train travel in Vietnam

I am planning a trip to Vietnam, and am trying to decide if I should opt for a train trip from Hanoi to Hue on the Reunification express!

If anyone has been on this particular train route can you fill me on safety, cleanliness and reliability.

Thanks.. Sheree

train travel in Vietnam

Sheree,

We took two train trips in VN,Hanoi to Sapa overnight and bus up the mountain.Then Danang to Nha Trang both are around Twelve hour trips.The trains are fine and you do get to see some pretty amazing scenery,the trips we made were on time and the service was (not the Orient Express) but it is VN no problems at all.

I know you asked for Hanoi to Hue,this would be similar in time to both of my trips.I found Train travel very safe although Air Travel is very cheap as well.Which ever way that you go have fun its a nice place to visit,lovely people.

Coupe DeVille

train travel in Vietnam

have a look at this link

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k114鈥?/a>

We returned to Hanoi to get the overnight train to Danang. My advice to those wanting to do it.....DON%26#39;T. We did the standard four soft berth sleeper and were prepared with food drink cards etc. The cabin was disgusting, we were next to the only toilet on our carriage, which was more disgusting and the next morning pure evil, and joy, joy my 15 year old thought she found a pen inside the pillow slip - ignoring my pleas not to she got it out to find that it was a used syringe. Thankfully it had a cap.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293924-i8595-k434鈥?/a>

you can also have a look at some ';real'; photos on this link ..

http://www.hoian.co.uk/traindanangsaigon.php

cheers

batt

Hi,

4 of us are booked on a ';Soft Sleeper'; from Hanoi to Hue or DaNang (not sure).. as part of a group tour. Thought you may be able to give us some advise on the Overnight train trip.

1. Should we take our own food (we have been told to take some 2min noodles from Hanoi instead of eating the train food - we hear there is plenty of hot water avail on the train

2. The two girls in our group are a bit worried about the toilet on the train - so at this stage they say they are not going to eat or drink much on the train to alleviate the need to use the toilet...... I have had a look at the pic on the link you mentioned - toilet doesnt look all that bad - but i could imagine the smell wouldnt be great...

3. We have heard there are ';day rooms'; where we can have a shower first at Hanoi train station - did you see these?? - we%26#39;ll be straight off our junk from Halong bay - so will need a shower to get rid of the salt on our skin....

4. Does the train stop at other stations on route - we have been told that there is the possibility to quickly jump off and grab some food from the street vendors at these stations..

Thanks

Todd

We did the other half of the trip (HCMC to Hue) but I would imagine it%26#39;s a similar deal.

Our cabin (4 berth soft sleeper with aircon) was clean enough but not expecially comfortable. Luggage space is limited to space under the bottom bunks and a bit at the end of the top bunks. Our toilets stayed clean throughout (one end of the carriage had a squat toilet and the other end a pedestal toilet) but ran out of paper very soon. I do NOT recommend limiting toileting as I did that in SG on the way home and ended up with very painful raging cystitis.

Take food. A bottle of water is provided but we saw neither food nor hot water during our trip. The train did briefly stop at stations, and there were ladies selling mostly snacks and fruit, but be quick as you don%26#39;t know how long the train will be there. A previous poster here recounted how he purchased some beer and the vendor was about to decant it into plastic bags and retain the bottles, so be aware of that one :-)

It%26#39;s definitely an adventure, but if your time in VN is limited I%26#39;d recommend flying as it%26#39;s much faster.

Hi Sheree

We havent been on the train yet- but we%26#39;re booked (4 of us) in a soft sleeper cabin in late April.

From all advice weve had - they say to def. get a soft sleeper.

Advise weve taken also:-

-The toilets qet very messy, be prepared with xtra toilet paper and suitable footwear when entering. They get worse as the train trip gets longer. Carefull when using the toilet around corners we%26#39;re told.

-People have told us to buy trays or cups of 2 min noodles in Hanoi before departure - plenty of hot water on the train they say

- They say the pre-prepared food is not good on the train - the fresh congee and pho soup is the go ??? not sure about this till we se it though

-also - maybe think about a ';sleeping bag liner'; to sleep in so youre not directly on the matress. Aparently these can be picked up in Hanoi at the markets etc really cheaply.

- There are supposed to be ';shower rooms'; at Hanoi Train station to freshen up in before train journey.

- Our travel agent has told us that the train is the general everyday Vietnamese ';Peoples train'; sometimes they call it the ';red Train'; or ';Animal train'; (what the!!!) and not really up to the standard we are used to here in Australia.

- Not sure about safety, if youre on your own - maybe a full priced economy seat may be best - as your not sure who you%26#39;ll end up with in the 4 birth sleeper cabins..... Just a thought.

All in all though - we%26#39;re looking forward to it - they say its a definite ';Experience'; and one that should be done.

Go to ';YouTube'; and type in ';reunification express'; to see some videos etc. Countryside looks great

Todd

elizabeth arden