Recently, the travel guide website Lonely Planet published an article listing "the most beautiful railway routes in the world ".
Among the 24 railway routes around the world featured in the Amazing Train Journeys series, the Thong Nhat train – Vietnam's North-South railway – tops the list.
The Reunification Train takes tourists along the length of the country (Photo: Scenic Vietnam/Shutterstock).
This article is based on selection criteria for travel itineraries, including spectacular scenery; cultural and historical value offered to visitors; unique experiences; connectivity and exploration; and the potential to inspire sustainable tourism .
"Traveling by train always holds a magical quality. Sometimes, it comes from the train itself – where you meet fellow passengers. Or sometimes it's when passengers are eating and resting, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the train wheels rolling on the tracks below."
"Even the magic unfolds outside the window – where the scenery glides by, leading visitors on adventures, offering diverse experiences and insightful glimpses into the soul of a nation," the article shared.
Standing at the top of the list of the world's most beautiful train journeys, Lonely Planet mentions the Thong Nhat train, which departs from Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi , and vice versa.
Trains run daily, covering a distance of 1,726km. The author of the article notes that this is one of the most popular railway routes in Southeast Asia, and also one of the most impressive overnight train journeys in the world.
With a journey lasting approximately two days, passengers can explore provinces and cities from South to North through the train windows. The train passes through ancient cities, historical tourist attractions, and glides along spectacular coastal routes. The natural landscapes of Vietnam will be fast-forwarded like a film.
Back in 2018, this website also voted the North-South railway line into its list of "10 most beautiful railway lines in the world".
Furthermore, in 2019, the Russian news agency Sputnik also selected "10 most beautiful railway routes in the world," and the Reunification Express railway was included in this list.
Most recently, in January of this year, the Thong Nhat train also ranked 3rd among 9 railway routes worth experiencing. This journey was suggested by Rail Europe, a leading European train service provider.
2024 also marked a record increase in train passenger numbers. According to data from the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), the company welcomed over 7 million passengers, an increase of nearly one million compared to the previous year. This figure is the highest ever recorded.
Tourism experts believe that several factors are driving tourists to choose train travel over other means. These include Vietnam Railways' (VNR) policy of offering attractive fares during off-peak travel seasons, sometimes even reducing fares by up to 50% depending on the class of seat.
Inside the dining area of the luxury cruise ship Sjourney, which entered service late last year (Photo: Thanh Dong).
In addition, the company has also launched many new tourism products to serve domestic and international tourists, such as the heritage connecting train between Hue and Da Nang, the Da Lat night cruise, the luxury cruise ship Sjourney, and the La Reine train operating on the Da Lat - Trai Mat route. Most recently, the luxury train on the Hanoi - Hai Phong route continues to be a popular product.
The list of train journeys also includes routes that pass through many famous tourist destinations from Asia to the Americas. Specifically, there are the California Zephyr train (USA), the Lake Titicaca train (Peru), the express train from Beijing to Lhasa (China), the TranzAlpine train (New Zealand), the Bergensbanen train (Norway), etc.
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Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/ly-do-tau-thong-nhat-viet-nam-gay-sot-lot-top-hanh-trinh-tau-hoa-dep-nhat-20250618234548434.htm
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