The Hanoi Train — what it is and what sets it apart
The Hanoi Train is not a long-distance service or a luxury sleeper — it is a cultural excursion on rails. Launched in September 2025 after nearly five years of development, the project involved dozens of architects, artists, cultural experts, and over 300 workers who restored and redesigned a fleet of older carriages from the ground up. The result is a double-decker train of ten carriages, each themed around one of Hanoi’s five historic city gates — the O Quan Chuong, O Cau Den, O Cau Giay, O Cho Dua, and O Dong Mac — with interiors ranging from French colonial elegance to the more austere aesthetic of Vietnam’s subsidized economy era in the 1970s and 80s.
What makes it different from other train experiences in Vietnam is the intent behind it. This is not transport with luxury added on top. The journey itself — the carriages, the performances, the scenery, the bridge stop — is the product. The round trip takes around 3.5 hours including a cultural stop in Bac Ninh, making it a natural half-day activity that fits easily into a Hanoi itinerary without taking up the whole day.
The Hanoi Train route: Hanoi to Bac Ninh
The train departs from Hanoi Station and heads northeast, crossing the Long Bien Bridge over the Red River before continuing through Gia Lam and Yen Vien to Tu Son Station in Bac Ninh Province. The route passes through Train Street as it leaves the city center — a stretch where bars and cafes line both sides of the tracks at arm’s length — before the urban landscape gives way to rice paddies, bamboo groves, villages, and open countryside.
Bac Ninh is one of the older cultural heartlands of northern Vietnam. It is the birthplace of Quan Ho folk singing, a UNESCO-recognized musical tradition, and home to Do Temple, a historic site dedicated to the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty — the ruling family that founded Thang Long, the ancient predecessor of modern Hanoi. It sees far fewer foreign visitors than Hanoi itself, which is part of the appeal. The train gives travelers a reason to spend time there that goes beyond ticking off a temple visit.
The journey one way takes around 40 minutes to an hour. It is not a long ride, but between the scenery, the onboard entertainment, and the Long Bien Bridge crossing, there is enough to keep your attention from the moment the train pulls out of the station.
What to expect on board and at the destination
The carriages
The train has ten carriages in total — five themed passenger cars, two check-in carriages, and additional service cars. Each of the five passenger carriages has its own interior design inspired by a different period or aspect of Hanoi’s history. Some evoke the grandeur of the French colonial era, others recreate the atmosphere of a Hanoi apartment block from the 1970s, and others take a more classical Vietnamese approach with traditional motifs and craft details. Two decks, panoramic windows, warm wood interiors, and soft lighting run throughout.
A few practical points worth knowing: you are assigned a carriage at booking and cannot choose which one you get. You also cannot walk freely between carriages during the journey. If you end up in the last carriage near the engine, be aware that a small number of reviewers have noticed fuel smell in that position — worth mentioning when booking if you want to avoid it.
Onboard entertainment
Live traditional music performances run throughout the journey in both directions. Depending on the departure, expect Quan Ho, Ca Tru, Xam, or Cheo folk music performed by local musicians. The performances are not background noise — musicians engage with passengers, explain their instruments, and in some cases invite guests to hold them. It is one of the more authentic cultural experiences available as a short activity in Hanoi, and a noticeable step above the staged performances found at most tourist venues in the city.
Food and drinks
Snacks and drinks are included in the ticket price. On the outbound journey expect Vietnamese pastries or sweet snacks with water. On the return, a different snack is served alongside iced tea or lotus tea. Additional food and drinks can be purchased on board. Nothing remarkable, but a nice touch that adds to the overall feel of the experience.
The stop at Tu Son and Do Temple
On arrival at Tu Son, a shuttle bus transfers passengers to Do Temple — a walled historic complex dedicated to the eight Ly Dynasty kings who ruled Vietnam between the 11th and 13th centuries. A guided tour in English is available for foreign visitors. Quan Ho folk singing performances take place at the temple, sometimes performed by singers on a small boat, which is a memorable setting for it.
The honest note: the temple is modest in scale compared to Hanoi’s major historic sites. The visit lasts around an hour, and non-Vietnamese speakers will find that much of the guided commentary happens in Vietnamese. English explanations are available but coverage varies. Go for the atmosphere and the folk music rather than expecting an in-depth historical tour.
The Long Bien Bridge stop
On the return journey the train stops at Long Bien Station for around 20 to 30 minutes, giving passengers time to step out and take photos on the bridge itself. Long Bien Bridge was built by the French in the early 1900s and is one of Hanoi’s most recognizable landmarks — but access to the tracks is normally restricted. This stop is one of the genuine highlights of the trip and something most visitors to Hanoi never get to do. Bring your camera.
Ticket prices
There are three ticket categories, priced per person for the round trip:
| Category | Carriage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | First floor, most carriages | $31 |
| Superior | Second floor, most carriages | $35 |
| VIP | Cho Dua carriage, both floors | $45 |
All tickets include the round trip, onboard snacks and drinks, the shuttle bus to Do Temple, and the Long Bien Bridge photo stop on the return.
Children under 6 years old and shorter than 1.12 metres travel free. Children aged 6 to 10 receive a 15% discount. Adult rates apply for children above 10.
On the question of which ticket to choose: the second floor offers better elevated views and more photography opportunities, which is why most people default to Superior. The first floor puts you closer to street level — when the train passes through Train Street, you are at eye level with the people watching from the cafes and bars on either side, which several reviewers found more enjoyable than the view from above. The VIP Cho Dua carriage has a distinct interior design and tends to be quieter. None of the three is a bad choice — it comes down to what kind of experience you are after.
Practical tips and how to book
How to book
Tickets can be booked through The Hanoi Train’s official website at thehanoitrains.com or through tour booking platforms. Morning departures and weekend slots fill up quickly — book in advance if your dates are fixed. Arrive at Hanoi Station at least 30 minutes before departure to allow time for boarding.
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Schedule
The morning departure runs daily at 8:00 AM, returning to Hanoi by 11:30 AM. The afternoon departure runs at 1:30 PM on weekends only, returning by 5:00 PM. Total round-trip duration is approximately 3.5 hours including the temple visit. For most travelers the morning departure is the better option — it runs every day and leaves the rest of the afternoon free.
The evening route is different
The evening departure operates a separate circuit — a loop around Hanoi’s ring road rather than the route to Bac Ninh. There is no temple visit and no Long Bien Bridge stop. It is essentially a night city tour by train. Worth knowing before you book, as the experience is quite different from the daytime journey described in this guide.
Carriage request
You do not choose your carriage at booking — one is assigned to you. If you have a preference, note it when booking, but it is not guaranteed. Avoid requesting the last carriage if possible, as it sits closest to the engine.
What to bring
The train is air-conditioned throughout so no need to dress for the heat inside, but the temple visit involves outdoor walking so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing make sense. Bring a camera — the Long Bien Bridge stop and the Train Street passage both offer shots that are hard to get any other way.
Is The Hanoi Train worth it?
For a half-day activity in Hanoi, yes — with one honest caveat about the temple stop.
The train itself is genuinely well made. Nearly five years of development shows in the carriage design, and the cultural performances are the real thing rather than a watered-down tourist version. The Long Bien Bridge stop is something most visitors to Hanoi never experience, and passing through Train Street from inside a moving train is a perspective you cannot replicate any other way. As a way to spend a morning in Hanoi, it is more original and more memorable than most of the standard options.
The temple visit in Tu Son is the part that divides opinion. The site is historically significant but modest in scale, the hour spent there feels slightly long relative to what there is to see, and visitors who do not speak Vietnamese will miss most of the guided commentary. It is not a bad experience — the Quan Ho folk music at the temple is genuinely worth hearing — but if you go expecting something on the scale of Hanoi’s Temple of Literature or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, you will come away underwhelmed.
At $31 to $45 per person it is fair value for what it delivers. Most travelers who do it describe it as a one-time experience — enjoyable, distinctive, and worth doing once rather than something you would repeat. That is not a criticism. For a city with as much to offer as Hanoi, a well-executed half-day excursion that feels nothing like anything else on the itinerary is exactly what this is.
Other luxury trains in Vietnam
The Hanoi Train is one of several special train experiences available in Vietnam, each with a completely different character and purpose. From an 8-day journey the full length of the country to an afternoon of coastal luxury in central Vietnam, there is a range of options worth knowing about.
- SJourney Train — Vietnam’s first luxury train, 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 Vietage by Anantara — A luxury private carriage running daily along the central coast between Da Nang, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang. Maximum 12 passengers, three-course gourmet dining, free-flow drinks, and a head and shoulder massage included. One of the finest short-distance luxury rail experiences in Southeast Asia.
- 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, the most accessible luxury train experience in Vietnam.
- Victoria Express — The most established luxury overnight option on the Hanoi to Lao Cai route, 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.
