Bernd Seiler was in Vietnam at the end of 1998 - you can read his brief report (expanded with a photo 21st March 1999). In late October 1998, I posted a brief report from Vietnam. Florian Schmidt then sent (5th November 1998) the full report which I believe covers all the current steam activity and has news on possible preservation initiatives. Some standard and metre gauge steam survives, on the main line and in industrial service. I understand that the level of activity makes 'Myanmar look busy' and that the crews seemed very interested in U$ bills. You may like to look back at the Dorridge Travel Vietnam Report from 1997 which makes very interesting reading. Earlier Tim Murray was in Vietnam around New Year 1998. He reports: "Steam activity is at a low ebb. The freight from Ha Noi to Hai Phong is no longer steam and we were not able to see any standard gauge working in the four days that we were there. We saw a 141 shunting at the Ha Noi south yard, a 141 shunting and trip to the docks at Haiphong and two consecutive days where a 141 took a train up to the cement works on the line south of Hanoi. I enjoyed the trip but it was not as good as either Myanmar or India and I would not see any purpose in returning."
They still have steam train in service in 1996??
a few
Bernd Seiler was in Vietnam at the end of 1998 - you can read his brief report (expanded with a photo 21st March 1999). In late October 1998, I posted a brief report from Vietnam. Florian Schmidt then sent (5th November 1998) the full report which I believe covers all the current steam activity and has news on possible preservation initiatives. Some standard and metre gauge steam survives, on the main line and in industrial service. I understand that the level of activity makes 'Myanmar look busy' and that the crews seemed very interested in U$ bills. You may like to look back at the Dorridge Travel Vietnam Report from 1997 which makes very interesting reading.
Earlier Tim Murray was in Vietnam around New Year 1998. He reports: "Steam activity is at a low ebb. The freight from Ha Noi to Hai Phong is no longer steam and we were not able to see any standard gauge working in the four days that we were there. We saw a 141 shunting at the Ha Noi south yard, a 141 shunting and trip to the docks at Haiphong and two consecutive days where a 141 took a train up to the cement works on the line south of Hanoi. I enjoyed the trip but it was not as good as either Myanmar or India and I would not see any purpose in returning."
czcams.com/video/F_rrljwSkaw/video.html
theyre planning for steam tourism service through Hai Van Pass but nothing got done yet.