A good chunk of my younger life was attached to train travel: those heading to the far north and the Reunification Express Train connecting the full length between Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The sound, the smells, the vibe... found on the trains and at train stations had become so familiar to me. Then most of my travel was by air and by road, the trains were temporarily forgotten...

It was on hearing the news that Vietnam would be building a modern railway network that would make train travel between Hanoi and Saigon to only a few hours. The train I loved would become history! And I will have some work in the south soon. Why not allow for ample of time before work and take a slow train trip? I booked a soft sleeper on the SE23 Train for the 23rd of June, 2025. The photos are to show the scenes that one could enjoy from the cabin. Some windows are quite clear, while the others may have scratches which blur the views.