I bought tickets for 1st class. Either the system was making mistake, or if there was 1st class, I couldn't imagine what 2nd class would look like. (according the pictures, there is no difference...although in the price there is a little)
Better than expected. Ride was clean and toilet was bearable. The experience was enjoyable for the kids, and allowed quality time to be spent in conversations.
It’s such a scenic train ride. The view at the end was amazing (Hue to Da Nang). The cabin size and cleanliness was perfect. We had water and a few snacks on board. Plus the possibility to order some fresh food. The bed was comfy. The air conditioning was extreme. Bring extra clothes and a scarf with you. The train was moving slow. The ride was quite bulky. The train’s axles were making very loud cracking noises, so I couldn’t sleep very well. My partner, however, had earplugs and slept like a baby. The train workers were super friendly.
The bed was very uncomfortable and felt as hard as concrete or wood. The ride was also very bumpy, and the bed was quite small, which made it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. In addition, both the cabin and the toilets were very small and not particularly clean.
This was actually whole a lot better than we expected.
Personally, I love trains, and as I’m from Japan, the night train is becoming a thing of the past in Japan now. Before we got onboard, I heard it’d be really bumpy and loud since the rail track is a century old, and to be honest, it was indeed bumpy and loud. But, we had actually better experience than Japanese Sunrise Express!! From the refreshments available in the room, hot food service and catering available to comfortable sleeping accommodations, we were blown away by it. Something we can’t have in Japan (if you pay million yen, you could have such experience in Japan, but we aren’t one of those people…)
So, it was truly amazing experience for us. I know taking flight or night bus was cheaper and more efficient convenient way to travel, but I’m glad I made the right decision for our first trip to Vietnam! Thank you so much for your hospitality!
