Stretching from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the railway reflects the country’s turbulent history. It remains essential today, supporting industries, transporting market goods, and serving as a critical north-south connection, though still in need of upgrades. Amidst the challenges, these resilient trains continue to play a vital role in both Vietnam’s economy and daily life. We are traveling with Zay Harding.
I am a Vietnamese living in Hanoi. The video recorded for a long time years ago. Now Vietnam has change a lot. Thank you for sharing my country to the world.
@@ianhomerpura8937nothing much 😂 as a Vietnamese, I am wondering what has changed "a lot" as the topic owner said. Especially in the railway area. Still those diesel-electric locomotives, 1m rail and old fashioned stations, trains still have to wait each other
@@ianhomerpura8937 If he means "changed a lot" in terms of cityscapes, then yes, that's definitely true-many of the urban streets shown in this video have transformed and look much more modern now. But if we're talking about the railway system, not much has really changed, except for the introduction of modern, comfortable cross-country tourist trains that I’ve had the chance to experience. In any case, the government has pretty much "abandoned" the railway sector in Vietnam, as it currently only accounts for around 0,1% of total passenger transport. These days, most Vietnamese travel by car, mainly because of the highway network, or by plane for long-distance trips
Is the rail line through the French Quarter in Hanoi open to tourists now? I was there about 6 years ago and the police had cordoned the area off to tourists, apparently out of safety concerns.
I am Vietnamese. I'm sure these videos were filmed in 2014 15 even longer before that Hanoi station had not made it easy for other passengers to get on and off. Thank you for making a video about my country's railways But now the railways of my country and my country have developed much more than that!
Did you notice something? Even tough there is poverty, everywhere he goes, people are laughing, smiling and treating him nicely. I lived in Vietnam two years. Great people!
not poverty... people leading a hard life - yes, lack of modern amenities - yes spartan/frugal living conditions - yes... but that's not what makes poverty... poverty is a state of hopeless depression, a state of humiliation by your lack of money &/or basic resources. an existence which is either dehumanizing or where things like hunger and thirst become a major factor of life... this is a thing you do not really see in Vietnam today, at least not in most places, there are a few slums in Saigon and other big cities, but in general, the conditions people live in do not prevent them from living fulfilling lives of a sort.
I don't think people really understand just how freeing less can be Maintaining is so much harder than obtaining ppl spend a great deal of time and energy to gain without realizing just how much more will go into maintaining it for the rest of their lives the process of Life maintenance can take the smile right off your face and the generosity right out of your heart There is a power in the naivety at the start of a life goal a magic in the perseverance of the journey unseen forces that helped propel you forward but it doesn't last forever having less believe it or not may not give you an easy life what is the path of least resistance to a smile
He could've opt ticket for good trains or ac coaches. But purposefully opted to show the dark side in order to generalize to get a perception that whole Vietnam is poor. I have seen many vlogs from Indian travelers showed both. There you can see the prosperity also. This guy has an agenda.
I am an American Army veteran. Any story about that horrific war brings tears to my eyes and shame to my soul. It should have never happened and because of incompetent and corrupt American politicians millions lost their lives. This is not the America I want to remember. I am so glad that the Vietnamese people prevailed and finally brought peace to that beautiful country.
I'm Vietnamese. I am grateful for you for displaying my country and my people to the world. But my hometown is developing well now, maybe this video is old. Please come back again for the renewal. Thank you.
i want to clear this statement, you mean south vietnam is really nice and friendly, not northern people who have lots of awful attitutes toward other peoples
@@ThinhNguyen-cp8dwSorry to break your mood, but if that is your intention to split the nation again, you are sorely mistaken as all Vietnamese the same. No more, no less. There is no separation here, my friend.
@@quangminhnguyen2504 what is the phrase all vietnamese are the same?? stop making me laugh, just look at the news, alot of negative informations such as thieves, robbers, mass violence always come from upon the 17 area. So what do you mean saying that all we are the same??
I have been to Vietnam 3 times. Once as a US Marine in the late 60s and twice after that as a tourist in the mid 90s and late 90s. The Vietnamese offered me a warm welcome and they gave me a relief from my feelings of guilt due to America's debacle of waging a war we reslly had no right to be there.
I am a Vietnamese and I would like to correct that there is no longer a DMZ area (in case you say this is a historical site, it would be correct), Vietnam gained independence several decades ago, please give accurate information. FYI, Vietnam is planning to build a 350km/h high-speed railway
I like the video. When watching it, it gave me mixed feelings of joy and sadness. I hope that Vietnam will develop faster in the near future, so that many countries around the world will know that Vietnam is a modern, developed country.
Thanks you for taking us into the history line of Vietnam. You are giving the younger Vietnamese an understanding of how their country has come a long way to be what its today.
I'm Vietnamese. I think you should come back to my country again because your video seems to have been filmed a long time ago. Now the railway has changed a lot!
Our country has changed a lot from the time this video was recorded. Now we have many high quality and modern train in service, but these picture makes me remember my childhood so much. Anyway thanks for uploading this video. We are always welcome friends from over the world wanna visit my country. Welcome to Vietnam!
Love the fact that you rode like a local from Hanoi to Hue. 7 years ago, I shared a 4 berth couchette going the other way and let's just say, a few bevvies and street food purchases were all we needed to keep us entertained the entire journey. Fair play for getting stuck in
Goes without saying, I’m grateful to you for posting all these awesome videos. If I may suggest something though, it would be very helpful if there was a short note somewhere, letting us know when each documentary was created.
It's clear that this video is quite old, as nowadays, almost no Vietnamese people travel by train anymore. According to 2023 data, the railway system accounts for only 0,1% of the country's total passenger traffic. Most Vietnamese now choose to travel by car, mainly because of the developed highway network, or by plane for longer trips.
That's unfortunate. Personal vehicles cause far more problems than solutions. Public transportation allows multitasking, far less pollution, far less traffic, far less accidents and deaths when traveling, far less financial costs, more jobs, etc. At least plenty of first-world nations, and even China, especially China, understands the importance of trains, and other public transportation.
Thank you for this, I really enjoyed sharing your journey through amazing Vietnam and it's beautiful people. Your presentation style and personality make for a perfect travel documentary - great work.
Wow, there really is intelligence on RUclips after all. I really enjoyed this documentary, it went from humorous to sad and back so many times. I've watched most all "World's Most Dangerous School Journeys" or something like that and they were amazing as well.
At about 23:30 look at the young man's sparkling inquisitive eyes as he watches the train pass through his neighborhood. To me its a reflection of every boy's fascination with trains.
I remember during the time when there were trains operated by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) before its rehabilitation. Most of the traincars have grills to prevent anyone from being thrown by stones or human manures. Now all of these locomotives and traincars (most of them were purchased from Indonesia,.others donated by Japan Railways) were transferred to Calamba City, Laguna to give way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that will be opened by 2028 or later. I miss riding trains but hoping for the better railway system in our beloved country.
Took the train from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi. We booked two places in a 4 berth compartement last year. Train was in time, compartment was more or less clean and we could sleep 6 hours instead wasting a whole day on the road or even worse one night (or our lives) in a sleeper bus. BUT book your ticket online a couple of day in advance. Its quite confusing, so you might wann do that in your hotel or at your homestay. Vietnam i s bueatifull country. Go there and explore it.
28:51 i would've loved to be standing on the TGV between Barcelona and the first french station!!! but tickets are always "sold out" until the train reaches the first and last stop after leaving Barcelona in Spain. where many passengers get off.
As a Vietnamese American, I find it interesting how the language is translated from Viet to English. I'm not 100% fluent so that's probably why I think the chosen translations (for the words I understand) are interesting
FYI, this documentary was made in 2014 and those railcars were retired a few years afterwards. Anyone who has traveled in VN in recent years would know that the cars are now super comfy with AC. The beds are fine but the toilets still stink pretty hard.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Stretching from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the railway reflects the country’s turbulent history. It remains essential today, supporting industries, transporting market goods, and serving as a critical north-south connection, though still in need of upgrades. Amidst the challenges, these resilient trains continue to play a vital role in both Vietnam’s economy and daily life. We are traveling with Zay Harding.
Nice ❤
iv just unsubbed for deleting my comment , CHUMP
I like to join with a camera crew
It is called SAIGON!
That is only because they didn’t know what can people do with money in modern society.
I am a Vietnamese living in Hanoi. The video recorded for a long time years ago. Now Vietnam has change a lot. Thank you for sharing my country to the world.
Yep, this episode was from 2016. Just curious what has changed with Vietnam Railways since then.
@@ianhomerpura8937nothing much 😂 as a Vietnamese, I am wondering what has changed "a lot" as the topic owner said. Especially in the railway area. Still those diesel-electric locomotives, 1m rail and old fashioned stations, trains still have to wait each other
@@ianhomerpura8937 If he means "changed a lot" in terms of cityscapes, then yes, that's definitely true-many of the urban streets shown in this video have transformed and look much more modern now. But if we're talking about the railway system, not much has really changed, except for the introduction of modern, comfortable cross-country tourist trains that I’ve had the chance to experience. In any case, the government has pretty much "abandoned" the railway sector in Vietnam, as it currently only accounts for around 0,1% of total passenger transport. These days, most Vietnamese travel by car, mainly because of the highway network, or by plane for long-distance trips
@@InfernoPhoenix1211tiền đâu mà làm đường sắt cao tốc. Máy bay đang rất tệ vì ít hãng và giá cao . VN đang khao khát tàu cao tốc nhưng nó quá đắt.
Is the rail line through the French Quarter in Hanoi open to tourists now? I was there about 6 years ago and the police had cordoned the area off to tourists, apparently out of safety concerns.
I am Vietnamese. I'm sure these videos were filmed in 2014 15 even longer before that Hanoi station had not made it easy for other passengers to get on and off. Thank you for making a video about my country's railways But now the railways of my country and my country have developed much more than that!
Yup, at 3:43 we could see the year this video was filmed.
2014 is still modern :)
damn they really need to remake this one, 10 years outdated 😆
I would love a updated 2025 train ride
Did you notice something? Even tough there is poverty, everywhere he goes, people are laughing, smiling and treating him nicely. I lived in Vietnam two years. Great people!
What do you expect people to do in front of a camera? Cry?
@@iftikhar-ii7cy until you filmed westerners or americans without pay!!!
not poverty... people leading a hard life - yes, lack of modern amenities - yes spartan/frugal living conditions - yes... but that's not what makes poverty...
poverty is a state of hopeless depression, a state of humiliation by your lack of money &/or basic resources. an existence which is either dehumanizing or where things like hunger and thirst become a major factor of life...
this is a thing you do not really see in Vietnam today, at least not in most places, there are a few slums in Saigon and other big cities, but in general, the conditions people live in do not prevent them from living fulfilling lives of a sort.
I don't think people really understand just how freeing less can be
Maintaining is so much harder than obtaining ppl spend a great deal of time and energy to gain without realizing just how much more will go into maintaining it for the rest of their lives the process of Life maintenance can take the smile right off your face and the generosity right out of your heart
There is a power in the naivety at the start of a life goal a magic in the perseverance of the journey unseen forces that helped propel you forward but it doesn't last forever having less believe it or not may not give you an easy life what is the path of least resistance to a smile
He could've opt ticket for good trains or ac coaches. But purposefully opted to show the dark side in order to generalize to get a perception that whole Vietnam is poor. I have seen many vlogs from Indian travelers showed both. There you can see the prosperity also. This guy has an agenda.
I am an American Army veteran. Any story about that horrific war brings tears to my eyes and shame to my soul. It should have never happened and because of incompetent and corrupt American politicians millions lost their lives. This is not the America I want to remember. I am so glad that the Vietnamese people prevailed and finally brought peace to that beautiful country.
QUE HERMOSAS PALABRAS Y REFLEXION BRO... UN GRAN ABRAZO A LA DISTANCIA.
2025 that country richer than ours Philippines,our government full of corruptions through Marcus
Thank you for your service to our nation. I have written an unpublished novel about the Fall of Saigon titled Witnessing History
I'm Vietnamese. I am grateful for you for displaying my country and my people to the world. But my hometown is developing well now, maybe this video is old. Please come back again for the renewal. Thank you.
The Vietnamese are the nicest people I've met in my world travels so far. No better friend, no worse enemy!
Chúng tôi luôn chào đón..nếu bạn quay lại Việt Nam..cám ơn❤
❤❤❤
i want to clear this statement, you mean south vietnam is really nice and friendly, not northern people who have lots of awful attitutes toward other peoples
@@ThinhNguyen-cp8dwSorry to break your mood, but if that is your intention to split the nation again, you are sorely mistaken as all Vietnamese the same. No more, no less. There is no separation here, my friend.
@@quangminhnguyen2504 what is the phrase all vietnamese are the same?? stop making me laugh, just look at the news, alot of negative informations such as thieves, robbers, mass violence always come from upon the 17 area. So what do you mean saying that all we are the same??
I have been to Vietnam 3 times. Once as a US Marine in the late 60s and twice after that as a tourist in the mid 90s and late 90s. The Vietnamese offered me a warm welcome and they gave me a relief from my feelings of guilt due to America's debacle of waging a war we reslly had no right to be there.
I am a Vietnamese and I would like to correct that there is no longer a DMZ area (in case you say this is a historical site, it would be correct), Vietnam gained independence several decades ago, please give accurate information. FYI, Vietnam is planning to build a 350km/h high-speed railway
Alright 👍
That'll be wonderful for people. 🚉
Amazing
Don’t want to burst your bubble. Vietnam is not going to build any railroad without help from China.
@@bluffdotcom5504 And?
I've been finding this documentary and really this series as a whole on RUclips for so long now
I rode this train from SAIGON to Hai Phong in2006. Back then I think it was about 30+hr train ride. I enjoyed it very much…. 😊 ❤
Fantastic! Showing the world thru documentary films like this is a treasure of knowledge, Thank you @ Free Documentary. Watching from The Philippines.
Exceptional documentary! Thank you
This video is so old, more than 10y ago. Checked the landmarks and buildings. A lot had changed since there, in a better way.
The uploaded and filmed dates never match on RUclips. Frustrating. Can be fake information.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful film to know little about the past history of Vietnam during the travel experience from train. Great job 🇻🇳🚇
I'm mexicano, but Vietnam is a very pretty country ,God bless bless Vietnamese people
I respect all Vietnamese 🇻🇳 for all they won and all they lost. Love respect and peace for all living in a Vietnam ❤❤
I like the video. When watching it, it gave me mixed feelings of joy and sadness. I hope that Vietnam will develop faster in the near future, so that many countries around the world will know that Vietnam is a modern, developed country.
What a wonderful country and people, always smiling, always happy.
Thanks you for taking us into the history line of Vietnam. You are giving the younger Vietnamese an understanding of how their country has come a long way to be what its today.
I'm Vietnamese. I think you should come back to my country again because your video seems to have been filmed a long time ago. Now the railway has changed a lot!
cũng thế thôi, có đổi gì đâu ba
Very interesting well made thank you
🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Many Kenyans always following this channel.
Tell him 😂
EXCELLENT VIDIEO, THANK YOU!!!
Love from Bangladesh ❤️💕
Our country has changed a lot from the time this video was recorded. Now we have many high quality and modern train in service, but these picture makes me remember my childhood so much. Anyway thanks for uploading this video. We are always welcome friends from over the world wanna visit my country. Welcome to Vietnam!
Great documentary 👍
Love the fact that you rode like a local from Hanoi to Hue. 7 years ago, I shared a 4 berth couchette going the other way and let's just say, a few bevvies and street food purchases were all we needed to keep us entertained the entire journey. Fair play for getting stuck in
Goes without saying, I’m grateful to you for posting all these awesome videos. If I may suggest something though, it would be very helpful if there was a short note somewhere, letting us know when each documentary was created.
3:41 2014.
The video was filmed before 2015. Because I saw the old statue of Uncle Ho in Saigon was still there. It was replaced by a new statue in 2015.
Still a peaceful country after a long war ....very nice .
It's clear that this video is quite old, as nowadays, almost no Vietnamese people travel by train anymore. According to 2023 data, the railway system accounts for only 0,1% of the country's total passenger traffic. Most Vietnamese now choose to travel by car, mainly because of the developed highway network, or by plane for longer trips.
You forgot to mention motorbikes.
This video about 10 years ago (2014)
That's unfortunate. Personal vehicles cause far more problems than solutions. Public transportation allows multitasking, far less pollution, far less traffic, far less accidents and deaths when traveling, far less financial costs, more jobs, etc. At least plenty of first-world nations, and even China, especially China, understands the importance of trains, and other public transportation.
@@ebx100That's unfortunate, too. I left a comment above this one.
@@Bellamies150Yeah. That's unfortunate about hardly anyone using public transportation. I left a comment above this one regarding it.
Thank you for such an informative and educating documentary.
I love how the men interact and openly feel happy without considering the tribes or status. The sweet thing God gave everyone ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏.
Hello from Czech Republic - former Czechoslovakia
Vietnam is A Land of Warm People.
❤🙏🙏🙏
Those tacks being right next to door houses and that train passing by that small kid sitting on his front porch was DIABOLICAL!
I loved Vietnam! Just couldn’t hack the mosquitos!
Thank you for this, I really enjoyed sharing your journey through amazing Vietnam and it's beautiful people. Your presentation style and personality make for a perfect travel documentary - great work.
Wow, there really is intelligence on RUclips after all. I really enjoyed this documentary, it went from humorous to sad and back so many times. I've watched most all "World's Most Dangerous School Journeys" or something like that and they were amazing as well.
Really nostalgic video, thanks !!
i like your story Vietnam........a very inspiring strugggle to peace, independence and development....
At about 23:30 look at the young man's sparkling inquisitive eyes as he watches the train pass through his neighborhood. To me its a reflection of every boy's fascination with trains.
Thanks for a great episode!
Nice documentary👌
Love from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 to Vietnam 🇻🇳 🙏❤
❤❤❤❤❤ from Hà Nội Việt Nam!!
Love from Sri Lanka ❤ 2024...
Very good documentary full of humour and real life story.
crazy how did my country look like 10 years ago, the documentary gave me nostalgia...
I live within walking distance to the southern terminus of the Reunification Express which is in District 3 of Saigon. This is a pretty cool video.
Great video. I learned a lot.
Great work, thanks
Nice video 🧑🏻🌾🇨🇦
Love from 🇮🇳 to 🇻🇳
wow amazing video
thank you !
Watching from Perth, Australia
Noah wyle these are great little documentaries !
I travel by airline as do most in Vietnam these days. We have several world class air carriers available. Toi yeu Viet Nam ❤️💛
I follow a lot of Vietnam vloggers they are up to date
My homeland country ❤❤❤
I love train 🚉 rides.
This was nearly 20 years ago, vietnam is much cleaner now, please come visit.
Owh ❤
2014
Thanks for the fact.@@dang19942000
Very cool adventure
11:44:
"Mom can we have ICE?"
"No we have ICE at home."
Kalau ada waktu dan dana, gw pengen banget naik jalur kereta ini, turun di tempat2 tertentu buat kulineran. ❤❤
You speek more about the war than the railway and train
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤from South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤❤❤Vietnam 😂😂😂
3:41 as you can see, 2014, this is the year this video was filmed
After 10 years, things have changed a lot
looks like a fun ride
Great video. In my opinion your wardrobe could have been better.
Did this trip in 4days/ 93'- this ride looks like 1st class.
I remember during the time when there were trains operated by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) before its rehabilitation. Most of the traincars have grills to prevent anyone from being thrown by stones or human manures. Now all of these locomotives and traincars (most of them were purchased from Indonesia,.others donated by Japan Railways) were transferred to Calamba City, Laguna to give way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that will be opened by 2028 or later. I miss riding trains but hoping for the better railway system in our beloved country.
they really connected a high speed locomotive with the normal coaches
I did not expect Hugh Jackman to travel by train in Vietnam...
The train Vietnam in2024 is so good 🎉
1 year in vn is like 10 in the west. Things changes a lot here every day.
nice
Vietnam looks like a country that tries. Good luck to them!
I am Vietnamese and I approve this video 5:43 that is my uncle 🎉🎉🎉🎉 actually 😅😅😅
Took the train from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi. We booked two places in a 4 berth compartement last year. Train was in time, compartment was more or less clean and we could sleep 6 hours instead wasting a whole day on the road or even worse one night (or our lives) in a sleeper bus.
BUT book your ticket online a couple of day in advance. Its quite confusing, so you might wann do that in your hotel or at your homestay.
Vietnam i s bueatifull country. Go there and explore it.
ZZZZXXXXGood day, love watching your channel, very interesting channel, Super Content.XXXX
1st kenyan here 😊
Nobody cares
Very unque experieence in vietname train journy 😊😊
The video source might be outdated, before 2017. But still a great view of Vietnam from the train's windows
It was made in 2014
@@Huy99556 I can tell by looking at the train's livery
It seem so far of now seeing how much have changed in a decade in Saigon alone.
28:51 i would've loved to be standing on the TGV between Barcelona and the first french station!!! but tickets are always "sold out" until the train reaches the first and last stop after leaving Barcelona in Spain. where many passengers get off.
Wow so modern railway track, so capable to manage 350 high speed train
In school we learned about north and south Vietnam... I'm that old.
How old is this documentary 😭
2014
The Long Biên Bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam was designed by the Paris-based firm Daydé & Pillé, not by Gustave Eiffel.
Excellent taren road
I love that guy making a face for the camera. 🤪
As a Vietnamese American, I find it interesting how the language is translated from Viet to English. I'm not 100% fluent so that's probably why I think the chosen translations (for the words I understand) are interesting
Wait, isn't this part of Lonely Planet series? This was filmed back in early 2010s I think.
FYI, this documentary was made in 2014 and those railcars were retired a few years afterwards. Anyone who has traveled in VN in recent years would know that the cars are now super comfy with AC. The beds are fine but the toilets still stink pretty hard.
Amezing
train singer had beautiful chorus.... hahaha
at 26:16 i saw a guy making weird hand sign
That loco looks like a madmax version of an ICE 3 from germany
almost identical train in the philippines called PNR. But now its on new phase towards to new train set and new train tracks, goodbye old train 👌
ZAY HARDING❤
GLOBE TREKKER
LONG TIME A GO❤