The Vietnamese railway system now has the total length of about 2.600km, connecting most cities and provinces all over Vietnam, including many cultural, societal and tourism destinations from the North to the South of Vietnam. The domestic railway system is also linked with the Chinese railway that allows the train to come across the borderline and reach stations in Yunnan and Guangxi.
If you want an inexpensive yet exciting trip to travel along Vietnam from the North to the South, train could be a perfect choice. Many parts of the railways system in Vietnam go along or even through mountains, forests, valleys, plain and sea, so you would certainly have chance to contemplate the incredibly magnificent and fascinating scenery. Also, the speed of the train is not too high, just enough for you to enjoy breathtaking views outside the windows, taking some pictures or videos and having memorable moments in your trips. But one thing that you should keep in mind is to watch out all of your properties and luggage because there might be some robbers on the train who wait for the carelessness of the passengers to steal their belongings (read Safety guide for Vietnam). You can check out vietnamtrain.com for information about train guide and schedules.
The Vietnamese railways are an excellent, safe and comfortable way of getting around and seeing Vietnam at ground level.
The main line links Hanoi, Hué, Danang, Nha Trang, and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). There is also a railway between Hanoi and Haiphong.
In case you were wondering, ‘Ho Chi Minh City’ is the name of the whole conurbation – ‘Saigon’ is still the name of the city itself, and it is ‘Saigon’ which appears in the railway timetables and on the station nameboards…
(Above right) Train S3 from Hanoi to Saigon passes through the lush green hills between Hué and Danang. This is the most scenic section of line, running along the coast past bays and islands and through the hills. The train travels at low speed up the fierce gradients, with an assisting locomotive at the rear and people sitting on the roof..!