Originally named Transindochinois, this is the train which links Ho Chi
Minh City and Hanoi. Construction commenced in 1899 and was not
completed until 1936, but for most of this century the service was out
of action due to various wars. In 1975 the re-establishment of the rail
link between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City became a critical project as a
symbol of unity for all Vietnamese, hence the name Reunification
Express.
The train has various classes, but VVT books
air-conditioned “soft sleepers”, four-berth, lockable compartments on
the train. Each carriage has its own toilet/washroom, but this is not
the Orient Express, so bring your own food and refreshments for your
journey. For overnights, bring a sheet or sleeping bag liner and you
are all set to watch the whole of Vietnam pass by your carriage window.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Arrival
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is free for relaxation.
An optional walking tour of Dong Khoi St (formerly Rue Catinat.) and Le Cong Kieu St., two of Ho Chi Minh City's most famous streets, is available. (B)
(OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city- My Tho - Ho Chi Minh city
Breakfast. Depart for My Tho, 70km from HCMC. Arrive in My Tho. Visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda. Boat ride on the Mekong River and visit to an orchard on an island. Lunch in My Tho. Return to Saigon. Dinner and overnight in hotel. (B,LD)
(OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY)
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Sightseeing
After breakfast, drive to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the war for independence, "Viet Cong" guerillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. Optional side trips en route to Cu Chi include visits to see how rural people live and work. View occupations such as cashew nut farming, duck breeding, rice farming and production of rice paper, a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.
Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple.
In the evening, transfer to the Saigon Railway Station to board the overnight train to Nha Trang.(B)
(OVERNIGHT ON TRAIN).
Day 4: Nha Trang - Boat Cruise
Arrive in Nha Trang early morning and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy Nha Trang's turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. Take a boat cruise to offshore islands in Nha Trang Bay. In the afternoon, visit the Ponagar Cham Towers, the Long Son Pagoda, the Cathedral of Nha Trang and the Oceanographic Institute. A visit to a local fish and food market is optional. (B,L)
(OVERNIGHT IN NHA TRANG).
Day 5: Nha Trang - Danang by day train - Hoi An
Transfer to the railway station for the day trip to Danang. Along the way, enjoy the stunning panorama of mountains, rice fields, and ocean. Arrive in Danang in the late afternoon, then transfer to the ancient trading port of Hoi An.(B)
(OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN).
Day 6: Hoi An - Sightseeing
Take a walking tour of this quaint town, visiting ancient merchants' houses, a Hokkien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colourful riverside market. Visit a workshop where artisans make Hoi An's famous lanterns. Guests learn how the lanterns are made then have a chance to create their own lanterns, from designing the frame to gluing the cloth. Finish the day with a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon river to Thanh Ha pottery village. (B,L,D)
(OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN).
Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Hue - Sightseeing
After breakfast, make the short drive to Danang. Stop en route at the Marble Mountains, famed for being a "Viet Cong" guerillas hideout during the Vietnam War. In Danang, visit the Cham Museum, housing the world's best collection of Cham artwork. Continue on to Hue, passing over a spectacular mountain pass and a seaside fishing village. Arrive in Hue and transfer to our hotel. Take a short trip to Dong Ba Market, and enjoy a cyclo ride back to the hotel. The rest of the day is free. (B,D).
(OVERNIGHT IN HUE).
Day 8: Hue - Hanoi - Overnight train
A morning boat cruise through the centre of Hue on the romantic Perfume River. Visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda along the riverbank. Transfer by car to visit the Imperial Citadel. Visit the elaborate tombs of Emperor Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. Stop en route at local families to learn how Vietnam's famous conical hats and colourful incense are made. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station for the overnight train to Hanoi. (B,L)
(OVERNIGHT ON TRAIN).
Day 9: Hanoi
Arrive in the morning and transfer to our hotel. The rest of morning is free for rest or to begin exploring the city. In the afternoon, take a half-day city tour to visit the Temple of Literature, the Fine Arts museum and the Lake of the Restored Sword. Take a one-hour cyclo ride through the old quarter to enjoy the Hanoi's beautiful late-afternoon colors and to visit a traditional Vietnamese "long house". In the evening, enjoy a water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. (B)
(OVERNIGHT IN HANOI).
Day 10: Hanoi - Sightseeing - Hai Phong
After breakfast, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's former home, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Afternoon drive to Bac Ninh, the cradle of traditional Vietnamese music and theatre. On arrival take a horse-drawn cart through country lanes to visit the Dinh Bang communal house and Do temple. Enjoy local folk songs before proceeding to Hai Phong for the evening. (B)
(OVERNIGHT IN HAI PHONG).
Day 11: Hai Phong - Halong - Boat Cruise - Hanoi
Early morning drive to Halong Bay. Relax on a 5-hour boat cruise through magnificent Halong Bay, a UNESCO designated World Heritage site. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board. Return drive to Hanoi, stopping en route at the Dong Trieu ceramics factory.(B,L).
(OVERNIGHT IN HANOI).
Day 12: Hanoi - Departure
The morning is free for shopping before transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for departure. (B)