The North South Reunification Express – 13 days

Travelling the length of Vietnam by train gives you a unique insight into the country. Stopping at all the ‘must-see’ destinations, taking a bit more time to travel and being “en-route” can be just as valuable and rewarding as reaching the actual destination.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A luxury overnight cruise in Halong Bay
• Private boat trips in Hoi An and the Mekong River
• Excursion to the DMZ-Hue
• Beach breakaway in Nha Trang

ITINERARY

Day 1:  Hanoi Arrival
Day 2:  Full Day Hanoi City Tour
Day 3:  Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 4:  Halong Bay – Hanoi/night train to Dong Hoi
Day 5:  Arrival Dong Hoi – Phong Nha National Park
Day 6:  DMZ Tour – Hue
Day 7:  Full Day Hue City Tour – Hoi An
Day 8:  Hoi An City Tour
Day 9:  Danang train to Nha Trang
Day 10: Nha Trang
Day 11: Nha Trang – Night train to Ho Chi Minh City
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City Departure
 

DAY 1:             HANOI ARRIVAL (D)

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to a hotel in Hanoi for relaxing and your welcome dinner.
 
Overnight in Hanoi.

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DAY 2:             FULL DAY HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

Depart your hotel to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One pillar pagoda) and the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, the first University in Vietnam dating back to the 16th century. 

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter will provide another fascinating insight into the character and history of the city, before moving on to Dong Xuan Market with its bustling stalls and brisk trading of day-to-day local goods. Finish the day with a traditional water puppet show.
 
Overnight in Hanoi.

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DAY 3:             HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

After breakfast, transferred to Halong Bay. Arrive at Halong City at noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. A truly memorable experience awaits you as you cruise the delightful Bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities depending on each boat’s itinerary or just spend some time relaxing on board. 

Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. 

Overnight onboard Halong Bay.

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DAY 4:             HALONG BAY – HANOI/NIGHT TRAIN TO DONG HOI (BRUNCH)

Train SE1. Depart 19:30 Arrive 05:50 (+1)
Start your day with calming Tai Chi, enjoy the sunrise over the Bay and continue cruising. Enjoy the brunch on the way back to port, transfer to Hanoi. En route visit Thanh Chuong Palace, the home and studio of Thanh Chuong, of the most celebrated painters in Vietnam. More a living space than a museum, the Palace is an architectural gem showcasing Vietnamese traditional cultural objects, exquisite antiques and remarkable structures.

Continue driving to Hanoi, free time at leisure until transfer to the Railway Station for a night train to Dong Hoi.

Overnight on train.

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DAY 5:             ARRIVAL DONG HOI – PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK (B, L, D)

Arrival Dong Hoi in the early morning. After breakfast, transfer 1 hour to the town of Phong Nha to spend the day exploring the National Park. The park is bordered by Laos, was first nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.  It was recognized as a world natural heritage site in 2003.  Limestone karsts, caves and grottoes, history and stunning natural beauty are major draws to this newly developing area.  

Afterwards head to Paradise Cave, opened to the public in 2010, where you have a chance to see one of the larger and most impressive accessible caves in the area. After you climb over 400 stairs, you will see the large entrance of this cave. Descend into the cave on a wooden walkway, made to protect and preserve the fragile cave formations. This walkway continues for 1 km through the enormous, well lit cave.  

After your visit, transfer on to a small local café for lunch.  After lunch, return to Dong Hoi.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

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DAY 6:             DMZ TOUR – HUE (B, L)

After breakfast, drive to Vinh Moc Tunnels is scenic after you leave the main highway, pass through quaint villages and skirt along Cua Tung Beach. The village of Vinh Moc found itself tragically positioned in one of the most heavily bombed areas of Vietnam.  In order to escape this bombardment, the villagers constructed approximately 2.8 km of underground tunnels which they used as a refuge to survive the bombings.  Three hundred people lived intermittently in the tunnels from 1966 to 1971.  

Continue Highway 1 across the Hien Luong Bridge, and over the Ben Hai River which demarcated North and South Vietnam, this area saw some of the heaviest fighting during the war. Doc Mieu Firebase, which lies just north of here, played a pivotal role in the South’s defence and for a while, this was the command post for calling in airstrikes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Drive to Truong Son National Cemetery where the remains of some 15,000 Vietnamese soldiers and civilians have been laid to rest, sadly many tombstones bear no name.  

Drive south and stop at La Vang Cathedral (which despite its years of turmoil remains an important pilgrimage site for Vietnam’s Catholics). Carry on to what is left of Quang Tri Citadel, where in 1972 a fierce battle raged for 81 days, visit the museum where photographs, war remnants and artillery can be seen.
Arrival Hue in the late afternoon. Check in Hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

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DAY 7:             FULL DAY HUE CITY TOUR – HOI AN (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel. This morning we will visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. From here take a cyclo through Dai Noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. Continue to visit Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River.
This afternoon see the tomb of the former emperor Minh Mang which is located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds. Journey on to Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.
 
In the late afternoon, transfer to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass and through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. Drive through Danang and visit the Cham museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Arrive Hoi An, check in hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

 
Overnight in Hoi An. 

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DAY 8:             HOI AN CITY TOUR (B)

This morning enjoy a walking tour around Hoi An ancient town and explore its treasures: the Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Old Merchant House, and Quang Dong Assembly Hall. Free afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Hoi An. 

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DAY 9:             DANANG – TRAIN TO NHA TRANG (B)

Train SE1. Depart 11:41 Arrive 21:22
Free morning at leisure until transfer to Danang Railway Station to take a train to Nha Trang.
Arrival Nha Trang in the late evening, transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

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DAY 10:           NHA TRANG (B)

Nha Trang is ideal for beach lovers and activity enthusiasts alike with some of the best diving and water sports available in Vietnam. This morning take a boat off the coast of Nha Trang which visits some of the nearby islands and where you can swim and snorkel in the clear warm waters. Return to Nha Trang City. 
The rest of the day is free day at leisure.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

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DAY 11:           NHA TRANG – NIGHT TRAIN TO HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

Train SE3. Depart 22:12. Arrive 05:50 (+1)
Your day is at leisure. In the evening, take a night train to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight on train.

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DAY 12:           HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA  – HO CHI MINH CITY (B, L)

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City in the early morning, enjoy the 2 hour drive to the delta town of Ben Tre. Board your local boat through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. En-route visit the brick making factory, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand then visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut. Afterwards, take a ride on a horse driven cart along country roads, through the fruit plantation before enjoying lunch at riverside restaurant.
 
In the afternoon, enjoy a ride in a rowing boat along the palm creek before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City. Free evening at leisure.
 
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

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DAY 13:           HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE (B)

In the morning, visit the Former Presidential Palace, the town’s center with the Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Municipal Theater, Quan Am Pagoda, Cho Lon and China town. 

Your afternoon is free day at leisure until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City airport for your departure flight.

SERVICE INCLUDED

• Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast
• Tours as per itinerar with local speaking guide (NO guide on board Halong Bay)
• All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
• Train ticket as indicated in the program
• All entrance fees as program
• Meals (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner) as indicated in the program
• A bottle of mineral water per day tour

SERVICE EXCLUDED 

• Drinks
• Mineral water beyond that supplied
• Tips
• Personal expenses and tips
• Visa to Vietnam
• Airfares (international and domestic)
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Airport taxes  
• Early check in or late check out
• Insurances
• Optional excursions and activities
• Additional transfer required due to any emergency situation
• Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, beverages…)
• Peak season surcharges if any
• All not mentioned above