Da Nang to Hue Train Review: We Accidentally Booked the Wrong Train
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When travelling, I usually avoid trains at all costs in Southeast Asia. They always seem like such a slow, unreliable way to travel.
But when we were researching how to get from Da Nang to Hue, I kept reading that the Da Nang to Hue train is a famous ride and supposed to be the most beautiful train ride in Vietnam.
I was still sceptical, but considering the tickets were cheap, we decided that we should try it out.
The idea of cruising along the edge of lush green mountains that plunge into the beautiful ocean below sounded like a pleasant journey.
But I will let you know now that our journey was anything but pleasant. The main reason for this was that we booked the wrong ticket! We had no idea that there are two different types of tickets you can book, and one is much better than the other.
So keep reading to find out why we did not enjoy our train ride from Da Nang to Hue and how you can book the right ticket so you can enjoy your trip.
How We Bought Our Tickets
In the days before our train journey, we had researched online where to buy tickets. On sites like 12GoAsia, tickets cost about 10 USD.
Because we are always trying to travel as cheap as possible, we decided there had to be cheaper tickets.
So we tried to buy them on the Vietnamese train website dsvn.vn, where they cost 110,000 VND, about 4 USD.
But they would not accept our card, so we just decided to turn up at the Da Nang train station and buy a ticket.
So we turned up at the train station, and we were super happy to get our ticket for just 86,000 VND, which is about 3 USD.
At the time, we were super happy that we had got such cheap tickets. But we did not realise at the time that we had made a big mistake by booking the standard train instead of the heritage train. Although we only discovered we made this mistake weeks later!
First Impressions Of The Train
After buying our tickets, we went and sat down in the waiting area. The train station is not super modern but is also not in bad shape. So it was fine to wait around for the 30 minutes until our train left.
Our train arrived on time, and it was announced that we could board the train.
Walking up to the train, it looked a little bit old and in need of some cleaning, but I thought it could still be ok inside.
But unfortunately it was definitely not ok inside.
Noise, Feet And Dirty Windows
From the moment we got onto the train, the atmosphere was terrible.
All the locals were pushing and shoving, trying to get on first, even though everyone had seat numbers.
It just seemed like everyone was arguing over whose seats were whose.
We ignored the chaos and sat down in our seats. Which were very worn out and old, but were comfortable enough.
But then, not long after sitting down, it felt like every person around us took their shoes off and put them on the walls, on our armrests, basically anywhere they could.
The guy behind me even had his toes in the gap between my seat, and I could feel them poking me.
The guys behind us quickly took their feet off our chairs when we asked them to take them off. But it was not a nice way to start the journey.
It is a bizarre part of Vietnamese culture that I will never get used to.
Then, of course, all around us, everyone started watching TikTok on their phones at full blast and having conversations while yelling into their phones.
This is all part of travelling in Vietnam, but for some reason, on the train ride, it seemed incredibly bad.
Once the journey was underway, things did start to improve.
The old lady next to us fell asleep listening to music on her phone, and then her phone also eventually went to sleep, and we just had to listen to her snore, which was a relief.
After about 45 minutes, we reached the scenic part of the train journey. While the views are nice, the windows of the train were so dirty that it was hard to enjoy them.
We also did not have the best weather, so the sky and ocean were not super blue. But it still would have been nice to have some clean windows!
We could see the steep jungle-covered hillsides plunging into the ocean. But the dirty windows really made the train window seem pointless. No view is amazing if you are looking at it through a dirty window.
So we arrived in Hue after 3 hours on a disappointing train journey, wishing we had just taken the bus.
I am probably being a bit overdramatic. In our years of travelling, we have had many worse travel days. It was just not very pleasant, considering it was supposed to be a relaxing scenic train journey.
However, I learned afterwards that we could have had a much better experience if we had booked tickets on a different train,
Da Nang To Hue Tourist Train Vs Regular Train
As I mentioned earlier, there are two different trains that operate on the Da Nang to Hue route.
They are the SE and HD or Heritage trains. The SE trains are the regular commuter trains, while HD trains are catered more towards tourists.
On the HD trains, the carriages will be newer and in better condition. So they will hopefully have clean windows!
There is also a community carriage on the tourist train with Vietnamese singers and performances.
The train also slows down during the most scenic spots for you to take photos. You will also be able to get off the train at Lang Co Bay, another scenic spot on the journey.
Overall, there is much more of a focus on you enjoying the journey. Whereas the SE train is all about getting from A to B.
How To Book Da Nang To Hue Train Tickets
The Da Nang to Hue tourist train leaves at approximately 7:50 am and 2:50 pm. You can either buy your ticket at the station, or you can prebook your ticket on 12GO just make sure you choose the tourist train. This will cost you $10 USD.
Booking at the station will be slightly cheaper. But you may want to book in advance to secure your spot during busy periods.
Da Nang To Hue Train Tours
Another great option instead of catching the train by yourself is to do a day tour from Da Nang to Hue.
On this day tour, a guide will take you on the heritage train to Hue. At one of the stops on the train, you will be taken to Hue by van and given a tour of three important cultural sites, including the Imperial City.
One advantage of this tour is that you get off the train as soon as the scenic part ends. If you stay on the train, the last 1.5 hours are not very scenic.
The second advantage is that you will have a guided tour of three different sites in Hue. During our visit to Hue, one of our biggest complaints was that there was no historical information at the sites.
At the end of the tour, you will also get a van ride back to Da Nang if you do not want to stay in Hue.
So the tour is a great option if you want a comfortable trip and do not mind spending a little extra money.
Da Nang To Hue Train Or Bus
If you are just interested in getting from Da Nang to Hue as quickly as possible, then the best option is to take the bus. You can book this on 12GoAsia.
Just be warned that in Vietnam, when you catch buses or minivans, there is a high chance your drivers will drive like a maniac!
Is The Da Nang To Hue Train Worth It?
I would say that the train from Da Nang to Hue is just worth it. But only if you are interested in train journeys. The scenery is quite nice, but you will see far better views all over Vietnam.
Travelling in Vietnam is always memorable because you never know what will happen. It is a place you have to get used to before you can travel in comfort.
We will always remember our train journey from Da Nang to Hue even though at the time we really did not enjoy it. In retrospect, now we laugh at all the craziness that happened during the journey.
I hope that you enjoy the Da Nang to Hue train if you decide to take it. If you want more travel tips about what to do in Vietnam, check out some of our articles below.
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