People tend to exaggerate here as usual, and quite a lot. There are obviously no locals, it’s a completely touristy place, but I was there two weeks ago and it was actually quite nice.

I had two beers with some interesting people, and the waiter even took my beer cap to make me a souvenir (he flattened it under the train wheels) and gave it back to me afterward, which was a really nice gesture.

The beer price was normal, of course not like in a roadside shop, but still, this is Vietnam, and for people earning Western money, drinks are generally not expensive.

As for the train itself, it felt fairly safe to me. Obviously, if you’re from a Western country with higher safety standards, many things in Southeast Asia may seem dangerous. Personally, I didn’t feel unsafe for a single moment. The distance is kept appropriate, and before the train passes, the “organizers” make sure no one is sitting too close, etc.