1. What is the Vietnam Reunification Express?

The Reunification Train is a railway line connecting Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the largest city in the south. The name "Reunification" was given in 1976, following the unification of North and South Vietnam following the Vietnam War.

It takes about 35 to 40 hours to travel the entire section at once.However, most travelers travel by getting off at intermediate stops and visiting major tourist attractions.

2. Vietnam train reservation site

• Online purchase

There are three ways to book your Trans-Vietnam train ticket:. Online 12Go Asia, Available through the official website of Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn)Yes, but it's most convenient to book through Klook!

• Purchase at the train station

Tickets can be purchased on-site at train stations on the following train routes.

• Purchase through hotel/travel agency

Hotels and travel agencies are all familiar with Vietnam's trains, so you can purchase train tickets through them. However, if you purchase tickets this way, The fact that there is a fee Remember!

Vietnam train routes

• Ho Chi Minh (departure)
• Phan Thiet : Near Mui Ne Beach
• Nah Trang : Popular beach resort city
• Da Nang : Beach town, near Bana Hills
• Hue : Former capital, historical site
• Dong Hoi : Near Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
• Ninh Binh
• Hanoi (arrival)

Train class and fare information

• Hard Seat : The cheapest option, not recommended for long distance travel
• Soft Seat : Regular seats, suitable for short distance travel
• Hard Sleeper : Air-conditioned 6-person bed cabin

• Soft Sleeper : Air-conditioned, 4-person bed cabin (recommended)
  • The best option for travelers – from Nha Trang to Hanoi Price per adult: 75,000 won

• VIP compartment : Only operates on some sections, 2-person luxury sleeper car

3. Vietnam Train Travel Tips

My wife, my middle school-aged son, and I boarded the Vietnam train from Nha Trang to Hanoi at 4:30 a.m. and arrived at 10:30 a.m. the next day. The journey took approximately 30 hours.

From now on, I will tell you about the inconveniences I experienced and some useful tips.

• Prepare food
  • Be sure to prepare food
  • Buy some water and get on board!
  • There is a snack cart (simple snacks, mini banh mi, etc.) and a meal cart (around 40,000 VND) during meal times.

Some trains have dining cars and some don't, and the train I rode (a soft sleeper) didn't have a dining car. Be sure to prepare food in advance before boarding.You can do it. (Cup ramen, beverage, water, etc.)

• Stop information
  • At some fairly large train stations (like Da Nang), the train stops for 10 minutes. There are shops at the stations, so you can get off and make purchases.

• Air conditioning condition
  • Be sure to board on the first floor. It's a great place to enjoy the view and have a table.There is also.
  • The air conditioning makes it hot during the day and cold at night, so you'll be especially cold at night. (Bring warm clothes.)
  • On the second floor, there is only one outlet in the middle and no space to leave your luggage.

• Toilet condition
  • The most important issue for women is the bathroom.
  • There are two toilets on each side of each train car, but their conditions vary.
  • The ones labeled Western restrooms are the most modern and relatively clean.
  • Please note that it is not in a very clean condition, so please take this into consideration when traveling.

🧳 Check out our 30-hour family train trip in Vietnam with this video.

4. Honest Review of Vietnam Train Travel

With family The Vietnam train journey was romantic and a leisurely and precious time.It was.

Because the train and time move slowly, it provided an opportunity to share intimate stories and deep conversations I hadn't been able to share before, and it also gave me the leisure to reflect on various things. I especially recommend taking a train trip with your family.

🔎Good articles to read together

• 5 Must-Haves for a Perfect Vietnam Trip
• Hanoi vs. Ho Chi Minh City: Where Should You Go in Vietnam? (Climate, Atmosphere, Food Comparison)

Planning a train trip from Nha Trang, Vietnam, to Hanoi? We'll share with you various information, including how to book tickets online, board the train, and the condition of the four-person sleeper car.

Traveling by train from Nha Trang to Hanoi

 

Train tickets from Nha Trang, a popular tourist destination for Koreans, to Hanoi in the north are available for reservation.

There are several sites where you can make reservations, the first of which is operated by a Singaporean company. 12GOSecondly, there is one that is directly operated in Vietnam. Railway reservation siteThere is.

👉 Book train tickets with KlookIt is most convenient to dodo.

📅 Nha Trang Hanoi Train Schedule and Prices

 

In my case, I booked my ticket through a website called 12GO, but later discovered it was operated by a Singaporean company. I had no problems booking my train ticket. We recommend booking directly on the Vietnam Railways reservation website.Do it.

When you reserve a ticket, you will receive a confirmation QR code and a PDF file containing information about the train you will be boarding via email. I will just go over a few things you must check on the ticket.

• Confirm destination

Make sure to check if the route is Nha Trang ➡ Hanoi

• Check train number

The "SE12" written behind "Train" is the train number. When you arrive at the train station and find it difficult to find any information about the train, knowing SE12, the arrival number, is essential.

• Check train arrival time

You should check the arrival time of the train you need to board at the station, and you can check the car and seat number, so it is a good idea to be sure to familiarize yourself with the car, seat, and time.

(In my case, I often don't check my boarding pass until I get off the plane, but I always take a screenshot to confirm my seat!)

How to board the train at Nha Trang Station

 

This is the Nha Trang train station where I boarded. Since my train was scheduled for 4:26 AM, I took a Grab and arrived at the station around 4 AM.

The outside was brightly lit with flashy lights, but the inside felt like a small neighborhood bus stop I remember visiting when I was young.

• Nha Trang Train Station : 📍17 Thái Nguyên, Phước Tân, Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa 650000

Vietnam trains have recently introduced two-person VIP sleeper cabins, and the price of these cabins can be comparable to, or even more expensive than, a flight from Nha Trang to Hanoi.

Also, because there aren't enough seats, they tend to sell out quickly. The next level up is the four-person VIP sleeper car, and this is the train I rode.

Vietnam train travel 4-person sleeper compartment condition

 

It is hot during the day and cold at night or in the early morning. The cleanliness of the restrooms is absolutely not something you can expect, so if you think, "I can't do it without a clean environment or accommodation," choose a flight if possible.It is good to do so.

In particular, the distance from Nha Trang to Hanoi is 1,300 km, which is about three times the distance from Seoul to Busan, so it is a distance that can be reached in less than two hours by plane, but it takes a full day and five hours by train.

The Vietnam train journey takes about 30 hours, and frankly, it is difficult.

The train I rode was SE12, and there was no dining car inside the train, only 4-person and 6-person cars, and no seats in the train car.

Sometimes, at large train stations, I pass another train, and judging by the dining car, it seems that some trains have different dining cars.

When arriving at a large station among the stations that stop at lunchtime, there are cases where the train stops for a long time, such as 10 minutes, as announced. During this time, you can get off the train for a short while and buy a light snack at a store near the station.

So, you must be very curious about how you manage to eat during those 30 hours.

Some people may remember selling steamed eggs or cider by walking between the seats on the Tongil-ho or Mugunghwa-ho trains when they were young. This is similar to the scene.

They also sell simple drinks, small banh mi, and small lunch boxes that look like mi goreng while pushing a cart, so you don't have to worry because you can buy them at a cheap price (most drinks are 20,000 VND, and lunch boxes are 40,000 VND).

The taste is not bad considering the price.It was.

Should I take the Nha Trang ⮕ Hanoi train trip?

 

If you choose a VIP sleeper car because you have to take a long train ride, the price is definitely not cheaper than that of an airplane.

Also, deciding to travel for over 30 hours and face a not-so-clean and pleasant restroom when you can get there in less than 2 hours by plane is not an easy decision.

However, you can enjoy the real beauty of Vietnam outside the window at any time, as much as you want. If you want to experience a truly offline trip where even 3G doesn't work well in many places, we welcome you with open arms.And I recommend it.

After experiencing these unforgettable 30 hours, I, too, found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the easy access to Wi-Fi and readily available food and drinks. Isn't this what travel is all about? I wonder.

🔎 A better article when read together

• 5 Must-Haves for a Perfect Vietnam Trip
• Ho Chi Minh City Travel Essentials: Saigon Square vs. Ben Thanh Market (feat. Tips)