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Train Travel Vietnam


Train Travel in Vietnam

Trains are a great way to get around Vietnam for the distances longer than are comfortable by bus and shorter than you can fly. Vietnam has a well organized and regular train system. Their train system is managed by a state-owned operator, Vietnam Railways. Here’s what I know about train travel in Vietnam.

Train Travel in Vietnam has a regular schedule and is well organized. Travelers can choose from sitting or reclining and soft or hard surfaces. Trains in my experience are clean and semi-comfortable. Prices are about the same as flying. Getting tickets is easy by website or by phone.

The railway system in Vietnam is operated by Vietnam Railways, a state-owned operator. The main route is the 1,600 km single-track North–South Railway line, running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with stops in major cities, including Danang. This was built on the meter gauge in the 1880s during the French colonial rule.

The prices are about the same as flying. For example a 12 hour train ride is about the same as a two-hour flight. So, if that’s an issue, choose to fly. On the other hand, when you travel by train, you get a magnificent view of the whole countryside. This page is about train travel in Vietnam. Please see this page form more information on how to travel Vietnam.

The train schedule is posted online at http://vietnam-railway.com/. Their website is not mobile friendly. But ordering tickets is relatively easy. You can email their sales office at: sales@vietnam-railway.com. Their contact form is: http://vietnam-railway.com/contact/. Vietnamese (young) people speak English and are very friendly.

I have taken the train a couple times and would do it again. Tho, the trip from Danang to Ho Chi Minh was too long by train, I enjoyed seeing more of the landscape than I would have by plane.

Prices are always in VND (Vietnam Dong) and the exchange rate is about 20,000 VND to one dollar. This makes a 2 million VND trip about $80. I do the simple conversion in my head, but for more accurate currency exchange, I use a currency app. If you want to send money to someone or pay a bill in Vietnam, I strongly suggest Wise (formerly Wise Transfer).

How to Pay for Train Travel in Vietnam

Their system is different because they don’t actually convert any currency. Instead, they have banks in many countries. When you want to send money, the bank deducts this amount from your account in one bank, and adds it to your balance in the other branch, which is simple bookkeeping. Then, transfers the money in the local currency. Brilliant!

With Wise, I can choose the exact amount I want to pay, or the amount I want the other person to receive, even with the exchange rate. The way this is done, is the bank figures out what it will cost for the recipient to receive an exact amount. Then they figure out what to deduct from your account to make that happen.

See this page for more information on how to set up your Wise Bank account.

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