BOOK YOUR TRAINS IN VIETNAM

Travellers can reserve train tickets in Vietnam and receive the electronic tickets issued by Vietnam Railways, ready for boarding. Additionally, we integrate multiple private railway companies operating sleeper coaches from Hanoi to Lao Cai, from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, Hue and Da Nang, and from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang, complementing our offer of railway transportation in Vietnam.

We support advance ticket booking for more than 160 stations across Vietnam, including Hanoi, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lang Son, Ha Long and Hai Phong in the North, Ninh Binh, Dong Hoi, Hue, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Phan Rang and Phan Thiet along the Central Coast, and Ho Chi Minh in the South.

Train companies in Vietnam

The railway network in Vietnam is operated by the state-owned company Vietnam Railways and its subsidiaries Hanoi Railways and Saigon Railways. In the present, trains transiting the Vietnamese railway network are pulled by diesel locomotives circulating at 60 to 80 km/h speed carrying passenger cars operated by Vietnam Railways and private railway companies.

Passenger services are designated by a code letter identifying the railway line followed by one to two numerals indicating the priority of the service, with SE1/2 being the fastest Express service connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh in just over 30 hours.

The train services in Vietnam are managed by two operators:

• - Vietnam Railways
• - Private railway companies

Vietnam Railways

Vietnam Railways operates its own set of passenger coaches on every train, which usually consists of sleeper and seating passenger cars. Coaches are attended by staff trained to provide a quality service similar to domestic flight attendants.

The rolling stock is quite old but the fleet is under renovation, as the railway operator progressively introduces upgraded cars with the interior refurnished, a more modern design and higher quality components.

Passenger cars operated by Vietnam Railways are divided in four classes: Soft bed in compartments for 1-4 passengers, Hard bed in compartments for 1-6 passengers, Soft seat and Hard seat.

Private railway companies

Private railway companies operate their own passenger cars that are attached to the trains hauled by Vietnam Railways locomotives, departing and arriving with the same schedule. The staff on-board is usually trained to assist international passengers.

The coaches operated by the private railway companies provide a higher level of comfort than the coaches operated by Vietnam Railways. The service also includes bottled water and snacks.

Passenger cars operated by private railway companies are divided in two classes: Sleeper 2-Berth in compartments for 1-2 passengers and Sleeper 4-Berth in compartments for 1-4 passengers. Customers who wish to enjoy some privacy by reserving the whole compartment can select the maximum number of passengers and purchase all the tickets.

Getting around Vietnam by train

Vietnam has 2,600 kilometres of railway network, which consist of the main line North–South connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, and the secondary lines Hanoi–Lao Cai, Hanoi–Quan Trieu, Hanoi–Dong Dang, Hanoi–Ha Long, Hanoi–Hai Phong in the North, and Saigon–Quy Nhon and Saigon–Phan Thiet in the South.

Most of the railway lines in Vietnam use metre gauge, although some standard gauge and mixed gauge are used in the Hanoi–Dong Dang railway line with the purpose of allowing trains to run the international railway service Hanoi–Nanning without break of gauge.

Northern Vietnam

Four dedicated railways link Hanoi with the Northwestern Mountains, the Northern Mountains and the Northeastern Coast.

• Hanoi–Lao Cai railway
• Hanoi–Dong Dang railway
• Hanoi–Ha Long railway
• Hanoi–Hai Phong railway

Hanoi–Lao Cai railway

The Hanoi–Lao Cai railway line connects Hanoi and Lao Cai, in the Northwestern Mountains of Vietnam. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and return from Lao Cai Railway Station.

Passenger services designated with code SP correspond to Express services stopping at the main stations, whereas LC correspond to Local services stopping at all stations along the line and YB correspond to Local services ending in Yen Bai, half of the railway line.

Additionally, the following private railway companies operate their own passenger cars on the SP3/4 trains bound for Lao Cai: Chapa Express, Sapaly Express, Laman Express, Damitrans Express, New Livitrans Express, Violette Trains and Vic Sapa Train.

Hanoi–Dong Dang railway

Route suspended until further notice.

The Hanoi–Dong Dang railway line connects Hanoi and Dong Dang, in the Northern Mountains of Vietnam. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and arrive at Dong Dang Railway Station, in Lang Son province.

Passenger services designated with code DD correspond to Local services stopping at all stations along the line.

Hanoi–Ha Long railway

Route suspended until further notice.

The Hanoi–Ha Long railway line connects Hanoi and Ha Long, in the Northeastern Coast. Trains depart from Yen Vien Railway Station and arrive at Ha Long Railway Station, in Quang Ninh province.

The passenger service 51501/51502 is a Local service that stops at all stations along the line.

Hanoi–Hai Phong railway

The Hanoi–Hai Phong railway line connects Hanoi and Hai Phong, the biggest city in the Northeastern Coast of Vietnam. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and arrive at Hai Phong Railway Station, which provides easy access to Cat Ba Island.

Passenger services designated with code HP correspond to Express services stopping at the main stations, whereas LP correspond to Local services stopping at all stations along the line.

*LP services depart and arrive at Long Bien Railway Station on weekdays and Hanoi Railway Station on weekends.

Central Vietnam

The main railway line traverses the country linking the cities in the Red River Delta, the North Central Coast, the Central Coast and the South Central Coast.

• North–South railway

North–South railway

The North–South railway line connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and arrive at Saigon Railway Station stopping in the major stations along Central Vietnam, such us Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Dieu Tri, Nha Trang, Phan Rang–Thap Cham, Binh Thuan and other secondary stations.

Passenger services designated with code SE correspond to Express services stopping at the provincial capitals. There are also some Local services running dedicated segments of the railway line, such as NA service between Hanoi and Vinh, VD service between Vinh and Dong Hoi, DH service between Dong Hoi and Hue, and SNT service between Saigon and Nha Trang.

Additionally, the private railway company Laman Express operates its own passenger cars on the SE19/20 trains departing from Hanoi bound for Dong Hoi, Hue and Da Nang. The private railway companies Damitrans Express, Halo Express, New Livitrans Express, Violette Trains and Lotus Train manage their own compartments in standard passenger cars operated by Vietnam Railways on SE1/2, SE3/4 and SE19/20 trains departing from Hanoi bound for Dong Hoi, Hue and Da Nang, and SE1/2 and SNT1/2 trains departing from Ho Chi Minh bound for Nha Trang.

The Reunification Express SE3/4 is one of the Express services trains running the North-South railway line from Hanoi to Saigon stopping in Ninh Binh, Dong Hoi, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phan Rang along the way.

Southern Vietnam

Two dedicated railways link Ho Chi Minh with the South Central Coast and the Southeastern Coast.

• Saigon–Quy Nhon railway
• Saigon–Phan Thiet railway

Saigon–Quy Nhon railway

The Saigon–Quy Nhon railway line connects Ho Chi Minh and Quy Nhon in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Trains depart from Saigon Railway Station and arrive at Quy Nhon Railway Station.

Passenger services designated with code SQN operate on weekends and national holidays.

Alternatively, passengers can take the SE services of the North–South railway line and stop in Dieu Tri Railway Station, then transfer to Quy Nhon by taxi.

Saigon–Phan Thiet railway

The Saigon–Phan Thiet railway line connects Ho Chi Minh and Phan Thiet in the Southeastern Coast of Vietnam. Trains depart from Saigon Railway Station and arrive at Phan Thiet Railway Station, which provides easy access to Mui Ne.

Passenger services designated with code SPT correspond to regular services operating daily, wheareas additional PT operate on weekends and national holidays.

Alternatively, passengers can take the SE services of the North–South railway line and stop in Binh Thuan Railway Station, then transfer to Phan Thiet by taxi.

The SPT1/2 train offers easy access to Phan Thiet, in Binh Thuan province. The daily service departs in the morning and returns to Saigon in the afternoon.

How to book your train tickets in Vietnam?

Booking your train tickets in Vietnam is very quick and simple. Search for train routes between any two cities for your travel dates.

Select your route

After search, we will display the results for your itinerary.

Find the train services operated by Vietnam Railways or the private railway companies available for your itinerary and select the most convenient option.

Click to expand the details of the route, you will find the available fares. Trains in Vietnam offer various types of fares, depending if the service consists of sleeper or seating passenger cars.

• Hard seat arranged in 2+2 row configuration
• Soft seat arranged in 2+2 row configuration

• Sleeper 6-Berth (Compartments for 1-6 passengers with hard bed) arranged in 3 levels of bunks (Upper, Middle and Lower)
• Sleeper 4-Berth (Compartments for 1-4 passengers with soft bed) arranged in 2 levels of bunks (Upper and Lower)
• Sleeper 2-Berth (Compartments for 1-2 passengers with soft bed) arranged in 1 level of bunks

Fill in the passenger and contact details

Next, select your seats.

Baolau supports seat and berth selection for all trains operated by Vietnam Railways. For private railway companies, you can indicate your berth preference, Upper and Lower, and we will consider your request depending on the availability.

Please provide the passenger information and the contact details of the person responsible for booking. We will send by email the booking confirmation and the electronic ticket.

Complete your payment

Select your payment method. We accept international credit or debit cards.

Check your itinerary and price breakdown. Confirm that the booking information is correct. Before you proceed to payment, you must read and accept the terms and conditions of booking.

Receive your tickets by email

Once your payment is complete, your reservation will be processed.

In the following 24 hours you will receive the itinerary and booking confirmation by email with the electronic ticket issued by Vietnam Railways or the private railway companies attached in PDF format.

You can also access to Manage your booking via web and download the electronic ticket to your device.

How to use the train e-ticket?

The electronic ticket is a valid boarding pass and can be used to board the train at the station of departure.

Passengers travelling with Vietnam Railways can print the e-ticket in advance or carry a digital copy in the mobile phone and present it when boarding the train.