Train & Plane Ticket Purchasing & Prices

PLANE:

I recently flew business class from Hà Nội to Đã Nẵng.

Almost every travel website wanted around $400 USD or more for the one-way flight.

By booking directly through VietnamAirlinesDOTcom (NOT .ORG) my ticket cost ₫3,200,000 (about $137 USD) about a week ahead of travel.

TRAIN:

I'm heading to Huế from Đã Nẵng today via the train for 4 days of exploring.

Just to learn how it's done here, I decided to purchase my tickets in advance at the Đã Nẵng station.

I'm VERY glad I did.

In searching for ticketing information, I found that the actual website for the national railways is not very user friendly for an English-only viewer.

However, a website, Vietnam-RailwayDOTcom, was always first in my Google results, after promoted sites.

It proved to be a great source of planning information but a horrible rip-off.

The website quotes a price of $25 USD for a soft berth on my selected train.

At the station, I was charged ₫152,000 (about $6.50 USD).

I needed my passport to make the purchase in person.

Make sure you take a number first.

Electronic signs will indicate which agent will help you.

Also, have all of your information--date, time, train number, departure city, arrival city and class of ticket--prepared to show the ticketing agent (maybe type it into a smartphone note app and show it to them).

NOTE: Google Translate does NOT do a good job with "soft berth" or "soft bench".

Instead, if you want that class, write the English "Low (or High, if you want), Room4 beds, Air-con" which is what prints out on the boarding pass.

In Đã Nẵng, the ticketing office is in the low-slung building to the left as you are facing the main station building.

If you have special info regarding other cities or routes, please share.