Hi,
I'm thinking of booking onto the beyond the ho chi minh trail trip and just wondered if anyone could give me any info on the sleeper trains and the internal flights.
I understand it will be soft sleeper cabins and all train journeys will be overnight? And will they be 4 or 6 berth cabins and will we be sharing with the group or locals etc?
And I also wondered, how much time will be spent in airports etc for the internal flights, I know they are only short flights but how long do we have to be at airports before departure for check in etc.
Just because there are 3 flights and 2 train journeys - I would like to know how much of the trip will be spent waiting to board trains and planes etc.
Thanks
Just back from Vietnam ten days ago and did two overnight sleeper trains (Hanoi - Hue and Nha Trang - Saigon). Both were great, cabins were 4 people, so it depends on the group size. We had 12 so that neatly divided into three cabins with the tour leader in with the locals. It was great to wake and pull back the curtain and see the countryside go past. Also, by the time you have arrived, you will have slept and have a full day ahead, no daylight wasted!
We must have spent a total of 30 minutes waiting on the trains, they seem to run on time and our leader got us to the station not too early or late.
I'm going to Vietnam in August and found your information useful so thanks a lot :)
Hi Michael58
Many thanks for your reply - very helpful!
I also checked this out with our regional Destination office and we do use the soft sleeper 6 berth cabins, but with only 4 people inside each one.
If our group members have to share it will be with locals or foreigners, but of the same sex.
For the internal flights, check in is 1 hour prior to the flight. Transfers to airports reflect local traffic conditons, as Michael58 has said, but we would aim to have as little time "hanging around" as possible.
I hope this helps!
Best wishes
Kelly