.....Backpacking in Vietnam:
The Re-unification Express
The Re-unification express is not an official term but it is used to describe the train line which runs between the two major cities. The trip from Hanoi in North Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City in the South is 1725km long, taking roughly 30 hours and passes some breathtaking scenery along the way.
Of course most people don’t do the trip in one journey as there is so much to see in between the two terminals. This train-line runs close to or through all the major travel destinations in Vietnam. The journey is pretty comfortable with air-con and sleeper compartments available on night trains. It is also brilliant value costing as little as £20 or US$30. If you take some night trains this may push the cost up to around US$40-50 depending on whether you take the slightly higher quality SE trains or not (It’s even cheaper for the locals).
Hanoi: The country’s capital city, home to the Vietnamese government and resting place of the great leader, Ho Chi Minh himself. This colonial city is home to many lakes and a beautiful old quarter where most backpackers tend to congregate. It is also the closest point on the route to the amazing Ha long Bay, Vietnam’s most famous sight. Take a 2-3 hour bus to Haiphong and get a boat to the bay from there.
(journey: 2 hours 20 mins)
Ninh Binh: Unremarkable but ridiculously friendly town. Be prepared for lots of locals, especially children coming to say hello to you in the street. It is a short moto or cycle to the caves at Tam Coc, which are the main reason travellers come to Ninh Binh.
(journey: 7 hours 40 mins, passing through Thanh Hoa and Vinh which have little going on really but may be a nice stop if you fancy seeing a completely tourist-free town.)
Dong Hoi: Many travellers choose to skip Dong Hui also and do the night train from Ninh Binh to Hue but if you do stop here, you can visit the quite stunning 55km long Phong Nha Cave.
(journey: 3 hours 15 mins)
Hue: The city is popular with travellers who tend to hit a small section of town near the wide Perfume River. The old citadel isn’t particularly amazing but is the main site in this city which seems to get the worst of Vietnam’s wet climate. It regularly rains here for days on end but there are some excellent traditional Vietnamese restaurants and lively Western bars to stay dry in. Central Vietnam is also where a lot of the most fierce fighting in the War took place. There are plenty of sights relating to this nearby which you may find fascinating or otherwise, depending on your interest levels in the Vietnam War.
(journey: 2 hours 30 mins and the most spectacular part of the entire trip)
Danang (for Hoi An): Danang is a big city but has few sights. For most travellers it simply serves as a gateway to nearby Hoi An, around a 20 minute taxi or moto ride from Danang Station (shouldn’t cost more than $3-4). Hoi An is the place for tailor-made clothes and boasts a beautiful riverside setting. It is also close to one of the nicest beaches in the country and makes it into our Top 10 New Backpacking Hotspots.
(journey: 6 hours passing through Quang Ngai, a non-touristy town where very little English is spoken)
Dieu Tri (for Qui Nhon): Qui Nhon is more popular with local tourists than backpackers but it has a few beautiful deserted beaches just out of town. You can also visit the Cham Temples in the areas surrounding this lively port town.
(journey: 3 hours 30 mins)
Nha Trang: Vietnam’s biggest seaside destination. The beach here is actually quite dirty but it is long and has plenty of water sport options including kite-surfing. The nightlife is lively here with a couple of bars such as Bar Why Not? and an excellent one on the beach open until 3am. Some travellers find it a little bit seedy but there’s a beautiful temple near the train station if you want a slightly more cultural experience. You can also do the trip to the mountain town of Dalat from here although it is quite a long journey on winding roads.
(journey: 5 hours)
Muong Man (for Mui Ne): Mui Ne isn’t really a town, more like a long coastal road about 20km or so long with many hostels and restaurants dotted around it. The beach is quiet and very relaxing, while the hot sand dunes are perhaps what the area is most famous for.
(journey: 3 hours)
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The biggest and by a distance, most westernised city in the country. Saigon has a large backpacker scene and many interesting sights, much of which relate to the Vietnam War and the USA’s involvement. For more see our article on Saigon.
The city is also the base for seeing the far south of the country which enjoys a hot climate and is a bit more chilled out than much of this fabulously crazy country.
Please note obviously you can do the journey the opposite way around and journey times and prices are almost exactly the same.
For a list of train times and more on the route see: http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm
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