The first class (aka "soft sleeping berth") is really a great value...however, you are best to avoid the third class trains (aka "hard seats") unless you are up for a real adventurous travel story. More

What a great experience, we left from Hanoi in the evening and had a great trip up the line. We travelled smoothly and realised this was so because on the way back down do not expect to get much sleep as the train back down stops for the upgoing one to have priority. It was a great experience and do... More

We traveled on Hara express to Sapa via Haratours. There are two agents who book these carriages and I would advise against Haratours. Online they reversed the booking having us traveling Sapa-Hanoi then Hanoi-Sapa instead of the other way around! Having sorted that out we arrived at the train station and phoned their "hotline" as instructed only to get a... More

Soft sleepers on the slow overnight train help save some hotel expense. The rocking feeling due to poor rail track makes sleeping a pleasure with soothing feeling from repeating train rattle noises. Waking up 5 am in the dark on arrival at Sapa/Hanoi and walking thru the rail tracks was a eye opener More

Well if your thinking of going from Hanoi to Sapa this train trip will certainly be an interesting one. We left our Hotel at approx 8.00 to catch the overnight train to Sapa. It was pouring with rain, We arrived at the station with our two children aged 13 and 17 years old. Getting out of the car and to... More

The train is usefully a sleeper train, so don't expect sights until you arrive in Sapa. My bed had bed bugs, so after two hours sleeping, I awoken covered in itchy bites. The cars can be really hot, too, so comfort really depends on the season. Keep in mind everything in Vietnam is designed for people under 6'. More

The fun and excitement of being on a train in another country. More

A few years ago, I took the luxuruious VIP train from HCM to Nha Trang and truly enjoyed myself. This ride to sapa is totally different! Our train from Hanoi to Sapa was on the Livitrans carriage and the return trip was on Kings Express. Although the latter was smaller, it seems newer too. To be fair, the carriage is... More

Firstly I will say that SaPa is a must see place, but unless you are prepared to travel by car/bus then the only other way to get there is by train. It will not matter which train you book - none of the photos of the trains are a reflection of what you actually get. They are ply wood vaneer... More