IMPORTANT:
I recommend doing this as an experience to see how riding trains is in asia but i wouldnt recommend doing this regularily.
The trains in the first class are dirty, you can hear other people and vietnamese people sometimes tend to watch loud videos or sound music in the sleeping cabins. It is DEFINITELY not like first class in western countries, more like 3 third class travel for europeans.
Bus wasn't on time. Beds are not made at all for 1.80 meter people. Bus could have woken up passengers 15 minutes before arrival!
He stops and yells "you have to get out quick"!
was my first and last ride.
รถบัส ห้องโดยสาร VIP, Huynh Gia (Huỳnh Gia), 20 ก.พ. 2023
Die Abholung war etwas chaotisch und keiner wusste in welchem Bus er muss und der Bus war etwas zu spät. Aber die Fahrt war gut. Wir haben fast durchschlafen können und haben ein Wasser bekommen. Der Bus kam fast 2 Stunden früher an.
Ordering tickets with 12go works easy and fast, got an e-ticket to show on the mobile phone at the train station, paid by ViSA credit card. The train was perfectly on time, but any comfort or cleanliness are more or less missing.
Never, ever, ever book the lottery that is the "class 2 sleeper". I booked a bed which I knew would be on the ground floor (I have taken this train a number of times). Unfortunately the provider can change this at any point and I was placed on the 3rd bunk which is maybe 2.5 feet away from the ceiling. You cannot see out of the window, you cannot sit up, you have to climb down 3 bunks everytime you need the washroom, and there is barely any aircon at the top of each cabin. I've been backpacking for a year now and have stayed in some pretty questionable residentials but this I could not do. Instead I was given a camp chair and set up outside the toilets for 9 hours in 36 degree heat (still more bearable than the third bunk).
Everything was wonderful! I forgot my Panama hat on the bus and couldn't make a call because I don't speak Vietnamese and I don't have a Vietnamese number. The operator helped me and told me where I could put my stuff, I was very glad, thank you!!
We are a family of four and were lucky to get a soft sleeper cabin to ourselves. The cabins were clean and we got some sleep even if the train ride is not that smooth. The train attendant even woke us up 20mins before our stop. The train left and arrived within two minutes of the schedule! The toilets are the only negative. Bring your own toilet paper and don't expect a clean toilet.