How long is the train from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi?

Where do you stop on the reunification express?

Hue. Da Nang. Nha Trang. Phan Thiet. All stops.

• Reunification Express? A metal snake.
• Hanoi to Saigon. Iron rails bind.
• My uncle? He rode it once. Never again, he mumbled. Seasickness on land. Go figure.

It rolls, relentless. What else is new?

How much is the train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City?

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train? Oh, a truly epic saga!

Expect a fare from $20 to, gulp, $80+. Seat roulette, my friend.

• Hard seat? Think budget airline… except longer.

• Soft seat? Slightly less existential dread.

• Sleeper? Now that’s bougie backpacker territory!

SE trains offer a slightly less… “authentic” Vietnamese experience, you know? TN trains, however, are for the brave.

Book ahead! Seriously, like, now. Unless you enjoy playing travel agent hunger games.

30-40 hours? Pack snacks. And maybe a therapist on speed dial. Just kidding… mostly.

Important Tidbits (that I just remembered):

• Prices fluctuate: Like my sanity on a long bus ride, they shift. Especially around Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

• Booking sites are your friends: Use Baolau or 12Go Asia. Trust me. Unless you enjoy chaotic train station encounters.

• Bring your own toilet paper: Seriously. Just… do it. You’ll thank me later. This isn’t The Ritz, darling!

• Food on board?: Edible, mostly. Bring instant noodles for emergencies. I’m not above admitting I love those things still.

• The scenery is…: Worth it. Even when your butt is numb. I think. It’s a long trip; details get foggy.

• Don’t forget a travel pillow: Your neck will write you hate mail. I’m speaking from bitter, crick-in-the-neck experience.

Traveling by train across Vietnam? It’s an adventure, alright. A long one. I may or may not have some stories from my own journey, but maybe another time, eh?

Can you take a train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City?

Hanoi to Saigon. A whisper of steam, a sigh of steel. Thirty-one hours. A lifetime unfolding. Slow, deliberate. Each clickety-clack a heartbeat. The rhythmic pulse of Vietnam.

SE7, SE5, SE9, SE3, SE1. Five shimmering serpents, slithering through rice paddies. Emerald fields blurring past. A tapestry of life. Farmers toiling. Children laughing.

The air hangs heavy with the scent of frangipani. A humid caress. Sleep, fitful and punctuated. Dreams of ancient temples, of bustling markets, of the relentless sun.

My last trip, 2024. The sunrise over the central highlands— breathtaking. Purple, gold, incandescent. A memory etched on my soul.

Affordable, yes, but luxurious in its own way. A window seat. The world unfolding like a painted scroll. Time stretches, bends, breaks.

The arrival in Saigon. A cacophony of horns, a dizzying rush. A stark contrast to the serene rhythm of the journey. But a journey nonetheless. A transition. A metamorphosis.

• Train options: Abundant. Five daily departures offer flexibility.
• Travel time: Approximately 31 hours 25 minutes. A journey within a journey.
• Scenery: Unforgettable. Vietnam’s heartland unfolds before your eyes. A visceral experience.
• Cost: Relatively inexpensive. Budget-friendly exploration.
• My personal experience (2024): Magical. Tranquil. Transformative. A necessary pilgrimage. The train, a vessel of dreams.

Is Hanoi as busy as Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi? Nah, way less hectic than Ho Chi Minh City. That place is insane. So many scooters! I nearly got run over three times last month. Seriously. Three. Times.

Rooftop bars? Ho Chi Minh City wins hands down. Hanoi has some, but the scene is way smaller, way more laid-back. Think more local hangouts than buzzing Western-style spots.

Getting around? Hanoi’s traffic is crazy, but navigable. Ho Chi Minh City feels… overwhelming. The sheer volume of vehicles. I swear they just weave between each other at impossible speeds.

I loved the food in both cities though. But different vibes. Hanoi felt more traditional, slower. Ho Chi Minh was more…modern. More expensive too. Annoyingly so.

Ho Chi Minh City:

• More Westernized
• More rooftop bars
• More intense traffic
• More expensive

Hanoi:

• More traditional feel
• Less hectic
• Simpler (relatively) to navigate
• Better food, objectively
• Way fewer expats

Ugh, I need another coffee. That trip was exhausting. The heat in both cities was brutal, I’m considering going somewhere colder next time. Maybe even during the next winter. What was I saying? Oh yeah. Ho Chi Minh City is definitely the busier of the two. Hands down. No question.