Australian newspaper praises the journey of the Thong Nhat train

'We turned off the lights. It was one of those rare nights when we slept deeply despite the unfamiliar surroundings, waking occasionally to feel the movement of the train, then falling asleep again.'

In the Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald , tourist Garry Maddox shared this in an article praising his impressive train journey in Vietnam. The author continued:

The manager of the Lotus Express from Hanoi to Da Nang, Mr. Hieu, was very straightforward. When asked on WhatsApp before the trip if we could buy food on the train, he suggested eating before boarding and sent a map of recommended restaurants.

"There is a dining car on the train," Mr. Hieu shared, adding, "but it might not be to your taste. Five stars for honesty."

We took his advice and ate near the station before our 7:50pm departure. No one wants to start any trip that lasts nearly 16 hours with an unappetizing meal.

Lotus Express train runs from Hanoi to Da Nang in Vietnam

An overnight train isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially with Da Nang and the ancient town of Hoi An just a short flight from Hanoi. But it seems like a chance to experience Vietnam differently, and there’s always a certain romance to catching an overnight train.

The Lotus Express turned out to be three carriages of the state-run Reunification train that went all the way to Ho Chi Minh City. The leg to Da Nang was highly rated.

In 2020, Monisha Rajesh, British author of the book Around the World in 80 Trains , named it one of her five favorite train journeys, along with Cannes to Ventimiglia in Europe, Xining to Lhasa in Asia, Jasper to Prince Rupert in Canada, and Bangkok to Nam Tok in Thailand.

Following Mr. Hieu's advice, we booked a double cabin.

Comfortable twin-berth cabin on Lotus Express train

After 6 days in the bustling and fascinating Hanoi, we boarded the train at Hanoi Railway Station and found our cabin beautifully decorated. There were two beds covered in red and yellow linen, with a table in the middle. On it was a flower in a vase, a decorative lamp, snacks, bottled water and two breakfast boxes.

The large windows had yellow curtains that could be closed when passengers wanted to sleep. We stowed our luggage in the not-so-spacious storage space under the bed and above the door, enjoying the fresh air after the sweltering heat outside.

With music playing over the speakers, the train started moving at 7:49 p.m., stopped, and then started moving again at exactly 7:50 p.m.

The train passed almost immediately over the famous train street, where there was barely enough room to pass between the houses and cafes. I realized the reason the trains always ran on time was so that people on the street could move safely out of the way.

At intersections outside the city, dozens of motorbikes - very common in Hanoi - lined up, waiting for the train to pass. By the time we left the city, it was dark outside the window.

A waiter came to the door and offered us free beer, wine or soft drinks.

The Lotus Express train passes through the extremely narrow railway street PHOTO: GETTY

I walked along the train and saw that most of the passengers had their cabin doors closed. An electronic sign said the train was traveling at 75 km/h.

A bustling group of passengers boarded the ship when it stopped in Ninh Binh . I asked a young German woman why it was so famous. "It's Ha Long Bay on land," she said. Google told me it would be a great stop. Maybe I'll come on my next trip.

As the newcomers settled into their cabins, the gentle rocking of the ship had a lull effect. I read for a while and then realized I couldn't stay awake any longer. We turned out the lights.

It was one of those rare nights where we slept deeply despite the unfamiliar surroundings, waking occasionally to feel the movement of the train, then falling back asleep.

It was light when we woke at 6:30 and the view outside was an explosion of colour – striking shades of green rice paddies, some dotted with water buffalo – against a backdrop of blue sky. A waiter brought a welcoming cup of coffee, strong and sweet.

Lotus Express staff serving drinks to passengers

We opened our breakfast box and enjoyed bread with strawberry jam, juice and bananas while looking out at the countryside – houses, the occasional village, temples, a racing motorbike and more farmers in the fields. The train crossed bridges over wide rivers and stopped in Hue, the ancient capital. A Google search suggested this would be another great stop.

Lotus Express train tickets cost around $280 for both two-person and four-person cabins. It takes almost 16 hours from Hanoi to Da Nang.

I felt like I should see the rest of the train, so I walked forward past a series of sleeper cars, then found very different sleeping conditions at the front. Many passengers were still sleeping on normal train seats in a train car without air conditioning.

Closer to Da Nang, the fields transform into a stunning rainforest with white sand beaches peeking through the canopy.

Train travel has its own friendly charm and is a comfortable alternative to flying. Next time, a stop or two will make your trip more rewarding.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bao-uc-ca-ngoi-hanh-trinh-cua-chuyen-tau-thong-nhat-185250414143506023.htm