Hi,
I'm planning to go on a trip to Vietnam, arriving in Ho Chi Minh and travelling all the way to Hanoi. I know that I can fly from one city to the other but I would like to do it differently. I also know it's possible to catch a train from one city to the other. Does someone know how long it takes and how much does it cost? Or could I rent a car?
Thanks,
silviam6
I'm not sure if a one-way rental car is possible, and it's likely not a good idea even if it is, as there's a lot that could go wrong.
Fortunately, the train is very comfortable and cheap. To get between those cities it takes between 30 and 35 hours if you were to stay on board the whole time, but most people touring the country stop at least 2 or 3 times in between at some of the other big tourist cities.
It's all explained on this page:
http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm
The highlight in between those two for most people is Hoi An, which is a short taxi ride from the Danang train station. Hue and Nha Trang are also very popular stops.
There are also many bus services connecting all the big cities, and while they are a bit cheaper than the train, they are nowhere near as comfortable.
Lots of people go by bicycle. They are cheap in Vietnam but remember to buy a rain poncho when it starts to drizzle.
Take the train and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. Stop at Danang and stay in Hoi An before you proceed to Hanoi.
Hw wrote "Lots of people go by bicycle. They are cheap in Vietnam but remember to buy a rain poncho when it starts to drizzle. "
he he he he that is sooooooooo funny!
rk has good advice. The VN trains are really rough!
Not sure I would ever describe the train as 'very comfortable'. I have done that journey and would describe it as just about bearable. I certainly wouldn't dream of doing it again. The reality is that apart from the section around Hue, it's incredibly tedious and not the beautiful countryside people seem to imagine it is going to be.
OP self drive cars are not allowed in VN, the price of hiring a driver would be ridiculous. I'm afraid it's bus, train or plane and like others here have said, the plane wins every time.