As demand builds ahead of Tet 2027, Vexere, an authorized ticket agent of Vietnam Railways, is advising passengers to check booking channels carefully before paying for tickets online.

Vietnamese travelers are increasingly moving their train ticket purchases online, and many are doing so for the first time.

According to Vexere, a booking platform for coaches, trains, flights and motorbike rentals, 78% of customers who purchased train tickets through the platform during the 2026 Lunar New Year period were first-time train ticket buyers on Vexere. More than half of them, or 51.1%, had never used Vexere before.

The shift offers greater convenience but also presents risks. First-time online buyers may not know which websites are authorized to sell Vietnam Railways tickets, how exchanges and refunds work, or what information a valid ticket should contain.

Train ticket volume rises by a third during Tet 2026

Vexere recorded a 33.6% increase in Vietnam Railways ticket volume on its platform from Feb. 9-25, 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

Some short regional routes posted particularly strong growth.

Ticket volume for the Hai Phong-Hanoi route increased 27.7%, while the Phu Yen-Khanh Hoa route jumped 76.3%.

Such routes are suitable for day trips and short family visits, suggesting that rail travel is attracting passengers who might otherwise drive or travel by coach.

Vexere's data also showed a 31.3% increase in train bookings made through its mobile website.

Passengers often booked in groups, with an average of 2.2 tickets purchased per train booking on Vexere during Tet 2026.

One in five bookings requires after-sales support

According to Vexere, about 20% of train ticket transactions on its platform required an exchange or refund.

Changes to travel plans are particularly common during holiday periods, especially for families purchasing several tickets at once.

"Buying a ticket takes a few minutes. Changing or refunding that ticket is where passengers find out whether they bought from a reliable channel," a Vexere representative said.

Tickets purchased from unauthorized resellers may be difficult to exchange, may include undisclosed markups or may not be valid.

When passengers book through Vexere or the official Vietnam Railways website, tickets are issued through the Vietnam Railways system with ticket codes that can be checked and used for exchanges or refunds in accordance with Vietnam Railways' rules.

Vexere recommends five checks before paying

Vexere recommends that passengers make five checks before purchasing train tickets online, particularly when using a website, fan page or social media seller for the first time.

As an authorized Vietnam Railways ticket agent, Vexere says it applies the same criteria to its own train booking service.

Passengers should confirm that the seller is Vietnam Railways or an authorized agent; check that the ticket is issued with the correct full name and ID details of each passenger; check that the full price, including fees, is displayed before payment; ensure a ticket code is issued immediately after payment; and confirm that clear exchange and refund policies are available.

Vexere also advises passengers to retain their ticket codes and payment confirmations until their journeys are complete. Both may be needed to request an exchange or refund or resolve a problem at a station.

Passengers can combine promotions on Vexere for savings of up to 20%, according to the company.

Vexere recommends comparing the final amount payable, including all fees, rather than relying solely on an advertised ticket price.

Advice for Tet 2027 travelers

Vexere expects first-time online buyers to continue accounting for a significant share of train ticket demand during the coming peak season, particularly among families and travelers using shorter regional routes.

The company's experts recommend that passengers planning train journeys for Tet 2027 book early, verify the seller before making payment and choose booking channels that provide clear exchange and refund support.

Travelers seeking sleeper berths on the Reunification Express between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City should book as soon as tickets become available, according to Vexere.

For families, the company recommends purchasing all seats in a single transaction, making it easier to manage the tickets together if travel plans change.

With nearly eight in 10 of its Tet 2026 train customers buying train tickets on the platform for the first time, Vexere says educating passengers about safe online booking is part of its role as an authorized Vietnam Railways ticket agent.