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Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Rail Journey

SJourney: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Luxury train journey across Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Illustration of SJourney: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Great Rail Journeys' SJourney runs a 14-day escorted tour from London through Vietnam, combining seven nights aboard SJourney, the country's first luxury train, with four nights in 4-star hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The journey departs Hanoi on the SJourney itself and travels south to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping at UNESCO World Heritage sites and historic cities along the way. Days aboard the train include sampan boat journeys through limestone karsts on emerald rivers, visits to ancient temples and imperial citadels, tours of craft villages and incense workshops, and a subterranean river voyage in a cave system. The train itself recalls 1920s colonial elegance with cabin service, fine dining, and meticulously prepared Vietnamese cuisine. Travellers spend two free days in Hanoi and two in Ho Chi Minh City, with optional paid sightseeing tours available. The itinerary suits luxury-seekers, history enthusiasts, and those keen to experience Vietnam's cities, countryside, and coastal regions while travelling primarily by rail.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £8,995 every time.

£8,9954 Jul12 Sep

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 trip includes two international flights (London Heathrow to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London Heathrow) and travel time; the rail journey itself spans seven nights of the 14-day tour.
  • Days 2, 3, 11, and 12 in the cities offer 'free time' with optional paid sightseeing tours; not all meals are included on those days (breakfast and one lunch provided on Days 12 only).
  • Hotels vary by tier: the pack lists four options (Silk Path and Hotel du Parc in Hanoi, Saigon Prince and Caravelle in Ho Chi Minh City); your final accommodation depends on the tier you select.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    London to Hanoi

    Overnight flight from London Heathrow to Hanoi.

  2. Day 2overnight: Hanoi

    Arrival in Hanoi

    Transfer to your chosen hotel (Silk Path Hotel or Hotel du Parc), with a free day to acclimatise.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Hanoi

    Uncovering Vietnam's bustling capital

    Free day in Hanoi, with optional pre-bookable sightseeing (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, cyclo ride, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, water puppet show) and an optional street food evening excursion. Option to extend with a Ha Long Bay cruise.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: SJourney (onboard)

    Boarding SJourney for a luxurious journey

    Free morning in Hanoi, then private transfer to Gia Lam station to board SJourney, welcomed into the VIP lounge. Check in to your cabin; dinner in the restaurant car as the train crosses the Red River at twilight.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: SJourney (onboard)

    Trang An boat trip & ancient Hoa Lu

    Breakfast onboard, then transfer at Ninh Binh to Trang An for a sampan boat trip through the UNESCO-listed limestone landscape. Visit ancient Hoa Lu, Vietnam's 10th-century capital, before reboarding for afternoon tea and dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: SJourney (onboard)

    Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

    Boat excursion along the Son River into Phong Nha's subterranean caves to see stalactites and stalagmites. Evening Vietnamese dinner amid rice fields, with an optional cookery class.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: SJourney (onboard)

    Uncovering Vietnam's last empire in Hue

    Rickshaw ride to the Imperial Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, and an incense-making village. Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner aboard the train.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: SJourney (onboard)

    Traditional crafts in lantern-lit Hoi An

    Cross the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. Visit Au Lac Wood Art workshop and Thanh Ha Pottery Village, then a guided tour of Hoi An's Old Town, Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: SJourney (onboard)

    Phu Yen, the quiet heart of coastal Vietnam

    Visit Mang Lang Church (built 1892) and Phu Tan village to see traditional rush-grass mat weaving, with a seafood lunch. Train continues south towards Binh Thuan.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: SJourney (onboard)

    Ancient heritage in Phan Thiet

    Excursion to Ta Cu Mountain to see the Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda and Vietnam's longest reclining Buddha statue, then the Fish Sauce Museum with an oceanfront lunch. Farewell dinner at the 8th-century Poshanu Towers.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  11. Day 11overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

    Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

    Final breakfast aboard before disembarking at Sai Gon station and transferring to your chosen hotel (Saigon Prince Hotel or Caravelle Hotel). Rest of the day free.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

    Exploring Ho Chi Minh City

    Free day with optional sightseeing tours, the Cu Chi tunnels, the Sino-French History Museum, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Chinatown and Binh Tay Market, or a full-day Mekong Delta tour.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  13. Day 13overnight: In flight

    Inbound Travel - Homeward bound

    Private transfer to the airport for the flight to London Heathrow.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14

    Arrival back in the UK

    Arrive in London Heathrow, concluding the tour. Optional Cambodia extension available (Siem Reap and Angkor Wat).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board SJourney at Gia Lam station in Hanoi; check into your 1920s-style cabin with ensuite bathroom and butler service as the train departs for Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Day 5Sampan boat journey through Trang An's UNESCO World Heritage limestone cliffs and jungle-draped emerald river, then explore temples at Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital.
  • Day 6Boat voyage on the Son River into Phong Nha cave's subterranean river to view stalactites and stalagmites in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
  • Day 7Rickshaw ride through Hue to the Imperial Citadel, the heart of the Nguyen Dynasty, and visit Emperor Tu Duc's Mausoleum.
  • Day 8SJourney crosses the Hai Van Pass before reaching Hoi An; guided tour of the Old Town includes the Japanese Covered Bridge and Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall.

Included

  • 4 nights in 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • 7 nights on board SJourney
  • All rail and transfers throughout your tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to London Heathrow
  • Bed & Breakfast in hotels, full board on SJourney train

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £8,995 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $12,150 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
What is SJourney?
SJourney is Vietnam's first luxury train. Each sleeping car contains just three cabins with 1920s-style furnishings, a table and chair set, minibar, wardrobe, and ensuite bathroom. A butler serves each car.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys operates it as an escorted tour with guided excursions at each stop, private transfers, and rickshaw or jeep tours included.
Which hotels are included?
Four nights in 4-star hotels: either the Silk Path or Hotel du Parc in Hanoi, and either the Saigon Prince or Caravelle in Ho Chi Minh City. Your choice depends on the accommodation tier you select.
Are all meals included?
Full board is included aboard SJourney (seven nights). In hotels, only bed and breakfast are included; optional paid meals are available. Lunch is included on most excursion days.
What optional activities are available?
Hanoi sightseeing tour, Ha Long Bay day or overnight cruise, cookery class at Phong Nha, Cu Chi tunnels tour, Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing, and a full-day Mekong Delta tour. A Cambodia/Angkor Wat extension is also offered.

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