18 days
Hanoi → Ninh Binh → bay cruise → Hanoi → overnight train → Hue → coastal rail → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City
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Fall asleep on the train from Hanoi to Hue, then watch the coastline unfold on a separate daylight journey towards Da Nang. Around these two railway experiences, explore Hanoi’s old streets, drift beneath Ninh Binh’s limestone cliffs and spend a night in your own cabin on the bay. This 18-day Vietnam heritage holiday with overnight rail continues to lantern-lit Hoi An, the Golden Bridge and Saigon, with a gentle river day in Ben Tre before you fly home.
Give each place more than a passing glance. Three Ninh Binh nights leave room for river scenery, village life and an independent day. Hue has time to rest after the sleeper journey before a guided royal-heritage day. Four Hoi An nights bring the old town, a countryside lunch and Ba Na Hills together without changing hotels every evening.
The railway is part of the experience. The sample includes a reserved berth in a shared sleeping compartment and a reserved seat on the Hue–Da Nang daytime train. Private station transfers connect you with your hotels. A private sleeping compartment can be requested separately, with availability and supplement confirmed in your offer.
What would make this your kind of journey? Send your dates, flight details, party size and preferred hotel and rail comfort. Vietpower Travel will put the visits, restful stays and rail experiences into a personal programme and clear quotation.
Plan your Vietnam rail holiday with Vietpower Travel on WhatsApp or email our travel team
A private guide introduces the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh complex, Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, with a lunch break and visits adapted to opening arrangements. Continue to Trang An for a shared rowing boat through the karst landscape and discover Hoa Lu’s ancient-capital temples. Another day explores village gardens, fields and Bich Dong, with a local lunch and a short cycling option if you wish. Keep the following day free to enjoy your surroundings in your own way.
Travel directly from Ninh Binh to the harbour confirmed for your selected Ha Long or Lan Ha vessel. Enjoy lunch, the ship’s afternoon programme and dinner before sleeping aboard. After the final morning cruise, return to Hanoi with your private driver, enjoy some independent time and dinner, then board the evening train to Hue. Your reserved sleeper berth adds a memorable railway night to the holiday.
Your driver meets the train in Hue and the first day is kept light. Another independent day lets you settle in before exploring the Imperial City, Minh Mang Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda with your guide. Then take the daytime train towards Da Nang: coastal water, green slopes and the Hai Van section become part of the journey when visibility allows. A private car continues from Da Nang station to your Hoi An hotel.
Walk the old trading town with your guide, visiting a selected old house and assembly hall before returning in the evening at your own pace to enjoy the lanterns. A separate countryside day brings vegetable gardens and a hosted farming or cooking experience with lunch, choosing light cycling or vehicle travel to suit your group. Another day takes you by private car and cable car to Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, with time to explore the included areas before returning to Hoi An.
Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, with the flight quoted separately, and keep the arrival afternoon relaxed. Your private city day connects selected historical sites, everyday streets and a local lunch. A Ben Tre outing focuses on one manageable riverside area: small coconut workshops, garden paths, local food and boat time. Return to the same Saigon hotel rather than packing again for another overnight stop.
US$1,850 per person is an indicative starting land price for two adults sharing sample three-star rooms and the listed services. The 17 nights comprise 15 hotel nights, one shared-vessel cruise night and one shared sleeper-train night. Listed meals total 17 breakfast arrangements, eight lunches and one cruise dinner, plus the vessel’s actual brunch arrangement. The rail-arrival breakfast in Hue is arranged separately from normal hotel breakfast service. All flights, upgrades and optional extras are quoted separately.
Since 2009, Vietpower Travel has helped thousands of travellers from around the world explore Vietnam and Indochina. We understand that planning a holiday far from home means placing your trust in the people arranging it.
Vietpower Travel holds International Tour Operator Licence 01-711/2015/TCDL-GPLHQT under Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, giving you the reassurance of an established, licensed local travel company.
We take the time to understand your interests, travel style and budget, drawing on our local knowledge to recommend suitable hotels, restaurants, cruises and experiences. Our long-standing relationships with local partners help us arrange dependable services at fair prices.
Staying in close contact with these partners keeps our recommendations current as services change and new experiences become available. Throughout your holiday, our team coordinates your itinerary and provides support when you need it.
Before you book, your quotation clearly explains what is included, any shared arrangements and items priced separately, so you know what to expect.
Read our travellers’ reviews on Tripadvisor, then tell us what matters most to you. Let us help you plan a holiday that feels right for you, with the reassurance of an experienced local team.
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Travellers who enjoy heritage visits, longer stays and the experience of a real overnight train. It is a private sample for your party, with one shared sleeper night and one daylight rail stage. Tell us your comfort with shared compartments, luggage and station steps so we can discuss a suitable configuration.
The sample has an evening Hanoi–Hue journey on Day 7, arriving on Day 8, and a daytime Hue–Da Nang journey on Day 11. A shared sleeping berth and reserved daytime seat are included in the stated configuration. Private station transfers and the onward road journey from Da Nang to Hoi An are included as listed. Train services, class and times are confirmed for your dates.
You can request one, subject to the actual train, availability and supplement. The starting sample uses a berth in a compartment shared with other passengers. Tell us your party size and preferences before booking; we will identify the compartment arrangement and price in the offer.
No. The daytime train ends in Da Nang, where your private driver meets you for the onward road journey to Hoi An. The four Hoi An nights are hotel stays, not train nights.
Day 8 is a light arrival day in Hue and Day 9 is independent hotel time before the guided heritage day. Standard hotel check-in applies. We arrange the Day 8 breakfast and luggage handling; an early room guaranteed from arrival is an additional confirmed arrangement, rather than an automatic free inclusion.
There are 15 hotel nights, one bay-cruise cabin night and one shared sleeper night. The detailed sample lists 17 breakfast arrangements, eight lunches and one dinner, plus the selected vessel’s actual brunch arrangement. Day 8 breakfast after the train is specifically arranged; other unlisted meals and drinks are separate.
No. It is an indicative land guide per person for two adults sharing sample three-star rooms and the stated land, rail and cruise services. The Day 15 Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City flight, international flights and baggage are quoted separately. Your dated offer confirms the final total and supplements.
No. Your reserved cabin is for your party aboard a vessel shared with other guests. The selected ship determines the Ha Long or Lan Ha route, harbour and included activities. Cabin upgrades and private charters are separate requests; activities follow the actual sailing and conditions.
Day 14 includes the private road transfer and basic cable-car/admission configuration for Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge. Premium attractions, meals and extra services are not automatically included. The day is independently explored unless a guide is added in the offer, and views depend on weather.
Days 5 in Ninh Binh and 9 in Hue are independent days, with breakfast but no on-call guide or car included. We can arrange an additional outing or vehicle separately if you prefer. Arrival afternoons are also kept relaxed rather than filled with compulsory sightseeing.
Yes. Share your dates, flight details, party size, children’s ages, room preferences and rail comfort. We can discuss upgraded rooms, a private compartment, shorter walks or a different activity. Optional Train Street access, Waterbus and workshops are confirmed separately; they are not promises included for every date.
Prefer a different balance of stays? Browse our Vietnam tour collection, or explore Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise choices.
Send your travel dates, arrival and departure flights, group size and preferred hotel and rail comfort. A Vietpower Travel consultant will shape this journey around your party and explain the full itinerary, services and quotation before payment.
Plan your Vietnam rail holiday with Vietpower Travel on WhatsApp or email sales@vietpowertravel.com.
Highlights
| By Day | Transfer | Destinations | Activities | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Welcome to Hanoi | — | |
| Day 2 | Hanoi | Hanoi heritage, old streets and Hoan Kiem Lake | B, L | |
| Day 3 | Hanoi, Ninh Binh | Trang An waterways and Hoa Lu’s ancient capital | B, L | |
| Day 4 | Ninh Binh | Ninh Binh villages, gardens and Bich Dong | B, L | |
| Day 5 | Ninh Binh | Your free Ninh Binh day | B | |
| Day 6 | Ninh Binh, Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay | Board your overnight bay cruise | B, L, D | |
| Day 7 | Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay, Hanoi, Hue | Bay morning, Hanoi and your evening train to Hue | B, Br | |
| Day 8 | Hue | Arrive in Hue and settle in gently | B | |
| Day 9 | Hue | An independent day to enjoy Hue | B | |
| Day 10 | Hue | Hue’s royal heritage and local flavours | B, L | |
| Day 11 | Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An | Coastal rail from Hue to Da Nang, then Hoi An | B | |
| Day 12 | Hoi An | Hoi An’s old trading town and lantern evening | B | |
| Day 13 | Hoi An | Hoi An countryside and a hosted local lunch | B, L | |
| Day 14 | Hoi An, Ba Na Hills | Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge | B | |
| Day 15 | Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City | Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City | B | |
| Day 16 | Ho Chi Minh City | Saigon’s history, architecture and everyday life | B, L | |
| Day 17 | Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre | Ben Tre’s waterways, gardens and coconut workshops | B, L | |
| Day 18 | Ho Chi Minh City | Your departure transfer | B |
A private driver meets you at Noi Bai Airport and takes you to your Hanoi hotel. Settle in after the flight, with time to rest or enjoy an easy independent walk near your hotel. Standard check-in applies; an early room is arranged separately if requested and available.
Meals: —. Overnight: Hanoi.
Explore the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh complex with your private guide, following the opening arrangements. Entry inside the Mausoleum is not available every day. Enjoy lunch and a break before an unhurried Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake walk. Train Street is an optional stop only where access is permitted; a neighbourhood café offers another pleasant pause.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Hanoi.
Travel by private vehicle from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, allowing roughly 2–2.5 hours plus breaks and traffic. Take a shared rowing boat through Trang An’s limestone landscape and visit Hoa Lu’s ancient-capital temples with your guide. Enjoy a local lunch and time for a gentle countryside walk. Mua Cave can be discussed as a separately agreed replacement for travellers who prefer the climb; it is not added automatically to a full day.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Ninh Binh.
Spend time with your guide among village lanes, fields and gardens, learning about everyday rural work. Enjoy lunch and visit Bich Dong Pagoda at a manageable pace, or return earlier to your accommodation if you prefer. A short cycling section can replace part of the vehicle travel when your group and the conditions suit it; equipment and arrangements are agreed before departure.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Ninh Binh.
After breakfast, take a day for yourself among Ninh Binh’s scenery. Relax at your accommodation, walk nearby or choose a simple independent outing. There is no on-call guide or car included today. Vietpower Travel can arrange an additional guided activity or vehicle separately if you would like one.
Meals: B. Overnight: Ninh Binh.
Your private driver takes you directly to the harbour confirmed for your selected vessel. An early pickup and breakfast arrangement are agreed to suit boarding. Settle into your reserved cabin, enjoy lunch and watch the limestone islands from the deck. Join the ship’s included afternoon visits or activities as conditions allow, then have dinner and spend the night aboard the vessel shared with other guests.
Meals: B, L, D. Overnight: Shared bay cruise.
Enjoy the final bay morning and the breakfast or brunch served under your ship’s programme. After disembarking, meet your private driver for the return to Hanoi. Spend independent time resting and having your own dinner before the station transfer and evening train to Hue. Your reserved berth is in a sleeping compartment shared with other passengers; a private compartment is a separately confirmed upgrade.
Meals: B, Br. Overnight: Shared sleeper train.
Your private driver meets you at Hue railway station and takes you to the hotel. Breakfast after arrival is specifically arranged, and the day is kept light after the train journey. Leave your luggage and relax until normal check-in; a room guaranteed from an earlier arrival time is an extra arrangement if you wish. A short riverside stroll is entirely your choice.
Meals: B. Overnight: Hue.
Enjoy breakfast and a day at your own pace. Spend time at your hotel, find a neighbourhood café or take a short independent walk beside the river. No on-call guide or vehicle is included today. Ask for a separately quoted experience if you want another outing.
Meals: B. Overnight: Hue.
Discover the Imperial City, Minh Mang Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda with your private guide. Walk through the Nguyen dynasty’s architecture and stories with breaks suited to your group, then enjoy a local Hue lunch. The final visiting sequence is arranged around opening hours; leave time for a café or river views rather than rushing every royal site.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Hue.
After breakfast, your private transfer takes you to Hue station for the daytime train to Da Nang, with a reserved seat. Watch the coastal and Hai Van scenery when visibility allows. Your driver meets you at Da Nang station for the onward road journey to Hoi An. Check into your selected hotel and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. The rail service and seat class are confirmed for your dates; the train does not travel directly to Hoi An.
Meals: B. Overnight: Hoi An.
Walk the old town with your private guide, visiting a selected old house and assembly hall under the sightseeing ticket. Discover the trading-port stories in the lanes, then rest during the afternoon. Return independently in the evening to enjoy the lantern-lit streets if you wish. A lantern-making class is an optional extra rather than an automatic inclusion.
Meals: B. Overnight: Hoi An.
Head into the vegetable gardens and village lanes with your private guide. Join the hosted farming or cooking experience selected for your programme and enjoy lunch. Choose gentle cycling or vehicle travel to suit your party, with the arrangement agreed in advance. Return to the hotel for an easy afternoon, tailoring or your own old-town exploration.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Hoi An.
Your private vehicle takes you to Ba Na Hills for the cable-car ascent and Golden Bridge. Explore the areas covered by the basic admission at your own pace, with time to rest and buy your own lunch. Premium activities and additional services are separate, and a guide is included only if specified in your offer. Views depend on cloud, rain and visitor conditions. Return to your Hoi An hotel in the afternoon.
Meals: B. Overnight: Hoi An.
After breakfast, travel by private vehicle to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, arranged for the date and quoted separately. Your private driver meets you on arrival and takes you to the city hotel. Settle into your room and enjoy a relaxed afternoon in Saigon.
Meals: B. Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City.
Visit the Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum with your private guide, adapting museum content and walking to the group. See the Central Post Office and Notre Dame from the permitted exterior area, then enjoy lunch and a break before Ben Thanh Market. A Waterbus ride is an optional extra when its actual sailing fits; a riverside walk is another way to enjoy the city.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City.
Travel to a selected Ben Tre riverside area and board a local boat to explore everyday life along the water. Visit small coconut-related workshops, walk through a garden and enjoy a local lunch. A rowing-boat section is included where the selected programme and conditions allow. Focus on one compact area, with time for local encounters, then return to the same Ho Chi Minh City hotel.
Meals: B, L. Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City.
Have breakfast and enjoy independent time as your departure allows. Your private driver collects you for the airport at the agreed time. Standard checkout applies; luggage storage or an additional room period can be arranged separately if your flight leaves later.
Meals: B. Overnight: No included overnight.
15 hotel nights; sample 3-star twin/double rooms, named stays confirmed
One shared bay-vessel cabin night plus one shared sleeper-train berth night
Your dated offer identifies the hotels, cabin, rail class, breakfast arrangement and private/shared services. Days 5 and 9 have no on-call guide or car; all flights are separate.
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Customize Your Trip
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Vietpower Travel confirms the dated programme and services in writing before you book. Tell us your preferred pace, room setup and comfort with rail travel so we can explain the choices clearly.
Vietpower Travel provides 24/7 assistance during your journey. Your programme includes the agreed local contacts and practical meeting details.
Plan your Vietnam rail holiday with Vietpower Travel on WhatsApp
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