The departure days from Beijing changed - the train used to leave Beijing on Mondays & Fridays.  Departure from Hanoi is confirmed as Tuesdays & Fridays.

• How to buy tickets, in Hanoi...

At Hanoi station, go to ticket window 16 for foreigners & international trains. You will need to show your passport and a valid visa for China. You can pay in US dollars or dong.

• How to buy tickets, in Beijing...

To buy at the ticket office in Beijing, traveller Que Clothier reports: "I finally got my ticket from a small pavement shop front office next to, and part of, the Railway Hotel, which is directly next to Beijing West as you face it. The only thing that gives it away as a ticket office is the A4 paper sign sellotaped to the front window - however this is in Chinese. There is also a phone number to ring if they are closed to find out ticket sale opening times. This office is four doors to the left of the main front doors of the Railway Hotel it also has a souvenir / poster shop next door to it so you cant really miss it. The women in the office does not speak English but has a tick sheet with questions and answers and you simply point to the correct answer, for example: Nationality, UK. It was really easy. They still insist inside the station that they do not sell tickets and that you have to go to the bank of China which is about a five minute walk past the "actual" ticket office. The bank still are not aware that they "sell" train tickets..!" If you have any further feedback, please email us..!

• On board the Hanoi-Beijing train...