The Best
Train Journey Through Vietnam 16 Days
You will be very surprised for the stunning landscapes along the country.
Overview
You will be very surprised for the stunning landscapes along the country. This Vietnam railway package 16 days will bring you the exotic culture, meet friendly people. You will have chance to visit the historical sightseeing in Hanoi capital city, Hue city and Hoian ancient town. Moreover, you can see more the wonderful and tranquil islands of Halong Bay and Mekong Delta region with Cai Rang Floating Market. In addition, Quang Binh where is well known as caves’ kingdom will pleasure your desire your passion of discovering the natural beauties.
Highlights:
- Discover and pleasure Halong Bay wonder with sea-scapes with thousands of islands rising to the sea
- Explore the kingdom of caves in Quang Binh with Paradise cave and Phong Nha cave with different beauties of stalagmites
- Learn more Vietnam history at Hue Imperial City and Hoian ancient town
- Experience the glass-bottom boat cruise in Nha Trang bay and visit the most significant island in Nha Trang Bay at Mun Island
- Taste local Vietnamese cuisines along the country
- Discover the different beauties of Mekong Delta and tropical fruit gardens
Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival. O/n in Hanoi
You are welcomed at Noi Bai International airport by Our Origin Travel’s guide and transfer you to downtown, check in hotel. This is your first day arrival Vietnam after a long flight; you spend your time to relax at your own way. You are free to have your own dinner. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi full day city tour. O/n in Hanoi (B/L)
Morning activities:
Have breakfast at hotel. Morning is the time for you to discover the rich history Hanoi city with Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. There is a house on stilt where Mr Uncle Ho work and live. Note that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closed on Mondays & Fridays and all afternoon for maintenance. If you visit afternoon you can only visit the camping not go inside where Uncle Ho body keeping.
Have more visiting at One Pillar Pagoda right inside Uncle Ho Mausoleum with the special architecture.
Proceed the trip to have more discover The Temple Of Literature where is the first university in Vietnam and learn more of our country history as well as its special architecture.
Have lunch at restaurant with special foods of Hanoi city.
Afternoon activities:
Continue afternoon for visiting more at the fascinating Ethnology Museum where is the public museum exhibiting of the ethnic groups in Vietnam (54 ethnic nations).
Go on the trip to discover Hanoi Old Quarter where is well known as the “36 streets”. Our guide will take you to walk inside the old quarter to discover deeply its local life as well as the charming. You can see the bustling area of narrow streets and alleys where are the home of thousands of small businesses. For those who love to shoot photo, it will be great to pleasure your passion around Hanoi Old Quarter.
End your visiting day trip by enjoy water puppet show and experience more the unique northern Vietnamese art
Evening activities:
Evening is your leisure time to discover it by your own way. You are free to enjoy around the city, Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy the night life. Street foods experience as your way is also a great choice to get more enjoyment of local food at night. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong – Lan Ha Bay. O/n on Aspira Cruise (B/L/D)
Morning activities:
Leave Hanoi from morning around 8.00 am and travel to Halong City. You will travel on National Expressway takes 2 hours on car, however, if travel on National No 1 will take 3.5 hours and enjoy the countryside landscapes.
You will reach at Aspira guest station at Lot 07 Tuan Chau Marina, Tuan Chau island.
At 11.30 am to 12.00 pm you check in at Tuan Chau Wharf and then you will transfer by speed boat to ASPIRA CRUISE on the bay.
Afternoon activities:
On arrival the cruise, you will check in room on Aspira Cruise. You will have a welcome drinks and a cold towel for fresh yourself first.
Then you will hear the brief cruise instruction and its safe as well as some information of cruise trip. Check in your room and then have lunch on the luxury restaurant of cruise and enjoy the beauties of the bay while the cruise is sailing.
At 15.30 pm you will arrive Light & Dark Cave where you will do kayaking by yourself or choose bamboo boat rowing by local people to enjoy the beauties of the bay and caves. You return and can have swimming near the cruise.
You come back the cruise around 17.30pm and have chance to enjoy the magnificent sunset over the bay on the first day on Aspira Cruise. Spend your time to relax in the seasonal Swimming pool and enjoy sunset party on the cruise
Enjoy our Happy Hour Deal in all bars on cruise.
Evening activities:
Enjoy traditional cooking class if you wish by the crew. Massage service with pay is available on board so you can choose to enjoy before having dinner.
Have dinner at restaurant around 19.00 pm.
The rest of evening is your free to enjoy by yourself on the deck top or relax and enjoy music at bar, try to go squid fishing or simple watching a movie, etc. Overnight on board.
Day 4: Cat Ba Island - Halong Bay - Hanoi - night train to Quang Binh (B/L)
Morning activities:
Wake up early and enjoy the sunrise on the sundeck, or you can join Tai Chi Class here to have the fresh time before starting the new day.
Have a light breakfast in the restaurant at 7.00 am. And then around 8.00 am from Gia Luan Port, you progress by bus to Trung Trang Cave with many things special on Cat Ba Island. This is the chance for you to visit and enjoy the most beautiful stalagmite and stalactite cave in Cat Ba National Park and enjoy the beautiful natural forest.
At 10.00 am you will return the cruise and check out the room. After that you will have brunch in restaurant while the cruise sails back the port.
Disembark the boat and return the port around 11.30 am.
Afternoon activities:
Our driver welcomes you at Tuan Chau Port and transfers you back Hanoi city. It takes you again 2,5 hours on car on express highway to back Hanoi city around 15.30 pm
You are free to have your own dinner
Evening activities:
Evening the driver drops you off Hanoi Railway Station to get on night train to Quang Binh city. Spending night on train on AC Soft sleeper coach 4 berths.
Day 5: Quang Binh arrive & Phong Nha Cave - Paradise cave. O/n in Quang Binh (B/L)
Morning activities:
You arrive in Quang Binh early morning; our guide and driver welcome you at Dong Hoi Train Station and transfer you to downtown.
You first have breakfast and short relax before having a sleeping night on train. And then you start to make your day trip to visit Phong Nha Cave. This is the complex caves with dry cave and wet cave. It is famous for its rock formations which have many names as it shapes imagination like the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”. Especially, the cave is 7729 m long, with 14 grottos, and have a 13,969 m-long in Underground River. To visit the wet cave with the stalagmite in the ceiling, you must make a boat trip.
Have lunch at restaurant
Afternoon & evening activities:
This afternoon continue the trip to discover Paradise Cave with the length of 314km. It has the width of 30 to 100 meters with many fanciful structures in different shapes of stalagmites.
Paradise cave is dubbed as Underground Palace Heaven with the gate entry very narrow for only one people to entry, however, it makes everyone surprise for inside the cave as the palace. It is considered one of the most magnificent and magical wonders in the world.
Evening is the time for you to free to have your own dinner. The rest of time is your free to enjoy Dong Hoi city at night. If you overnight at hotel along Nhat Le Beach road, you can enjoy fresh seafoods or beach at night. Overnight at hotel in Dong Hoi City.
Day 6: Quang Binh free time on Nhat Le Beach – car transfer to Hue. O/n in Hue (B)
Morning activities:
After breakfast at hotel, you have more free time to enjoy by yourself at Dong Hoi city. Then this morning you will make your own free time to relax on Nhat Le Beach and fresh yourself on nice sandy beach. Free to have your own lunch.
Afternoon activities:
Our guide and driver welcome you at hotel and transfer you to leave Quang Binh for Hue city. You will have chance on road travel along Ho Chi Minh trail to learn about its history of the legend trail in Vietnam – America war. Also you will pass through Quang Tri Province and have chance to visit some sites in Quang Tri for more experience of DMZ.
It takes you around 4,5 hours on car to reach Hue city. Check in hotel
Evening activities:
You are free to enjoy Hue city as your own way by walking round street and pleasure yourself in the tranquil Hue city to experience night life. Overnight at hotel in Hue city.
Day 7: Hue full day city. O/n in Hue (B/L)
Morning activities:
Ever heard about perfume hair? Today time is on Huong River (Perfume River) will give chance to discover more of the beauty along the river with the beautiful scenery of fishing village close Thien Mu pagoda. This is really awesome!
Be royal! You’d love to know that Hue City is in Central Vietnam where there’s Royal Palace of Nguyen Dynasty since 19th Century.
Travel out your hotel at 8:00 am and travel to the boat landing for making a boat trip to visit Thien Mu pagoda. The river bank will give you impression for green color of trees while the boat sailing upstream.
Next, you continue to visit the Imperial City where the Royal Family lived and worked. You’ll love the Citadel which was the Royal Place of Nguyen Dynasty since 19th century with many constructions including Flag Tower, Five Phoenix Tower, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Urn Dynasties…
Have lunch at a garden restaurant to taste Hue foods.
Afternoon activities:
Go on your journey to discover the complex of Nguyen Kings’ Mausoleum of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Each has its own unique while Khai Dinh has western architecture, Tu Duc mausoleum is as Oriental architecture.
Evening activities:
Evening is more free time to wander around the city and get more enjoyment of Hue night life with street foods. Hue is famous for street foods to taste and experience. O/N in Hue
Optional:
+ Infact there are 6 tombs in Hue city with each different style and architecture. If you would like to have more exploration King Mausoleum, you can ask guide and driver to take you for visit (you pay extra charge for entrance fee and transport by yourself at Gia Long, Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Thieu Tri, Dong Khanh mausoleum). If travel to one of these tombs you pay additional charge for entrance fee
+ Additional charge: Royal Dinner which you can be a King/Queen and taste Royal Dish as past to get exicting experience.
Day 8: Hue - Ba Na with Golden Hand Bridge – Hoian. O/n in Hoi An (B/L)
Morning activities:
Enjoy the unique Golden Hand Bridge and Ancient Love! Today you will be leaving Hue for Bana Hill and you will get an amazing chance to discover the coastline and National Highway No1 pass through rice fields, villages, and keep yourself relaxed at Lang Co beautiful beaches. You will have chance to check out fishing village in Lang Co and learn more of their daily life of fisherman.
Go ahead to Da Nang city and pass through Hai Van Pass. From the summit it will give you the spectacular view of Lang Co Beach, windy road pass and Da Nang city.
You will travel to Ba Na hill for discover the beauties of this famous site with French village, Fantasy Park, Wine tunnel. Especially walk through Golden Hand Bridge and view the whole panorama of Da Nang city
Have lunch at restaurant in Ba Na Hill
Afternoon activities:
After having visiting Ba Na Hill with many constructions, you can free to visit as much as possible you love and wish to discover.
And then you take cable car back the mountain foot where driver is waiting and travel ahead to Da Nang city centre and pass through the beautiful beach road along the coastline of Danang city.
Go on the trip by visiting Marble Mountain on the way to Hoian town and get panorama of Danang city and beach from the top of mountain. This is just magical!
And then you travel ahead Hoi An, along the road is the resorts which give you the impression for beautiful beaches from Da Nang to Hoi An. Check in hotel on arrival and free to enjoy your own dinner.
Evening activities:
This evening is your free time to wander around Hoi An old town to get the impression at this famous shopping and tailor shops apart from old houses. O/N in Hoian.
Day 9: Hoian walking & Tra Que vegetable village. O/n in Hoian (B/L)
Morning activities:
Love Old Things and cycling tour in Hoi An? This morning is your time. You have half day to make cycling surrounding the countryside Hoian to discover the farming life at Tra Que vegetable village. Have the chance to try to be a local farmer as traditional way and grow as organic
Get 15 minutes foot massage with herbs for fresh yourself after being a local farmer.
Have a cooking lesson with local farmer after the instruction and cook dishes by yourself and have lunch with the family
Afternoon activities:
Walking around Hoian Old Quarter with a lot of ancient architectures which will make your visit much more relaxing. The Old Port gave Hoian the harmony of the complex architectures from different countries like Portugal, China, Japan… as well as a boat trip on River to traditional handicraft village. This is totally exciting for those who love old cultures, and we’re sure you’re one of those!
Roam around old streets with our guide to experience and learn of unique architectures. Have some fun enjoying traditional music show
Have a boat trip on Thu Bon River to get more peaceful atmosphere surrounding Hoian and visit traditional Thanh Ha Pottery village
Get chance to make a pottery product by yourself to get your enjoyment and receive small gift from the workshop
Have some relaxing on nice beach of An Bang to enjoy fresh air. Love your life!
Evening activities:
The rest of time in the evening in Hoi An ancient town by wandering around streets, narrow paths to get more enjoyment. It is a great chance to taste local street foods. O/N in Hoi An
Day 10: Hoian - Danang - train to Nha Trang. O/n in Nha Trang (B)
Morning activities:
Have morning free as your own time to experience as your own way the beauties of Hoian ancient town. It is ideally for shopping and makes tailor in Hoian. You can receive your clothes within 1 to 3 days and the tailor will send to your next address in Vietnam.
Then the driver drops you off Danang train station for taking noon time train to Nha Trang on AC soft sleeper on train SE1 (13.45 pm – 22.19pm) or SE3 (11.25 am – 21.00pm). You are free to have your own lunch
Afternoon & evening activities:
Afternoon is the time you are on train. The day train will bring you different feeling for experience the country through many provinces of Binh Dinh, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Quang Ngai before reaching Nha Trang at around 22.00pm. It will bring you different beauties of the country of mountain, beach, etc.
On arrival, our driver and guide welcome you at train station and transfer you to city centre for check in hotel.
Evening is late so you can free to experience Nha Trang as your own way or simple check in and relax at hotel after 8 hours on train. O/n at hotel in Nha Trang
Day 11: Nha Trang island tour. O/n in Nha Trang (B/L)
Morning activities:
Let get the unforgettable boat trip at Nha Trang Bay on boat !
Our guide and driver transfer you to Cau Da Pier for taking boat to discover the bay with many islands. En route you will stop to visit Oceanographic Institute where you can see the whole selection of sea creatures in Nha Trang Bay.
Then continue to Cau Da Pier and get on a boat cruise travel on Nha Trang bay to Mun Island. You will spend a glass bottom boat to discover the sea on this island. Mun Island is one of the beautiful sites for seeing coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay.
You have free time to swim on the beach, snorkel to see the beauty of the live coral reefs as well as to sea plants and creatures.
Have lunch on boat with sea foods.
Afternoon activities:
Afternoon is the time for you to continue the boat trip to relax at Tam Island where you can free to join some activities as your own account such as Jet Ski, parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming, etc.
Then you will make a visiting at fishing village where you can see the local fishers in their daily work such as catching cuttlefish, shrimp, flower crabs.
You can also test your skills in making basket boat to experience on the bay.
Evening activities:
Evening is the time for your free experience around Nha Trang beach city with beach road along the coastline. Free to have your own dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Nha Trang free time. Take train to Ho Chi Minh (B)
Morning activities:
You are free as your own way to relax on nice sandy beach. You can enjoy the dawn on the beach to start the new day.
Then the driver drops you off Nha Trang train station for taking train to Ho Chi Minh city. Free to have your own lunch on train
Afternoon & evening activities:
Afternoon is the full time you spending on train. You have more chance to see the beautiful along the country when you are on day train. Especially when the train pass through Phan Thiet – Binh Thuan Province, you can see dragon fruit farms far from which is one of the attractions on train make tourist love most.
You will reach Ho Chi Minh Trail Railway in the evening. Free to have your own account dinner.
The balance of the evening you are free to relax at hotel after a long train or just walk out street to enjoy the city night life. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh city & Cu Chi. O/n in HCM (B/L)
Morning activities:
Let discover the lovely art-works in Cu Chi Tunnel system. This is the historical site to experience Vietnam War between American and Vietnam to admire the underground network tunnels of more than 200km length. Just 70km from Ho Chi Minh to visit and discover this unique underground network where was the home of 10,000 people in several years during the war time.
Local people built it within 25 years including living rooms, kitchens, hospitals, etc. And it was great way for Vietcong to move around the countryside without realizing by American.
Have lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon activities:
Afternoon time is to indulge into History of Ho Chi Minh City – the young and dynamic of Vietnam with a lot of French style architectures, big markets having special products. You will make a visiting to The Independent Palace or called Reunification Palace, The Old Post Office, Notre Dame Catholic to learn more of French architectures
Evening activities:
Evening is the time for relaxing and wandering around the streets for experience the beauties of Ho Chi Minh city night life. Overnight at hotel
Day 14: HCM - Mekong Delta/ Ben Tre fruit garden - Can Tho. O/n in Can Tho (B/L)
Morning activities:
Leave out Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the travel time to Mekong Delta region where is famous for fruit gardens and systems of canals and rivers.
You will reach to Cai Mon – Cho Lach where you can see fruit gardens and Bonsai garden where can make you chance to taste local fruits such as orange, pomelo, mangosteen, longan, rambutan, etc. The fruit season is from May to September, and mangosteen is on October and November. Have lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon & evening activities:
Afternoon is the time for you to have more experience at fruits gardens. And then you return Ho Chi Minh city.
Evening is the time for you to free experience and enjoyment around the streets to enjoy the night life. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Cai Rang floating market – HCM. O/n in HCM (B/L)
Morning activities:
How is amazing boating at floating market! Now is the time to visit and get more insights of floating markets of Mekong River. No better way to enjoy the river life! This is totally out-of-the-world experience. You will leave your hotel in early morning to visit Cai Rang Floating market. In reality, floating market in Mekong Delta now is not crowdest as previous time because the development of roads and bridges through Mekong Delta region.
So if you wish to see its busiest you should travel on Tet holiday (Lunar New Year) from Jan to mid-Feb yearly. Other times, it depends on each day it is crowded or less.
Continue the trip by walking through a “Monkey Bridge” which only has in Vietnam with only tree to make bridge for passing though channels. Enjoy the chance to walk around the peaceful village to get more the atmosphere
Continue to visit Binh Thuy ancient house and know more special in building house of local people in the past and its architecture.
Have lunch en route
Afternoon activities:
This afternoon you leave Can Tho for return Ho Chi Minh city. Once again you pass through Mekong Region with tropical gardens along the road.
Stop en route to visit Vinh Trang pagoda to get more its unique architecture.
Evening activities:
Get more free time in the evening to wander around the city and enjoy at pubs and bar. O/N in HCM.
Day 16: Ho Chi minh depart -Goodbye Vietnam - See You Again (B)
After a 16 days trip by railway travel along Vietnam you have more free time to walk around Ho Chi Minh city to get more experience or just relax at hotel before the driver drops you off the airport for taking flight departure Ho Chi Minh.
We sure that you will have an amazing trip with Origin Travel and do hope see you again in the future. Once again thank you very much and happy travel!
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Inclusion
- PRIVATE door to door transport (new vehicle) with air-conditioned
- Train ticket Hanoi – Quang Binh; Danang – Nha Trang; Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh (Soft sleeper 4 berth deluxe cabin share)
- Experience English speaking guide
- Meals as mentioned above (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Great 3 star hotel with good location selected. Buffet Breakfast included at hotel
- Aspira Cruise package 2days/1night with accommodation, kayak, entrance fee, meals on board, permission…
- Private local boat in Quang Binh and Mekong Delta
- Electronic car transfer to Paradise cave
- Free visa letter to Vietnam (If yes expect difficult countries will have additional charge)
- Entrance fees, permission
- Mineral water daily 2 bottle 500ml/per day
- 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
- Bank fees if payment by credit card
- Gov tax and service charge
- No extra charge after final confirmation
Exclusions
- International Air Fare in & out Vietnam
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, soft & hard drinks
- Individual expenses
- All NOT mentioned in the program
- Tips are welcomed!
- Travel Insurance
Ms Angela
Ms Lucy
Ms. Angela & Ms. Lucy is our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers she has the inside track on the most memorable adventures.