Hanoi to Saigon by train: five cities and four legs

This route plan draws on an analysis of online traveller discussions by Vexere, an authorised online ticketing agent of Vietnam Railways. The most frequent questions in its sample concerned where to break the journey, which cabin to book for overnight legs and which side of the train to sit on.

The company reviewed 485 public posts, reviews and videos published over an 18-month period, from April 2025 to September 2026, across Reddit, Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Naver blogs and YouTube. Conducted in October 2026, the analysis covered 1,169 comments attributed to 628 international travellers. The findings reflect the online discussions reviewed and should not be interpreted as a representative survey of all international rail passengers in Vietnam.

Planning the journey

Travellers can take a direct train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Railways' SE services, but dividing the route into separate journeys leaves time to explore along the way. Each leg can be booked as its own ticket for a different travel date.

A route through five cities follows four main legs: Hanoi to Hue, Hue to Da Nang, Da Nang to Nha Trang, and Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight trains suit the longer sections, while daytime departures show landscapes that would otherwise pass in the dark.

Ninh Binh is an optional additional stop south of Hanoi for visitors drawn to limestone scenery and river excursions. Travellers adding it should plan their onward train from Ninh Binh to Hue, rather than returning to the capital simply to continue south. The extra stop also needs its own accommodation time.

Journey times depend on the service and travel date. Compare departure and arrival times for each leg before arranging hotels or onward transport, and leave some flexibility for delays. A late arrival or very early departure can make a seemingly convenient train less suitable for the rest of an itinerary.

Hanoi to Hue: choosing an overnight cabin

The Hanoi to Hue train is the longest leg of the route before the central coast, and an overnight service combines transport with a night on board. Allowing a full day in the former imperial capital makes the stop more than a transfer at the station.

Cabin and berth choice appeared in comments from 180 travellers in Vexere's analysis, many of them weighing a four-berth compartment against a six-berth one for this overnight leg. Twenty-nine travellers described disrupted sleep from train movement, track noise and station announcements, so earplugs, an eye mask and an extra layer are worth packing for the night.

Hue to Da Nang: save this section for daylight

Between Hue and Da Nang, the railway passes lagoons and the Lang Co area before winding around the Hai Van mountains. Here, green slopes meet the sea, and the train's changing angle reveals different stretches of coastline. This is the section to build a daytime departure around.

In Vexere's sample, 54 travellers discussed the Hue to Da Nang train, most often asking which side of the carriage faces the sea. This short leg is the one to plan around a daytime departure, with enough time to reach the station.

For coastal views around Hai Van, the sea is generally on the left when travelling south from Hue to Da Nang, and on the right when heading north. Left and right refer to the train's direction of travel.

On Vexere, travellers can check the carriage layout on a seat map and choose a seat on the sea-facing side before paying. If the direction is unclear on board, train staff can confirm which side faces the coast.

Continuing south

Da Nang provides a base for a road excursion to Hoi An before returning to the railway. Travellers should allow time for the transfer in both directions. Hoi An is a separate visit from the rail itinerary, so it is worth planning accommodation around the intended onward departure.

From Da Nang, the line continues towards Nha Trang, with coastal scenery visible on parts of the route during daylight. Visitors can choose between spending more waking hours on board and using an overnight service. Nha Trang then provides another break before the final journey to Ho Chi Minh City.

The five cities bring different experiences to the same journey. Hanoi offers a starting point among the streets of the Old Quarter; Hue invites time for the Imperial City and the Perfume River. Da Nang and Nha Trang introduce two different coastal stays, before Ho Chi Minh City changes the rhythm again.

There is no need to give every stop the same length of stay. Travellers interested in history may spend longer in Hue, while those seeking beach time can extend a coastal stop. Choose the pace before choosing the trains.

Practical preparations

Book Vietnam Railways tickets ahead when dates are fixed, especially around public holidays and Tet, Vietnam's Lunar New Year. For each leg, check the train number, berth type, departure station and arrival date before travelling.

Carry drinking water and snacks for the longer journeys, particularly if you have dietary requirements. Keep your ticket and identification accessible, and arrange the transfer from the arrival station before departure.

With time between stops, the railway becomes part of the visit itself. Vexere, an authorised online ticketing agent of Vietnam Railways, lets travellers book each leg of the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route as a separate ticket, from the overnight train to Hue to the daytime run along the coast to Da Nang.

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