The Reunification Express, known as the Thong Nhat Railway, traverses more than 1,726 kilometers (1,072 miles) between Hanoi and Saigon, the country’s two biggest cities, in two days.

The north-south train passes Vung Ro beach in the central province of Phu Yen.

The journey allows passengers to sit and enjoy romantic scenery and rural landscapes along coastal towns in the central region including the former imperial capital of Hue, the Da Nang City Port which was initially built in the French colonial time and the ancient town of Hoi An.

The other train journeys Lonely Planet lists are the California Zephyr in the U.S., Baikal–Amur Mainline in Russia, China’s Beijing to Lhasa Express, and the TranzAlpine in New Zealand.

The north-south rail has been deteriorating after decades of use since being built by the French in the 1930s. Rail transport is rapidly losing popularity given the rise of cheap air travel.

Vietnam’s aviation industry has been growing at the third fastest pace in the Asia-Pacific, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The railways carried 9.4 million passengers last year, down 3.5 percent from 2017, according to government data.

An aerial view of Hue Imperial Citadel, a major tourist attraction in the ancient capital Hue, central Vietnam.

Some companies have been trying to revive the romance of train travel, offering first-class trips with attached restaurant cars like the five-star services launched in 2017 from Saigon to the coastal resort town of Nha Trang and from Hanoi to the northern highlands town of Sa Pa.

Russian news agency Sputnik recently included the north-south rail among world’s 10 most beautiful.

Last year travel publisher Rough Guides named it as one of the most scenic in Asia, where one can watch buffalos grazing in rice paddies, fishermen casting their nets in the sea, deserted white beaches, and lush rainforests.

Vietnam’s North-South Railway listed among world’s top ten most beautiful

Vietnam’s Thong Nhat (Reunification) Express, also called the North-South railway route, has been listed by the Russia’s Sputnik news agency among the ten most beautiful of its kind in the world.

Vietnam Railways arranges more trains for Reunification Day holidays

Vietnam Railways (VNR) will operate an additional 130 trains along various routes across the nation from April 25 to May 5 to meet increasing travelling demands during the Reunification Day holidays.

North-South express railway to cost over 58.7 billion USD

Vietnam’s first express railway running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City will cost around 58.7 billion USD, according to a pre-feasibility report announced at the Ministry of Transport’s meeting on November 12.

AFP: Hanoi's colonial-era railway becomes selfie hotspot

In the heart of Hanoi's busy Old Quarter, French-built railroad tracks have become a hotspot for tourists seeking the perfect Instagram selfie, and for cafe owners serving up hot coffee and cold beer, according to an article by the Paris-headquartered AFP news agency.

Railway ticket price discounted by 50% for early booking

Passengers who buy train tickets at least 20 days ahead of their travel date will enjoy a discount ranging from 20% to 50%, according to a promotional programme launched by the Saigon Railway Transport JSC.

Source: VnExpress