Air-Conditioned Soft Seat Train Tickets

Air-conditioned soft seat tickets on Vietnam Railways' SE trains start from 77,000 VND for the short Da Nang to Hue route. On the longest route, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, an air-conditioned soft seat costs from 1,034,000 VND. Fares vary by train number, travel date and the number of seats left. Vexere is a ticket agent for Vietnam Railways, so passengers can book soft seat tickets and choose their own seat on the carriage seat map.

Air-Conditioned Soft Seat Train Ticket Prices on Popular Routes (updated 10/2026)

The table below lists the lowest air-conditioned soft seat fares on the 9 most searched SE train routes.

Fares are for one adult and are for reference only. Prices may change depending on travel time, passenger type and seat position. Data surveyed for trains running in 10/2026.

On the same route, each SE train has its own soft seat fare. For example, on the Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang route, train SE8 starts from 247.000VND, while the evening trains SE2 and SE4 start from 373.000VND. To get the cheapest ticket, compare several trains on the same day before booking.

SE trains do not stop at Phan Thiet Station. They stop at Binh Thuan Station (Muong Man Station), about 12 km from Phan Thiet city centre. Passengers who want to arrive directly at Phan Thiet Station can take train SPT2, with soft seats from 218.000VND.

Soft Seat Fares by SE Train on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City Route

Five SE trains sell air-conditioned soft seats on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route. Faster trains such as SE1 and SE3 have higher soft seat fares than slower trains such as SE7 and SE9.

Train SE1 is about 5 hours 40 minutes faster than train SE9. In return, the SE1 soft seat fare is about 142.000VND higher than on SE9.

What Is an Air-Conditioned Soft Seat?

An air-conditioned soft seat (marked NML or "ngồi mềm điều hòa" on the ticket) is a padded seat in an air-conditioned carriage, with a backrest that reclines. This seat class costs more than a hard seat but less than a bed in a 6-berth or 4-berth sleeper cabin.

Vietnam Railways passenger trains have three main seat classes:

• Air-conditioned soft seat (NML) is a padded seat in an air-conditioned carriage. Every SE train in the fare table above sells this seat class.
• Standard soft seat (NM) is a padded seat in a carriage without air conditioning.
• Hard seat is an unpadded wooden or plastic seat and has the lowest fare.

Amenities in Air-Conditioned Soft Seat Carriages on SE Trains

SE trains currently run two generations of air-conditioned soft seat carriages. The amenities differ quite a lot between the two types.

Older Soft Seat Carriages

• About 64 seats per carriage, arranged in two rows of two seats on either side of the aisle.
• The backrest reclines about 15 degrees using a hand crank on the side of the seat.
• Air conditioning, armrests, overhead luggage racks and a toilet at the end of the carriage.
• Half of the seats face backwards. Passengers prone to motion sickness should choose a forward-facing seat when booking.

Upgraded 56-Seat Soft Seat Carriages

In December 2024, Vietnam Railways put into service upgraded 56-seat soft seat carriages refurbished by the Saigon Railway Carriage Enterprise.

• Seats rotate 180 degrees, so every passenger can face the direction of travel.
• Each seat has its own power socket (VOV).
• The air conditioning, electrical system and toilets have all been renewed.
• The upgraded carriages were first introduced on the SE21/SE22 train pair.

Soft Seat vs 6-Berth and 4-Berth Sleeper Fares

On most routes, a 6-berth sleeper costs 21% to 47% more than an air-conditioned soft seat. On two short routes in Central Vietnam, the gap is much smaller.

Lowest fare ("from" price) for each class. Data surveyed for trains running in 10/2026.

On the Da Nang to Quy Nhon route, train SE9 sells 6-berth sleepers from 219.000VND, cheaper than a soft seat on the same train (from 220.000VND). Trains SE1 and SE3 also sell 6-berth sleepers from 224.000VND, cheaper than their soft seats from 237.000VND. Passengers on the Da Nang to Quy Nhon route should compare sleeper fares before choosing a soft seat.

On the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route, an air-conditioned soft seat is about 307.000VND cheaper than a 6-berth sleeper and about 820.000VND cheaper than a 4-berth sleeper. The trade-off is sitting for 32 to 38 hours.

What Affects Soft Seat Train Ticket Prices?

Vietnam Railways uses flexible pricing based on when you book, your travel date, seat class and passenger type. Soft seat fares change according to 6 main factors:

1. Train number. Faster trains such as SE1 and SE3 usually cost more than SE7 and SE9 on the same route.
2. Travel date. Weekend tickets usually cost more than midweek tickets.
3. Departure time. On the Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang route, soft seats on the evening trains SE2 and SE4 start from 373.000VND, higher than on the early morning train SE8 (from 247.000VND).
4. Peak season. Summer, the 30/4 and 2/9 holidays and Lunar New Year (Tet) have higher fares than normal days. Soft seats also sell out sooner during these periods.
5. Return and group tickets. Vietnam Railways often discounts the return leg for passengers who buy a return ticket. The discount varies from one promotion to the next.
6. Passenger type. Children under 6 travel free. Children aged 6 to under 10 get 25% off the fare.

When Should You Choose an Air-Conditioned Soft Seat?

An air-conditioned soft seat works best for daytime journeys under about 8 hours. On these routes, passengers save 21% to 47% compared with a 6-berth sleeper without sitting for too long.

Choose an air-conditioned soft seat when you:

• Take a short daytime trip such as Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet (about 3.5 hours), Hanoi to Vinh (about 5.5 hours) or Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang (about 7 to 8 hours).
• Travel alone with light luggage and want to save money.
• Want to enjoy the view from the window, for example the Hai Van Pass on the Da Nang to Hue route.

Choose a sleeper instead of a soft seat when you:

• Travel overnight or on a long route such as Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (32 to 38 hours) or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang (16 to 19 hours). The soft seat backrest only reclines about 15 degrees, so long journeys can be tiring.
• Travel with elderly people, young children or pregnant women.
• Find a sleeper priced close to a soft seat, as on the Da Nang to Hue route (only 7.000VND more) and the Da Nang to Quy Nhon route.

How to Book Soft Seat Train Tickets on Vexere

Booking an air-conditioned soft seat train ticket on Vexere takes about 3 minutes in 5 steps:

1. Go to the Vexere train tickets page and select your departure station, arrival station and travel date.
2. Browse the list of SE trains and compare departure times, travel times and fares for each class.
3. Select the air-conditioned soft seat class on the train that suits you.
4. Choose your seat on the carriage seat map. Pick a forward-facing seat to reduce motion sickness.
5. Enter passenger details, pay and receive your e-ticket by email or text message.

Frequently Asked Questions About Air-Conditioned Soft Seat Train Ticket Prices