Vietnam's Reunification Express among world's 8 most incredible train journeys

Vietnam's Reunification Express has been named among the world's eight most incredible train journeys by leading travel guide Lonely Planet.

The Reunification Express, also known as the Thong Nhat Railway, stretches for more than 1,726 kilometers, equal to 1,072 miles, between the country’s two biggest cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City over the course of two days.

"Some railways rattle through historic cities; others swoosh beside spectacular coastlines. A few have an epic history, and one or two are remarkable for the colorful characters onboard. The Reunification Express line, known as the North-South Railway, fulfills all these criteria," the travel guide wrote.

"One of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways - and most epic overnight train journeys in the world - its fortunes have waxed and waned with those of the country it traverses. Traveling more than a thousand miles from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the North, there is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam's twin metropolises. And there's no better way of exploring all the glories in between," it added.

The other train journeys in the list are the California Zephyr (U.S.), Lake Titicaca Railway (Peru), Lhasa Express (China), Caledonian Sleeper (U.K.), Bergensbanen (Norway), TranzAlpine (New Zealand) and Tazara Railway (Tanzania and Zambia).

In early February, Lonely Planet had honored Vietnam in the list 10 best places for a budget honeymoon in 2023, where you can "expect to eat like royalty even when you're on a budget".

"Make sure you sample the country's signature dishes: beef pho (noodle soup), bun cha (barbecued pork with rice noodles) and chow a banh mi (baguette) as you wander," it wrote.

Lonely Planet suggested "a mid-range trip won’t break the bank either, but will buy more characterful guesthouses, a better Halong Bay cruise, and memorable experiences (a cookery class, a cycle around Hoi An) with change left for a beach stay on beautiful Phu Quoc Island."