How much does it cost?

From £2,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,241 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes the Reunification Express overnight sleeper (Hanoi to Hue) in a double occupancy Violette cabin, a local train journey (Hue to Da Nang in Soft Seat Class), and all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies travellers from London to Vietnam and throughout the 14 days, leading all guided tours and excursions.

What hotels are used?

Four-star hotels: MK Premier Boutique (Hanoi), Eldora Hotel (Hue), and Little Hoi An Central Boutique (Hoi An). Five-star: Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Accommodation also includes one night aboard the Reunification Express sleeper and one night on a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay.

What meals are included?

Breakfast every day, three lunches, and two dinners. Some dinners and lunches are at local restaurants or on board; other meals are free time in the destination.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates departures in September, October, November, January, February, March and April (2026-2027 dates listed). Ten departures are scheduled.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Highlights of Vietnam

Vietnam's cities, coast and delta on rail, cruise and coach, 14 days from Hanoi

Great Rail Journeys' Highlights of Vietnam is a 14-day escorted tour that departs London for Hanoi and concludes in Ben Tre on the Mekong Delta. The journey combines multiple travel modes: overnight rail on the Reunification Express (Hanoi to Hue) in a Violette sleeper cabin, a luxury junk boat overnight cruise among Ha Long Bay's limestone islands, a local train from Hue to Da Nang, internal flights, and coach travel through the Mekong Delta. A dedicated UK Tour Manager guides the group throughout. Days begin in Hanoi with a street food tour sampling regional dishes and a water puppet show, then move to the mountainous coastal region: the Imperial Citadel at Hue (a modelled replica of Beijing's Forbidden City), the Old Town of Hoi An with a lantern-making class, and Da Nang's Cham Museum.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,399.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The tour is escorted with a large maximum group size of 40, not a small group experience.
Two flights from the UK (via Doha) plus one internal flight are included, meaning three days include significant travel time and minimal leisure time in destination.
Days 9 and 13 are described as free with optional activities, not guided experiences, on an otherwise structured escorted tour.

Day by day

Day 1
An overnight journey to Vietnam
Meet the Tour Manager and group at London Heathrow and board an overnight flight to Hanoi via Doha.
Day 2overnight: Hanoi
A gentle introduction to the bustling city of Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi and check in to the hotel, then a walking tour taking in Sword Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and the Old Quarter by cyclo, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3overnight: Hanoi
Exploring Hanoi and its incredible street food scene
Full day of sightseeing including Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One-Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple and the Temple of Literature, followed by a guided street food tour of the Old Quarter.
Day 4overnight: Ha Long Bay (cruise)
Overnight cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay
Coach to Ha Long Bay to board a luxury overnight cruise boat, with a seafood lunch, visits to caves and islands, and dinner served on board.
Day 5railovernight: Reunification Express (overnight train)
Ha Long Bay sunrise and boarding the sleeper train
Sunrise and tai chi on board, sailing back to shore with a stop at a local craft centre, a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi, then an overnight journey to Hue aboard the Reunification Express in double occupancy Violette cabins.
Day 6overnight: Hue
The imperial city of Hue
Arrive in Hue after a picnic breakfast on board, check in to the hotel, then an afternoon guided tour of the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial Citadel.
Day 7railovernight: Hoi An
Coastal Da Nang and on to Hoi An
Train to Da Nang to visit the Cham Museum and the Marble Mountains, then transfer to the boutique hotel in Hoi An.
Day 8overnight: Hoi An
Sightseeing in the 'Lantern City'
Guided tour of Hoi An including Tan Ky Old House, the Fujian Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge, followed by lunch and a lantern-making class at Xu Dang Trong Art Centre.
Day 9overnight: Hoi An
Day at leisure in Hoi An
Free day, with options including the Cantonese Assembly Hall or a basket boat trip at Tra Que coconut village.
Day 10overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Flying into old Saigon
Transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, with photo stops at Reunification Palace, the General Post Office and City Hall, and a visit to the War Remnants Museum.
Day 11overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Looking back in time in the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels underground complex, with the option to enter the tunnels themselves.
Day 12overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
A tranquil day in the Mekong Delta
Coach to the island town of Ben Tre on the Mekong Delta for a demonstration of traditional brick and grass-mat making and a local lunch, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 13
A final day in Ho Chi Minh City
Free day to finish sightseeing or shop for souvenirs, before an evening transfer to the airport for the overnight flight home. (On the 19th March, 7th April, 8th September and 6th October departures, this is a free day with the flight home the following day.)
Day 14
Homeward bound
Arrive back in London Heathrow, concluding the tour. (On the 19th March, 7th April, 8th September and 6th October departures, arrival is on Day 15 instead.)

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Street food tour in Hanoi's Old Quarter sampling bun cha and banh goi with a local guide.
Day 4Overnight cruise aboard a luxury junk boat among the jungle-draped limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, including a sunset and cooking demonstration.
Day 5Boarding the Reunification Express at Hanoi railway station for an overnight journey to Hue in a double occupancy Violette sleeper cabin.
Day 6Guided tour of Hue's Imperial Citadel beside the Perfume River, built between 1802 and 1945 as the Nguyen dynasty capital.
Day 8Lantern-making class at Xu Dang Trong Art Centre in Hoi An, followed by time in the 400-year-old Old Town.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
1 night in a double occupancy Violette cabin aboard the Reunification Express
1-night cruise aboard a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay
Soft Seat Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
Flights from London Heathrow to Hanoi via Doha, Ho Chi Minh City to London Heathrow via Doha
All internal flights
Breakfast each day, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,241 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes the Reunification Express overnight sleeper (Hanoi to Hue) in a double occupancy Violette cabin, a local train journey (Hue to Da Nang in Soft Seat Class), and all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies travellers from London to Vietnam and throughout the 14 days, leading all guided tours and excursions.
What hotels are used?: Four-star hotels: MK Premier Boutique (Hanoi), Eldora Hotel (Hue), and Little Hoi An Central Boutique (Hoi An). Five-star: Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Accommodation also includes one night aboard the Reunification Express sleeper and one night on a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay.
What meals are included?: Breakfast every day, three lunches, and two dinners. Some dinners and lunches are at local restaurants or on board; other meals are free time in the destination.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates departures in September, October, November, January, February, March and April (2026-2027 dates listed). Ten departures are scheduled.