saigon to Hanoi Train

[anonymouse]

I'm contemplating a trip to Vietnam making use of cheap Air Asia flights, so need to book in advance. I plan on flying in to Saigon and out of Hanoi and will be on a fixed time, I want to book the flights and hotels in advance and basically need to know how easy is it to book the train between the two cities once I have arrived. Is the train usually booked days or weeks in advance or can I book a day or two before departure is what I really need to know

Thanks in advance Chaps

[Big Pinkie]

a day or two before departure should be fine i've done it hop on hop off at various spots same day no booking no problem there and back a couple of times, but as with anywhere in the region watch out for weekends and local holidays. there are a number of trains each day over most all of the route. last was a about 2 year ago now.

Edited January 8, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[anonymouse]

Thanks Big Pinkie!

[lekatai]

You don't say when you are thinking of traveling,but if it's in the near future,bear in mind that it will be "Tet" the Vietnamese New Year (Same as the Chinese New Year) at the end of January,and beginning of February.For at least a week before that,and two weeks after,it can be very difficult to book flights,trains and even bus or ferry tickets,as there are a huge number of people traveling during this time,and most forms of transport are booked solid.If it's after that,then there shouldn't be a problem

[IMA_FARANG]

You can easily book in Ho Chi Minh with even no notice at the Train station.

Just be aware that at certain holidays when locals are traveling it may be crowded, but rest of year it can almost always be done.

Most of the hotels in the "backpacker" areas of Ho Chi Minh can arrange a booking for you at 24 to 48 hour notice also.

In such "backpacker" areas there will be dozens of agents that you can walk into and book a train for the next day.

There are signs everywhere.

It's how they make money.

"Hard" seating or "Soft" overnight sleeper service.

Overland busses too, if your into that kind of thing.

"Backpacker" heaven.

[Big Pinkie]

long distance bus driver in vietnam that definitely one job that you dont ever want. there is simply just far too many motorbikes all over the road everywhere on the route. think of it as constant buzzing fly attack for the whole journey.

here is an idea of the situation looking out of both sides of the train same street, stopped over a level crossing. what is going to happen when they open the gates after the train goes through?

Edited January 12, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[willyumiii]

First, you will need to take a time machine back to the 1970s to get to Saigon.

The name has been Ho Chi Minh City since the Vietnamese people won their war against aggression.

[lekatai]

Well,actually the last poster is incorrect.People that live in HCMC refer to it (at least the central part-District 1) as Saigon.The airport code is SGN and certainly in the South of Vietnam,all buses going there are labelled as such.ie. Ha Tien to Saigon,.Can Tho to Saigon etc.

[Naked Snake]

sigh go ditch

[Ajaan]

First, you will need to take a time machine back to the 1970s to get to Saigon.

The name has been Ho Chi Minh City since the Vietnamese people won their war against aggression.

images.jpg

Get a life. Everyone calls it Saigon except the government.

[Big Pinkie]

First, you will need to take a time machine back to the 1970s to get to Saigon.

The name has been Ho Chi Minh City since the Vietnamese people won their war against aggression.

images.jpg

Get a life. Everyone calls it Saigon except the government.

i though Saigon Tourist was govt run

Edited January 14, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[Jay Sata]

That is quite a long train trip. I did it a couple of years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how clean and well maintained the Vietnam railway system is compared to Thailand.

We were handed a packed meal and water once we left HCM city but it's easy to hop on and off to buy refreshments at the various stops.

You'll find the seats are a bit hard though

[Big Pinkie]

spent a few hours in that train station late one evening. was entertained by the village children/youths taking turns to do aerobic dancing inside the station there. freaked me right out. i was petrified. thought they were all on meths and were about to do atrocious things. one of them even did the lost/unknown father questioning routine. that was scary too. was very pleased when the train finally arrived. was the train station on the main line not on the short branch there.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Big Pinkie

[besth]

It is worth doing a few stops on the way for a couple of nights, if you have the time.

If you are going to do it all in one go, extremely recommendable to take a sleeper.

Enjoy the trip!

[Jay Sata]

Despite the long coastline and distance between Saigon and Hanoi there is not a lot to see.

Na Trang is a nice beach resort for those that like a more gentle relaxed location to the commercialised Thai version.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Jay Sata

[Jay Sata]

First, you will need to take a time machine back to the 1970s to get to Saigon.

The name has been Ho Chi Minh City since the Vietnamese people won their war against aggression.

images.jpg

You'd better have a word with the state railway chief and get him to change the name of this station!