Nice train, clean and nice atmosphere inside. Snacks and water prepared. Bathroom was always clean.
Staff at Hà Nội station were super friendly and helpful.
When fall asleep fast (like me) and staff came for service, you'll maybe get startled (even with earplugs) and are awake again.
Excellent, courteous and welcoming service from start to finish. Luxurious cabins, comfortable mattresses, delicious refreshments - a wonderful experience!!!
10 10 10 scores! Everything is great from beginning to the end. We upgraded the cabin to Tokin and really enjoyed the train ride. The train was clean and provided you enough amenities, drinks, snacks and fruits. The beds were comfortable. Air con also worked well. I was worried about the hygiene of the toilets during the trip but they are clean and well maintained. I am a light sleeping person but I can sleep well through the night. I like this train more than others based on my real experience 1. Clean toilets, 2. No peasants and smoking person around and the last reason I feel safe more than other trains. Highly recommended. I will definitely use Chapa express again if I need the sleeping train next time in Vietnam.
This was actually whole a lot better than we expected.
Personally, I love trains, and as I’m from Japan, the night train is becoming a thing of the past in Japan now. Before we got onboard, I heard it’d be really bumpy and loud since the rail track is a century old, and to be honest, it was indeed bumpy and loud. But, we had actually better experience than Japanese Sunrise Express!! From the refreshments available in the room, hot food service and catering available to comfortable sleeping accommodations, we were blown away by it. Something we can’t have in Japan (if you pay million yen, you could have such experience in Japan, but we aren’t one of those people…)
So, it was truly amazing experience for us. I know taking flight or night bus was cheaper and more efficient convenient way to travel, but I’m glad I made the right decision for our first trip to Vietnam! Thank you so much for your hospitality!
The CHAPA Express will be one of my fondest memories from my trip to Vietnam. The train cabin was clean and cozy. The views were incredible. I appreciate how Dean messaged me on WhatsApp to give me directions on where to check in and the lounge. Richard then escorted me to my cabin and helped me get settled. He answered all my questions. Richard was a delight to talk to before my departure. The staff waives you off to Da Nang. Then you start a magical train ride from Hanoi to Da Nang!
Our trip was rescheduled to a later time which was not a problem but the only notice was an what’s app message, nothing else (like an email). That was confusing. We got an upgrade though to Indigo class which was beautiful and comfi! The staff at the train station was not helpful in my request not to fill our compartment up with a man instead of an women as an additional passenger . If I had known I would have booked the whole compartment for my family of 3. We hardly slept because of the hard noise and bumpy ride, but that’s a train experience:).
I was surprised how comfortable it was. We had a good night sleep! We appreciated the waiting lounge and the shower in Lao Cai.I’m glad we didn’t take the bus. Worthed!
The lounge was nice. But the cabin was extremely warm and it was difficult to breathe in the night. The day after the company requested feedback and when we shared our experience they simply said they wished they knew sooner. However when we confronted them with the fact that we had tried to let them know during the train ride, they ignored us. Not a great way to handle feedback :/
The beds were super comfortable but the best was that 12go called us when we were getting close to the time the train left and then made sure we got on when it was close. If not for them we probably would have missed the train.
Someone offered us the option to pay an extra $60 for a private cabin. I thought it would be a great idea to get a good night’s sleep, so I paid for it. What a mistake!!!
Yes, the cabin was very nice, but it was absolutely impossible to sleep, not even for 10 minutes. The train was creaking as if it were going to break apart, and it was shaking like an 8-degree Richter scale earthquake.
On the train to Sapa, even though we had a shared cabin, we slept very well. I don’t know why this trip was so awful. So, I do not recommend paying extra for a private cabin.
The train, the cabin, and the bathroom you could access was nice & clean. However, being a luxury train (and please note, I am comparing it to another train doing the same route), it was way too noisy (which I didn’t face in the other one). During the whole ride, the noise didn’t stop. The ear buds provided dont help. And you really can’t sleep.
列車#SP4 Indigo Berth 4x, Chapa Express, 2026/05/11
J C
Jennifer C
The train was comfortable and the amenities provided in the VIP suite was lovely. Loved seeing train street from the train after having been there to watch it go by a day before. The boarding was easy and the staff helpful and polite.
Train was on time and very clean. Staff at the station really friendly and helpful. Cabin was comfortable.
Vietnamese rail staff on the train try to sell you extras, so be careful.
Overall great experience.
列車#SP7 VIP Cabin 2x, Chapa Express, 2026/03/23
K P
Kara P
Overall this was a fine experience. We were booked on Chapa but notified the day before that we would be on a different train line as they had overbooked. There were not a lot of other trains available at that time so we agreed. We were placed in a Vietnam rail car attached to the chapa train. Chapa had tried really hard to make it look nice and in their style but if it looks like a duck, acts like and duck and quacks like duck it’s a duck. I look forward to trying the Chapa train on the return trip because their train looks really cool. The staff at check in and in the VIP lounge were FANTASTIC!!!!
Ok. Not so super. Cleanliness is good. The noise of announcement and songs makes irritation. So they give ear plug: don’t forget to put, even though heard it louder.
After booking got contacted by train company saying they couldn’t provide me my seats but that I could pay an upgrade. Try to negotiate but not enough. Asked to get refund and not surprised they couldn’t provide finally give me my seats. Not sure if it was spam or the real company but in both ways they tried to scam me. Got no help from 12Go. The train ride was fine. Comfortable beds but very noisy has you could expect. Barely got sleep on the night ride. Would do it again but during daytime.
Overall everything went well, check-in, punctuality and everything, but the Train Ride ist far from luxurious! When you tried to Switch off the AC it made an afwul squeaking noise and it was Not a comfirtable Night Of sleep, since those trains Are 50 yo and it is horrobly Loud at Night, Even With earplugs!
列車#SP3 VIP Cabin 2x, Chapa Express, 2026/03/05
A S
Anuj S
Not sure why people complain about the noise. It is a train, for the love of God and everything holy, get over it. It was comfortable and clean. We would do it again.
列車#SP7 Suite Twin Cabin, Chapa Express, 2026/02/21
N I
Nathan I
The train is noisy and bumpy but that has nothing to do with Chapa and is just how old trains are in Vietnam. But the cabin was comfortable, the link to the Sapa private transport was seamless and it was all relatively easy.
Whilst the cabin was very tidy, clean, and had some water and snacks, the train itself was very, very noisy. None of the 4 of us sharing the cabin got any sleep.
We will take a night bus next time 10000%.
Such a shame
Misunderstanding in booking Trip to Sapa:
I got a whole 7-Seat Bus for me only!
I expected one Seat in a 7 Seat Bus
Btw: the trip took 2 hours because the driver did Not find the way in the First atempt
Chapa express train is so comfortable, the vip lough is clean and we can relax while waiting for the train come and VIP cabin is decorated so beautiful and more comfortable to sleep well
列車#SP7 VIP Cabin 2x + SUV 7seats, Chapa Express, 2025/12/15
R D
Roger D
Booked on the incorrect train. The train was requested was for 10pm and the tickets issued were for 10:40 pm
Overall experience was really nice. The staffs were very helpful and nice. They helped us with checking in our coach. The beds were really comfortable.
I was travelling with my 80 years old mother on walking stick and my niece, so she was the one who has to climb up the upper deck. it was challenging we had a good laugh and enjoyed our trip. both cabin & toilet were clean and comfortable
Cabin is clean, very comfortable. We slept throughout the night. We can lock the cabin so there is no worry at all. The toilet is clean and has no smell. It was a very nice experience. I will take Chapa Express again to SaPa
The door of the cabin was broken and it was difficult to open it. We felt a bit trapped in the small cabin. We could not find anyone on the train to complain about the door.
列車#SP4 VIP Cabin 2x, Chapa Express, 2025/11/19
F M
Freena M
The chapa express cabin we booked was replaced with fansipan cabin due to some issue at that time but still nothing has changed for us as the ride was very comfortable. The lounge, the service provided, welcome drinks, fruits, snacks and the clean beds and toilets really made our trip enjoyable and comfortable. We even thought why couldnt we take train everytime during our travel in vietnam.
We booked a Deluxe Sleeper class with Chapa Express, but what we got was not at all what was ordered. We were placed in a coach numbered 12A, which was not branded as Chapa like the other coaches (e.g. 12, 14). It was much older, the room was not as shown in the photos, the toilets were smelly, and there was no WiFi available. And worst of all, the suspension of this older coach was creeking and squeaking very loudly during the entire trip. We could hardly sleep due to the extreme noises during the entire ride.
Steping into the adjacent Chapa coach, we could see it was nothing like ours. Much newer with much better rooms and toilets, and much much quiter.
We paid for a deluxe sleeper and got a 2nd class sleeper at best.
Upon reaching them by WhatsApp, they claim this simply their "deluxe" class.
Bottom line, if you consider taking their "deluxe" class, better consider a modern sleeper bus instead...