Vietnamese trains
have seven types of accommodation:
Soft class
4-berth sleepers - air-conditioned
Soft class
4-berth sleepers - without air-conditioning
Hard class
6-berth sleepers - air-conditioned
Hard class
6-berth sleepers - without air-conditioning
Air-conditioned
soft class reclining seats
Ordinary soft
class seats
Hard class seats
The best and fastest
train in Vietnam is train E1 (Southbound) / E2
(Northbound) introduced in 2002 (pictured above - photo
courtesy of Willy Kaemena). This train uses the most
modern rolling stock, with large picture windows unobstructed by
the wire mesh that protects most other trains' windows from
stones. Choose this train if you can, but it's proving
very popular, and it's often difficult to get berths on unless
you book well in advance.
The second best train in
Vietnam is train S1 (Southbound) / S2
(Northbound), pictured below left. The S1/S2
coaches are all refurbished and painted red whereas most other
Vietnamese trains are green. The next best train is the S3 /
S4. Each of these trains has a full range of classes
of accommodation. Other trains generally use rolling stock
that is much older.
(Above)
Train S1 / S2 at Saigon station...
(Above)
The refreshment trolley makes its way down the soft
sleeper corridor...
(Above left)
Train S3 calls at Hué. The two coaches in front of
the camera are new air-conditioned soft class
sleeping-cars...
(Above right)
Inside one of the air-conditioned 4-berth soft sleepers,
as used on trains S1, S2, S3, S4. It is a 4-berth
compartment - the other two bunks are just out of shot
to the right. In the centre is a folding table.