15 Vietnam Train Journeys Worth the Ticket

1.Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour with Train-Street Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 857 reviews · from $18Our pick

Spend 3 to 4 hours tasting bun cha, spring rolls, banh mi, pho, sticky rice ice cream, and other Hanoi favorites. Meet at 38 Bat Su Street, or arrange Old Quarter pickup if eligible. Guides such as Tom, Sarah, Stella, Chloe, and Long lead the food stops and Train Street visit, where you may watch a train pass with a drink in hand.

“We had a fantastic tour with our guide Zoey. Great food, drink and lots of fun. Nice sized group of 10 people. Highlight was that we got to experience two trains coming through train street! Wow! Company were really responsive to the messages we sent which was very helpful.”

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2.Da Nang: Hue Imperial Day Trip, Hai Van Pass Train, & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 619 reviews · from $58

Travel from Da Nang to Hue by train through the Hai Van Pass, then visit the Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Khai Dinh Tomb. An English-speaking guide such as Mariana, Tom, Sky, or Oanh leads the small group, with lunch, hotel transfers, bottled water, and optional attraction tickets included.

“This was a great tour ! Our guide, Oanh, was so knowledgeable, considerate and passionate. Hue is a beautiful city with an amazing history and i feel so blessed that I was able to visit and learn about it from Oanh. The transport was excellent and on a very hot shade they took care of us by keeping us in shade and providing water. Thank you so much - I highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Hanoi Jeep Tour: Red River Countryside+ Backstreet+ Train-street

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 338 reviews · from $57

See Hanoi beyond its main sights in a small group of up to six, riding a Vietnamese Army Legend Jeep with an English-speaking guide and experienced driver. The four-hour route links Red River countryside, West Lake, Bay Mau Lake, city landmarks, Train Street, and a full meal at Hidden Gem Café. Old Quarter pickup is included.

“Fantastic tour, Hui was a great guide with exceptional local knowledge. We experienced many different parts of Hanoi. Met some wonderful locals who invited us into their homes and shared food and stories of their lives. We stopped at Train Street and watched as the train passed by. Then finished our tour with a visit to The Hidden Gem Cafe where we enjoyed a lunch of delicious local cuisine. Thank you also to Mr Da for driving us safely through the streets.”

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4.Hue Citadel tour by authentic Train via Hai Van Pass from Da Nang

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 337 reviews · from $46

Travel from Da Nang to Hue by local train through Hai Van Pass, with a short Lang Co stop before continuing by minibus. Your guide, possibly Tom, Thinh, Mariana, Sky, or another Dacotours host, leads you through the Imperial City, Khai Dinh Tomb, and Thien Mu Pagoda. Lunch and selected entrance fees are included.

“It's a day trip full of fun and excitement. The sites aren't really extra ordinary but knowing history of them makes it extra remarkable, thanks to Thinh, our tour guide. He's so well spoken and knows generally Vietnam history. He made sure that we're having fun and that everyone is truly enjoying. He can't help but make jokes, alongside the driver, Mr School. Tourism is a huge thing in Vietnam and they actually care about welfare of tourists.”

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5.2-Day 2-Night Sapa Tour by Overnight Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 96 reviews · from $168

Travel from Hanoi to Sapa by shared four-berth overnight train, then trek through Sin Chai, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van with an English-speaking local guide. You get one hotel night, meals, village walks, and a daytime return to Hanoi. Guides may include Ai, Sung, or Zua. Bring warm layers and shoes with firm grip.

“Easily the best activity that we have done in Vietnam. Our guide Ai was the sweetest Hmong guide. She communicated clearly and was funny. She took us to our trekking tours and helped us cross rice fields. The trekking is not east so you need good shoes or gum boots. Locals accompany you along the way. We read various comments but the ladies along the road are necessary. If they help you be a nice traveller and buy something from them. This was the highlight and definitely recommend it. Good value for money. The train experience was great and our hotel very clean and spacious. Thank you to Ai for…”

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6.Sapa: 3-Day, 3-Night Trek and Hotel with Overnight Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 64 reviews · from $212

Spend three days exploring Sapa’s hill villages, rice terraces, waterfalls, and mountain paths with local English-speaking guides such as Su Su, Ai, Mai, or Chu. The trip includes an overnight train, one Sapa hotel night, a Ta Van homestay, meals, and transport from Hanoi. Expect sturdy walking, basic village lodging, and persistent sellers along the trail.

“I had the best time in Sapa. The weather was sunny, but not hot like in Hanoi, so very comfortable for trekking. Our guide, Chu is very friendly and knowledgeable. I want to discover the daily life of local people, that's why I chose this tour to stay at homestay. Everyone was friendly and easy-going. Food was so yummy. Berths on the train look like your bed at home, so interesting and easy to sleep. Definitely recommend this tour !”

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7.Sapa Hill Tribes 2-Day Tour by Overnight Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 62 reviews · from $199

Ride an air-conditioned sleeper train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then trek through Cat Cat, Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Giang Ta Chai. You’ll meet H’Mong, Black H’Mong, Red Dzao, Dzay, and Tay communities with a local English-speaking guide. Choose a shared four-bed cabin, private cabin, hotel, or homestay option.

“Great two-days trip through fantastic landscape and villages surrounding SaPa. Our guide - Chi talked really good English and had a lot to tell about the landscape, plants and the way of living in the remote villages in the area. We did this trekking with the best pace on tour with small group. Great food at the village in the middle of nowhere! Highly recommended!”

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8.Sa Pa Trekking 2 Days 3 Nights Homestay by Night Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $165

Travel from Hanoi to Sa Pa by night train, then trek for two days through mountain villages and rice terraces with a local guide such as Tú. You will stay one night with a Hmong family, share meals, and visit four hamlets and two ethnic communities. The group is limited to eight people.

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9.Private Overnight Train Hanoi To Sapa Or Return

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews

Book a private two or four-berth sleeper cabin from Hanoi to Lao Cai, the rail gateway to Sapa. Local Tours Vietnam arranges the tickets and shares details through its booking contact, Luong. You collect tickets one hour before departure, then travel overnight with bedding, water, snacks, and a private space.

“Taking the train to Sapa overnight was an easy choice over a sleeper bus. We bought a room (4 berths) just for the 2 of us. The beds are extremely firm but the room is cozy and private. Water, some weird baguette spicy chips and a soda wRead more”

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10.Saigon Railway Village Photo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $119

Start at 5:30 am at Saigon Railway Station, where a professional photographer helps you shape a picture story, set your camera, and follow daily life along the tracks. Guides have included Eileen, Paul, Juan, Adrien, and Victor. Hotel transfers from central Ho Chi Minh City, a maximum of five people, and time for local coffee and breakfast make this a focused half-day outing.

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11.Hanoi Michelin Star Street Food Walking Tour & Train-Street

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $39

Spend 3.5 hours eating 8 to 10 Hanoi specialties with an English-speaking guide such as Kylie or Baki. Try bun cha, eel noodles, banh mi, pho cuon, egg coffee, bia hoi, and che before ending at Train Street. Groups are capped at eight people, and you should arrive hungry.

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12.3 Days Sapa Tour with Night Train from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $189

Leave Hanoi by overnight train, then spend two days in Sapa with an English-speaking guide, village walks, mountain scenery, and ethnic minority communities. The package covers return soft-berth train tickets, boutique accommodation, entrance fees, two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Expect moderate walking and a small group, with group-size details worth confirming.

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13.Hanoi’s artisan trail:Incense Village,Hat,Lacquer & Train St

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · from $36

Leave Hanoi’s Old Quarter for three working craft villages. Meet artisans, paint lacquer, learn conical-hat making, enjoy a home-cooked lunch on the full-day tour, and photograph colorful incense bundles at Quang Phu Cau. An English-speaking guide leads private or small groups, with optional drop-off near Hanoi Train Street.

“Great organization, great communication, excellent tour guide and perfect English... food terrific... simply super”

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14.Explore Sa Pa with Overnight Train & Sleeper Bus & Trekking

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 7 reviews · from $145

Travel from Hanoi to Sa Pa by soft-sleeper train, visit Ma Tra and Ta Phin, and choose a long trek from Lao Chai to Ta Van or a shorter Cat Cat visit. A local English-speaking guide leads the village walks, with one night in a three-star hotel and a sleeper bus back to Hanoi.

“Very good organization and contact with the organizer. Tour process and guide in Sapa ok, hotel ok, train and bus (with rest berths) a bit borderline. But that's just how it is.”

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15.2-day Sapa Trekking & Fansipan Cable Car & Bus from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · from $128

Travel from Hanoi to Sapa by luxury bus, trek to an ethnic village, sleep in town or choose a homestay, then ride the Fansipan cable car and mono train to 2,800 meters. An English-speaking guide, breakfast, two lunches, entrance fees, and return transport are included. Mrs Su may assist with arrangements, though guide English can vary.

“Excellent communication via Whatsapp, great for a solo traveller. Organised from bus tickets to cable car tickets.”

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