China Travel Forum

[Edgar]

We are travelling around China for the whole of January and then
heading off to Vietnam for a while. We are going to catch the train
from Beijing to Hanoi, but we are finding it hard to find information
on it. The only info I can find is a few years old so may not be up to
date. A few questions:
1. Can you buy the ticket from the main train station in Beijing?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Do you need to book it in advance?
4. We have read that you need a "special" visa when entering Vietnam
from China. Is this correct?

[Maria]

Once you are in Beijing you will find answers to most of your
questions. But be aware that it is a very long journey, and if you
buy a ticket all the way you will be unable to break your journey.
1. You can probably buy your ticket from the station, but as with any
train ticket in China (more specifically, any reservation for sleeping
accomodation) it might be easier to get it from an agent. There are
rail agents in virtually all hotels.
2. The cost will vary depending on all sorts of factors (eg top bunk
costs less than lower bunk ...). I think that all international
trains are first-class only, so going all the way on that train will
cost more than taking an ordinary one as far as Nanning (or even all
the way to the border) and then using local transport for the
remainder of your journey.
3. You almost certainly need to book in advance (again as for most
Chinese trains), but probably four or five days will be ample.
4. Ask your nearest Vietnamese Embassy about visa requirements -- they
might change, and there is no need to rely on newsgroup gossip for
this.

[Bollocks]

You cannot purchase your train ticket at the train station. Why? Dunno..Maybe that would be too simple...

but anyways you have to go to the International Hotel about a 15min walk north of the main Beijing Train Terminal. The office opens at 1:30pm

That's all I know at this point as I am still waiting for the office to open...