Fanxipan Train Tickets

You can try baolau.vn

Check out this website, explains the difference between Fanxpan and the regular train service. I have used the links it provided on at least a half dozen occasions to buy tickets on the regular Vietnamese Railway.

All railway questions in Vietnam are answered here!

https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm

Check it out dsvn.vn with English version

Thank you! That was enlightening. I understand that paying for the private wagons is probably not worth it since the cabins are pretty much the same since 2015. You pay for perhaps better linen, cleaner cabin and a bottle of water, but not necessarily.

Has anyone compare both?

We will be arriving by regular train from Ninh Binh around 7pm, then off to Lao Cai on the night train. Is the station vast, meaning is it complicated to get from one arrival to another departure?

The tourist compartments are pretty much the same as the regular soft sleepers on VN Railways, so not worth the extra money. The blanket will be a different color, and you'll have some snacks and a couple free cans of beer waiting for you in your cabin, but otherwise they are identical to the regular train compartments, including the bathrooms.

I use www.vietnamimpressive.com for my train bookings. For a few dollars per reservation they will take care of everything. Great prompt service. Highly recommended. They are also recommended on seat61.com.

We will be arriving by regular train from Ninh Binh around 7pm, then off to Lao Cai on the night train. Is the station vast, meaning is it complicated to get from one arrival to another departure?

You're welcome,

Nihn Bihn is pretty much a whistle stop, just a platform where you will wait for the departures before boarding. There will be conductors available to make sure you get the correct car.
My last trip from Hanoi to Dong Hoi (Mar 2017) I just had a QR code on my phone receipt to show the conductor as I boarded.
If you can swing it, buy a silk sleeping bag while you are in country...very useful to keep your toes warm and you can also sleep with your valuables and not worry about them falling off the bed.
Check the schedule and ask when the train will arrive at your destinations, on 2 occasions they have only come to tell me about 5 or 10 minutes before the train arrives. Not so good unless its the end of the line.
There will be a hot water maker at the end of the car if you don't want to buy meals from the person with the cart which were crap. I bring instant noodles and 3in1 coffee myself.

I think I misread the station you were asking about, it was Hanoi.
Hanoi is a big station, the train to Sapa is in a different section than the southbound, haven't been to Lao Cai yet but I can assume it doesn't depart from where you arrive. Good thing is, you can talk to a conductor as you disembark or if you wind up in the main lobby, chances are very good someone will attach themselves to you and take you to the correct platform for a small charge. There is an info booth if I recall as well, may depend on the hour.

The tourist compartments are pretty much the same as the regular soft sleepers on VN Railways, so not worth the extra money.

There was a difference in the beginning, but now pretty much the same. As I read on seat61. Well, I guess I might as well take the regular train (we are 5 which means one adult will be sleeping with others, not sure if we can rent the whole cabin) and bring our own couple cans of beer. :)

I think I misread the station you were asking about, it was Hanoi.

Yes, I was asking about Hanoi's train station. I'll ask a conductor. We have two hours and a half in between the two trains to find out where we leave from and have dinner. Any suggestions to eat around the station?