Two Vietnamese rail services enter global top 20 for 2026
The Hue-Da Nang heritage service placed 10th and The Vietage by Anantara 14th in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
Two rail journeys in Vietnam have been named among the world’s 20 best for 2026 by US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. Its 39th annual Readers’ Choice Awards placed the Hue-Da Nang heritage train 10th and luxury service The Vietage by Anantara 14th. The awards drew 798,867 votes across travel experiences worldwide.
Operating since March 2024, the Vietnam Central Heritage Connection links Hue with Da Nang over roughly 100 kilometres, taking three hours. Along the way, passengers see the Tam Giang–Cau Hai lagoon system, Lang Co Bay and Hai Van Pass. The itinerary includes a stop at Lang Co Station.
Traditional dance and music performances take place in two community carriages, while quiet carriages provide another option. Condé Nast Traveler put the one-way fare at approximately US$11, saying it was the least expensive of the 20 ranked journeys.
The Vietage by Anantara connects Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. Its six-hour trip between Da Nang and Quy Nhon includes a three-course meal drawing on Vietnamese and French cuisine. On the Quy Nhon-Nha Trang section, afternoon tea features Vietnamese products including caviar, locally made cheese and tea.
According to the magazine, the luxury carriage can carry up to 12 passengers in six private booths. Windows overlook rice fields, mountains and the coast, while the interior uses light-coloured wood, rattan and a marble bar. Europe’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express led the 2026 ranking.
