Transport · Cross-Border · Vietnam
Nanning to Hanoi — International Rail
The Nanning–Hanoi international train operates on metre gauge track, crossing the border at Pingxiang/Đồng Đăng. Journey time is approximately 12 hours.
Route & practicalities
The rail connection between Nanning and Hanoi is one of the few remaining international passenger trains in Southeast Asia. Train Z5/Z6 operates on the Chinese side and T5/T6 on the Vietnamese side. The service crosses the border at Pingxiang (凭祥) on the Chinese side and Đồng Đăng on the Vietnamese side.
The track is metre gauge (1,000 mm) — the same gauge used throughout Vietnam — and the Chinese southern rail network's Nanning–Pingxiang section was built in metre gauge specifically for this connection. No bogie exchange is required.
Journey time from Nanning to Hanoi is approximately 11–13 hours. The train departs Nanning in the late afternoon and arrives in Hanoi the following morning, or vice versa. Sleeper compartments are available.
Tickets on the Chinese segment are sold through 12306.cn (may require agent assistance for international tickets) and at Nanning Railway Station's international window. Vietnamese segment tickets are sold through Vietnam Railways (VR/Đường sắt Việt Nam).
Border procedures: the train stops at Pingxiang for Chinese exit procedures, then proceeds to Đồng Đăng for Vietnamese entry procedures. Total border stop: 1.5–3 hours. Passengers remain on the train or disembark into the station building for customs procedures.
Customs: the Chinese alcohol limit (1.5 litres) applies for exit. Vietnam allows 1.5 litres of alcohol duty-free. Currency over USD 5,000 equivalent must be declared into Vietnam.
What to expect at the border
The border crossing is the longest part of the journey — allow 2–3 hours at Pingxiang and Đồng Đăng combined. Officers board the train, check passports, and may inspect luggage. The crossing is generally efficient but can be slow during holiday periods. The Vietnamese side's immigration procedures are thorough.