The Longest Train Journey in the World – From Portugal to Vietnam
Inspired by my experience traveling part of the Silk Road by train, I’ve developed a keen desire to explore more train journeys. Just imagine the excitement I felt when I first learned about the world’s longest train journey.
Trains are truly underrated as a fulfilling mode of travel. Unlike planes, you can enjoy ever-changing landscapes like towering mountains, vast meadows, charming rivers, and quaint towns as they pass by. Allow me to introduce you to a 17,000km journey from Portugal to Vietnam, spanning 13 days.
Undoubtedly, this is the longest overland journey anyone can embark on. It’s not something everyone can do due to the extensive planning involved and the long hours spent on trains. But if you’re intrigued, read on to learn more about the world’s longest train journey.
Porto, Portugal → Coimbra
The journey begins along the coast of Portugal, starting from Porto. Board a train at Campanhã Station in Porto heading to Coimbra-B. The journey takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
Coimbra (Portugal) → Hendaye (France)
From Coimbra-B station, it’s a considerably long 11 to 12-hour journey to Hendaye, France. Along this route, you’ll visit vibrant cities in northwest Spain. Take note of Salamanca’s sandstone cathedral, impressive architecture in Valladolid, and medieval monuments in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Hendaye → Paris (France)
After enjoying the Spanish cities, transfer to the French high-speed TGV train at Hendaye. You’ll arrive in Paris in about 5 hours. Take your time exploring the City of Love. Consider spending 2 nights in Paris before continuing your journey.
Paris (France) → Cologne (Germany)
Upon arrival in Paris, disembark at Montparnasse Station. Transfer to the Paris Métro, which takes about 1 hour to reach Gare du Nord. From there, catch a high-speed train to Cologne, Germany, with a journey time of approximately 3.5 hours via Brussels, Belgium.
Cologne (Germany) → Warsaw (Poland)
After admiring Belgium’s grand Renaissance architecture, you’ll arrive in Cologne, Germany. Since there’s a few hours’ wait for the train to Warsaw, take this time to explore Cologne. The next train journey takes about 10 hours, passing through Dortmund, Hanover, Berlin in Germany, and Łęczyca and Poznań in Poland before reaching Warsaw.
Warsaw (Poland) → Moscow (Russia)
Congratulations, you’re halfway there! The next train passes through Belarus en route to Moscow, so make sure you have a transit visa for Belarus. This leg of the journey takes around 20 hours.
To reach Beijing, China from Moscow, you’ll need to take the Trans-Siberian Railway. However, this train departs only twice a week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you end up staying in Moscow beyond those days, I recommend exploring the city.
Moscow (Russia) → Beijing, China
The journey to Beijing spans 6 nights and 7 days. It may seem daunting, but there are sleeper compartments and breathtaking views to enjoy along the way, so rest assured.
You’ll pass through Russia’s stunning Lake Baikal, immerse yourself in Siberia’s wilderness, then head to Mongolia before traversing the dunes of the Gobi Desert into China. The Moscow-Ulaanbaatar-Beijing route via the Trans-Siberian Railway is undoubtedly one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world.
Beijing, China → Hanoi, Vietnam
After the long journey, you finally reach Beijing! You can opt to stay here for a few nights or make your way from Beijing Central Station to Beijing West Station. Here, board the sleeper train bound for Hanoi, Vietnam, departing twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.
The journey to Gia Lam Station in Hanoi takes over 39 hours, passing through Zhengzhou, Guilin, and Nanning in China. You’ll cross the border, change trains, then it’s about 4 hours to Hanoi. Congratulations, you’ve arrived in Vietnam!
Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
You’ll arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. You can choose to end your journey here, but the official final destination of the world’s longest train journey is Ho Chi Minh City. From Hanoi, it takes about 32 to 35 hours to reach Ho Chi Minh City.
In this final leg of the journey, you’ll witness Vietnam’s lush countryside with rice fields, palm trees, water buffaloes, alongside towns, villages, and old-world French architecture.
Upon reaching Ho Chi Minh City, you would have covered 17,000km and crossed 7 countries. This grand journey may not be easy, but it’s undoubtedly fulfilling and will be talked about for years to come.
Here are some important points to note before embarking on this journey:
– Consider purchasing a Eurail Pass for your European travels.
– Reserve train tickets in advance as all train journeys in Europe require prior booking.
– If you hold a passport, you’ll need visas for both Europe and Asia. Be sure to research this thoroughly.
– Budget around US$2,000 per person for train tickets.
– Pack light! Carrying heavy luggage on train journeys can be cumbersome.
Enjoy your epic adventure!
