The rankings reflect the travel experiences readers love best, drawn from a total of 798,867 votes gathered during a survey done between April 1 and June 30, 2026.

Musicians performing Hue Royal court music on the Vietnam Central Heritage Connection. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

Standing at number 14 on the list is The Vietage by Anantara, a luxury train plying between Da Nang and Nha Trang along Vietnam's central coast.

The route passes through Tra Kieu, the ancient capital of the Champa kingdom, the coastal city of Quang Ngai, which is home to the Long Wall of Vietnam, and An Khe lake, considered the cradle of the Sa Huynh Culture.

The six-hour journey between Da Nang and Quy Nhon features a three-course meal inspired by Vietnamese and French culinary traditions, while the five-hour leg between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang offers an afternoon tea complete with local caviar, Vietnamese artisanal cheeses, and premium teas.

Operated by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, known for its luxury five-star beachfront properties across Vietnam, The Vietage has a 4.8-star rating on Google.

In 10th position is the Vietnam Central Heritage Connection.

Launched in early 2024 and operated by Vietnam Railways, this three-hour link between the historic cities of Hue and Da Nang offers panoramas of Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon, Lang Co Bay, and the curves of Hai Van pass.

Passengers can stay in quiet carriages designed for relaxation or visit the community carriages to enjoy live traditional music and dance performances.

At around $11 for a one-way ticket, it stands out as easily the most affordable train journey in the list.

Topping the 20 list is Europe's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which takes passengers through the French countryside and Swiss mountains, pairing daytime sightseeing with an evening atmosphere in the bar car.

The list also includes Switzerland's Jungfrau Railway, wilderness journeys through Australia, and the Grand Canyon Railway's Canyon Spirit in the United States.

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The train has operated nearly 400 services since its inaugural journey on August 19, 2025, recording an average occupancy rate of around 80%.

Tickets for Hue–Phong Nha tourist train go on sale

Rather than serving solely as a means of transport, the railway service will become an integral part of the tourism product, connecting Hue with Quang Tri’s historical, cultural and natural attractions, as well as Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Hue–Phong Nha tourist train to begin service in September

Localities expect the new service to expand tourism development opportunities, strengthen regional tourism connectivity and promote a greener, more sustainable railway tourism ecosystem across the central region.

Hue–Phong Nha tourist train to be launched on September 1

A project to develop the Hue–Phong Nha tourist train is being finalised, with authorities targeting the launch of the heritage rail service on September 1.

Vietnam, China step up cooperation in AI training, applications for cross-border tourism

In recent years, cross-border tourism cooperation between the two countries has continued to expand. Products such as the cross-border tourism area Ban Gioc (Vietnam) – Detian (China) Waterfalls have been put into regular operation, providing fresh momentum for bilateral exchanges.

 

Vietnam Railways upgrades heritage trains to tap holiday travel boom

The moves come as the carrier deepens ties with local authorities to fuse rail transport with tourism and lift overall service quality.