Anyone that’s visited Vietnam will know how long it takes to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa, especially when traveling by road or rail. A journey that currently takes 3 days by rail is to be slashed to just six hours with the introduction of a new Japanese-style bullet train.
The high speed rail link will be great for those in a hurry, but for tourists visiting Vietnam, making the slow and winding journey between the capital of Hanoi and the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City is a cultural experience in itself.
Around 1,560 km (970 miles) of track will be constructed at a cost of 56 billion US dollars and is awaiting approval by the Vietnam government.
It will be interesting to see how the new train system, which will travel at 300km (186 miles) an hour, will affect tourism and indeed everyday life in Vietnam.
