What is the Lotus Train in Vietnam really like?

– Are you going with the Lotus Train as well?

It’s pitch-black outside and I’m standing on the platform at the railway station in Ninh Binh waiting for what I hope is the southbound E19 train from Hanoi to Da Nang. Around me are several European families, mostly French and Dutch, but none of them had heard of the Lotus Train before. Apparently, they had booked their trip through an agency, and their tickets only showed carriage and seat numbers.

It’s safe to say that I felt a bit nervous. At least we all had tickets for the same train and carriage.  

Wanting a bit of adventure and wishing to limit flying as much as possible, the night train had felt like a good idea when planning my 3 week-solo adventure in Vietnam. And all my research found that, although a little pricier, the Lotus Train was the most comfortable alternative.

But what is the Lotus Train in Vietnam really like? Continue reading to find out.

Please note! This article is not an advertisement or sponsored by Lotus Train, I’m just a happy customer that want to make your Vietnam trip as smooth as mine.

What is the Lotus Train?

Train travel is a popular way to get around Vietnam. The railway line that links Hanoi in the north with Ho Chi Minh City in the south is known as the Reunification Express. And while there certainly isn’t anything express about it (the whole trip takes 30-40 hours), it stops in and near many of Vietnam’s major tourism hubs.

The Lotus Train is a private company offering a more comfortable train service on the railway line between Hanoi and Da Nang in central Vietnam.

It may sound like it’s a separate train set, but in reality, they just have some train cars on the same set as the public ones: The southbound SE19 and the northbound SE20.

The onboard facilities

The train arrived pretty much on schedule and the signs on the platform was correct, making finding my train car super easy. Inside the train, all compartments and beds were clearly marked with numbers as well, and within minutes – everyone had found their home for the night.

And when you read beds, you got it right. They are called soft seats but are in fact beds. The regular compartments on the Lotus Train consists of 4 beds, two lower and two higher. However, it’s possible to book a privat 2-bed compartment where the upper beds are pulled up. Perfect for couples travelling together or if you travel solo and feel hesitant sharing with strangers.

Each bed is equipped with a comforter and a pillow, a reading light, a USB contact for charging your phone and a couple of wall hooks.

The lower beds have space for luggage under the seat, while the upper beds have a compartment above the door.

The toilet is in the hall, just next to the door where you go to the next train car. I visited twice, once in the late evening and once in the early morning, and it looked clean and fresh both times. What’s a bit funny is that the sink and mirror is in an open set-up a few metres away, at the end of the hall. Still, it was light and clean and no one else was around when I used it.

Food and drink

A few minutes after departure, a member of staff came by and checked my ticket and offered me an included drink of wine, beer or something alcohol free. This was only for passengers who had booked directly with Lotus Train (or via 12Go), not through travel agents.

In addition, there was an included breakfast box and a bottle of water for each passenger on the table in the compartment. A nice touch! However, if you are travelling all the way from Hanoi to Da Nang, bringing some snacks is recommended. There are water station with hot and cold water available in the hall.

Interested in Vietnamese street food culture? Check this out!

My Lotus Train Experience

Since I embarked in Ninh Binh, approximately 2 hours from Hanoi, a lot of people were already well established on the train. I ended up sharing a compartment with 3 men, one who had been on since Hanoi and two who boarded in Ninh Binh as me. Even though it was only 22:00, the French guy who was already there had turned the lights off for the night.

As the rest of us found our beds and got comfortable, we learned that the three of us were also disembarking at the same stop – Dong Hoi at 05:40. I made a deal with Masa from Japan that we’d make sure the other one was awake.

In respect to the guy who tried to sleep, we all settled in quite fast. And to be honest, I was pretty knocked out myself after being out and about in the July heat in Ninh Binh all day. I declined the free drink offer, brushed my teeth in the hall, did some journaling and turned out by 23:00 – fully clothed with sleeping mask on and earplugs in.

While the beds are called soft seats, don’t expect too much. The beds are quite hard and the train shakes, rattles, stops and starts all night. Even so, I slept surprisingly well. And, none of my room mates snored. How lucky is that?!

Sunrise and delays

No matter how well I slept, being woken up by two alarms at 05:00 was early. Since the man who got on in Hanoi was continuing to Hue, it didn’t feel right to turn the lights on. So, after a quick freshen up at the communal sink/mirror, Masa, the Japanese guy, and I ended up hanging in the hallway.

It didn’t take long to realize the train was delayed. By how much? We had no idea. There were no notifications on board so the only thing we could do was check Google maps now and then.

Do you need book suggestions for your trip? Click here for my favourite novels set in Vietnam.

Delays are not only bad. Over the most beautiful sunrise (that we wouldn’t have seen if we’d stayed in the compartment), I had the type of conversation you only have when travelling. Masa and I are on the same quest: seeing as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as possible.

He’s way more hardcore than me though. Within the same timeframe as my Vietnam trip, he intended to visit all of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand’s World Heritage sites. I didn’t even plan to visit all of Vietnam’s.

And one our late, the train pulled into Dong Hoi and Masa went off to find a bus to take him to Phong Nha for the day before continuing to Hue. I, on the other hand, was met by my pre-booked driver and was looking forward to 3 full days in Phong Nha.

Guide to planning your trip to Phong Nha Ke-Bang

Practical information

The Lotus Train Route

As mentioned further up, Lotus Train operates on the railway line between Hanoi and Da Nang. Along the way, it stops in major tourist hubs such as Hue, Ninh Binh and Dong Hoi (Phong Nha).

Both the southbound (SE19) and the northbound (SE20) routes are night trains, meaning that if you travel further than Da Nang – Hue and Ninh Binh – Hanoi (and vice versa), you’ll spend the night on board.

Duration

There is no such thing as an express train on this route though. So, it’s not like you go to sleep in Hanoi and wake up in Da Nang.

The total duration for the southbound train is 16 hours, leaving Hanoi just before 20:00 and arriving at Da Nang just before 12:00. The northbound route takes a little longer, leaving Da Nang at approx. 18:00 and arriving in Hanoi around 11:30.

For the stops in between, the length varies depending on which cities you’re visiting. The shortest being approx. 2 hours from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and 2,5 between Da Nang and Hue.

Where to buy train tickets

Booking tickets for the Lotus Train online is super easy. There are three main alternatives, and I’ve actually tried all three (I had two failed attempts to visit Vietnam before everything finally clicked.

12Go is a great platform for planning and booking transport throughout Asia, including Vietnam. You can book both single beds and private 2-bed compartments here. Just note that if you book single beds, you can’t choose an upper or lower bed.

The other two alternatives are booking directly. The first is via their websites, and yes they have two. Both works, but I recommend their newest site www.lotustrain.vn. The other one ends with .com, and works as well but isn’t the fanciest.

It’s also possible to book via WhatsApp to Mr. Hieu. This is what I did for my trip in July 2025, as it looked like the train I wanted was sold out. Luckily, they kept a few extra seats in case of over-booking and within minutes after texting Mr. Hieu, I got a payment link. As soon as I had paid, he sent me the ticket. You find the WhatsApp number on their website.

No matter where you book, you get a travel voucher stating all travel details such as date, departure and arrival times and compartment and seat/bed number. The voucher works as a ticket, so there’s no need to go by an actual ticket office.

Facilities on the Lotus Train

The train cars and compartments have all the facilities you need for a (long) night on board:

• Shared, clean toilet and wash area in the hall
• Wifi
• Comforter and pillow
• Reading light and USB charging point by the bed
• Air condition
• A free beverage at the start of the journey, coffee and tea in the morning
• A breakfast box, fruit and water bottle
• Hot and cold water for refill
• Possibility to purchase snacks and food on board

Pros and cons of choosing the Lotus Train

As with most transport options, there are positive and negative sides to choosing the Lotus Train over other providers and alternatives.

Pros:

• Travelling by train wakes a feeling of adventure and gives you a possibility to meet people from all over the world.
• By taking an overnight train, you can save on accommodation for a night.
• It’s more sustainable than flying.
• Night train feels safer than going by sleeper bus at night. Just ask someone who’s tried both.
• The Lotus Train is comfortable compared to sleeper buses and hard seat trains.

Cons:

• Price. The Lotus Train isn’t a budget alternative and can even be more expensive than domestic flights.
• Duration. The trains here are notoriously slow.
• Light sleepers may suffer due to hard beds, noise and temperature control (bring a scarf and a warm sweater).

Final thoughts: Was it worth it?

To me, the sense of adventure made it 100% worth it. I love slow travel and try the best I can not to fly shorter distances. I also found the Lotus Train very comfortable, as a bit of shaking only helps me sleep. That said, it wouldn’t have been the same without the sleeping mask and earplugs.

Also, since I was travelling to Phong Nha, there weren’t that many alternatives. At least not time efficient alternatives. I could have catched a flight to Hue and taken the bus / day train from there or a direct sleeper bus from Hanoi or Ninh Binh.

I also appreciate the cleanliness and comfort of the Lotus Train, and since I’m more of a mid-range than budget traveller – I find it worth it to spend a bit extra to be comfortable.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. But next time, I hope I don’t have to get up at dawn and have room mates that keep the lights on a little longer than 22:00…