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Booking train travel before you go!

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Topic Type: Help

Anyone got any advice for pre-booking train travel and it not costing the earth?

Briony Edwardes
Post Count: 3

Msg: #1 91 days ago, August 26th 2009

I'm planning to go to Vietnam in October and we want to overnight train it to Sapa from Hanoi, return, in a soft sleeper. Websites on train travel say it's cheap, but when I email to try to book tickets it's up around US$220 instead of the <$100 we were expecting. Anyone got any advice on how/where to book rail tickets at a reasonable price?? Cheers!

h2o

Vu Hien
Post Count: 4

Msg: #2 91 days ago, August 27th 2009

I dont remember exactly, but price's just around 30$ for soft sleeper
That company you book is not good.

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[Edited: 07:10 - Mell ]

Rat on the Road

Kris and Kate
Post Count: 420

Msg: #3 91 days ago, August 27th 2009

Hi Briony

The companies/travel agents that will arrange this sort of thing for you from home are taking a big cut for arranging it for you. That's why it's more expensive. $220 is excessive! Some companies have their own private carriages on the Hanoi-Sapa train. They charge more for this than to travel in the carriages owned by Vietnam Railways. It sounds like that is what you have been priced.

Your best bet to get train tickets at the price you want is to wait until you get to Vietnam. You can then either book directly at the station, or browse the travel agents to find a good price. Do you need to book everything before you come?

The Sinh Cafe mentioned above is a famous travel agent in Vietnam. However, it's fame has resulted in a lot of companies who have copied the name. In fact, on any street with travel agents there is always more than one Sinh Cafe of some description. Whether or not they are the originals.....Or whether it matters.,....

You are best visiting them and deciding for yourself.

Kate

Babs78

Briony Edwardes
Post Count: 3

Msg: #4 91 days ago, August 27th 2009

Thanks so much for the information, very helpful!

I guess we don't really need to book before we come over, but I'm just concerned that we land in Hanoi on the 13th and need to be on the train to Sapa on the 14th. Bit worried that only having one day before our train trip may not be enough notice and we'll miss out on a soft sleeper.

olinguyen

nguyentruong
Post Count: 4

Msg: #5 90 days ago, August 27th 2009

Hi,

I'm working for travel and train company, the train ticket from Ha Noi to Lao cai now it's depend on facilities, if you want to go by soft sleeper with 4 people in one cabin, the cost is 30 USD/ticket, and you go with 2 people in 1 cabin it's 55 USD/ticket. <snip>

Best regards

[Edited: 13:52 - Mell ]

Babs78

Briony Edwardes
Post Count: 3

Msg: #6 89 days ago, August 28th 2009

That's great news. Do you think I'll be OK booking the tickets the day before?

olinguyen

nguyentruong
Post Count: 4

Msg: #7 86 days ago, September 1st 2009

Hi Babs,

I'm not sure you can book a tickets the day before, because many tourist go to Sapa now, it's full seat 1 day before, and I think if you go to sapa you should book a tour to go the, it's easier and more convenient to discover Sapa. With the train tickets, you book from me you have that price, if you book from travel agent and ticket office it's more expensive.

Goodluck

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