Hanoi - Hai Phong Luxury train by Vietnam Railways

the process was smooth. we only had to show our tickets to the officer, and we were immediately guided to where we needed to go. inside the train, there’s an outlet beside the seats where you can charge your devices, and the ac was good. the only downside was the bathroom, which was unclean and untidy. overall, not much to expect from an economy seat, but it was a decent experience.

I intended to book this luxury train from Hanoi to Hai Phong just to experience this ride. I booked round trip tickets and I would say it is a money worth. snacks nothing special but the comforable lounge is the main highlights

The booking and reservation process worked wonderfully. The email ticket included the car and seat numbers, and the ticket was checked upon entering the platform. In the waiting hall at Hanoi station, we were directed to a "VIP waiting area" where we would have had to buy snacks to stay there – but we preferred the "regular" waiting hall. To get to the track, you have to go up and down a flight of stairs, which can be difficult with larger luggage. The train journey itself was basic in comfort but pleasant. It's exciting to experience the famous "Hanoi Train Street" from inside the train. All in all, an interesting experience – and certainly more relaxing than taking the bus.

it was amazing experience train was so comfortable, seats were relaxing, washroom was neat and clean and best for travelling inter city

No one checked tickets entering or exiting the station. On the return trip, only entry was checked, and the QR code wasn't scanned. A bottle of water was provided on board. There were also food and drinks for sale. You can buy snacks through the on-board app. The train speed did not exceed 69 kilometers per hour.

About 3-hr ride from hanoi to Haiphong with several stops in between to pick-up or alight passengers. AC works well and standard seat more comfortable, overall better experience with less boring sceneries than the train ride from ninh binh to hanoi. if you plan to explore cat ba island first, would recommend direct travel by bus from hanoi, and return to hanoi by train from Haiphong. It's more cost effective and time savings as well...e.g., hanoi-catba (by bus), catba-haiphong (by cable car), haiphong-hanoi (by train) to experience 3 modes of transportation

The price was the same as the Hanoi-Hai Phong route the day before, but the room condition was vastly different. Upon boarding, I was given a bottle of water, and the air conditioning worked well, keeping the room cool.

Hanoi to Hai Phong takes about 2.5 hours—great if you’re not in a rush. There’s a complimentary drink and snack (nothing special, but fair for the price). I may have just been unlucky, but there were kids and aunties screaming, which made it quite noisy for a “VIP” service. A gentle reminder from staff to passengers to be considerate would really improve the experience.

The QR code wasn't used; station staff only checked for tickets before letting people through. There were no gates upon exiting the station, so you could leave freely.

It seems the cabin condition varies depending on the train in operation, but the train I rode today was in really poor condition.