Air-conditioned trains with sleepers and on-board catering link Hanoi, Hué, Danang, Nha Trang, and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  Hoi An has no station, but it's just 30km by bus or taxi from Danang.  There are also trains from Hanoi to Halong & Haiphong (for Halong Bay) and Hanoi to Lao Cai (for Sapa).

The Reunification Express?

Trains between Hanoi & Saigon are sometimes referred to as the 'Reunification Express' by guide books or tourist agencies.  However, there are now many trains on this route and no single train officially carries this name.

The view from the train...

You'll see some amazing scenery from the train between Hanoi and Saigon.  Easily the best section is between Hué and Danang over the Hai Van Pass, where the train runs along the coast past bays and islands and through the hills.  The train travels at low speed up the fierce gradients, with an assisting locomotive at the rear and people sitting on the roof!  See the video above and the pictures below

The North - South 'Reunification' Main Line...

Over the last decade the Hanoi-Saigon train service has been steadily improving and a whole range of daily air-conditioned trains now link Hanoi, Hue, Danang, Nha Trang & Saigon (HCMC).  Here are the principal trains, all running daily.  There are additional trains at peak times, such as the Tet holiday period

Southbound timetable:

All these trains run every day.  Hanoi to Saigon is 1,726km or 1,070 miles.  Map of Saigon showing station.  Map of Hanoi showing station.

SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4:  These are the best trains.  They have air-conditioned soft sleepers (4-berth), air-conditioned hard sleepers (6-berth), air-con soft seats & air-con restaurant car.

SE5, SE6:  These trains have air-conditioned hard sleepers, air-con soft seats, air-con hard seats, and non-air-con hard seats.  No soft sleepers!

SE7, SE8:  These trains may not operate between May & October.  Air-conditioned soft sleepers (4-berth), air-con hard sleepers (6-berth), air-con soft seats.

SE19, SE20 is a new train introduced April 2011. Air-conditioned soft sleepers, air-conditioned hard sleepers, air-con soft seats, air-con hard seats, hard seats.

TN1, TN2 have air-conditioned hard sleepers (6-berth) & non-air-con hard seats only.  No soft sleepers or seats.

SNT1, SNT2 have air-conditioned soft sleepers, hard sleepers & seats.

Livitrans private tourist sleeping-cars:  Trains SE5 & SE6 have a tourist sleeping-car attached between Hanoi, Hue & Danang run by private company Livitrans.  It has 4-berth sleeper compartments of a higher standard than the normal Vietnamese Railways ones, but fares a bit higher.

Northbound timetable: