We select our favourite five train journeys in Southeast Asia, including overnight sleepers, jungle excursions and even a bamboo train.
Choosing only five train journeys in Southeast Asia isn’t easy. This part of the world has no shortage of gorgeous views and stunning scenery, and the railways crisscross the landscape to give the perfect ground-level perspective. In this guide, we have tried to capture the range and variety of options you’ll encounter when you visit the region, from cross-country overnight adventures, short hops on arguably the prettiest stretch of railway in the world and a twenty minute jaunt on your own private bamboo train.
So here are our top five train journeys, hopefully you agree these are amazing trips and ones you’ll get to experience yourself soon. Do remember to check out our top tips for Southeast Asian train travel before you board, especially around what to pack and now to book tickets. All of these trips can be booked using the excellent Baolau site, where you can also select your seat or berth to guarantee the best experience onboard.
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1. Hue to Danang
The North-South railway line in Vietnam stretches almost the entire length of the country, linking the capital Hanoi in the north, to Saigon (HCMC) in the south. Reopened in 1976 after the war, it’s technically possible to undertake the entire journey in one long hop, although most travellers split the 36 hour adventure into several smaller legs.
Our personal favourite journey is the short ride between Hue and Danang (or vice versa), in particular the beautiful section that winds its way underneath the Hai Van Pass, one of the most breathtaking areas of Southeast Asia. Hugging the narrow strip of land between the aqua blue waters of the South China Sea and the tree-covered mountains, the railway line passes through a series of tunnels along the route, emerging each time into a jaw-dropping environment.
There are several trains during the day making the journey, do try and select a service that passes through this section during daylight, rather than a sleeper service.
2. Phnom Penh to Battambang
The Cambodian railways are slowly but surely regaining a foothold in the country’s transport network, but the number of services are still limited to a couple of lines and a couple of services per day. But that doesn’t mean the journeys are any less memorable and there’s no better example than the six hour journey linking the capital Phnom Penh to the city of Battambang.
Don’t expect luxurious accommodation onboard, the diesel engines pull a few workmanlike carriages that might lack in amenities, but more than make up for it in character and charm. With open windows, friendly fellow passengers and a relaxed approach to timekeeping, this route is one to savour and experience at a gentle pace.
The train leaves Phnom Penh early in the morning, just after the sun has risen and while the city is waking up. With the track passing close by residential areas and a noticeable lack of fences separating the railway from the houses, your departure from the capital is soundtracked with a constant blast of the engine’s horn, warning weary locals that the early morning train is coming through. Hang out of the window, watch the city dissolve into open countryside and then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Timetables are only a guide on this route so don’t worry too much keeping track of progress, although keep an eye out for Pursat, which is the only major stop and an ideal chance to top-up on supplies. The train waits for ten minutes here and the platform vendors are adept at providing hot meals for hungry passengers. Keep an ear out for the whistle and jump back onboard for the final three hour stretch to Battambang, with endless green fields and hills on the horizon.
3. Bangkok to Padang Besar and onwards to Butterworth
Until around 2016, the International Express used to run the entire route from Bangkok and across the border into Malaysia before reaching Butterworth and its ferry connections to Penang Island. It was one of the most iconic overnight sleeper services in the world until changes to the Malaysian railway network led to its unwelcome removal from the timetable.
However, all is not lost as the service still runs from Bangkok to the border town of Padang Besar from where passengers clear immigration and join the electric train down to Butterworth. While some of the romance has been lost, the overnight trip from Bangkok to the border is still one of the region’s great trips. It’s a great example of why people choose train travel over flying and there’s always something exotic about crossing an international border onboard a train.
Departing Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat station in the mid-afternoon, it’s ideally timed to enjoy a few hours staring out of the window as Bangkok ends and the countryside begins. Once the sun sets, head over to the restaurant car for some tasty Pad Thai before returning to you berth and settling in for the evening. Around 6am, the carriage begins waking up to the sound of tea sellers and the carriage attendants turning the berths back into day seats.
Padang Besar station is well setup and easy to navigate, you just need to buy an onward ticket to Butterworth and wait for departure.
In August 2024, there was exciting news that the full service linking Bangkok to Butterworth could be reinstated at some stage in 2025. We’ll keep you updated!
4. Battambang Bamboo Train
Something slightly different to the other trips on this list. Admittedly very much aimed at tourists, the Bamboo Train in Battambang is a chance to relive a bygone style of train travel (albeit with a small engine strapped onto the back rather than the original human powered option).
Taking about fifteen minutes in each direction (with a stop for refreshments and a realignment of the rolling stock), the bamboo train actually shares the track with huge freight trains making their way to and from the Thai border. Don’t worry about getting in their way though, the operators know the approximate timetable, plus you’ll be able to see (and hear) the huge locomotive approaching.
Bring a hat, sunscreen and a sense of adventure to this train, it’s lots of fun and certainly a unique version of Southeast Asian train travel.
5. Malaysia Jungle Train
Malaysia is busy upgrading its railway network, especially the west coast electric line but there’s still plenty of adventure and excitement available on the east coast line, also known as the Jungle Line. As the name suggests, this route meanders through the scenic eastern half of Peninsular Malaysia, passing daily through rainforest and jungle on its way from Johor Bahru in the south to Tumpat in the far northeast corner of the country near the Thai border. There are also more frequent shuttle services running from Kuala Lipis and/or Gua Musang to Tumpat.
With modern air-conditioned trains serving the route, it’s a great combination of adventure and comfort and some passengers opt to take the journey in stages, stopping off at intermediate stations to explore one of the less-visited areas of Malaysia.
On the overnight services from Johor Bahru and Tumpat (and vice versa), sleeper carriages are available with comfortable berths, allowing you to spend half of the journey sleeping, and the other half soaking up the gorgeous scenery. The trains that originate/terminate in Kuala Lipsis and/or Gua Musang only have second class seats, although they’re ideal for a daytime journey and are a bargain at around RM8 (US$1.80) for the five hour journey.