We are wondeing if it is worth the additional $ 225 to take the Victoria Express train from Hanoi to Sapa or else the Livitrain Express Train. When I read the online descriptions for the two serrvices, they appear to be relatively the same:

The Victoria Express offer more comfortable air-conditioned soft sleepers. The train offer is at its best in terms of comfort and services from Hanoi to Lao Cai and vice versa. The Victoria Express train offers two luxury sleeping carriages, one restaurant connected to the train, all with air-conditioning.

Livitrans Express train will meet the needs of local and foreign tourists who want to go to Sapa with better service quality. It is considered one of the most luxurious trains in Vietnam with its equipment equivalent to a high-class hotel. The train features a sleeping carriage with a bar, toilets, LCD television sets on board, etc... of aviation standards. Passengers will be also offered drinks, confectionery and newspapers for free. With fully trained staff and a range of services to suite passengers Livitrans aims to bring the highest lever of comfort and service to guests.

Has anyone experienced either of these services??? Please comment if you have.
Thanx.

I haven't been, but just wanted to be sure you're aware of this excellent train travel website:

http://www.seat61.com/

I wouldn't have chanced the train from Cairo to Aswan had it not been for that site, and we really enjoyed the trip. It's nowhere near as high-quality as the trip from Sapa-Hanoi from what I've read.

Thanks for posting this site! Helpful for us as we plan as we plan some time in Sapa in later Feb. . .

We travelled on the Vicoria Express and found it to be reasonably comfortable but certainly not up to VS Oreient Express standards. The trip was overnight so we didn't used the restarant car but did have a drink in the bar. Can't comment on the Livitrain service but I do recall seeing 3 or four different carriages on the same train all of which were by different operators and of varying standards. the Victoria did seem the most luxurious but I doubt it is worth the extra $225 especially for an overnight trip.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the Victoria Hotel and would look at staying somewhere else if I went again.

You need to understand that there's only one train but with multiple sleeper cars - victoria, livitran, fanxifan (ours) and others. It probably doesn't matter much which one you choose but do get a private berth or rent out an entire 4 bed one as we did.

We traveled in the Livitrain sleeping cars and found it very comfortable. Be sure to reserve in advance if you want a two person compartment. We booked it through Tonkin Travel and had the tickets delivered to our hotel the first night of our arrival in Hanoi. The train is noisy and not exactly a smooth ride, but after an exhausting day wandering around in Hanoi, it was not hard for us to sleep.

this is something very new for me and i am really looking for something innovative and i think your plan seems to be very innovative and attractive too...

No--it is not worth the extra money. As a previous person stated: Everyone is on the same train--but different cars. I opted for the $17 Vietnamese car. If I had to do it again, I would upgrade a bit to one of the "tourist class" type of cars but I would not pay the HUGE extra amount--it just isn't worth it. You get on the train late--you go to sleep (take ear plugs and ambien ) and arrive at Lao Cai very early in the morning.

Also--the Victoria Hotel is a bit off the beaten track in Sapa. Lots better choices--Check out Chapa Garden. A lovely boutique hotel right in town. I have a trip report on this forum from 2008 if you want more information.

We stayed at the Chapa Garden. Great location and friendly owners. I agree about the Victoria -it is not in the center of town...in fact we never saw it.

Definitely not worth the extra money. Take a private 2 berth - you board and leave for 21:15 and arrive in Lao Cai at 5:30a.m. Time to read or write a few trip notes and then it's time to sleep. The ride is bumpy regardless of of the carriage so take ear plugs, and a glass or two of wine!

If you take the Victoria train, you must stay in the Victoria. I would not stay there given the poor location.

Thank you very much to all for your comments.
We decided not to spend the extra $'s and are compromising with the Livitrain carriage. We are presently also booked into the Victoria Sapa but will review the coise based on your comments.

Definately not worth the extra money and you then have to stay at the Victoria. They are not separate trains but one engine towing the different carriages. We paid about $40.00 each and got a comfortable cabin and a good nights sleep though we did avoid the food though as you leave late in the evening and arrive early you don't really need to worry about food.

We are in our 60s and took a Livitrans 4 berth compartment a couple of weeks ago and it was just fine. Both ways we had quiet sleeping companions and I took a sleeping pill and used earplugs and I slept pretty well. In any case, it is a short time and I don't think worth spending a lot extra on. The soft berths were probably a little softer than most of the beds we had in Vietnam.

Hi,
Last week I had my holiday in Sapa & had a chance to experience with Victoria from Hanoi to Sapa. The price is quite high around $118/one way tickets (we took the bus back to Hanoi to save cost). In my opinion, travel with Victoria train is expensive but worth to try. The carriages have pretty nice design, wooden furniture, red curtains, white blanket, and pillow. Water, toothpaste, and toothbrush are provided on a small kit on your bed, serves excellent evening snacks including toasts, salads. Both of the toilets on board are clean and modern, equipped with a touchless toilet flush kit. English speaking staff...As Lao Cai is about 1 hour by car from Sapa, it is recommended to book a transfer service with Victoria’s shuttle bus or private car. I booked tickets at website Baolau https://www.baolau.com/s/hanoi/sapa
They accept the credit card and charge me $1.5 service fee, it's ok to me.
Hope that you find it well.
Cheers

Are you seriously saying they charged 118 <b>USD</b> one way? That is ridiculous. I was going to say it was daylight robbery, except it was at night. It is a full $100 over the price for a berth in a regular soft sleeper, which according to seat61 is the same carriage with the same bedding.

See: http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#Hanoi-to-Lao-Cai

Thanks for letting us know never to use www.baolau.com/s/hanoi/sapa as they clearly over-charged you!

@Kathie - not clear whether Victoria Hotels or the agent is responsible for the price. Victoria Hotels doesn't show a price on their website.

Thanks for the clarification, Thursdays.

Don't you <i>think</i> thuhokim is advertising? Registered this morning and topped this ancient thread to post a link to the travel agency?