The Unicorn Train, The Landslide, and The Tet Buildup
For a decade, the “Saigon Metro” was an urban legend. It was something expats joked about while sweating on the back of a Grab bike in District 1 gridlock.
In January 2026, the joke is over. The unicorn is real. If you are in Ho Chi Minh City today, you can actually walk into a station, buy a ticket, and ride a Japanese-built train from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien. It is shiny, air-conditioned, and profoundly weird to see in a city defined by motorbike chaos.
But while the south speeds up, the highlands are cracking.
The Metro Miracle: Line 1
This is the travel hack of the month.
- The Route: You can finally bypass the horror show of the Hanoi Highway. The ride from the city center (District 1) to the expat enclave of Thao Dien takes minutes, not 45 sweaty minutes.
- The Vibe: It is packed. The locals are riding it for the novelty; you are riding it for the AC. It feels like Singapore, until you step out of the station and a motorbike almost runs over your foot on the sidewalk. Vietnam remains undefeated.
The Da Lat Warning: Get In Now
If Da Lat is on your itinerary, read this carefully. The city’s gateway, Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI), is scheduled for a massive 6-month shutdown starting March 4, 2026 for runway upgrades.
- The “Now” Impact: Everyone is rushing to go before the closure. Flights are full.
- The Roadblock: To make matters worse, the famous Prenn Pass (the main scenic road into the city) has been facing intermittent closures due to landslides this month (specifically Jan 9–15).
- The Move: If you go, expect delays. The alternative routes (Mimosa Pass) are slower and clogged with trucks. The “City of Eternal Spring” is currently the “City of Eternal Traffic.”
The “Ghost” Airport: Long Thanh
You might have seen the headlines that a plane landed at the massive new Long Thanh International Airport in December 2025.
- The Reality: That was a test flight / VIP stunt. You cannot fly there yet.
- The Letdown: For January 2026, you are still stuck with Tan Son Nhat (SGN). And since Tet (Lunar New Year) is coming up (Feb 17), SGN is entering its annual “Hell Mode.” Arrive 3 hours early. Do not argue with the security staff.
Hanoi Train Street: The Cat-and-Mouse Game
Is it open? Is it closed? In 2026, it is “Open-ish.”
- The Rules: The police barriers are up, but the “Invite Only” system is the new law. You cannot just walk onto the tracks. You must be “escorted” by a cafe owner from the checkpoint.
- The Scam: Touts will charge you to “get you in.” Usually, buying a coffee is the only actual ticket price required, but the hustle is aggressive. Once you are in, though, the thrill of a 100-ton train brushing past your knees while you drink egg coffee remains the best adrenaline shot in Asia.
The Visa Sweet Spot
Just a reminder: The 90-Day E-Visa is the standard now, and it’s working smoothly.
- The win: If you are from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc., your unilateral visa waiver is 45 days (up from the old 15). You can actually travel the length of the country without a visa run.
Vietnam in 2026 is modernizing its bones. The Metro is a triumph. But the infrastructure in the mountains is struggling to cope with the weather and the crowds.
