Marvel at the highlights of Vietnam as you journey down the spine of this incredibly diverse country. From cities bursting with charm and history to the ancient treasures of Hue and Hoi An, you will experience the best of Vietnam. Embrace the beauty of rail travel, rumbling through rural countryside and coastal paths as you journey along the iconic Reunification Express route on an epic overnight journey, and set sail into the hidden corners of Halong Bay's striking landscapes on a two night cruise.
Our Vietnam & the Reunification Express tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Explore the far-most corners of the stunning Halong Bay on your scenic two night cruise
Experience a night on board the Reunifcation Express as you embark on a journey following the iconic North-South route
Uncover the beauty of ancient Hoi An with its striking ochre-coloured buildings and the grand Japanese Covered Bridge
Soak up the colonial charm of Vietnam's fast-paced capital city
Explore the vibrant streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter by cyclo, stopping off at a café to sample a traditionally-made, local speciality, egg coffee.
Enjoy Saigon's most extraordinary production, the A O Show! This breathtaking performance showcases the beauty and cultural richness of Vietnamese rural life.
Gain a personal and authentic perspective on history as you meet a Vietnamese war veteran at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Their stories will offer a unique insight into the past.
Fly overnight to Hanoi, Vietnam's vibrant capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Begin your day at the Ethnology Museum, with its mesmerising displays exploring the country's 54 ethnic minority groups. In its grounds are a range of full-size replica longhouses demonstrating traditional ways of life in rural Vietnam. After lunch, cross the Red Bridge over Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son Temple before embarking on a cyclo tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Wrap up your day with a foodie tour as you embark on a culinary whirlwind adventure through the city, tasting some of Vietnam's specialty dishes!
Explore the sights of Hanoi by foot on today's walking tour. Begin in the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, where you will gain an insight into the Vietnamese War before visiting the Humble House on Stilts, the residence of Ho Chi Minh in the grounds of the Presidential Palace, and his Mausoleum. After lunch, visit the One Pillar Pagoda and serene Temple of Literature, Hanoi's first university.
Drive 2 and a half hours to Halong Bay, where you will embark on an unforgettable two-night cruise through this famously beautiful seascape. Enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities such as kayaking, swimming, or relaxing on an island beach. Sightseeing may include visiting underground caves on the islands, which require climbing up and down steps inside and outside of the caves. End the day on deck with a drink in hand to watch the sunset, followed by a freshly prepared dinner, before retiring to your cabin for the night.
Rise early to enjoy a Tai Chi lesson on deck as the sun rises, and admire the changing seascapes as you continue deeper into the bay. Visit floating villages, hidden caves and sandy beaches before another night on board.
Cruise back to port, stopping en route to visit one of the bay's impressive caves. Disembark after an early lunch and prepare to board your overnight train to Hue as you make your first journey on the iconic Reunification Express.
Disembark the Reunification Express as you arrive in Hue this morning. The epitome of Vietnam's dynastic past, Hue is a dignified and scholarly city. Visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. The magnificent centrepiece of the Royal Empire, the citadel was extensively damaged during the Vietnam War. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, a complex of 40 monuments set in surroundings of gardens and pools. Continue to the old Thien Mu Pagoda before taking a cruise on the Perfume River.
Hop back on board the Reunification Express in Hue and take a scenic 3 hour journey south to Danang, where you will then transfer by road to charming Hoi An, a wonderfully laidback and traditional ancient city. This afternoon, venture out of Hoi An to Tra Que, a small farming community that supplies many hotels and restaurants in the area with vegetables and herbs. Here you can enjoy the lush green countryside and stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work.
Head out on a walking tour of the Old Town, visiting the Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda, a 200-year-old merchant house, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Stop by the Hoi An Folklore Museum for an insight into the local life before enjoying the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore Hoi An.
Transfer to Danang and board your 1 hour and 30-minute flight to Saigon, Vietnam's bustling southern city. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure as you start to soak up the vibrant atmosphere before an exciting performance of the A O show this evening, showcasing the talented local circus performers, dancers, athletes and artists.
Discover the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were central to the Viet Cong's military operations, including the Tet Offensive. For a truly authentic insight into the war, meet a Vietnamese veteran and hear his story. This afternoon, explore the city's heady mix of local culture and colonial influences, admiring major landmarks like the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office before spending time at the poignant War Remnants Museum.
Journey to My Tho to take a cruise on the Mekong. Paddle through the maze of palmlined canals and get a glimpse of daily life on the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a lunch of typical Mekong dishes. Make a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda en route back to Saigon.
Transfer to the airport to fly back to the New Zealand, arriving the same or following day.
In Vietnam, trains aren’t just a mode of transport, they are an experience in themselves. A place to sit and watch the beauty of your surroundings roll by and to get a glimpse of day-to-day life, to meet locals and to almost step back to the halcyon days of old.
You see, trains in Vietnam are the low-tech kind, ones that are slow and relaxed while still being comfortable and efficient. There is one main line, the Reunification line, that runs between Saigon and Hanoi, with a couple of trunk lines that run into the highlands to Sapa and to Haiphong, the gateway to Halong Bay.
Built in 1936 by the French, and known as the Reunification Express since 1976, when trains started running between the north and south again, this historic train line links Hanoi and Saigon via Hue, Danang (for Hoi An) and Nha Trang. There is no single train called the Reunification Express, and you can ride the whole line at once, hop-on and hop-off or just ride sections of it (like on our Vietnam by Rail tour). No matter which way you choose, you’ll be rumbling through glorious scenery – rice paddies, lush jungle, forested mountains, seascapes and even crowded neighbourhoods.
The trains that run the line pull some combination of the five classes of carriage – air-con soft sleeper, air-con hard sleeper, air-con soft seat, air-con hard seat and no air-con hard seat. On our Vietnam by Rail car you will be in air-con soft seat carriages (there are no overnights on the train) which will give you a comfortable seat from which to enjoy the passing scenery. There are toilets on the train (which may be Western or squat) plus a drinks cart and a snack cart, and you may find that vendors hop on the train at various stations selling something fresh and hot. Bringing your own drinks and snacks is also a good option.
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected
We have a selection of dedicated departures for solo travellers. These departures feature a maximum group size of 18 and exclusive benefits including a single room throughout your tour, complimentary return airport transfers (within 50km radius of major Australian airports) and a cocktail on arrival at your destination. Travellers from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne also receive a complimentary Australian airport lounge pass for use prior to departure.
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All of our tours offer a single room supplement, which means you’ll have a room to yourself throughout your chosen tour. Continue the check-out process for the applicable supplement.
On most tours, you can choose our 'Happy to Share' option, which may enable you to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance.
If you are booking on a Dedicated Solo departure, a single room is already included in the price and there are no additional single supplements to pay.
With our flight inclusive option, we'll do the planning for you and meet you on arrival.
We include airport pickup upon arrival at your destination and drop off at the end of your tour (on the scheduled tour arrival and departure days) and when booking pre or post tour accommodation with us.
We partner with established and reputable airlines for your international flights.
We can assist with upgrading your seat to premium or business class for an additional cost.
Our team will work with you to choose your ideal routing and if we make changes to your tour itinerary that impact flights, we’ll rebook them for you.
Our On-Tour Support Team is available to provide advice about how to handle flight changes.
