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WHAT ARE VIETNAM TRAINS LIKE ?
Although the V
basic standard for travellers.
TRAIN CLASS
There are 4 main classes: soft seat, hard seat, hard berth cabin and soft berth cabin with air-condition. It has 4 and 6 berth cabins. Especially, Sapa night train has 4 berth cabin only.
§ Hard seat: It is a wooden bench seat to be exact. The cheapest class on the train, hard seat is also the first to fill up and is invariably packed
§ Soft seat: soft seat are considerably more comfortable and are more than adequate for day-travel. The seats are quite difficult to sleep in though. Soft seat comes in three flavours -- reclining air-con, air-con and non air-con
§ Hard sleeper comes in a six-berth configuration with both a fan-cooled and air-con option. The cheapest bunk it the top one, then the middle one, with the lowest bunk being the most expensive. The compartments do not have a door, so you need to be extra careful with your belongings.
§ Soft sleeper: Air-conditioned soft sleeper is the recommended choice for most western travellers, for any journey involving overnight travel. Air-con soft sleeper cars have western-style toilets at the end of the corridor.
TRAIN TYPES
Train types are distinguished by their prefix -- the most likely of which you'll come across are the SE, SP, TN, HN1 and LC services though there are many others. The prefix is followed by a number, odd numbers run in one direction, even the other. So for example the SE1 runs from
SE trains
the ones with 'SE' train numbers is the best trains. It is equipped with modern air-conditioned coaches. They have:
§ Soft class air-conditioned sleepers (4-berths per compartment).
§ Hard class air-conditioned sleepers (6-berths per compartment)
§ Air-conditioned soft class reclining seats.
§ A restaurant or buffet car.
§ In soft sleeper, simple tray meals are served in your compartment along with mineral water, included in the fare.
§ Train SE1/SE2 also has private 4-berth air-conditioned sleepers of a higher standard attached between
The coaches on these 'SE' trains have large picture windows, unobstructed by the wire mesh that protects other trains' windows from stones. Choose these trains if you can.
TN trains
These are the slower, older trains. Trains TN1 & TN2 only have hard sleepers & hard seats. Trains TN3 to TN8 have:
§ Air-conditioned soft class sleepers (4-berths per compartment)
§ Air-conditioned hard class sleepers (6-berths per compartment)
§ Hard class sleepers (non-aircon, 6-berths per compartment)
§ Air-conditioned soft class reclining seats
§ Soft class seats (non-aircon)
§ Hard class seats (non-aircon)
One advantage of these trains is that they have non-air-conditioned cars with windows that open, better for photographing the scenery. However, bear in mind that they are much more basic than the SE trains
HN Trains
This train is good as SE, links from Hanoi to Hue and stop in Hue Saigon … It provides 4 berth cabins only.
HOW DOES IT RUNS ?
They leave on time, sometimes arrive late in case it has matter on weather or unexpected obstacle. You should get to the train station an hour before departure.
The fastest trains trundle along at a maximum speed of around 70 km/h.
Below is standard estimated duration (it may change depending on the class of train and number of stops)
Hanoi to Lao Cai 8 hours
Hanoi to Vinh 5 - 7 hours
Dong Ha to Hue 1 - 2 hours
Hue to Da Nang (for Hoi An) 3 - 4 hours
Da Nang to Nha Trang 10 - 12 hours
Nha Trang to Muong Man (for Mui Ne) 4 - 7 hours
Muong Man to Saigon 3.5 - 4.5 hours
For detailed timetable, please see the Vietnam Railways website or email to us at contact@vietnamtravelnow.com to get more information and the best price
