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Vietnam trains: tickets, sleeper berths and journey times
One line runs the length of Vietnam, from Hanoi through Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. The whole journey takes 32 hours 45 minutes to 38 hours 26 minutes on the October 2026 timetable, from 1,015,000₫ for a soft seat or 1,831,000₫ for a four-berth sleeper; a flight takes about two hours. There is no station in Sapa: the night train stops at Lào Cai.
Stations, classes and the long journey south
| Operator | Vietnam National Railway Group (VNR) |
|---|---|
| Stations and terminals | Ga Hà Nội, Ga Sài Gòn and the station printed on the ticket |
| Ticket classes | Soft seat; six-berth and four-berth compartments, depending on the train |
| Luggage | 20 kg free per passenger, within size limits |
Train routes and official fares
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: allow more than a day
The full run between Ga Hà Nội (Hanoi station) and Ga Sài Gòn (Saigon station) takes 33 to 38 hours on the October 2026 timetable. Five trains a day run each way; the fare depends on the train, the class and the berth level.
| Direction and train | Departure and arrival | Duration | Soft seat from | Four-berth sleeper from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City, SE7 | 06:00 → 17:00 next day | 35 hours | 1,015,000₫ | 1,831,000₫ |
| Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City, SE1 | 21:45 → 06:30 two days later | 32 hours 45 minutes | 1,322,000₫ | 2,152,000₫ |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Hanoi, SE8 | 06:00 → 16:20 next day | 34 hours 20 minutes | 1,015,000₫ | 1,831,000₫ |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Hanoi, SE2 | 20:35 → 05:42 two days later | 33 hours 7 minutes | 1,322,000₫ | 2,152,000₫ |
An evening train arrives two mornings later. SE1 leaves Hanoi at 21:45 and reaches Ga Sài Gòn at 06:30 after two nights on board. If you only need to get from one end to the other, a flight saves a day and a half; the train makes sense when you want to stop along the coast.
Shorter trips: Ninh Binh, Hue and Da Nang
The railway's own fares for October 2026. "From" is the cheapest place in that class on that train.
| Journey | Train and times | Soft seat from | Four-berth sleeper from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi → Ninh Binh | SE7, 06:00 → 08:13 | 106,000₫ | 197,000₫ |
| Ninh Binh → Hanoi | SE8, 13:59 → 16:20 | 106,000₫ | 173,000₫ |
| Hanoi → Da Nang, by day | SE7, 06:00 → 22:15 | 551,000₫ | 1,031,000₫ |
| Hanoi → Da Nang, overnight | SE3, 19:20 → 10:28 next day | 677,000₫ | 1,318,000₫ |
| Da Nang → Hanoi, overnight | SE20, 18:00 → 11:10 next day | Sleepers only | 810,000₫ |
| Hue → Da Nang | SE7, 19:43 → 22:15 | 76,000₫ | 141,000₫ |
| Da Nang → Hue | SE8, 23:41 → 02:12 next day | 76,000₫ | 124,000₫ |
Between Hue and Da Nang there is also the heritage train along the Hải Vân coast: HĐ3 leaves Hue at 14:30 and reaches Da Nang at 18:15, and HĐ2 leaves Da Nang at 07:05 for Hue at 11:03, both from 185,000₫. The Hue to Da Nang page has every departure.
Nha Trang: a day train or a night train
Between Ga Sài Gòn and Ga Nha Trang, October 2026:
From Hanoi, SE1 takes 24 hours 50 minutes to Nha Trang, 21:45 to 22:35 the next day. The Nha Trang guide has the other trains, Cam Ranh airport and the vans up to Da Lat.
Sapa means Lào Cai
The night train from Hanoi ends at Ga Lào Cai (Lao Cai station), and the last stretch up to Sapa is by road. In October 2026, SP3 leaves Hanoi at 22:00 and arrives at 05:50, four-berth from 475,000₫. The Hanoi to Sapa page covers the transfer from the station.
Coming back, there is a daytime train: SP8 leaves Lào Cai at 12:05 and reaches Hanoi at 19:30, four-berth from 202,000₫. The overnight SP4 leaves at 21:50 and arrives at 05:40, from 362,000₫.
Da Lat's station is on a separate heritage line, and no through train reaches it; buses and flights get you there from Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang.
Choose a berth, buy a ticket and board
Soft seat, six-berth or four-berth
A soft-seat ticket is a seat. A sleeper ticket is one berth in a shared compartment, not the whole compartment, and each berth level has its own price. Travellers in 2026 report food and drink sellers passing through the carriages several times on overnight trips.
- Six-berth compartments have three levels: lower, middle and upper.
- Four-berth compartments have two: lower and upper.
Upper berths are cheaper. On SE7 from Hanoi to Nha Trang in October 2026, a lower berth in a four-berth compartment cost 1,780,000₫ and an upper berth 1,652,000₫, so the "from" price in a class is usually the upper berth.
Tickets and identity
The railway sells tickets at dsvn.vn and at station counters. The name on the ticket must be the passenger's own, which for a visitor means the name in the passport.
Board at the station printed on the ticket. Some bus tickets name a stop "Railway Station" in their timetable: that is still a bus, and in Ninh Binh the vans to Tam Coc stop somewhere else entirely.
Luggage on the train
The railway carries 20 kg per passenger free, in bags no longer than 0.8 m, no wider than 0.5 m and no bigger than 0.16 m³. Heavier or bigger items go under the railway's separate rules for excess luggage.
Changing an official railway ticket
Since 15 May 2026, an individual ticket paid online, or by bank-account VietQR at a counter, can be changed online in the "Đổi, trả vé" menu on dsvn.vn. Tickets paid by e-wallet at a counter cannot; for an ordinary counter ticket, go back to a station.
- Change at least 24 hours before departure, once only, same passenger and same two stations.
- Fee: 20,000₫ (10,000₫ on Hanoi–Hai Phong).
- Returning a ticket after changing it costs 30% of its value.
- The verification code is free by email, 1,000₫ by SMS to a registered phone.
These are the railway's own rules. A ticket bought from an online seller follows that seller's conditions, and some Hanoi–Nha Trang tickets on sale online are marked non-refundable.
The national railway operator
| Operator | Where it runs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Railways (Vietnam National Railway Group, VNR) | Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City, central-coast services and Hanoi–Lào Cai | Running |
Train journeys in both directions
Vietnam train ticket questions
Where can I book Vietnam train tickets?
On the railway's own site, dsvn.vn, or at any station counter. Online booking services sell train tickets too. Whoever you buy from, the name on the ticket must match the passenger's passport.
What are the train classes in Vietnam?
Soft seats, six-berth compartments and four-berth compartments, depending on the train. A sleeper ticket is one berth: six-berth compartments have three levels and four-berth compartments two, and the upper berths cost less.
How much do Vietnam train tickets cost?
For October 2026, Hanoi to Ninh Binh starts at 106,000₫ for a soft seat and Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City at 1,015,000₫, or 1,831,000₫ for a four-berth sleeper. The price depends on the train, the class and the berth level.
How long is the train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City?
32 hours 45 minutes to 38 hours 26 minutes on the October 2026 timetable. SE1 leaves Hanoi at 21:45 and reaches Ga Sài Gòn at 06:30 two days later; SE7 leaves at 06:00 and arrives at 17:00 the next day.
Does the train go to Sapa?
No. The night train from Hanoi stops at Ga Lào Cai and you continue by road. In October 2026, SP3 runs 22:00 to 05:50, with four-berth places from 475,000₫.
How much luggage can I take on a Vietnam train?
20 kg per passenger free, in bags up to 0.8 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.16 m³ in volume. A light bag that is too big still counts as excess luggage.
Can I change a Vietnam train ticket online?
Yes, since 15 May 2026, if it was paid online or by bank-account VietQR: once, at least 24 hours before departure, for 20,000₫ (10,000₫ on Hanoi–Hai Phong). Returning it after a change costs 30%. Tickets from online sellers follow the seller's rules.