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Planet Rail · Luxury train journey

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City aboard the SJourney

Eight-day luxury train journey south from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Illustration of Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City aboard the SJourney

Planet Rail operates this 8-day, 7-night luxury train journey, the SJourney, traveling south through Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. All seven nights are spent aboard the train, which departs from Hanoi in the evening of Day 1 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00am on Day 8. The journey stops at eight destinations: Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Phu Yen, and Phan Thiet, each offering guided excursions. Days unfold with morning sampan trips through limestone waterways, rickshaw rides through ancient imperial cities, walks through UNESCO-listed towns, and visits to villages where craftspeople work by hand. Meals are prepared fresh on the train each day, with refined dinners in the dining car and lunch stops at local restaurants showcasing regional specialties from royal Hue cuisine to oceanfront seafood. The itinerary suits luxury-seeking travellers, history enthusiasts, food lovers, and those who prefer guided comfort without hotel changes. English-speaking guides lead all excursions, cabin attendants provide service throughout, and private transfers are arranged at both ends.

What to know before you look closer

  • The train departs Hanoi at 4:30pm on Day 1 and arrives Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00am on Day 8; early morning arrival means limited time in the final city unless you extend separately
  • All meals and beverages are included, but the beverage menu is on a complimentary list (certain items may have an upcharge)

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: On board the SJourney

    Hanoi Capital - Welcome on Board

    Collected from your hotel around 4:30pm and welcomed into the VIP lounge at Gia Lam Station for an elegant check-in. An evening of refreshments, fine dining and conversation unfolds as the train departs Hanoi, gliding over the historic Long Bien Bridge with twilight views of the Red River before the city lights fade into the countryside.

  2. Day 2overnight: On board the SJourney

    Ninh Binh - Explore The First Kingdom of Vietnam

    Awake to breakfast as dawn breaks over Ninh Binh. A sampan journey through Trang An's emerald waterways amid towering limestone cliffs, then on to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital, with its temples and dynastic ruins. Lunch and afternoon tea on board with mountain views en route to Vinh, followed by a refined dinner.

  3. Day 3railovernight: On board the SJourney

    Quang Binh - A Soft Adventure in Jungle and Caves

    Disembark in Quang Binh to explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, cruising along the Son River and through the Phong Nha Cave amid limestone mountains and ancient rock formations. Return for onboard activities, then a home-style dinner amid peaceful rice paddies, with the option of a Vietnamese cooking class using fresh regional ingredients. Overnight the train departs for Hue.

  4. Day 4railovernight: On board the SJourney

    Hue - Discover the Magnificent of The Last Empire in Vietnam

    A rickshaw ride through Hue to the Imperial Citadel, legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty, then by private van to the serene Tu Duc Mausoleum and Hue's Incense Village, where artisans craft incense and conical hats by hand. A refined local lunch showcases Hue's royal cuisine before the train reveals the Perfume River and Lang Co Lagoon.

  5. Day 5overnight: On board the SJourney

    Quang Nam - Ancient Merchant Hub of South East Asia

    Breakfast through the Hai Van Pass with sweeping views of mountains and the East Sea. In Hoi An, hands-on visits to Au Lac Wood Art and Thanh Ha Pottery Village with a home-hosted lunch, then the UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town: the market, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Phung Hung Ancient House and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Refined dinner on board toward Phu Yen.

  6. Day 6overnight: On board the SJourney

    Phu Yen - A Voyage into Coastal Serenity

    Explore Phu Yen from the century-old Gothic Mang Lang Church to the Phu Tan Mat Weaving Village. A coastal lunch of fresh, locally sourced seafood, then depart at 4:00pm toward Binh Thuan with a refined dinner under the stars in the dining car.

  7. Day 7railovernight: On board the SJourney

    Phan Thiet - Explore the Ancient Chams Culture

    Ta Cu Mountain and the Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda with panoramic views, the Fish Sauce Museum's culinary heritage, and a seafood lunch at an oceanfront restaurant. In the evening a farewell dinner under the open sky at the historic Poshanu Tower, before the train heads back to Ho Chi Minh City.

  8. Day 8rail

    Ho Chi Minh City - Comeback to Modern Life - Farewell

    The train reaches Sai Gon station at 5:00am; breakfast is served until 8:30am and check-out begins at 9:00am. Depending on your flight timings you are transferred to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your return flights home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1The SJourney departs Hanoi in the evening, crossing the historic Long Bien Bridge with twilight views of the Red River
  • Day 2A sampan journey through Trang An's emerald waterways amid towering limestone cliffs, followed by exploration of Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital
  • Day 3Cruise along the Son River through Phong Nha Cave amid limestone mountains in Quang Binh's Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
  • Day 4Rickshaw ride through Hue to the Imperial Citadel, then visits to Tu Duc Mausoleum and the Incense Village where artisans craft by hand
  • Day 5Breakfast through the Hai Van Pass with sweeping views of mountains and the East Sea; exploration of UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town Hoi An and its Japanese Covered Bridge

Included

  • Excursions with English-speaking guides and entrance fees
  • Complimentary beverages as per drink list
  • Cabin attendant service
  • Private airport/hotel transfers
  • One complimentary spa treatment
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner, freshly prepared on the train using the finest local ingredients, with authentic dining experiences at local restaurants during excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. All seven nights aboard the SJourney, meals, excursions with English-speaking guides, airport and hotel transfers, cabin service, and one complimentary spa treatment are included in the from-price of GBP 7,495 (USD 10,010).
Which train is this journey aboard?
The SJourney, which departs from Gia Lam Station in Hanoi and arrives at Sai Gon Station in Ho Chi Minh City.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
It is escorted. All excursions are led by English-speaking guides, and Planet Rail provides cabin attendant service on board and private transfers at the start and end.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, all freshly prepared on the train using local ingredients. Excursions also include authentic dining at local restaurants, such as royal cuisine in Hue and oceanfront seafood in Phan Thiet.
Is a Vietnamese cooking class included?
A cooking class is optional on Day 3 in Quang Binh and uses fresh regional ingredients; it is not included in the base price.
How much walking is involved?
Excursions vary: Day 2 includes a sampan journey and temple walks; Day 4 a rickshaw ride and visits to a mausoleum and incense village; Day 5 involves walking through the Ancient Town of Hoi An; Day 7 includes Ta Cu Mountain with views from a pagoda and a visit to a fish sauce museum. No high-altitude hikes are mentioned.

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