We departed from Ninh Binh Railway Station late at night to take the overnight train to Hue. While we didn't end up getting much sleep, it was definitely an experience we will remember!

If you’re arriving early, luggage storage is available at the station (behind the kiosk) for a small fee, which made it easier to grab a bite to eat for dinner without carrying bags.

While waiting for our train, a group of local school-aged kids approached our family to practise their English. They spent time chatting with our kids and drawing pictures together, which ended up being a really memorable and unexpected part of the experience.

Overnight train experience (Ninh Binh → Hue)

• Train carriages are numbered clearly and correspond with the numbers shown on the platform, making it easy to find your cabin

• We booked a 4-berth sleeping cabin, which worked well for our family

• The journey took around 11 hours

• Cost at the time of our trip was $189 AUD for 4 beds

Food & practical tips

• We brought our own snacks and drinks onboard

• There was a food cart available, but we didn’t purchase anything

• A hot water station is available onboard (commonly used for instant noodles)