Can you travel from Portugal to Vietnam by train?

Can I take a train from Bangkok to Vietnam?

So, Bangkok to Vietnam by train? Nope, not directly. You gotta go through Cambodia, which is, like, a whole other adventure. It’s a pain. You take two trains, first to Phnom Penh. That part’s, okay, I guess. But then, get this, there’s no train from Phnom Penh to Vietnam! Crazy, right? You’re stuck with a bus. A long, long bus ride. That’s the only option. It sucks. I did it last year. Awful roads, man.

• Two trains from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. This bit’s doable.
• No train to Vietnam from Cambodia. Seriously, a total bummer.
• Bus from Phnom Penh to your Vietnamese destination. Prepare for a long and potentially bumpy ride. Think 12+ hours, depending where you’re going.

Last year I went to Ho Chi Minh City. It was a nightmare, the bus, seriously. My back still hurts. I wish I’d flown. Next time, flying. Definitely. More expensive, yeah, but worth it for your sanity, trust me. You’ll need to book your tickets well in advance, especially now, since it’s 2024. Flights are often cheaper if you book early, even if it’s just a couple of months ahead. I messed up and paid way too much because I waited until the last minute. Don’t do that!

Can you travel from Europe to Asia by train?

Man, that train trip, it was 2023, August. Hot, stupid hot. I started in Lisbon, Portugal. The heat hit me like a wall. Seriously, felt like a furnace. I hated those first few days. So much sweat.

Then, Spain. Beautiful, but exhausting. Too many changes. I swear, I spent half my time in train stations. The food? Okay, not great, not terrible. Lots of sandwiches.

The real adventure began in Turkey. Istanbul was amazing. Such a crazy mix of old and new. The Grand Bazaar? Overwhelming. Too many rugs. I bought a tiny one though. Stupid expensive.

After Turkey, Georgia, Armenia. The scenery changed wildly. Mountains, mountains, everywhere! Breathtaking. Felt totally insignificant. Completely alone, sometimes. Good and bad.

Then, Iran. Wow. Tehran was massive, chaotic, fantastic. I loved the food there. Seriously the best food on the whole trip. So much rice.

Central Asia was another world. Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan. Vast landscapes. The trains were, well… older. Much older than those fancy ones in Europe. But the people were awesome. So many smiles. I felt welcome everywhere except for one weird incident in a Turkmenistan train station, some guy tried to sell me fake gold. Seriously.

Reaching China felt surreal. Massive cities. The train just kept going and going. You could have stayed on that thing forever. I only lasted a few days before getting off in Beijing. The culture shock was intense. I could’ve stayed longer. I regret not having more time in China.

Singapore. Clean, modern, air conditioned. A stark contrast to the wild journey. I needed a shower after that. The final leg was quick. The whole thing…a month-long epic.

• Route: Lisbon – Singapore (via Spain, France, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, etc.)
• Duration: Roughly a month.
• Highlights: Istanbul, the Caucasus mountains, Iranian food, Beijing, the sheer scale of the journey.
• Lowlights: The heat in Portugal, constant train changes, Turkmenistan incident (almost got scammed!), jetlag in Singapore.

How do you get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City… It’s a long trip. Thirty plus hours on that train, man. I did it once, in 2023. Awful. Exhausting. The scenery was…okay, I guess. But mostly just endless rice paddies. My back ached for weeks.

The train itself… cramped. Hot. The air conditioning never really worked. I remember the constant clattering. Never slept properly. The food…eh.

The railway is the most obvious option, but slow. There’s also flying. Much faster. A couple hours tops. I took a VietJet Air flight last summer. It was fine. Less scenic, though.

Other options suck. Driving is a nightmare; buses are also very long.

Things to consider:

• Cost: Airfares are generally higher than train tickets, especially in peak season. But your time is valuable.
• Comfort: The train is significantly less comfortable. The flights are surprisingly comfortable, for the price.
• Time: The flight is far quicker. Worth the extra money for me.
• Scenery: Train offers more views. But those rice paddies kinda blur together after a while, you know?

I prefer flying. I hate train travel. It’s simply inefficient.

What is the cheapest way to go to Vietnam from Europe?

Ugh, Vietnam. Okay, cheapest? Train and fly, supposedly. Like, $410-$1,000? 16+ hours? Seriously? My aunt Carol paid way less. She’s thrifty af!

Fastest? Train then fly AGAIN? Same time? Same price? Makes no sense. Is that even right?

Flights tho… Let’s see:

• London: Direct flights somewhere – ₫29,993,557 – almost 14 hours. Phew.
• Munich: More expensive, like ₫31,565,187, but shorter – 11 hours-ish.
• Frankfurt: Two direct destinations! ₫27,889,242 and only 10h 40m. Maybe?
• Paris: Close to Frankfurt – ₫27,489,682, two destinations, 11h 20m.
• Istanbul: WHOA. Cheapest – ₫21,682,755 and under 9 hours!!!

Istanbul wins I guess! Gotta check these prices myself on like, Kayak or something.

Additional Information:

• Currency is VND.
• Flights are non-stop.
• Prices obviously change constantly.
• Train and fly might be cheaper depending on the exact origin and connections, this also depends on time of year.
• Consider budget airlines that fly within Europe, e.g. RyanAir.
• Always check visa requirements before booking any travel.
• The cost of living in Vietnam is comparatively low, which can help balance initial travel expenses.
• Consider flying into different airports in Vietnam as prices can vary, like Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).