Vietnam Sleeper Train From Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City – Our Review

We like trains. So much so that we went all the way from Hanoi to Singapore without taking a single flight. Of course, we jumped at the opportunity to take the Vietnamese Reunification Express from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City.

Here’s our experience on a sleeper train in Vietnam:

• Our Vietnam Sleeper Train Review
  • Where We Booked Our Vietnam Sleeper Train Ticket
  • Da Nang Train Station
  • Our Seat on the Overnight Train in Vietnam
  • Facilities on Our Vietnam Overnight Train
  • Food on Our Vietnam Overnight Train
  • Views on the Overnight Train
  • Our Experience on a Vietnam Sleeper Train
  • Conclusion – Would We Book a Vietnam Sleeper Train Again?

Our Vietnam Sleeper Train Review

Where We Booked Our Vietnam Sleeper Train Ticket

The Reunification Express is operated by Vietnam Railways. It travels between north and south Vietnam, specifically Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in just over 30 hours. Popular stops along the way are Hue, Da Nang (Hoi An), and Phan Thiet (Mui Ne).

We took the train from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City which takes roughly 17 hours. There are multiple trains per day. You can check the current train times here:

We strongly advise you to book your tickets in advance because they can sell out. Theoretically, you can buy online tickets directly via Vietnam Railways but you need a Vietnamese card.

For tourists, it’s easiest to use a third-party operator. We used 12go.asia.

Da Nang Train Station

There’s not much going on at Da Nang train station. We only found one small shop and no restaurant at all. We strongly recommend you buy some food before you go.

There’s a big and comfy waiting area inside the train station. The train departure table is available in English and Vietnamese. When the train arrives, there will be an announcement and everybody flocks to the platform to board the train.

Our Seat on the Overnight Train in Vietnam

You have three main seat options when you take an overnight train in Vietnam:

1. Soft seat
2. Hard berth (6 people)
3. Soft berth (4 people)

We opted for the soft berth in a 4 person cabin – mostly because we wanted to share our room with as few people as possible. We ended up sharing our room with a Vietnamese couple who were quiet and considerate bunk mates.

You have the option to book

• A lower bunk (slightly more expensive, less private but easier to get into)
• An upper bunk (cheaper, more private but a climb)

We chose a lower bunk and were quite happy that we didn’t have to climb.

Facilities on Our Vietnam Overnight Train

Toilets

There are both Asian-style squat toilets and Western-style bowl toilets on the train. Both were alright but not great.

Hallway

There are more sinks as well as a hot water dispenser in the hallway.

Internet

Rumour has it that there’s WiFi on the train. Personally, we couldn’t find any.

Our mobile data connection was also quite spotty.

Power

We had a power outlet next to our bed which worked fine. We heard other travellers saying that theirs didn’t work so be prepared for that.

We also had a little light above our bed.

Food on Our Vietnam Overnight Train

A food cart came by our cabin multiple times. Unfortunately, they only announced themselves in Vietnamese. For us, it was very hard to figure out what the food offer is. We ended up buying some corn…

We strongly recommend you stock up on snacks and cup noodles before you leave for the train. Also, take enough water with you!

Views on the Overnight Train

The views of the Vietnamese countryside are lovely during the daylight hours. Depending on the train time you choose, you will cover quite a lot of distance in the dark though.

Our Experience on a Vietnam Sleeper Train

Did We Sleep on the Train

We brought earplugs and a sleeping mask and actually managed to get some sleep in. There is a lot of rattling and some commotion though so we did not wake up feeling refreshed.

Did We Feel Safe?

Yes, we actually felt very safe. Staff was always around somewhere. Also, our bunkmates were nice.

Our door stayed open the whole night which we did not mind at all. Your only two options are being locked in with strangers or keeping the door open anyway…

Cleanliness on the Train

Be aware that the total train time from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is over 30 hours. There are several stops in between and beds can get reassigned without a proper cleaning between passengers. Our bed looked unused when we boarded.

Unfortunately, we had a little visitor during the night. I woke up feeling something crawl over my body. When I removed my sleeping mask, I saw a little cockroach friend on the wall next to me. I even notified the train attendant who walked past our open door just at this moment but she just shrugged.

Conclusion – Would We Book a Vietnam Sleeper Train Again?

The short answer: Absolutely not.

Normally, we love to travel as eco-friendly as possible. So when we say that next time, we would fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City that really means something.

Here’s why we wouldn’t recommend taking a sleeper train in Vietnam:

• 17 hours is a long time. There’s no WiFi to get some work done and there are no views after dark.
• Even though we usually sleep well in many forms of public transport and slept like babies on the Vietnamese sleeper buses, we woke up super tired after the train ride.
• The train is neither the cheapest nor the fastest option. Buses are cheaper and flying is much quicker.
• Sleeping next to a cockroach is a hard pass for us.

One reason to book a sleeper train in Vietnam: It’s an adventure – and quite possibly a good story to tell!

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