Traveling by train is one of the very popular ways among foreign tourists, especially backpackers. It may not as fast as traveling by plane, but you can see a lot of amazing scenes outside the window on the way. It is also pretty cheap and very safe comparing to other means of transport. Moreover, the Vietnam’s railway runs across the country, which cover almost all famous destinations, especially in the Central and South region. And here are some tips for you to have a safe and interesting train journey.

Buying tickets

You should be sure your departure day to book your ticket in advance. It will help you avoid the situation of all the tickets are sold out before. Obviously, this situation usually happens in festivals, national celebrations, holidays such as Tet holiday, national day, etc. sometimes, in big holiday like Tet (Lunar New Year), you have to book the tickets a month earlier. But in normal day, you can buy the tickets at the station few hours before departure time.

Seat

There are various types of seats on the train, including hard seat, soft seat in air-condition block, berth in air-condition block, etc. if you go for a long way or overnight train, you should choose the berth to be more comfortable. The prices are various and reasonable, depending on the types of train you go (stop train, express train, high-class train, etc).

Eating

If you travel a long way in nearly a day, eating can be a problem. You can eat the meals served right on your seat (you can book the foods when there is the staff of the train coming to your block to ask everyone. You also can go to eat in the train’s canteen (usually in the last block). Drinks, fast foods and snacks are also available on the train. However, some people may not like the foods on the train, because it is cold and not delicious. In this case, you are free to bring your own foods.

Toilet

Each block will have 2 rooms (one for toilet and one for cleaning with a sink and a mirror). You are not allowed to shower on the train. You can also use the toilet at the railway station when the train stops. Remember to keep the toilet clean and hygiene after using.

Moving

You can easily and comfortably move from block to block on the train. When the train stops at the stations, you also can get off for a while to get some fresh air or buy souvenirs. Just remember not go too far or too long, if not, you will miss the train. The train usually stops at the stations about 5 to 20 minutes.