There are daily trains from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh and other Southern localities, and vice versa. These trains are equipped with soft seats, or sleeping berths, which are arranged in a compartment for 4 people. Visitors may also use the rail transport system independently or as part of a rail tour. Considering the slowness of train travel in Vietnam, the hard seat class, while the cheapest, is not recommended for any but the shortest trips. Hold on to your ticket or you may be charged again when you disembark.
Foreigners pay quite a high surcharge on all train tickets.
Keep an eye on your belongings as petty theft is not uncommon on trains and at stations. Train windows usually have a steel mesh layer or even a solid steel layer for the protection of passengers. The Vietnamese government has announced plans to phase out cyclos in a cosmetic bid to improve Vietnam's image. Hanoi cyclos are wider than the Ho Chi Minh City version, so it can take two people at a squeeze. Bank notes in domination of 100d, 200d, 500d, 1,000d, 2,000d 5,000d, 10,000d, 20,000d and 50,000d are presently in circulation.