Visit Vietnam by train

Your driver will pick you up when you arrive at the airport in Hanoi and take you to your hotel where one of our members will welcome you. Settle into your accommodations, relax, have dinner and explore the streets of Hanoi at your leisure.

Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby and take an hour-long scenic drive to a rural farming area outside of Hanoi. Explore the bustling, local wet market where you will see locals selling live chickens and ducks in cages, fresh meats and vegetables, family household supplies, and much more. Arrive at your host family’s home, have a cup of green tea and enjoy fresh fruit with them. Take a short walk around this quaint village to explore local life and the vegetable farms along the way. Get your hands dirty and join our farmers working in their vegetable gardens. Take part in farming activities such as raking, sowing, watering and collecting vegetables. It’s such a unique opportunity to learn about their cultivating and growing techniques. Return to your host's home and learn the secrets of authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a hands-on cooking experience. Then enjoy some local rice liquor and a tasty Vietnamese lunch with your host. After lunch, walk with your guide to a local organic pig farm, have a chat with the host and learn more about raising an organic pig. Return to Hanoi by car in the afternoon. In the evening, transfer to the station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on board.

Arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning and your driver will met you at the station and take you to your hotel in Sapa. Take a shower, rest and have breakfast before leaving for your first hike. Start with a short walk through the Muong Hoa Valley, cross the village of Y Linh Ho, where the H'mong Negro ethnic minority lives, then the village of Lao Chai, surrounded by impressive rice terraces, and continue to Ta Van, where the Dzay ethnic minority lives. Stop there and enjoy lunch with a local host in their home. This is a unique opportunity to get close and learn more about this minority ethnic group. After lunch, stroll through the village, meet the locals and learn a little about their way of life. Overnight in Ta Van.

After breakfast, today’s trek takes us through Ta Van, to the villages of Giang Ta Chai and Su Pan, where the Dzao Rojo and Hmong Negro ethnic groups live. We will cross over Ra Tan Bridge before returning to Sapa. We will have lunch on the way. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure in Sapa. We recommend visiting Sapa’s central market and climbing to the top of the hill for stunning views of the area. Overnight in Sapa.

Day at your leisure. You could go on your own to Fansipan Mountain, admire the flower garden of Ham Rong, explore Muong Hoa Valley, visit Silver or Love Waterfalls, Ban Ho Village, etc. If you prefer to stay in town, you could explore Sapa's local market and the church. In the evening, transfer to the station for the train back to Hanoi. Overnight on board.

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning and your driver will take you to your hotel in Hanoi where you can rest, freshen up and have breakfast before leaving for Halong. Arrive at Hon Gai Harbor, Ha Long City at midday and transfer to Tonkin Cruise Boat by tender. Begin your cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay with a nice seafood lunch. In the afternoon, stop to visit Thien Canh Son Cave, explore lagoons by kayak, and stop for a swim at the beach in Cap La. Enjoy a sunset party with Happy Hour from 5h30pm - 7h30pm while the boat cruises to Cong Dong- Cong Do area to anchor for for the night. Have a BBQ dinner on the sundeck if weather permits, otherwise in the restaurant. Free evening to join activities like board games or squid fishing, play the guitar, watch movies, karaoke (advance request) or just enjoy a drink at our luxury sky bar (chargeable).

Wake up early in the morning for Taichi exercise on the deck, then enjoy a light breakfast. Visit Vung Vieng Fishing Village by bamboo boat to discover the daily life of the fishing communities. Return to the main boat, pack up, check out and relax on the sundeck. Soak in the scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay over lunch while the boat cruises back to shore. Around 12.00 pm disembark and relax in our spacious lounge while you wait for your transfer back to Hanoi. Then, in the evening, transfer to the station for the train to Dong Hoi. Overnight on board.

Arrive in Dong Hoi early in the morning and your driver will take you to your hotel in Phong Nha to take a shower, rest and have breakfast before leaving for Phong Nha national park at around 7.30AM. Visit Phong Nha Botanic Garden. Drive on the Victory Road 20, a historic road used during the Vietnam War. Stop at Tra Ang Bridge and enjoy a brilliant photo opportunity over the mountains. Visit 8 Ladies Cave and the memorial temple. Visit Paradise Cave (Dong Thien Duong) for two hours, which includes around 540 steps to the top of the hill. It’s tough but is a real sense of accomplishment when you get the top, and then walk down into Paradise Cave. Lunch at Chay Lap Riverside. You will have a chance to go for a swim and relax on our sun chairs or may enjoy 45 minutes of kayaking in the beautiful river. Cycle from Chay Lap to Tram Village. Enjoy a short walk through the village, learn about the locals’ way of life on the river banks in one of the poorest towns of Phong Nha. Continue cycling back to Phong Nha, and stop at Oxalis Headquarters. From here you can wander back towards your hotel, or a transfer will be organized if needed. Overnight in Phong Nha.

After breakfast, transfer to the station for the train to Hue. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. The city of Hue, the former imperial Capital of Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) is a time machine which takes you back to ancient times in Vietnam. We recommend visiting Thuy Bieu Village, known for its serenity, immense grapefruit gardens and ancient houses. You can also stroll along Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.

Our chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel around 08:00 to visit Tu Duc, Khai Dinh & Minh Mang Emperors' tombs. On the way, we will stop in villages famous for making the best traditional conical hats and incense in the entire country. After lunch, visit the imperial Citadel of Hue and its purple forbidden city. To conclude the day, we will visit the pagoda of Thien Mu located on the river bank where we will take a boat ride to enjoy the sunset. Evening and dinner at your leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the station for the train to Danang. In the afternoon, visit Marble Mountains, a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble. Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains is beautifully situated in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting and sculpture about 9km south of Danang. Overnight in Danang.

After breakfast, transfer to Hoi An, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a city that was once a trading port in Southeast Asia. Enjoy the day at your leisure. Explore the old town or visit the beach nearby and relax. Overnight in Hoi An.

We will start the day with a short walk through the local traditional wet market and through the streets where you will come across some food vendors. Try some of their food! Next we’ll visit The Organic Vegetable Village. Have a relaxing foot massage with traditional medicinal herbs and learn to make one of the most famous dishes of Hoi An. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Depending on your departure time, you can go shopping or take a walk in the old town. Transfer to Danang airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.