Vietnam by Private Train and Boat

After breakfast this morning, your exploration of Ho Chi Minh City, still known locally as Saigon, begins with a visit to the historic City Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Remnants Museum, and the old Presidential Palace, now known as the Reunification Palace. 

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll then visit the atmospheric Jade Emperor Pagoda. Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes.

Upon returning to your hotel, there’ll be time to relax for a bit – why not avail yourself of one of the great massage salons located around the hotel. Past travellers vouch for them!

For dinner, we’ll visit a local market to sample authentic street food in the authentic District 4. Enjoy dinner along Vinh Khanh street aka ‘Seafood Street’ where you can indulge in a meal of snails, clams, oysters and just about anything else that lives and crawls along the ocean floor! 

Overnight: Mai House Saigon, or similar  (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you’ll follow the path of Vietnam’s very first railway line, the Saigon to My Tho line, to My Tho, 70 km southwest of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta. Opened in 1885 as part of what was planned to be a grand Mekong Delta railway network, the line, and the broader plan, was marred by years of disputes, ownership changes, engineering failures and the increasing love of roads resulted in the line being abandoned in 1958.   

Here, we’ll board our own boat to travel on the Mekong to the picturesque province of Ben Tre, considered to be the ‘capital of coconuts’ in Vietnam. Along the way you’ll cruise the canals of the Mekong Delta visiting local villages, fruit orchards, islands and cottage industries such as a coconut candy workshop before enjoying a traditional sampan journey to our lunch spot to sample the delicious local specialty – ‘elephant ear fish’. 

On our return to Ho Chi Minh City, the rest of your afternoon and evening is at leisure.  

Overnight: Mai House Saigon, or similar (B, L)

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head to Saigon Railway Station where our private railway carriages are ready and waiting for the first of our scenic train journeys, taking us along the southernmost section of the former Transindochinois railway, built between 1904 and 1913. You’ll indulge in morning tea, lunch and an early dinner served in your private dining car as the train meanders across the rice paddies and busy towns of the fertile south.

Trains that travel the length of Vietnam between Saigon and Hanoi are known as the Reunification Express, referring to the Reunification of Vietnam in 1975. Although there are eight trains on this route, no single train officially carries this title. The line was completed by the French colonist empire in 1936 and trains linked the two major cities until 1954, when Vietnam was divided into north and south. The entire North–South railway sustained major damage from bombings and sabotage during the Vietnam/American War, and when trains resumed on 31 December 1976, it unified the country. 

Upon arrival in Nha Trang, also known as the ‘seafood capital of Vietnam’ and the ‘Cannes of the Orient’, we’ll transfer directly to our beach-front hotel and check-in. 

Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel Nha Trang Beach, Nha Trang or Similar (B, L, D)

This morning, make sure you leave enough time for one of the most amazing breakfast buffets you can imagine – it is legendary! After that, we enjoy an exploration of Nha Trang by coach, taking in the cityscape before a visit to Long Son Pagoda, the oldest temple in Nha Trang and the home of the world’s biggest Buddha statue, and then on to the 13th century Po Nagar Cham Tower, located on a sacred hill overlooking the bustling city. Here, you’ll discover more about the ancient Cham people who left their architectural mark on the entire south-central coastal region of Vietnam.

Later, we’ll take a short stroll along the city’s magnificent golden-sand beach promenade to the beach-side pavilion of the famous Nha Trang Sailing Club to enjoy lunch while soaking up the wonderful views of the beach.

After lunch, it’s back on our private train for a spectacular journey along the last section of the Trans-Indochinois railway, built by the French colonial government between 1935 and 1936. This is a stunning section of coastline-hugging railway, with mountains and lakes a part of the ever-changing scenery. Afternoon tea and an early dinner will be served in our private dining car as the countryside rolls by in the deep glow of evening. We’ll disembark at the major railway town of Dieu Tri and drive the short distance to our resort hotel in Quy Nhon. 

Overnight: Avani Quy Nhon Resort, Quy Nhon or similar (B, L, D)

This morning, you’ll have the chance to learn about Vietnam’s largest and most developed form of martial arts, Viet Vo Dao (aka Vovinam), in the home of a local family that has practised it for three generations. Afterwards, we’ll continue to the citadel of Cha Do Ban, the last capital of the Champa Kingdom where the Cham Kings lived between the 11th and the 15th centuries. 

For lunch, we’ll visit a local market where you’ll have a chance to try some of the local produce – Quy Nhon is known for its strange looking fruits. Be on the lookout for large, spiky jackfruit, mangosteens, dragon fruit and rambutans and then stop for the famous Vietnamese coffee, a sweet, rich coffee drink involving sweetened condensed milk and strong drip coffee. Follow that up with a light lunch of the region’s popular fiddler crab noodle soup and jumping shrimps fried pancake!

We’ll have time to visit the stunning Bai Xep Beach with its rugged rock formations jutting out into the sea, pristine sandy shores and crystal-clear turquoise waters before returning to the resort. 

The rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy all the resort has to offer.  

Overnight: Avani Quy Nhon Resort, Quy Nhon or similar (B, L)

After an early breakfast, we’ll transfer back to Dieu Tri to rejoin our train to ride the rails all the way to Da  Nang.

Enjoy a sumptuous morning tea (more like a second breakfast) and lunch in our private dining car while immersing yourself in stunning rural scenery of rice fields, palm trees, small towns and villages, and gaining an insight into the country from the window of your train. Our private coach will be waiting at Danang Station to transfer you to your luxurious riverside resort hotel in the heart of old Hoi An.

Your hotel, the renowned Anantara Hoi An Resort features Indochina colonial-style buildings set in lush gardens on the banks of the Thu Bon River and is a short walk to the historic quarter of Hoi An.

Upon check in, we’ll enjoy dinner together in the hotel. 

Overnight: Anantara Resort, Hoi An or similar (B, L, D) 

To beat the heat (and the tour groups) we’ll get going early and enjoy a guided walking tour of the old town, exploring the Thien Hau Temple, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and several of the wonderful old ancient trading houses that so captured the UNESCO committee. 

You’ll then be free to get some lunch at leisure, wander the alleys of the old city, take a walk across the bridge to the other side of the river, or return to your hotel for some R & R. 

Hoi An is renowned for its skilled tailors who can create any type of garment within 24 hours, so if you were hoping to have any clothes tailored while you’re here, today is the day to get that happening. We’ll also put you in contact with a shoemaker, if you’d also like to add to your shoe collection!   

Dinner tonight will be in a restaurant in the old town.  

Overnight: Anantara Resort, Hoi An or similar (B, D) 

This is a completely free day for you to continue exploring the wonders of Hoi An, have another fitting at the tailor, or just lie around the pool with a good book. It’s also a day when you can take advantage of optional activities organised by your tour leader, but at your own cost.  

We highly recommend a traditional Vietnamese cooking class – much loved by many of our past travellers on this tour. This half day fun filled experience includes a visit to Hoi An’s colourful market where you’ll learn about the ingredients you’ll be using and a cruise along the Hoi An River before arriving at the cooking school. Some of the dishes you’ll prepare include – crispy Hoi An pancakes, Quang Nam style noodles with chicken, and Vietnamese spring rolls. At the end of this hands-on cooking lesson, you’ll sit down and eat what you’ve cooked.

Another option is to visit Ba Na Hills where you can walk along the famous Golden Hands Bridge, travel on the Ba Na Cable Car, which holds the world record for longest non-stop single track cable car at 5,801 metres in length, or wander the faux French village with its newly built French style squares, churches and hotels. 

Or your tour leader can also organise a trip to the My Son Hindu temples that were constructed between the 4th and the 14th century and where you can learn about the Cham kingdom’s existence in Central Vietnam. 

Overnight: Anantara Resort, Hoi An or similar (B)

Today we find ourselves back on the road and the rails. After breakfast and check out, our private coach will take us back to Da Nang, driving by what was the US airbase at China Beach, before arriving at the world-renowned Cham Sculpture Museum, containing the world’s largest and most valuable collection of Cham sculptures dating from the 4th to the 15th centuries. Following this, we’ll treat you to lunch at a famous local restaurant.

After lunch, it’s back onto your private carriages at Danang Station for the journey to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage city of Hue. Snacks will be served in the dining car as the train rolls over the stunningly beautiful Hai Van Pass and through stone-lined tunnels. 

Upon arrival at the grand colonial station of Hue, you’ll be transferred directly to your hotel in time for  sunset drinks on the rooftop bar overlooking the Perfume River before an evening at leisure to explore the dining options around the hotel.

Overnight: Senna Hue or similar or similar (B, L)  

Hue acted as Vietnam’s political and royal capital during the 19th century and remains one of the country’s most important cultural and religious centres. The city was the battleground for the Battle of Hue, a major conflict during the Tet Offensive in 1968. 

This morning after breakfast we’ll embark on a full-day tour, beginning with a visit to the ancient Imperial City of Hue, the vast Hue Citadel, a walled fortress and palace that belonged to the ancient city of Hue, the capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty for 140 years from 1805 until 1945. It’s then on to the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Royal Arena where tigers and elephants once fought for the king’s amusement. 

After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll explore the tranquil Thien Mu Pagoda before returning to our hotel by boat along the Perfume River. This evening at dinner, we’ll enjoy music, art, fine cuisine and royal architecture in the Ben Xuan Garden House Theatre on the banks of the Perfume River.

Overnight: Senna Hue or similar (B, L, D)

Today, we add a plane into our mode of travel.  After breakfast and check out, we’ll transfer to the Hue Airport for a short morning flight to Vietnam’s historic and dynamic capital, Hanoi. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer directly to a restaurant for lunch before checking into our hotel. 

After some free time at the hotel, you’ll visit the famous Water Puppet Theatre for a most entertaining performance before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. 

Overnight: Apricot Hotel, Hanoi or similar (B, L, D)

Today, enjoy your morning at leisure before heading to KOTO (‘Know One Teach One’) for lunch, a not-for-profit initiative providing hospitality training and work opportunities for some of Vietnam’s most vulnerable young people including disadvantaged street children. The flagship KOTO restaurant began as a humble banh mi stall in Hanoi Old Quarter in 1999 and since then, with the support of people like us, has grown into the premises it occupies today, served over 1 million diners and graduated more than 1,000 trainees. 

Next, you will visit Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during most of his time as leader of North Vietnam and the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple which was built in the 11th century.  

You’ll then return to the hotel for some free time before meeting your Vietnamese guide for a street food tour of the Old Quarter, sampling delicious food along the way. 

Overnight: Apricot Hotel, Hanoi or similar (B, L, D)

This morning you’ll journey from Hanoi to Lao Cai, a historic border town that has long been a gateway between Vietnam and China. The town played a significant role in trade and cultural exchange, with its strategic location along the Red River. Upon arrival, visit the Lao Cai Post Office, a landmark near the border where you can glimpse the bustling trade routes connecting the two nations. This region has witnessed centuries of shifting borders, from colonial rule to modern-day commerce.

Continue to Sapa, a former French colonial hill station nestled in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains. Established in the early 20th century as a retreat for French officials escaping the heat of the lowlands, Sapa retains its charming blend of colonial architecture and ethnic diversity. The town is home to vibrant hill tribe communities, including the Hmong, Dao, and Tay, whose colourful markets and traditional crafts add to the region’s cultural richness.

After checking into your hotel, enjoy some free time and enjoy the serene mountain air and take in the breathtaking views of terraced rice fields cascading down the valleys. 

Tonight, travel by electric buggy through the misty streets to a local restaurant and enjoy dinner with your group. 

Overnight: Hotel De La Couple M Gallery, or similar (B, L, D)

Today you have the choice to embark on an optional  morning walk through the breathtaking landscapes of the Muong Hoa Valley with a stop at the village of Lao Chai, home to the Black Hmong communities, and a glimpse into the region’s rich cultural heritage. The valley is a patchwork of terraced rice fields, shaped by generations of farmers who have cultivated the land using traditional techniques. As you walk through the rolling hills, encounter local families, wooden stilt houses, and water buffalo grazing along the trails, all set against the backdrop of the misty Hoàng Liên Son Mountains. You’ll then return to the hotel with time to freshen up. 

Alternatively, spend the morning at leisure in Sapa before setting out with the rest of the group for lunch at a local restaurant, then ascend to the “Roof of Indochina” with a cable car ride to Fansipan Mountain. Towering at 3,147 metres, Fansipan is the highest peak in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Once accessible only to seasoned climbers, the mountain can now be reached in minutes, offering panoramic views of rugged ridges and cloud-covered valleys. At the summit, visit Buddhist temples and statues that blend seamlessly into the alpine landscape, reflecting the spiritual significance of the mountain to local communities.

Descend from the heights and return to your hotel for a relaxing evening. Whether you choose to unwind at a local café, explore Sapa’s vibrant night market, or simply enjoy the cool mountain air, this is the perfect opportunity to soak in the charm of this historic hill town.

Overnight: Hotel De La Couple M Gallery, or similar (B, L)

Enjoy breakfast before checking out and departing for Lao Cai Railway Station to reboard our private carriage. The journey by train offers a nostalgic glimpse into Vietnam’s colonial past, when railways played a vital role in connecting remote highland regions to major cities. As the train winds through misty valleys and along the Red River, take in the ever-changing scenery of rice terraces, bamboo forests, and traditional villages.

Lunch is served onboard as you continue toward Hanoi, retracing the historic trade routes that have shaped northern Vietnam for centuries. Upon arrival in the capital, transfer to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, check in to your hotel and settle in for the evening.

Overnight: Apricot Hotel, Hanoi or similar (B, L, D)

Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel before departing by coach to the stunning UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, where our privately chartered deluxe boat awaits to take you on a very special one-night cruise in this beautiful landscape.   

Lunch will be served on board, after which you can join the first of many of the included off-boat activities offered. Or stay on board and have a massage, manicure or pedicure – the choice is yours!

Enjoy late afternoon drinks on the sundeck as the sun sets over the islands, or join an on-board cooking class, learning about the craft of fruit and vegetable carving. After a 5-course farewell dinner, you might like to try squid fishing with the crew, or just relax in your cabin listening to the gentle sound of the water lapping the sides of the boat as it rocks you to sleep.

Overnight: Calypso Cruise Boat on Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)

If you’re an early riser you might like to begin the morning with a serene Tai Chi session on the sundeck, a practice deeply rooted in Vietnamese and Chinese tradition, before joining your fellow travellers for a light breakfast while sailing to Thien Canh Son Cave, a hidden gem within the bay’s limestone karsts. Known for its striking rock formations and sparkling stalactites, this cave has long been a source of local legend and fascination. Wander through its chambers, where centuries of natural erosion have created a mesmerising underground landscape. Once back at the boat enjoy a buffet lunch served on board whilst our boat moves through the bay. 

Upon arrival at Ha Long harbour, we bid farewell to our wonderful crew and board our coach for the trip back to Hanoi. For those flying out this evening, we’ll swing into the airport and drop you off. 

(B, L)