Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Hanoi by train: Reunification Express guide for travellers

Thirty three hours, seventeen hundred kilometres, two cities and one country; however you measure it, the Reunification Express is vast. Connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon if you prefer), this route is indelibly linked to the history of Vietnam and the changes it has witnessed over the past seventy years.

After the wars of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the railway line (like the country itself) was in a delipidated state and in need of repair and renewal. Recognising the symbolic and economic benefits of connecting the former capitals of North and South Vietnam, the government set about rebuilding the line and, within a few years, it was back to its former glory.

The line stretches almost the entire length of the country, passing close to almost all of the most visited tourist sites. And while it’s true that most passengers hop on and off the trains at intermediate stops, a few intrepid travellers embark on the entire journey, thus completing one of the longest and most iconic train rides in the world.

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What is the Reunification Express?

First things first: no single train on the Vietnamese network is actually called the Reunification Express. It’s part branding, part guidebook shorthand and part romanticism. It’s official name ‘North-South Railway’ doesn’t quite have the same wow-factor.

Instead, the Reunification Express is a neat way of describing all of the trains that run along the mainline from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Another quirk of the Vietnamese railway network is that very few trains are actually running at any one time and most of them are travelling along the entire route.

So in summary, don’t expect to board the Reunification Express itself as it doesn’t really exist.

Map of the HCMC to Hanoi train route

Beginning and end cities

Trains on the Reunification Line run in both directions to/from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, situated in the north of the country relatively close to the border with China. It’s a fascinating city to visit, full of historical sights and colonial architecture. Within a couple of hours of the city, you’ll also find the tourist hotspots of Sapa and Halong Bay.

Ho Chi Minh City is in the south of the country. Take note that almost everyone still calls it by its former name of Saigon and that’s also how it’s displayed on the official timetables. This is the most cosmopolitan city in the country and where you’ll find the best international flight connections. It’s also handy for beautiful beaches, Cambodian adventures, and the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Reunification Express timetables

Services on the Reunification Line have the prefix SE. Southbound trains take the odd numbers (SE1, SE3, SE5 and SE7) and the northbound trains the even (SE2, SE4, SE6, SE8).

*note that some intermediate stops have been omitted from the following tables (there are 18 stops in total).

Southbound timetable from Hanoi to Saigon

Northbound timetable from Saigon to Hanoi

How to buy tickets

Tickets for all Vietnamese trains can be booked at the station but the easiest and most convenient method is to book online. Although you pay a very small fee, it saves you the time and effort of going to the station and is far simpler.

You can also check availability and prices online, and pay using an international credit card. Tickets are delivered almost instantly to your inbox and there’s no need to print anything out – simply show your ticket to the station staff and conductor when required.

The best site to buy Vietnamese train tickets is 12Go, which is reliable and easy to use.

How much are tickets?

Fares depend on the class you choose:

• Four-berth soft sleeper. Comfortable accommodation in cabins for four beds, two upper and two lower.
• Six-berth hard sleeper. Almost identical to the four-berth variety, just with an extra layer of bunks.
• Soft seats in an open carriage. Seats will recline slightly but they’re not recommended if you’re doing the whole route.

Example fares for Hanoi to Saigon (and vice-versa). Prices are for the the upper bunk (lower bunks are about 5% more expensive). Children under the age of 10 receive a 25% discount.

What is it like onboard

Check out our full Vietnam train travel guide for all the information on what to expect onboard.

Points of interest along the way

Passing through 1700km of this amazing country, the Reunification Express isn’t short of points of interest and things to see out of the train window. Here are some of the highlights:

• World-famous train street in Hanoi, just outside the main station in the capital city.
• Hai Van Pass between Danang and Hue, perhaps the most beautiful (and photographed) section of railway in Southeast Asia.
• Nha Trang, one of Vietnam’s premier beach towns.
• Ninh Binh, easy access to rivers and limestone peaks.
• Danang, a fascinating city in its own right, with the Unesco World Heritage City of Hoi An only 30 minutes away.

All in one go?

The big question: do you stay onboard for the whole journey?

The truth is that most people don’t travel non-stop from Hanoi to Saigon. The internal flight is only two hours and isn’t that much different in price.

But…if you’re on this site reading this page, you probably already realise that the railways offer so much more than yet another flight. This is an adventure like no other, one of the few remaining truly epic, country-wide train journeys you can take on the rails.

Assuming you’re not in a hurry, and that you value experiences over velocity, then we’d absolutely recommend booking a ticket on the entire route and see Vietnam up close and personal.

Tip and things to know

• Food can be limited onboard and there’s never enough time at stops to jump off and buy a proper meal. Take enough supplies with you to last the entire journey.
• Safety is good onboard but it’s useful to have a simple tether and padlock system to keep your bags safe if you go for a wander.
• Tickets go on sale up to 90 days in advance. If you’re planning to do the whole route, you’ll be able to buy tickets the full 90 days in advance. For shorter legs, the booking window decreases towards 30 days beforehand.

Final thoughts on the Reunification Express

Vast, iconic, timeless and never to be forgotten, a journey on the Reunification Express counts as one of life’s great adventures.

One (or even two) nights onboard this service gives you the chance to fully relax, switch off and get onto long-distance train time. Although there are many places worth jumping off for and exploring, do consider staying onboard for the entire journey for the ultimate in Southeast Asian train experiences.