850 ReviewsIt’s the details that define a journey.
The intention behind each decision.
Begin with a conversation.
It’s time to step away from your everyday, and catch your flight to Hanoi.
Most suited for
Couples
Ideal time to visit
October - April
The Reunification Express runs almost the entire length of Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, and this holiday follows it most of the way south.
We use the train deliberately. Fly between Vietnam’s cities and the country becomes a string of airports. By rail, you see what lies between: paddy fields, mountains, fishing villages and long stretches of coast. It slows things down just enough to show you how Vietnam fits together.
This isn’t a rail holiday for trainspotters, though. You’ll stop for days at a time, exploring with our guides beyond the headline sights before climbing aboard again.
A word on the trains: regular carriages are comfortable enough, but not luxurious. (The Vietage is the exception.) If you’d rather not sleep on a train, we’ll redesign the route, but we’ll tell you which rides are worth keeping.
Vietnam Train Odyssey
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
Skip
Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 4
Hanoi
Your guide will welcome you to Vietnam and take you to your boutique hotel. Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter on foot and by cyclo, through the 36 Streets and the tiny passages between, where homes, workshops, temples and old wells hide behind doorways most would walk past. Then eat your way through it with an expert: phở, smoky bún chả, bánh tôm, a tube house where one family has roasted peanuts for generations, and Hanoi’s improbable egg coffee.
There’s time for history, too: the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the B52 in Huu Tiep Lake.
Days 5 - 6
Ninh Binh
Leave Hanoi behind for the limestone peaks, rice fields and winding waterways of Ninh Binh. Explore by sampan and bicycle, slipping away from the busier spots to discover cave pagodas, quiet temples and peaceful backroads beneath the karsts.
There’s a little effort involved too; the climb up Hang Mua is well worth it for the huge views across Tam Coc. Later, take to the water again to explore lesser-known Thien Ha Cave and the wetlands of Thung Nham Bird Valley.
It’s a wonderfully outdoorsy couple of days, but at a gentle pace.
Day 7
Overnight train to Hue
Tonight you’ll get your first proper taste of Vietnam by rail as you board the Reunification Express south to Hue.
This is a regular Vietnamese sleeper train, not a luxury one, but that’s part of the fun. Settle into your compartment as Ninh Binh disappears outside, have a chat, read a book and turn in. There’ll be the clatter of the tracks and the occasional station stop during the night, so don’t expect hotel-room silence.
Wake the following morning much further down the country, with central Vietnam outside your window. It’s not the plushest night of the holiday, but it may well be one of the bits you talk about afterwards.
Days 8 - 9
Hue
Arrive in Vietnam’s former imperial capital, where the grand history is fascinating, but it’s the quieter side of Hue that gets under your skin. Cycle country lanes to centuries-old garden houses, meeting the families who still care for them.
Food is a big part of life here. Explore by cyclo, stopping for everything from refined vegetarian dishes inspired by royal cuisine to crispy bánh khoái and smoky street-side barbecue.
Add calligraphy and home-cooked food, and Hue becomes much more than palaces and emperors (though they’re rather good stories too).
Day 10
Train to Hoi An
Board the train again for one of the rail sections we’d be particularly reluctant to swap for a car. The line south from Hue curls through the mountains and over the Hai Van Pass, with the coast appearing far below as the train makes its way towards Da Nang.
From Da Nang, continue the short distance by road to Hoi An, where you’ll settle into your next boutique hotel.
Days 10 - 11
Hoi An
Hoi An deserves more than a quick wander beneath the lanterns. Explore the old trading port early, before it gets busy, ducking down narrow lanes between merchant houses, temples, markets and small galleries. Then head into the countryside, where fishing villages and family-run workshops give you a glimpse of everyday life.
Get hands-on casting fishing nets, navigating a basket boat and making fresh rice noodles with a local family.
Back in town, there’s time for good food, Vietnamese coffee and an evening uncovering Hoi An’s history through its tucked-away cocktail bars. Once you know where to look, it’s a city still full of surprises.
Day 12
Train to Nha Trang
Now for a longer stretch south. Board the train in Da Nang and settle in as central Vietnam rolls past your window: paddy fields, duck farms, villages, mountains and flashes of coastline.
This is exactly where travelling by rail shines. You’re not killing time until the next destination; watching the country change is part of the holiday.
For a serious upgrade, we can book an exclusive seat aboard The Vietage by Anantara on the routes where it operates. Think fine dining, two-seater booths and slick service rather than instant noodles and a standard railway carriage. Both have their own charms!
On arrival, you’ll be met and whisked off to the coast.
Days 12 - 14
Nha Trang coast
And exhale. Properly.
After Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An and several hundred miles of railway, we think two full days beside the sea are very well earned. There’s no schedule here. Swim, read, eat extremely well, book a spa treatment or do very little.
It also changes the rhythm of the holiday. Rather than racing south to tick off another city, you have a couple of days to enjoy where you are before the final rail ride into Saigon.
Day 15
Train to Ho Chi Minh City
Board the daytime train for the final leg of your north-to-south rail adventure.
By now, there’s something familiar about finding your seat and watching Vietnam roll past. The scenery changes again, with rural landscapes gradually giving way to the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.
Arrive in ‘Saigon’ and settle into your boutique retreat in District 1. The evening is yours. After crossing most of Vietnam by train, we’d say a cold drink and absolutely no further transport is a perfectly respectable plan.
Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City
Finish in Saigon, a city that feels nothing like the Hanoi you started in. Explore the landmarks with your guide, but take time to take in the smaller sights, too: neighbourhoods, food, cafés and the everyday city beyond the big boulevards.
Depending on your interests and timings, you can also head beyond the centre to the mangrove forests and markets of the Mekong Delta or explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels.
After coming down the country by train, arriving here feels satisfying. You’ll have seen how different the north, centre and south are, and how they flow together. Leave with a sense of Vietnam’s sweep and scale.
Day 17
Fly home
Today, it’s sadly time to wave goodbye. Your driver will drop you off at the airport for your flight home.
An Epic Adventure Across Southeast Asia
There were moments while I was out and about where I thought that everyone should experience this kind of mindful travel that Experience Travel organises, as it's not backpacking where you tick off the standard party hotspots, and it's not the typical cruise for tourists to visit the standard sightseeing destinations, but an experience where I really felt I got to know the countries, meet great people and do fun stuff that most people miss.
Sven
Excellent
850 Reviews
Make
this yours.
Start Planning
What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included is shaped around ease. We take care of the practical details that can distract from the experience itself, so you’re free to relax into the journey and enjoy it as it unfolds.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own)
Carefully selected guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transport
Gratuities
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
Each journey is shaped around you, so costs vary depending on season, flight choices, accommodation and how much is built in.
As a guide, most of our two-week trips fall between £5,000 and £10,000 per person.
Some fall below that, particularly for families or travel outside peak periods. Others go beyond it when the brief includes business-class flights, longer stays, or more ambitious hotel choices.
We discuss budget early, so everything is clear from the start.
Meet Our Vietnam Experts
After living in Vietnam for almost a year, Chione knows the country inside out. From hidden street food gems in Hanoi to the best boutique stays in Hoi An, she helps travellers experience Vietnam beyond the obvious.
“If you want to see the real Vietnam, taking the train lets you slow right down. You’ll watch rice paddies, fishing villages, and dramatic coastal scenery roll past: things you’d never see from the air. It’s a chance to soak up the views, and enjoy the romance of rail travel between exploring its cities and countryside spots.”
Chione
Vietnam Specialist
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of Vietnam. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you.. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
ETG Experiences in Vietnam
Immersive moments sit at the heart of our journeys. Each one has been designed to confound preconceptions, to open up a country, and to introduce you to the people best placed to do just that.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Vietnam
Vietnam is a truly fascinating country. Get our experts’ tips and tricks in a handy 10 minute read.
