Originally named Transindochinois, this is the
train which links Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Construction of the
railway commenced in 1899 and was not completed until 1936, but for
many years the service was suspended due to 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. Today, the railway offers
tourists an excellent, comfortable and time-saving mode of transport,
allowing you to make the most of your holiday as you travel from south
to north, experiencing the wealth of beauty, culture and adventure that
Vietnam has to offer.
Day 1 : Hochiminh city and arrival ( D )
Arrive
at Tan San Nhat international airport. Welcome by your local tour guide
and driver. Transfer to your hotel. Take an orientation tour (if time
permits). Welcome dinner. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Ho Chi Minh
city.
Day 2 : Hochiminh city tour ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. Take a sightseeing tour to the Reunification Palace,
which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until
end of the war in April 1975, and some French colonial structures
including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. Tour of
Chinatown and Thien Hau & Quan Am pagodas. After seeing the Emperor
Jade Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum we end the city tour at Ben
Thanh market where anything and everything is for sale. Dinner on
guest’s account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in HCMC.
Day 3 : Hochminh city - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi tunnels ( B/L/_ )
Cao
Dai Holy SeeBreakfast at the hotel. Drive west to Tay Ninh, the centre
of Cao Dai region. On arrival we attend the fantastic mid-day temple
service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a
symbol of the curious combination of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
On the way back, stop for a visit Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground
network of tunnels constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the
struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals,
accommodation, etc. and were used as a military base for the Vietcong
during the American war. Drive back to HCMC. Dinner on guest’s account.
Overnight at your chosen hotel in HCMC.
Day 4 : Hochiminh city - Dalat ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. Depart for Dalat via the National Highway 20. Stop for
photos at the La Nga floating village. Visit the Dambri waterfall.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Baoloc. Proceed to Dalat. Stop to visit
the coffee and tea plantation in Lien Khuong. Dinner on guest’s
account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Dalat. Xuan Huong Lake -
Dalat
Day 5 : Dalat ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the Crazy Home. the Bao Dai's summer palace, Lam Ty Ni pagoda, Da
Lat Flower garden and the railway station. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive to Lanbiang mountain, visit the Lat village. Return to Dalat.
Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Dalat.
Day 6 : Dalat - Nha Trang ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. Depart for Nha Trang, visit the Prenn water before
turning off the highway for Nha Trang. Stop for photos at the
Polongiarai Cham tower, the Ngoan Muc pass. Free time for beach
activities in the afternoon. Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at
your chosen hotel in Nha Trang.
Nha Trang Beach Day 7 : Nha Trang - Boat Cruise ( B/L/_)
Breakfast
at the 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. Dinner on guest’ account.
Overnight at your chosen hotel in Nha Trang.
Day 8 : Nha Trang - Danang by day train - Hoi An ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station for a day trip to Danang.
Along the way, enjoy the stunning panorama of mountains, rice fields,
and ocean. Arrive in Danang in late afternoon, then transfer to the
ancient trading port 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. Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at your chosen
hotel in Hoi An.
Day 9 : Hoi An - Danang - Hue - Sightseeing ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. Make the short drive to Danang. Stop en route at the
Marble Mountains, famed for being a "Viet Cong" guerilla hideout during
the Vietnam War. In Danang, visit the Cham Museum, which houses 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 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.
Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hue.
Day 10 : Hue - Hanoi - Overnight train ( B/L/D )
Breakfast
at the hotel. 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 to visit
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. Overnight on the train in an
air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin. Hanoi - The Huc Bridge
Day 11 : Hanoi and arrival. ( B/L/_ )
Arrive
in the morning and transfer to hotel. The rest of morning is free for
you to rest or 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. Dinner on guest’s
account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hanoi.
Day 12 : Hanoi - Sightseeing - Hai Phong ( B/L/_ )
Breakfast
at the hotel. 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. Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at your
chosen hotel in Hai Phong. Mausoleum Hochiminh chairman - Hanoi capital
Day 13 : Hai Phong - Halong - Boat Cruise - Hanoi ( B/L/_ )
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. Dinner on guest’s account Overnight at
your chosen hotel in Hanoi.
Day 14 : Hanoi - Departure ( B/_/_ )
The morning is free for shopping before transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for departure.
This tour can be customized as you wish.
Transportation by private car/van Cyclos cruise Internal train tickets : Nha Trang - Danang; Hue - Hanoi ( A/ c soft sleeper ) All pick ups and transfers from/to airport ; From/to boat quay English speaking tour guide All entrance fees Hotel accommodation based on 2 guests sharing a Twin or Double. Half board package meals indicated as : B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner. Approved invitation letter for Vietnamese visa
International flight to/from Vietnam Travel insurance Drinks Other meals not mentioned in the program. Laundry & telephone fee at hotels Vietnamese Entry visa