The Hanoi – Nanning train, jointly operated by Vietnam Railways and China Railway is an international railway service running between Vietnam and China. The sleeper through train connects Hanoi to Nanning overnight.
Now you can easily book your tickets online in advance for the international train between Vietnam and China with Baolau.
International train service jointly operated by Vietnam Railways and China Railway
Vietnam Railways and China Railway jointly operate the train service MR1/T8702.
This service is divided into two segments: MR1 service from Hanoi to Dong Dang and T8702 service from Pingxiang to Nanning.
The coaches, operated by China Railway Nanning Group, are hauled by Vietnam Railways locomotives on the Vietnamese sector corresponding to the Hanoi–Dong Dang railway line, then these are connected to China Railway locomotives after crossing the border to complete the journey on the Chinese sector corresponding to the Hunan–Guangxi railway line.
The most unique part of this railway service is that it runs on the Hanoi–Dong Dang railroad. This is a dual-gauge railway that allows the passage of trains of two different track gauges: the meter gauge adopted in Vietnam and the standard gauge used in China.
Unlike the rest of Vietnam’s rail network, the track connecint Gia Lam and Dong Dang allows standard gauge passenger and cargo trains bound to China. As such, the train is only able to reach up Gia Lam Railway Station, not the central Hanoi Railway Station.
Departure from Gia Lam Railway Station in Hanoi
Gia Lam Railway Station is the terminus of standard gauge rail services in Vietnam, respectively the Hanoi–Dong Dang and Hanoi–Ha Long railway lines.
Getting to Gia Lam Railway Station is quite easy by taxi. However, note that the station is located across the Red river, not in central Hanoi so calculate around 1 hour for the journey, especially to save the traffic jam. On a smooth day, the ride could take around 20 minutes but you should not use that as an estimate or else you risk missing your train.
If you arrive to Gia Lam on time and you did not get any supplies for the train ride, you may purchase snacks and drinks at the small shops across the station. There is no dining car attached to the through train so remember to take along food and drinks. The next time you will have the chance to eat or drink something will be in Nanning, China.
Passengers can purchase the tickets directly at the ticket counter dedicated for the GIA LAM – NANNING – BEIJING TRAIN located inside Gia Lam Railway Station, although tickets departing on the same day may sell out quickly given the limited capacity of the sleeper train. Therefore in order to secure your trip, it is recommended that you book your tickets online in advance.
If you book your train tickets online with Baolau you will receive an electronic voucher attached to your booking confirmation by email, then you can exchange the electronic voucher for the physical ticket at the station before boarding. The paper ticket comes in two languages: Vietnamese and Chinese.
Before accessing the train platform, the station staff will check the ticket and verify the passport to ensure a smooth immigration clearance at the border between Vietnam and China.
Passenger experience
The MR1/T8702 train has Soft Sleeper coaches. While boarding, the attendant will check the paper ticket and verify your passport again.
Once aboard the train, you will find that the coach has 4-berth compartments with 2 Upper Soft beds and 2 Lower Soft beds distributed on each side of the cabin. At the end of each coach there are restrooms and a supply of drinking water.
The Soft sleeper offers a soft mattress to sleep on for the overnight journey with clean bedding and pillows for each passenger.
The journey across Vietnam
The train from Hanoi to Nanning departs at 21:20 PM and it takes about 4-5 hours to cover the distance between Gia Lam and Dong Dang. You should take this opportunity to sleep before arriving at the border crossing.
Clearing Vietnam Immigration at Dong Dang
At around 02:00 AM the train will arrive at Dong Dang Railway Station located in Lang Son province. All passengers will alight to clear immigration at Vietnam border.
Proceed into the station building to pass through customs and immigration. There are not many counters, so it may take some time to clear all the passengers in the entire train. Once you have completed the immigration process, head back to the train for a 40-minute short journey to Pingxiang.
Clearing China Immigration at Pingxiang
The train will arrive at Pingxiang at 04:30 AM. Note that there is +1 hour difference between China and Vietnam so you will need to adjust your watch.
The immigration process at Pingxiang is similar to Dong Dang. Once you enter the station building, pick up an arrival card and fill it in before heading to the passport control.
Once you have completed the immigration process, you can head back to the train and finally get some sleep. After changing the locomotive and connecting additional coaches, the train depart will from Pingxiang at 06:15 AM.
The journey across China
Around 2 hours after leaving Pingxiang, the train will pull into Chongzuo Railway Station.
Lots of passengers will board the Hard Seat coaches that were attached to the train at the border. As this is the only morning train to Nanning, many workers will use it commute to the province capital.
The journey through Guangxi province offers a nice mountainous view of rural China.
Arrival at Nanning
It’s easy to know when you are approaching Nanning as the landscape will turn urban. By the end of the journey, the conductor will check your compartment.
The train will cross the Yongjiang river and enter Nanning Railway Station.
Despite the long journey, the train usually arrives at Nanning on time at 10:10 AM.
To exit the station, head down the underpass from the platform and follow the exit signs.
Passengers who boarded at Hanoi and carry paper tickets must use the red gates by the side to exit the station. The automated gates are designed to read magnetic tickets for other trains operating in Mainland China.
Once in Nanning you can connect with high-speed railway services to other cities in China, such as Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Kunming, Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Hong Kong.
For more information, check the following Train Guide in China.
