Roughguides chooses the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City train as one of the most scenic rail journeys in Asia, especially the Hue - Da Nang route via Lang Co Bay.
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| Vietnam: from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City The route is more than 1,600 km long, running the length of Vietnam. The train has many air-conditioned sleeping cars, making the long journey more comfortable. You can choose to travel the entire North-South route of the Thong Nhat train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 3 days, but the most notable route is Hue - Da Nang. Visitors can see Lang Co Bay with its curved white sand and cool green forests. On the train, breakfast served in the dining car usually includes pho, with lemon, fresh chili, and a cup of strong black coffee. |
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| Sri Lanka: Kandy to Ella Starting in Kandy, the train to Ella runs through tea plantations and up and down hills to a remote station in the middle of the Hill Country. The journey takes almost 7 hours. Train rules in Sri Lanka are quite relaxed, so you will see passengers sitting with their legs outstretched in the open, catching the sun as the train passes over the hills. |
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| China: from Jiayuguan to Xi'an On the edge of the Gobi Desert lies the town of Jiayuguan in the far northwest of China, a world away from the densely populated Beijing or Shanghai. In Gansu Province, the city is home to the Jiayu Pass - the western end of the Great Wall. The 18-hour train ride from here to Xi'an is known as the final leg of the Silk Road. The scenery on both sides of the train is both desolate and vast. This is the longest train journey in China, taking travelers through many regions to see the vastness of this country. The train winds through the Gobi Desert, before reaching the Hexi Corridor - the northern part of the ancient Silk Road. The train then passes through the Qilian Mountains, where snow-capped mountains and distinctive orange and pink dust are found. Passengers travel comfortably with many private rooms, double-decker sleeping cars or soft seats. The dining car serves a variety of stews, stir-fries and even cheap beer. |
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| Malaysia: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has a cheap and efficient train service to the west coast of the peninsula. Travelling by train here offers more scenic views at a lower cost. The train journey from Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur may seem like a normal journey on the surface. However, it is faster and passes through hills, forests and lush tropical landscapes. In a densely populated and hot place like Malaysia, there is nothing like sitting on an air-conditioned train and feeling the tropical vibe. |
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| Japan: Gono Line from Akita to Aoimori If Honshu isn't your thing, book a ticket on the Gono Line from Akita to Aoimori. The journey takes you past beautiful coastlines and snow-capped mountains. Passengers must book a ticket on the "Resort Shirakami" train to enjoy the scenery. The Gono Line takes you to one of the most remote areas of Japan, away from the crowded intersections of Tokyo. Thanks to large glass windows and comfortable seats, passengers can enjoy the view from the snow-capped mountains to the rocky coastline. |
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| Uzbekistan: from Urgench to Bukhara High-speed trains now connect most of Uzbekistan's major cities: Tashkent, Andijan and Samarkand. However, the journey from Urgench to Bukhara is a slow 12-hour journey, but the scenery along the way is breathtaking. The train crosses the Kyzylkum desert, where visitors can see camels running along the route, women selling boiled eggs and pickles at the stops, stone tombs and many abandoned temples covered in sand. |
According to VNE
