Is train travel included in the package?

Yes. The package includes all rail and coach travel throughout the tour, including the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin from Hanoi to Hue and from Hue to Da Nang.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from the first day to the last.

How many nights are spent on a train?

One night, aboard the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin (double occupancy) departing Hanoi on Day 4 and arriving in Hue on Day 5.

What hotels are included?

The tour includes 14 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels: Melia Hanoi Hotel, Best Western Premier Indochine Palace in Hue, Hotel Royal Hoi An Danang, Grand Hotel Saigon, Victoria Can Tho Resort, Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh, and Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. One night is aboard The Au Co cruise ship in Ha Long Bay.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, 9 lunches, and 6 dinners. Not all meals are provided.

When does the tour depart?

The operator does not list specific departure dates in the evidence provided; contact Vacations By Rail for current availability.

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Vietnam & Cambodia

Escorted 17-day journey from Hanoi to Siem Reap by train, cruise, and coach

Vacations By Rail's Grand Tour of Vietnam and Cambodia is a 17-day escorted journey beginning in Hanoi and ending in Siem Reap. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. The itinerary blends rail, cruise, coach, and internal-flight travel across Vietnam's coast and the Mekong Delta before crossing into Cambodia. Highlights include an overnight cruise aboard a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay (Day 3), a sleeper journey on the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin from Hanoi to Hue (Day 4), guided sightseeing in the imperial city of Hue, a lantern-making workshop in Hoi An, and a full-day temple tour of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom (Day 16). Along the way, travelers visit Ho Chi Minh City and its Cu Chi Tunnels, explore Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and museums, and experience the floating villages and markets of the Mekong Delta. The package includes 14 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels, one night aboard a cruise ship, all major rail and coach travel, internal flights, breakfast every day, 9 lunches, 6 dinners, and guided excursions. This tour suits first-time rail travellers, history enthusiasts, and those seeking guided comfort on a structured itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

International flights to and from Vietnam are not included; only internal flights within the tour are covered
Airport transfers to and from hotels are not included in the package price
One review noted that the Vietnam tour guide's English proficiency was difficult to understand

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam's bustling capital
Arrive independently and transfer to the hotel; afternoon cyclo tour of the Old Quarter; welcome meeting and first group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2overnight: Hanoi
Exploring the captivating culture of Hanoi
Visit Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, lunch, then a three-hour city tour including the Temple of Literature.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3overnight: ship (Ha Long Bay)
Experiencing a night cruise on UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay
Coach transfer to Ha Long Bay; overnight cruise aboard a luxury junk boat with a stop at Cat Ba Island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: train (Reunification Express)
Sunrise on Ha Long Bay and boarding the overnight sleeper train
Sunrise, tai chi and a kayak trip to Trinh Nu cave, then coach back to Hanoi for a water puppet show before boarding the Reunification Express overnight to Hue in Violette cabins.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Hue
The Royal city of Hue
Arrive Hue by train; afternoon sightseeing tour of the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Hoi An
Reunification Express to Da Nang and Hoi An
Visit Dong Ba Market, then the Reunification Express (Violette carriages) to Da Nang, transferring to a riverside hotel in Hoi An for three nights.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7overnight: Hoi An
Exploring enchanting Hoi An
Guided tour of Hoi An (Tan Ky Old House, Japanese Covered Bridge) and a lantern-making workshop.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8overnight: Hoi An
Day at leisure in Hoi An
Free day at leisure in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Onwards to old Saigon
Short internal flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon); transfer to a central French colonial-style hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City and the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels (optional entry), lunch, then a guided sightseeing tour of the Central Post Office and Independence Palace.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11overnight: Can Tho
Observing daily life on the Mekong
Arrive in Cai Be to learn about Mekong Delta life and coconut candy production, a rowing-boat excursion, lunch in Vinh Long, then transfer to a hotel on the edge of Can Tho.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12overnight: Can Tho
Embracing delta life in Can Tho
Free day to relax at the hotel or explore Can Tho independently (Ong Temple, Munirensay Khmer Pagoda).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13railovernight: Phnom Penh
Along the Mekong to Cambodia
Visit the Cai Rang floating market, transfer to Cao Lanh, then an express boat up the Mekong into Cambodia (border crossing) to Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14overnight: Phnom Penh
Exploring historic Phnom Penh
Full-day guided tour visiting the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15overnight: Siem Reap
Overland to Siem Reap
Coach journey across Cambodia via Skuon Market and Kampong Thom to Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16overnight: Siem Reap
The spectacular lost temples of Angkor Wat
Full-day guided tour by tuk tuk of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat, a monk's blessing, and dinner with an Apsara dance show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17
Traveling home
Tour concludes after breakfast; transfer independently to Siem Reap airport.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Overnight cruise on a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay with kayaking to Trinh Nu cave
Day 4Board the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin for an overnight sleeper train to Hue
Day 7Guided tour of Hoi An's Tan Ky Old House and Japanese Covered Bridge, plus a lantern-making workshop
Day 13Express boat journey along the Mekong River with a border crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia
Day 16Full-day guided tour of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat by tuk tuk, concluding with an Apsara dance show dinner

Included

Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
14 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
1 night in double occupancy Violette cabin aboard the Reunification Express
1-night cruise onboard a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay
Violette class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
All internal flights
Breakfast each day, 9 lunches, 6 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the package?: Yes. The package includes all rail and coach travel throughout the tour, including the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin from Hanoi to Hue and from Hue to Da Nang.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from the first day to the last.
How many nights are spent on a train?: One night, aboard the Reunification Express in a Violette cabin (double occupancy) departing Hanoi on Day 4 and arriving in Hue on Day 5.
What hotels are included?: The tour includes 14 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels: Melia Hanoi Hotel, Best Western Premier Indochine Palace in Hue, Hotel Royal Hoi An Danang, Grand Hotel Saigon, Victoria Can Tho Resort, Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh, and Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. One night is aboard The Au Co cruise ship in Ha Long Bay.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, 9 lunches, and 6 dinners. Not all meals are provided.
When does the tour depart?: The operator does not list specific departure dates in the evidence provided; contact Vacations By Rail for current availability.

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