The North-South Railway is the main railway of Vietnam that connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This guide covers how to buy tickets and what to expect onboard.
North–South Railway guide
About the North–South Railway
North–South Railway train tickets
Hanoi–Saigon
Saigon-Hanoi
Recommended stops
North–South Railway map
Seat types
Soft seat
Sleeper six-berth
Sleeper four-berth
Food and drinks
Future plans for the North–South Railway
North–South Railway links and resources
About the North–South Railway
The North-South Railway (also known as the Reunification Express) travels between Hanoi and Saigon (the station in Ho Chi Minh City is still named Ga Sai Gon).
The railway is a single-track metre-gauge railway with a length of 1,726 km. The trains are diesel locomotives, and the fastest service takes 29 hrs 30 mins at an average speed of 58.5 km/h.
Most of the railway runs on a single track, so north-south and south-north trains share the same line. The railway relies on passing loops where a train waits until the opposing train passes. With only one line for both directions, trains leave at odd hours throughout the day. If one train is late this has a knock-on effect on oncoming trains.
[Waiting for a train to pass at a passing loop]
It’s an old and slow system, so it’s no surprise that air travel has become more popular. Only the most dedicated railway fan is going to travel non-stop between Hanoi and Saigon. For visitors though, the railway is an ideal way to see some of the highlights of the country by breaking up the trip along the way.
North–South Railway train tickets
North-South train tickets can be booked online or at train stations. It’s advisable to book in advance for sleeper beds to ensure your seat.
Hanoi–Saigon
Tickets: Buy Hanoi–Saigon train tickets
Saigon-Hanoi
Tickets: Buy Saigon-Hanoi train tickets
Recommended stops
The most popular stops for visitors to Vietnam include:
– Ha Noi
– Ninh Binh (for Trang An Landscape Complex)
– Dong Hoi (for Phong Nha)
– Hue
– The train between Hue and Da Nang travels via the scenic Hai Van Pass
– Da Nang (for Hoi An)
– Dieu Tri (for Quy Nhon)
– Nha Trang
– Binh Thuan (for Phan Thiet)
– Sai Gon
If you know where you want to visit, then use the booking site to find a train service at a suitable hour.
Mix and match ticket types according to your journey. For longer journeys, a sleeper bed is a good option, while for shorter trips during the day, a seat is a better option for views.
For example, the train from Saigon to Nha Train has trains that are timed for sleeper services, but you can also travel during the day at a normal hour. Here is my review of the day train from Nha Trang to Saigon.
There are 4 to 6 trains a day that travel the entire route. More trains are added during national holidays and Tet (lunar new year).
There are also services that operate a section of the route, such as:
– Hanoi to Dong Hoi
– Hanoi to Danang
– Danang to Saigon
– Nha Trang to Saigon
These services add extra capacity on popular routes, but you can also ride part of the service.
Here is my review of SE22 from Saigon to Danang.
North–South Railway map
[Map of North–South Railway.]
Hanoi
Phu Ly
Nam Dinh
Ninh Binh
Bim Son
Thanh Hoa
Minh Khoi
Cho Sy
Vinh
Yen Trung
Huong Pho
Dong Le
Minh Le
Dong Hoi
My Duc
My Trach
Dong Ha
Hue
Lang Co
Da Nang
Tra Kieu
Tam Ky
Nui Thanh
Quang Ngai
Duc Pho
Bong Son
Dieu Tri
– Quy Nhon (Branch Line)
La Hai
Tuy Hoa
Gia
Ninh Hoa
Nha Trang
Thap Cham
Song Mao
Binh Thuan
– Phan Thiet (Branch Line)
Suoi Kiet
Long Khanh
Bien Hoa
Di An
Sai Gon
[Ga Sai Gon]
Seat types
The main ticket options are second-class seats or bunk beds.
Soft seat
Soft seats are Economy class seats and are so named to distinguish from the old wooden bench seats (hard seats).
Soft seats are arranged in 2×2 configuration. The seats have ample legroom and are reclinable.
Half of the seats face the direction of travel, and the middle seats have a table where the seats change direction.
There are power outlets on the wall, but there is no wifi. The carriages are air-conditioned.
Sleeper six-berth
Sleeper six-berth is a cabin of bunk beds with three beds on either side. The beds are arranged crossways, and the bed is comprised of a thin mattress, pillow, and blanket. The top beds are the cheapest, but they are not suitable if you have difficulty climbing bunk ladders.
The beds are permanent so they are not folded away during the day (like in Thailand, for example). If you are only travelling in the day time then you will be on the bed all day as well.
Sleeper four-berth
Sleeper four-berth cabins have two beds on either side, and the top and bottom beds have enough space to sit upright. The four-bed cabins have more head space, and the lower beds are more expensive.
Each bed has a reading light, though the power outlets are under the table by the window.
If you are in a group of 4 or 6 you can book all of the beds in the same cabin. Couples could also buy the other beds to create a private cabin. The booking site will show you how many beds are available in each cabin, and you get to pick which cabin you want to stay in.
Food and drinks
Meals are offered by a trolley service throughout the journey. Meals are similar to what you would get at a com tam restaurant (broken rice). A typical meal includes rice, meat (pork or chicken), a vegetable, and a small soup.
Some train services have a menu instead of this trolley service which offers slightly more variety. Your meal will then be brought to you after you have ordered. The menu is limited, so you will need to bring your own food if you have dietary restrictions.
[Lunch box served on SE21.]
A drink and snack cart goes up and down the train throughout the day.
There are also banh mi que venders selling these ready-made Haiphong-style banh mi. The filling is usually pate, and they also sell cha cay (Hue-style pork sausage wrapped in banana leaf).
The meals are limited to rice, meat (usually pork), a vegetable, and a small soup (50,000 VND/$2 USD). If you have dietary restrictions, you must plan and bring your food.
Future plans for the North–South Railway
Plans are in motion to build a high-speed railway to replace the current North–South Railway. There is an ambitious timeline to start construction at the end of 2025 and have the railway completed by 2035. The current railway will be retained for freight use.
The high-speed railway will have a different alignment to the current line, so there will be new stations in different locations to the current stations.
The high-speed railway is projected to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in about 5.5 hours, so that will be the end of sleeper trains in Vietnam.
North–South Railway links and resources
Wikipedia: North–South railway (Vietnam).
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