Vietnam: Reunification Express
The North-South Railway of Vietnam (colloquially known as the Reunification Express due to its connective role in the country’s turbulent history) takes passengers from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Mihn City in the south. This is a beautiful railway line with a lot of history, but it is not the most comfortable journey. Much of the railway was damaged or destroyed during World War II and the Vietnam War, and it’s easy to see where the network still bears scars. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating piece of locomotive history, as the line dates back to 1899, when the country was under French colonial rule.