Tet train ticket prices reached a record high this year, with the most expensive at VND3.75 million. But many have accepted the cost.

On September 20, as soon as the Vietnam Railways Corporation opened ticket sales, many people arrived at Saigon Station at dawn to wait for their turn to buy tickets, showing the strong appeal of train travel.

The number of people queuing at Saigon Station is lower than in previous years, indicating that many passengers have become accustomed to buying tickets online. However, some passengers, especially families or the elderly, still choose to visit the station in person for consultation and to ensure they secured tickets.

Nguyen Thai Hung from Quang Ngai was the first passenger successfully buying Tet tickets. From 2am, he rode a motorbike from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai) to the station to wait. Although the price for a sleeper ticket to Duc Pho (Quang Ngai) this year was VND2.8 million, double the cost of a bus ticket and comparable to a budget flight, he still chose to travel by train.

“I take the train because it’s safer when traveling with young children. Flying requires buying an extra ticket for the kids. Plus, Quang Ngai doesn’t have an airport, so we’d need to fly to Chu Lai Airport in Da Nang, which is over 60km from home. Also, during Tet, traffic jams and delays are a hassle,” Hung said.

The male passenger noted that, despite the higher ticket prices this year, they are still acceptable. He bought a total of 10 round-trip tickets for his entire family. The purchase process was quick and convenient.

Similary, Tran Thi Hue said the number of passengers at Saigon station was lower than in previous years, so the wait time was minimal. After about an hour of waiting, she managed to buy eight round-trip tickets from Saigon to Hanoi departing on the 27th day of Tet holiday and returning on the 6th, with a total cost of VND28 million.

Hue mentioned that she could have bought tickets online, but she was concerned about possible congestion during peak hours, so she opted for an in-person purchase.

Le Anh Tuan, director of the Saigon Railway Transport Branch, explained that prices increased by 5-10 percent this year because the railway sector introduced 150 newly refurbished and upgraded carriages with higher quality standards.

The highest ticket price is VND3.75 million for a soft sleeper, lower-level bed in a 4-bed compartment on the SE2 train from Saigon to Hanoi during peak season. For Tet 2025, the highest ticket price was VND3.234 million per bed.

VIP compartments with 2 beds now cost VND7.35 million per bed, an increase of VND350,000 compared to 2025.

Vu Diep