Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: S China region, Vietnam to start regular rail service in January

Thursday, December 11, 2008

S China region, Vietnam to start regular rail service in January

Photo:Chuck Kuhn
-- Passenger trains between south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Vietnam will have regular daily service starting on Jan. 1, China's railway authorities said on Thursday.

The train will leave Nanning, Guangxi's capital, at 6:15 p.m. and arrive in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, at 7 a.m. the next day. There will also be a train departing Hanoi at 8:30 p.m.. It reaches Nanning at 10:05 a.m. the next day.

The trains, which run daily, are operated by the Nanning Railway Bureau, said Chen Boshi, the bureau's director.

Chen said a regular passenger route would alleviate high demand from Vietnam's businessmen, laborers and students in Guangxi.

Currently, temporary passenger rail service from Nanning to Hanoi only runs on Tuesday and Saturday.
ed note: Great news here and I will surely check this out on my next trip. Travel time is somewhat longer than overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa (Lao Cali)

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.