A complete guide to training travel in Vietnam, with train times, fares & how to buy tickets for trains between Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC), Nha Trang, Danang, Hue, Hanoi, also Hanoi-Lao Cai (for Sapa & Kunming) and trains Hanoi to Hong Kong, Hanoi to Beijing, Hanoi to Kunming. Saigon to Hanoi by Reunification Express!
Table of Contents
Why Vietnam trains are the best way to go
Vietnam’s air-conditioned trains are the ideal way for independent travellers to get around Vietnam.
You might even meet some Vietnamese people. Inexperienced travellers sometimes think they’ll save time by using internal flights, but an overnight train ride from Hanoi to Hue or Danang actually saves time over flying, because the train leaves Hanoi in the evening and arrives in Hue the next morning, the city centre to city centre, saving a hotel bill too.
But it’s more than this, the train journey is a genuine Vietnamese experience, an integral part of your trip.
Air-conditioned trains link Hanoi, Hue, Danang, Nha Trang, and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Hoi An is just 30km by bus or taxi from Danang. There are also trains from Hanoi to Haiphong (for Halong Bay) and Hanoi to Lao Cai (for Sapa).
The view from the train
Rice fields, palm trees, water buffalo, Vietnamese towns and villages… You get a real insight into Vietnam when you travel by train, both urban and rural, which you don’t get from 35,000 feet.
And if you’re good at people-watching you’ll get insights on board the train, too – the real Vietnam is as much inside as outside the train.
The most magical part of a Hanoi to Saigon train journey is the world-class scenic section between Hue and Danang. The train runs along the South China Sea, snaking from cliff to jungle-covered cliff past beaches and islands, then heads through the lush green mountains via the Hai Van Pass to reach Danang.
In Vietnamese, it’s “Đèo Hải Vân” meaning ‘Ocean Cloud Pass ‘, and I can’t think of a better name. In the bright Vietnamese sun, the vivid blue skies, green waters and yellow beaches will take your breath away…
Vietnam Train: Tickets, Routes, Prices and Departure time.
VIETNAM TRAIN TICKET
E1 Express Train (31 hours) dept. 23:00
| Station | Distance in km | Soft seat with A/C | Apartment for Hard Sleeper with A/C | Soft sleeper with A/C | Arrival Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest | Middle | Top | |||||
| Vinh | 319 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 0359 |
| Hue | 688 | 21 | 29 | 27 | 23 | 32 | 1018 |
| Da Nang | 791 | 19 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 39 | 1247 |
| Nha Trang | 1,315 | 32 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 62 | 2156 |
| Sai Gon (HCMC) | 1,726 | 48 | 66 | 60 | 54 | 73 | 0500 |
S1 Express Train (33 hours) dept. 1900
| Station | Distance in km | Soft seat with A/C | Apartment for Hard Sleeper with A/C | Soft sleeper with A/C | Arrival Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest | Middle | Top | |||||
| Vinh | 319 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 22 | 0034 |
| Hue | 688 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 36 | 0750 |
| Da Nang | 791 | 18 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 40 | 1032 |
| Nha Trang | 1,315 | 37 | 46 | 42 | 36 | 61 | 1955 |
| Sai Gon(HCMC) | 1,726 | 47 | 59 | 57 | 55 | 68 | 0400 |
S9 Fast Train (40 hours) dept. 1950
| Station | Distance in km | Soft seat with A/C | Apartment for Hard Sleeper with A/C | Soft sleeper with A/C | Arrival Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest | Middle | Top | |||||
| Vinh | 319 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 0205 |
| Hue | 688 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 34 | 1057 |
| Da Nang | 791 | 15 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 38 | 1454 |
| Nha Trang | 1,315 | 28 | 40 | 36 | 30 | 59 | 0130 |
| Sai Gon(HCMC) | 1,726 | 42 | 54 | 51 | 48 | 64 | 1020 |
Note: The train prices from Saigon to Hanoi are quite similar to those from Hanoi to Saigon.
HANOI – LAO CAI TRAIN INFORMATION: TRAIN FARE
| Class | Seating | Fare (USD) | Service fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal | Royal AC soft sleeper – 4 berths | 22 | 0 |
| Friendly | Royal AC soft sleeper – 4 berths | 22 | 0 |
| Tulico | VIP class – 2 berths (only 1 VIP available) | 41 | 0 |
| First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths | 25 | 0 | |
| Second class cabin – 4 berths | 21 | 0 |
TRAIN SCHEDULE
| Departure | Destination | Seating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | Dep time | Station | Arr time | ||
| SP1 / Royal | Hanoi | 2130 | Lao Cai | 0600 | SP1 – AC Soft sleeper – 4 berths |
| SP1 – AC Hard sleeper- 6 berths | |||||
| Royal – AC soft sleeper – 4 berths | |||||
| LC1 | Hanoi | 2200 | Lao Cai | 0700 | LC1 – AC Soft sleeper – 4 berths |
| LC1 – AC Hard sleeper- 6 berths | |||||
| LC3 | Hanoi | 0615 | Lao Cai | 0310 | LC3 – Soft sleeper only |
| LC5 / Tulico & Friendly | Hanoi | 2200 | Lao Cai | 0630 | LC5 – AC Soft sleeper – 4 berths |
| LC5 – AC Hard sleeper- 6 berths | |||||
| Tulico – VIP class – 2 berths | |||||
| Tulico – First class | |||||
| Tulico – Second class | |||||
| SP2 / Royal | Lao Cai | 2050 | Hanoi | 0500 | |
| LC2 | Lao Cai | 1900 | Hanoi | 0400 | |
| LC4 | Lao Cai | 1020 | Hanoi | 0810 | |
| LC6/ Tulico & Friend | Lao Cai | 2115 | Hanoi | 0600 | |
NOTE ON THE TRAIN
- We recommend a soft sleeper at Tulico train or Royal train for faster and cleaner.
- We only can buy the return tickets from Hanoi for the Tulico Royal train. For other normal trains, you need to buy the return ticket when you are in Lao Cai or Sapa by yourself or request the hotel to buy it for you (a soft sleeper is not sure if you buy on short notice).
- Train tickets are non-booking, and if returned 10% fare will be charged.
- Child fare: under 5 years old: free of charge if sharing a bed with parent; from 5 up to adult rate
Where to buy:
Contact any travel agency in Vietnam or visit the Official website of Vietnam Railways: https://dsvn.vn
