All about trains in Vietnam and how to use them

The railway network in Vietnam is not very developed. There is a railway line connecting the north with the south (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), and passing through all the major cities and resorts of the center of the country: Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, Vinh. From Hanoi there is a branch to Lao Cai (to get to Sapa), Haiphong (to get to Cat Ba Island or Halong Bay). Also from Hanoi the railway goes to China, and further even to Russia and Europe up to London.

However, traveling by train is one of the most comfortable ways to travel around the country. Train tickets are cheaper than plane tickets, but they are almost twice as expensive as buses on the same routes. During the Vietnamese New Year Tet, which is January and February, train fares increase up to 4 times.

In addition to the obvious savings on the cost of travel compared to planes, you can also save on accommodation by train, especially on overnight trains. After all, instead of spending the night in a hotel, you can get a great night's sleep on the train and arrive at the resort fresh and rested in the morning.