Vietnam Rail expands routes

Vietnam Railways has opened summer 2026 ticket sales and is adding service on routes linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang and Lao Cai. (dtinews.dantri.com.vn) The summer schedule covers travel from May 15 to August 16, 2026, and keeps five pairs of North-South Thong Nhat trains running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including SE1 through SE10. (news.baohaiphong.vn) Vietnam Railways is also running or expanding shorter leisure routes, including Hanoi-Vinh, Hanoi-Dong Hoi, Hanoi-Danang, Ho Chi Minh City-Danang, Ho Chi Minh City-Quy Nhon, Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City-Phan Thiet. The Hanoi-Lao Cai line will run three pairs of trains a day, while the Hanoi-Hai Phong line will add weekend departures and extra cars. (dtinews.dantri.com.vn, news.baohaiphong.vn) The fare push is aimed at getting travelers to book earlier for Vietnam’s busiest domestic holiday months. Individual round-trip passengers get 10 percent off the return leg, and return trips on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route get a 15 percent discount on SP2, SP4 and SP8 services. (news.baohaiphong.vn) Groups of 20 or more get discounts of 3 percent to 9 percent, depending on size and booking window. Vietnam Railways is also keeping existing concessions for older passengers, students, children, war veterans and passengers with disabilities. (dtinews.dantri.com.vn, news.baohaiphong.vn) The route choices show where Vietnam expects summer demand to land: beach cities such as Danang, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, plus Lao Cai, the rail gateway for trips toward Sa Pa. The Da Nang-Hue “Heritage Connection” trains will also keep running twice daily during the season. (dtinews.dantri.com.vn, index.vn) The expansion comes as Vietnam is pushing ahead with bigger rail plans beyond this summer timetable. In December 2025, the Ministry of Construction said it was working toward starting the North-South high-speed rail project by the end of 2026, while also accelerating work on the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong line. (baochinhphu.vn) For now, the immediate change is simpler: more seats on the country’s busiest holiday corridors, more weekend capacity on tourist lines, and lower fares for travelers who commit early. (dtinews.dantri.com.vn, news.baohaiphong.vn)