VI
Recently, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) officially implemented new ticket prices with an average increase of 3% for passenger trains. Simultaneously, the freight transport segment also saw price adjustments ranging from 3% to 5%, depending on the type of train and specific route. This is considered an inevitable consequence after diesel fuel prices – a crucial input for the railway industry – continuously reached new highs in early April.
The direct cause of this price adjustment stems from Petrolimex's report on fuel price changes. Specifically, on the evening of April 3rd, the price of diesel was adjusted to 44,980 VND/liter, marking a record increase of 18.4% compared to the 37,890 VND/liter recorded in the previous adjustment just one week earlier (March 26th, 2026). For an industry heavily dependent on liquid fuels like the railway, a nearly 20% increase in oil prices has created enormous financial pressure on the operating costs of each train.
The 3% increase in passenger train fares, effective from April 5th, is a measure to offset operating costs as the price of diesel fuel has surged by more than 18%.
Although the train fare increase is only 3%, much lower than the increase in fuel prices, this is an effort by the railway industry to balance business costs and the interests of the people. A notable highlight of this announcement is the policy to protect existing customers: all passengers who completed their ticket purchases and payments before midnight on April 5th will still be charged the old price, without having to pay any additional surcharges.
To help passengers easily visualize the price difference, railway experts have provided specific calculations based on the actual routes currently in operation. For short routes that attract tourists, such as Hue - Da Nang, the old ticket prices ranged from 180,000 VND (weekdays) to 210,000 VND (weekends). After applying the new price list, the amount passengers have to pay will increase slightly, reaching 185,400 VND and 216,300 VND per trip, respectively.
The railway industry affirms that train tickets paid for before midnight on April 5th remain valid, allowing people to proactively plan their travel without worrying about additional costs.
The most noticeable changes are seen on long-haul routes across Vietnam, especially the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route (Thong Nhat train). For 4-berth sleeper compartments – a segment that frequently sells out – the current price of 1.5 million to 3.7 million VND will increase by approximately 45,000 to 111,000 VND per ticket. Similarly, 6-berth sleeper compartments and air-conditioned soft seats have also seen increases of several tens of thousands of VND. Although the difference for a single ticket is not significant, for groups or families traveling together, this is still an additional cost that needs to be carefully considered in their travel budget.
An important note for passengers is that train ticket prices in Vietnam are not fixed but operate on a flexible basis. The actual price at the time of payment depends on many factors such as the train type (SE express train or TN regular train), seat location, how far in advance of the departure date the ticket is purchased, and especially market demand during peak seasons.
Buying tickets in advance not only helps passengers plan their schedules more effectively but is also the best way to take advantage of railway discounts, thereby offsetting the increased costs due to fuel price adjustments. Conversely, buying tickets close to departure time or during peak weekend hours usually results in the highest prices according to the regulated fare schedule.
According to regulations, the actual price difference will range from tens of thousands to over 100,000 VND depending on the type of seat and specific train service.
During the fare transition period, passengers should pay special attention to the regulations regarding ticket changes and refunds to avoid unnecessary financial losses. According to current regulations on Vietnam Railways' online ticketing system, changes to personal tickets or itineraries must be made at least 24 hours before the train departure time, with a fixed fee of 20,000 VND per ticket.
In the event that a passenger wishes to refund their ticket, a deduction fee will be calculated based on the time of cancellation. Specifically, canceling a ticket more than 24 hours before departure will incur a 10% fee; while canceling between 4 hours and less than 24 hours before departure will incur a fee of up to 20%. After 4 hours before departure, the system will generally not accept ticket refunds under any circumstances.
To protect their rights and avoid fraud, passengers are advised to purchase tickets only through official channels, including: the railway's online ticketing website, mobile applications, official authorized agents, or directly at the ticket counters of train stations. Retaining the electronic ticket code and carefully checking personal information on the ticket against identification documents is mandatory to ensure a smooth journey, especially given the current surge in demand for rail travel.
