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Thai Nguyen
I have being reading posts for the last couple of days around this question with mixed reviews. I wonder if anyone can confirm or challenge my thinking and provide and first hand recommendations:
1) travelling back to Hanoi and flying works out cheaper than a 2 berth sleeper however it is a lot of mucking around to do this.
2) travelling by overnight train is simpler but do you actually sleep and is the cost worth it for a two bearth cabin?
Any first hand insights appreciate as I am dithering between both options as they each have their pros and cons.
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I slept like a baby. Its a real experience going on the night train. Unless you are a real light sleeper you’ll be fine and arrive much more refreshed then if you go back to Hanoi and have to stuff around in airports for a day.
I would highly recommend the night train over flying.
Just a simple way to take a train from Ninh Binh to central Vietnam without travelling back to Hanoi.
The single train journey is much simpler. Why not.
I always think of a night sleeper as a bit of an adventure. Something I would never do back home. Plus it’s more authentic Vietnamese travel than a generic 737 or A3020
It would be good if people restricted their flying.
Edited: 7:58 pm, January 26, 2026
I took the train back to Hanoi. And flew from Hanoi to Da Nang. Didn’t have any issues with doing that. And didn’t consider it mucking about.
You will never find a consensus about such things. Different people have different travel styles, preferences, priorities and expectations.
I have done the route by train and found it fine. I didn’t have high expectations, and was pleasantly surprised. It certainly saves time. I actually slept great.
Can’t speak to a 2 berth cabin, but I would question a flight being cheaper. Especially when you consider the other modes of transit needed.
Hope that helps.