Why Train-Travel in Vietnam Is Having a Moment in 2025
When most travellers think of Vietnam, they consider flying or fast buses. But in 2025, rail travel is making a strong comeback—especially for those seeking an experiential, slow-travel journey rather than just transportation.
- The famed north-south line, Reunification Express (Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City), was named among the world’s most incredible train journeys by both Euronews and other travel publishers.
- A national rail-tourism push in Vietnam means improved services, luxury options, and deeper cultural experiences onboard and at stops.
- Rail travel offers something flights don’t: the unfolding of landscape, gradual transitions between countryside and coast, time to reflect, immerse, and connect. The blog on Vietnam Railways calls this part of the appeal: “you’re part of the scenery, not flying over it.”
For travellers based in Singapore (or elsewhere in Southeast Asia) who want to turn the transit into a meaningful experience, Vietnam offers compelling options—from overnight trains to luxury multi-day rail tours.
What “Experiential Rail Journey” Means in This Context
“Experiential” implies more than just sitting on a train until arrival. It means:
- Slow pace: Allowing time to absorb the environment, transitions from urban hubs to rural rice-fields, mountains, coastlines.
- Cultural depth: Stops and side-trips that engage you (local markets, historic towns, scenic spots) rather than just rail stations.
- Comfort + design: For many travellers, this means sleeper cabins, trains with scenic windows, or even luxury railings where the journey itself is part of the itinerary.
- Mindful views: Letting the scenery be part of your story—rice paddies reflect morning light, mist in the mountains, coastlines with crashing waves.
- Connectivity to place: Rather than hopping between tourist spots, the rail route becomes a thread that connects environment, culture, and history.
Top Routes & Options for 2025
Here are key rail routes and experiences you should consider if you’re planning a meaningful trip in Vietnam.
1. Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City (North-South, Reunification Express)
- The main line that spans ~1,700 km, linking Vietnam’s north and south.
- Advantages: Legend-status, coast & mountain segments (especially around the central region), rich scenery, cultural variation.
- Considerations: It is long (many hours), and while scenic, comfort levels vary on standard trains.
- Tip: If you have the time, break it into segments—e.g., stop in Hue or Da Nang to enjoy local culture, then continue.
- Why it qualifies as “slow boat”: You’re not trying to get there fastest—you’re travelling through Vietnam’s layers.
2. Hanoi → Lao Cai (Gateway to Sapa)
- A shorter, overnight journey from Hanoi to Lao Cai, which takes you into Vietnam’s highlands and misty valleys.
- Great for travellers who have limited time but want a meaningful rail experience—plus scenic value.
- Tip: Book a sleeper cabin, travel overnight, wake up to mountain views, then continue onward to Sapa if desired.
3. Central-Vietnam Scenic Routes: Da Nang / Hue / Coastal Segments)
- The segment between Hue and Da Nang includes the celebrated Hải Vân Pass, with ocean on one side and mountains on the other.
- Advantage: High experience-to-time ratio—shorter ride, massive scenic reward.
- Tip: Pick a daytime seat on the correct side of the train (depending on direction) for best views.
4. Luxury / Curated Train Travel: e.g., SJourney & The Vietage)
- For travellers seeking high-end experiential rail travel, these curated luxury trains are increasingly available.
- SJourney offers 8-day, 7-night journeys from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (and variants) with indulgent cabins, curated excursions.
- The Vietage is a boutique rail car between Da Nang and Quy Nhon, less time, but luxe.
- Tip: These are premium price — consider if your travel budget supports it, or look for mid-tier alternatives.
Practical Planning Tips for 2025
- Book early: Scenic routes and sleeper cabins fill up, especially in peak travel months (Vietnamese holidays, local festivals).
- Choose your direction & time of day wisely: For example, coastal views might be best in the morning depending on direction.
- Seat/cabin choice matters: If possible select window seats, daytime rides, sleeper cabins for overnight.
- Break up long journeys: If you’re doing the full north-south ride, consider breaking it with stops in key towns to avoid fatigue.
- Expect varying comfort levels: Regular trains may be basic; luxury trains cost more but deliver higher comfort.
- Pack for slow-travel mindset: Bring a book, journal, camera, comfortable clothes. Embrace the pace rather than fight it.
- Check weather/seasonality: Rainy season, mountain mist, coastal wind – these impact experiences.
- Local culture stops: Don’t just stay on the train—use stops to explore local markets, heritage towns, off-trail villages. The rail journey gives you access.
- Budget accordingly: Standard fares are affordable; luxury trains cost much more — choose based on your style and budget.
Why This Matters for Travel-Writing, Foodies & Food-Culture Experts
As someone with a background in content and communications (and aligned with immersive experiences):
- Train travel in Vietnam offers layered narratives: culture, landscapes, local food stops, daily life viewed from a moving vantage.
- For food-culture storytelling: stops on the route allow sampling regional cuisines (northern specialties, central coast seafood, southern rice-field dishes).
- For sustainability/slow-travel themes: rail travel is inherently more mindful and grounded than air-hopping. Readers increasingly seek immersive, uninterrupted experiences.
- It provides fresh angles: e.g., “sunrise over the rice fields as the locomotive crosses rural Vietnam”, “meals served on board versus station snacks”, “connections between remote villages visible through the train window”.
Challenges & What to Be Aware Of
- Some travellers report that the comfort levels on Vietnamese trains (especially standard ones) can be inconsistent: delays, older carriages, cramped berths. For example, one Reddit user wrote: “Took one of them sleeper trains from Saigon to Hanoi … arrived completely done with my life at 4:30 am after 17 hours or so.”
- Some infrastructure and punctuality issues remain—real-time train tracking may not be robust.
- For luxury trains, cost is high and availability limited.
- If you’re tight on time, the train route may not beat air travel for speed; it’s about the journey, not just reaching the destination.
Sample 5-Day Rail-Focused Itinerary for a Singapore-to-Vietnam Trip
Here’s how you might structure a trip with rail front and centre:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon / Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive Hanoi; explore Old Quarter, get acclimated. | Evening dinner, rest for overnight train. |
| Day 2 | Depart on morning train to Lao Cai (or scenic central segment) → settle in cabin. | Reach destination (mountain/village setting) and explore local food & culture. |
| Day 3 | Local excursion (trek, village visit, market) near the rail stop. | Board next rail leg heading south (or switch to scenic central route). |
| Day 4 | Onboard rail travel: watch countryside, coast, rice fields; stop in Hue or Da Nang for lunch and cultural exploration. | Evening train continuation. |
| Day 5 | Arrive at destination (Ho Chi Minh City or coastal town); reflect on the journey, enjoy a finale meal showcasing southern Vietnamese cuisine. | Departure or stay on for further exploration. |
Final Thoughts
The slow-rail journey from Hanoi and beyond isn’t just transportation—it’s a window to Vietnam, in motion. In 2025, if you’re seeking to move beyond “tick-box” travels and instead immerse, observe, unwind and reflect, this mode of travel deserves a place in your itinerary. Whether you choose a standard scenic route or a luxury rail experience, the key is: let the rhythm of the rails become part of your story.
If you like, I can pull together a detailed list of smaller less-traveled rail segments in Vietnam (off the tourist radar), plus a comparison of standard vs luxury train pricing for 2025 — would you like that?