Vietnam can be reached in many ways. But travelling by train seems to be one of the favorite means among tourists, local and foreign alike. The railway in Vietnam opened in 1881. The first destination was from Thu Thiem Flag Column to Cho Lon in Saigon. In 1936, almost all routes around the country were completed, stretching 2,600 kilometers to reach almost all points in Vietnam.

With today's advanced technology, going by train is considered to be one of the best ways to travel, with guaranteed safe, comfortable and even affordable transport. The train system in Vietnam is made up of seven rail lines. Of these, three are actively used by foreign tourists going in and out of the country. The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route is the main and most popular line used by visitors in Vietnam. There are more than 100 stations on this line, with services varying from fast such as express trains to local, probably old ones, which are so slow it's actually a mystery why they are still in operation. The fast trains, called Reunification Express, run on the major destinations, about 20 stations in total: Hanoi; Vinh; Dong Hoi; Dong Ha; Hue; Da Nang; Quang Ngai; Dieu Tri; Nha Trang; Thap Cham; Muong Man; and Saigon.The Ha Noi to Lao Cai route runs on the North West part of Vietnam and ends on the border town of Lao Cai.

It passes through the hill station of Sapa, one of the country's famous tourist destinations. Most trains travel at night. Passengers cannot expect a standard quality of service though since the transportations are owned and run by different companies, offering different brands of safety and comfort for their clients.The Hanoi to Dong Dang route services the North East portion of the country. Dong Dang is the border town of Lang Son Province and is considered a “Chinese Frontier,” another favorite tourist destination. While the three mentioned routes are the major destinations, minor train routes around Vietnam are Hanoi-Hai Phong; Hanoi-Quan Trieu; Kep to Ha Long; and Kep to Luu Xa.Vietnam trains offer four types of classes, subdivided into sub-classes. The Hard Seat, as the name suggests, is simply made of a wooden bench. It is the cheapest class and so the first to be filled up. The Soft Seat is also among the affordable classes with slightly more comfortable and “travel-adequate” seats that are designed for sitting more than for sleeping. Passengers can choose between Reclining Air-Con, Air-Con, and Non Air-Con sub-classes.

The Hard Sleeper is, thankfully, not consisting of a hard wooden plank as its Hard Seat counterpart, but of rather a thin mattress. It is composed of a six-”berth” configuration and has a choice between fan-cooled and air-con. The top bunk is the cheapest one, while the low bunk is priced the highest between the former and the middle bunk. The compartments do not have a door so passengers have to take care of their personal belongings. For the traveler who is on budget, this class is the recommended mode of travel. The Soft Sleeper is the most expensive but the most comfortable class. The beds are also arranged in a four-bed configuration, but as the name suggests, are very soft and comfortable. The compartments have a door, making clients more secure of their things. Passengers also have a choice between with or without air-con.Train types are distinguished by their prefix: 5-star; SE; SP; TN; and LC; followed by a number: SE1 travels from Hanoi to Saigon, while SE2 goes the other way around, and so forth.

Cabins are furnished with four or six bunks, the upper bunk provided with a small ladder. Though seemingly difficult and uncomfortable to access, the upper bank is more secure and closer to the air-conditioner, the latter feauture being good or bad depending on the passenger's preferences. Storage areas are available at the bottom bunks, although it does not guarantee security of one's personal details. Carriages are equipped with two bathrooms: one with a squat toilet; the other with just a basin and mirror. The middle area is the most preferred seat in the carriage. Bring your own toilet paper.The 5-star and SE trains are air-conditioned, while the SP, TN and LC have both non and air-con features.

If you're en route the Hanoi-Saigon trip, the SE is the most recommended train with its reasonable price and fast service. Moreover, it makes a stop on the popular tourist destinations in the area. The TN trains may be slower (with more stop-overs than the former), but they are more affordable, a good choice for travellers on a budget.The Sapa destination has three night trains and one day train on a daily trip between Hanoi and Lao Cai. The former is more preferred by travellers since it is more budget-friendly and has different classes for passengers to choose from. Moreover, the latter only offers hard and soft seats, not giving its clients much option and comfort.

Private cars may be attached to the night trains: Fansipan; Friendly; King; Pumpkin; Royal; and Tulico. Victoria is exclusive for guests reserved at the Victoria Sapa Hotel.The 5-Star Express is a private express train which travels to Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. It has new cars that may be attached to it and comes in 4 classes: A; B; C; and D, the latter being the most affordable. The Saigon-Nha Trang route runs overnight while the return trip is during the daytime.Like most transportation services perhaps, one cannot expect a perfect accommodation. Factors like technical problems, travel season, etc. may cause the delay or if you're lucky enough, advance departure and/ or arrival of the trains.

The best advice is still prepare for your trip in advance and well. Book your tickets early and come prepared for the trip. Pack as lightly as you can with only the popular and essentials like clothes, shoes, important documents and toiletries stuffed properly in your bag. You can buy tickets online but purchasing tickets at the train station itself is the best option against travel agents who have the tendency to jack up prices with hidden charges. Ticket prices depend on your destination and class/ accommodation. Unfortunately, open tickets are not available so be sure of your itinerary before buying.While flying by plane may still be the most popular mode of travel because of its speed and convenience, travelling by train is cheaper. Most of all, especially if one wants to witness the breathtaking sights of Vietnam up close and first-hand, travelling by train gives you this unique and memorable opportunity, something planes cannot offer.