The Vietage by Anantara — what it is and what sets it apart
The Vietage is not a separate train. It is a private luxury carriage — one or two at a time — attached to the back of the regular Vietnam Railways service running along the central coast. That means departure times are tied to the national rail schedule, and occasional delays are part of the deal. What it also means is that while hundreds of other passengers are sitting in standard carriages up ahead, you and a maximum of 11 other guests are in your own self-contained world at the back of the train.
The carriage was designed by ShapeUs Studio, the Ho Chi Minh City firm behind the Anantara Hoi An renovation, and the Indochine influence is clear — rattan partitions, warm wood tones, leather bar stools, soft lighting. The concept is straightforward: turn what would otherwise be a functional journey between central Vietnam cities into something worth doing for its own sake. Most travelers on this stretch fly or take a bus. The Vietage is for those who would rather slow down, have a good meal, and watch the countryside go by.
The Vietage route: Da Nang, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang
The central Vietnamese coast between Da Nang and Nha Trang is one of the more scenic stretches of the country — a mix of rice paddies, fishing villages, coastal cliffs, and the remnants of the ancient Champa civilization. The road and rail line follow the coastline closely in places, cutting through mountain passes and skirting the edge of the East Sea. It is a part of Vietnam that many travelers rush through on the way between Hoi An and Nha Trang, which is exactly what makes it a good candidate for slowing down.
The Vietage runs two carriages daily in opposite directions. One departs Da Nang in the morning, stops at Quy Nhon, and continues to Nha Trang. The other departs Nha Trang in the afternoon, stops at Quy Nhon, and continues to Da Nang. This means you can book either a single leg — Da Nang to Quy Nhon, Quy Nhon to Nha Trang, or the reverse — or combine both into a full Da Nang to Nha Trang journey with a stop in Quy Nhon in between. The Da Nang to Quy Nhon leg takes around six hours. The Quy Nhon to Nha Trang leg takes around five.
Quy Nhon itself is worth knowing about. It is a coastal city that sees far fewer tourists than Da Nang or Nha Trang, with good beaches, Cham temple ruins nearby, and a relaxed atmosphere. Many travelers use The Vietage as a natural reason to stop there for a night or two rather than passing straight through.
What to expect on board
The station experience
The experience starts before you board. Staff meet you outside the station, take care of your luggage, and bring you to a private waiting area where cool towels and drinks are served. When the train is ready, you are escorted directly to the carriage. It is a smooth, unhurried start — a deliberate contrast to the usual scramble of train travel.
The compartments
The carriage has six private booths, each seating two people. Rattan partitions divide the space, with a small table, two seats, charging points underneath, and WiFi on board. The design is warm and considered — Indochine in style without being overdone.
The space is compact. Each booth is roughly 2 metres by 1 metre, and the seats do not recline. For a single five or six hour leg this works fine for most travelers. For the full combined Da Nang to Nha Trang run of around 11 hours, it is a long time in a fixed seat — worth factoring in before booking the full route, especially if you are tall.
The bar
A semi-circular black marble bar sits in the middle of the carriage with leather stools and a well-stocked selection of drinks. It is a good place to stretch your legs mid-journey, and the bartenders know what they are doing. If you are traveling with a group and book out the full carriage, this naturally becomes the centre of the experience.
Food and drinks
Free-flow drinks are included throughout — wines, beers, cocktails, soft drinks, specialty coffee, and tea. Champagne, premium wines, caviar, and a cheese platter are available at extra cost and can be pre-ordered.
The food differs by direction. Da Nang to Quy Nhon includes a three-course gourmet lunch that blends Vietnamese and French techniques using locally sourced ingredients — this is one of the genuine highlights of the journey and the reason most people choose this direction. Quy Nhon to Nha Trang includes a luxury afternoon tea with local caviar, artisanal cheeses, and cold cuts. It is a more refined, lighter experience — well suited to the afternoon timing and the shorter leg.
Your menu is pre-selected about a month before departure, so respond promptly when the options arrive.
Massage and other touches
Every ticket includes a complimentary head and shoulder treatment in a dedicated massage room at the end of the carriage. Save it for the latter part of the journey — by then you will have eaten, had a few drinks, and the timing feels natural. On arrival, each guest receives a small dark chocolate train made from Vietnamese cacao. A small detail, but a good one.
The sleeper option
The evening Quy Nhon to Da Nang return can be booked as a sleeper. Booths convert into sleeping cabins with pillows, blankets, and an eye mask, arriving in Da Nang around 2am. If the full carriage is booked as sleepers, capacity drops from 12 to 6. A practical option for travelers combining both legs of the journey in one trip.
Ticket prices
Current prices for 2026 are as follows:
| Route | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Da Nang – Quy Nhon | $450 |
| Quy Nhon – Nha Trang | $450 |
| Nha Trang – Quy Nhon | $450 |
| Quy Nhon – Da Nang (day) | $340 |
| Quy Nhon – Da Nang (sleeper) | $340 |
Prices are per person and include gourmet dining or afternoon tea depending on the route, free-flow drinks, the head and shoulder massage, and all onboard service. Extras such as champagne, premium wines, and caviar are at additional cost.
Combination packages with Anantara Hoi An Resort, Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, or Avani Quy Nhon Resort are available and can offer better value if you are planning to stay at one of these properties. These are worth asking about when booking.
Prices may have been updated since this guide was written. Always check the current rates on The Vietage’s official website before booking.
Practical tips and how to book
How to book
Tickets can be booked directly through The Vietage website or through a travel agency. Capacity is only 12 passengers per departure, so availability goes quickly on popular dates. Book as early as possible, particularly if your travel dates are fixed.
Around a month before departure, you will receive a menu to make your food selections. Respond to this promptly — it is a required step before the journey and easy to overlook if it lands in your inbox during a busy period.
Book your Vietage journey with Local Vietnam. We handle everything around your train experience — hotel stays in Hoi An, Quy Nhon, or Nha Trang, transport between cities, and any activities along the way. Contact us for a hassle-free trip through central Vietnam.
Which leg to choose
The Da Nang to Quy Nhon direction is the most popular for good reason — it runs during the day, the three-course lunch is the stronger food experience, and you arrive in Quy Nhon in the afternoon with time to settle in. If you are only doing one leg, this is the one to choose.
The Quy Nhon to Nha Trang leg is worth doing if you want to continue south without backtracking. The coastline on this stretch is scenic in places, though it does not hug the water for the entire five hours — expect stretches of inland countryside between the coastal moments.
Doing both legs back to back — Da Nang to Nha Trang via Quy Nhon — is possible in a single day but means around 11 hours in a compact fixed seat. Most travelers who do the full route prefer to stop in Quy Nhon overnight and continue the next day.
Which side to sit
On the Quy Nhon to Nha Trang leg, the coastal-facing side of the carriage offers better views during the scenic stretches. Staff generally seat you correctly, but it is worth confirming when you board.
Delays
The Vietage runs on the national Vietnam Railways network and is subject to the same delays as any other service on the line. Build some buffer into your onward plans, particularly if you have a connection or a check-in time to meet on arrival. For a broader picture of train travel in Vietnam, see our complete guide to train travel in Vietnam.
Is The Vietage by Anantara worth it?
For the right traveler, yes — but it helps to be clear about what you are paying for. The Vietage is not a practical way to get between Da Nang and Nha Trang. Flying takes an hour and costs a fraction of the price. Even the standard Vietnam Railways train covers the same route in comfort at under 10% of the cost. If getting from A to B efficiently is the goal, The Vietage is not the answer.
What it does offer is a genuinely well-executed experience on rails. The service is attentive without being intrusive, the food on the lunch route is of a standard you would expect at a good restaurant, and the carriage design makes the journey feel like an occasion. For travelers who want to slow down for a day, see a stretch of central Vietnam they would otherwise skip, and have something to remember, it delivers.
The main limitation is the compartment size. The seats are fixed and the booths are compact — comfortable enough for a single leg of five or six hours, but a genuine consideration if you are planning the full Da Nang to Nha Trang run. That is a long time without the option to recline or move to a proper seat.
The afternoon tea leg from Quy Nhon to Nha Trang is also a slightly lesser experience than the lunch route — perfectly pleasant, but not the headline act. If budget is a consideration and you are choosing between the two, the Da Nang to Quy Nhon leg is where the value is stronger.
Overall, The Vietage works best as part of a broader central Vietnam itinerary — a natural and memorable way to connect Hoi An or Da Nang with Quy Nhon, with the option to continue south from there.
Other luxury trains in Vietnam
The Vietage by Anantara is one of several luxury train experiences available in Vietnam, ranging from an 8-day journey across the full length of the country to affordable day trips out of Hanoi.
- SJourney Train — Vietnam’s first luxury train in the true sense, running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City over 8 days and 7 nights. Private cabins, guided excursions at every stop, gourmet dining, and a maximum of 40 guests per departure. The most premium rail experience in the country.
- The Hanoi Train — A heritage-style double-decker train running day trips from Hanoi to Bac Ninh, launched in 2025. Themed carriages named after Hanoi’s historic city gates, live traditional music on board, and cultural activities at the destination. A very different experience from The Vietage — more of a cultural excursion than a transport connection.
- Hoa Phuong Do Train — Runs between Hanoi and Hai Phong with Indochine-style VIP carriages featuring hardwood floors, lounge seating, a bar, and live music. At around $13–26 per ticket, it is the most accessible luxury train experience in Vietnam.
- Victoria Express — The most established luxury overnight option on the Hanoi to Lao Cai route, operated by the same group behind Victoria Hotels in Sapa. A natural fit for travelers heading to Sapa.
- Chapa Express — A well-regarded alternative on the Hanoi to Sapa overnight route, with Indochine-style interiors at a slightly lower price point than Victoria Express.
For a full overview of luxury and tourist-class train options in Vietnam, see our guide to the best luxury trains in Vietnam.
