Vietnam Luxury Express: A Journey by Train
Discover Vietnam the elegant way – not from the sky, but aboard the Vietnam Luxury Express, a stylish train that glides through the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. This curated itinerary spans over 1,800 kilometers, linking Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Along the way, you’ll explore iconic destinations like Ninh Binh’s limestone valleys, Quang Binh’s jungle caves, the imperial beauty of Hue, artisan villages near Hoi An, and the untouched charm of Phu Yen. End your journey in Ho Chi Minh City with guided tours of the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels and the tranquil Mekong Delta.
Whether you’re seeking romance, culture, or comfort, the Vietnam Luxury Express offers a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Vietnam – one elegant stop at a time.
Tour Highlights
- Travel the full length of Vietnam in style aboard a luxury train – from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
- Drift through limestone caves and lush valleys in Trang An, often called “Halong Bay on land”
- Explore Vietnam’s imperial legacy at the Citadel of Hue and Tu Duc Mausoleum
- Wander the lantern-lit streets and artisan villages of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Discover the majestic Phong Nha Cave on a tranquil riverboat journey
- Enjoy curated experiences with local artisans, from woodblock painting to mat weaving
- Savor regional cuisine onboard and in handpicked local restaurants throughout the journey
- Experience the dramatic coastline of central Vietnam from the scenic Hai Van Pass
- Step inside history at the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground legacy of the Vietnam War
- Cruise the peaceful canals of the Mekong Delta, where life moves with the flow of the river
Day 1 (Wednesday): Hanoi – Welcome on Board
This afternoon, around 4:30 PM, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and take you to Gia Lam Station. At the VIP lounge, you’ll be warmly welcomed and checked in.
At 6:00 PM, head to the train’s restaurant carriage for welcome drinks and a delicious multi-course dinner. As the train departs, you’ll cross the Long Bien Bridge with views of the Red River at sunset.
Relax in your cabin as the train glides through the countryside toward Ninh Binh.
Day 2 (Thursday): Ninh Binh – The First Kingdom of Vietnam
Wake up and enjoy breakfast on board as the train arrives in Ninh Binh.
Take a peaceful sampan boat ride through the limestone landscapes of Trang An, often called “Halong Bay on land.”
Next, visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, and explore its historic temples and mountain surroundings.
Return to the train for lunch, afternoon tea, and a relaxing ride toward Vinh. Enjoy another fine dinner on board in the evening.
Day 3 (Friday): Quang Binh – Jungle and Cave Adventure
Start your day with breakfast on the train as it arrives in Quang Binh.
Explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO site filled with caves and rivers. Take a boat ride on the Son River and explore the impressive Phong Nha Cave.
Return to the train for lunch and some rest.
In the evening, enjoy a home-style dinner in the countryside. You can also join a Vietnamese cooking class before boarding the train to continue to Hue.
Day 4 (Saturday): Hue – Discover Vietnam’s Imperial Legacy
Begin with a rickshaw ride through the quiet streets of Hue, then explore the grand Imperial Citadel, home of Vietnam’s last emperors.
Visit the peaceful Tu Duc Mausoleum, then head to Hue’s Incense Village to learn traditional crafts like incense-making or hat-weaving.
Enjoy a local lunch featuring Hue’s royal-style cuisine.
In the afternoon, return to the train and travel south past the stunning Lang Co Lagoon on your way to your next stop.
Day 5 (Sunday): Quang Nam – Discover Historic Hoi An
Depart early from Hue and enjoy breakfast on board as you pass through the scenic Hai Van Pass.
Arrive in Hoi An and relax with Vietnamese coffee in a countryside setting. Then take a jeep tour to visit local artisans, try woodblock painting and pottery, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch.
In the afternoon, explore Hoi An Ancient Town: visit the market, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, traditional houses, and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge.
Return to the train for a relaxing evening and dinner on board, heading toward Phu Yen.
Day 6 (Monday): Phu Yen – Coastal Calm & Craft Traditions
After breakfast, visit Mang Lang Church, a beautiful 19th-century Catholic church, and then head to Phu Tan Mat Weaving Village to see how local mats are made by hand.
Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at a coastal restaurant.
In the afternoon, return to the train. Depart Phu Yen at 4:00 PM and relax on board as the scenery passes by.
Have an elegant dinner under the stars in the dining car.
Day 7 (Tuesday): Phan Thiet – Culture, Cuisine & Cham Heritage
Start with a visit to Ta Cu Mountain to see the hilltop Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda.
Then visit the Fish Sauce Museum to learn about this essential part of Vietnamese cuisine.
Enjoy a seaside lunch with local specialties.
In the evening, have your farewell dinner at the historic Poshanu Cham Towers, a beautiful setting for your last evening on tour.
Later, board the train and begin the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 8 (Wednesday): Ho Chi Minh City
The train arrives at Saigon Station around 5:00 AM. Enjoy breakfast on board until 8:30 AM. Check out begins at 9:00 AM.
You’ll then be transferred to either your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 9 (Thursday) Ho Chi Minh city Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 10 ( Friday ) Mekong delta
Day 11 ( Saturday ) Saigon departure
What’s included
• 7 nights in a twin/double cabin with en-suite, A/C, and daily service
• 3 nights in Luxury hotel
• All meals onboard plus select local restaurant experiences
• Complimentary soft drinks, beer, house wine, tea & coffee
• Cabin attendant, evening turndown, and private transfers in Hanoi or HCMC
• Guided excursions with English-speaking guides and entrance fees included
What’s not included
• International airfare
• Visas (if needed).
• Gratuities for services and experiences.
• Personal expenses like laundry, phone calls, and room service.
• Early check-in or late check-out (unless noted).
• Extra activities not included in the itinerary
Itinerary ideas
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
13
-
14
Accommodation options
What our clients say about us
Peter
20 March 2025 ★★★★★We had a wonderful 12-day trip across Thailand, beautifully arranged by Mr. Stephen from Absolute Asia. Every detail was taken care of, from comfortable stays to fully organized vegetarian meals throughout the journey. Our itinerary covered Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, then we spent five blissful days in Koh Samui. There, we relaxed on palm-fringed beaches, explored Ang Thong Marine Park by boat, and savored fresh tropical fruits at sunset. A big shoutout to our lovely guide, Mr Krit who made the experience even more special with him warmth and knowledge. We’re heading home with unforgettable memories of Thailand’s hospitality and charm. Thank you, Absolute Asia Tours.
Gari
22 May 2024 ★★★★★Our recent trip to China and Mongolia was a great success. Overall we found Absolute Asia Tours services to be excellent throughout the two weeks we were in Asia. For us, Mongolia was definitely the highlight. We thoroughly enjoyed or local guides and drives and they were unfailingly knowledgeable, helpful and amusing. Their languages skills were excellent and we felt that we recieved real insight into this fascinating country. We were intinially drawn to the idea of this trip by the reports of the world class fihing and we were absolutely not disappointed. The fishing guide was first rate and we caught more fish than we could have hoped for - more than 25 each day - with the added bonus of being the only other people in sight for miles arround. AAT created a private ger camp for us on the Onon River and we enjoyed delicious food prepared by our chef in a beautiful unspoled atmosphere. They alo arranged for us to visit a nomadic family and spend time with them at home and organized a dinner with an anthropologist with expert knowledge of the region. AAT fullfilled their promise to tkae us to us to one of the world's best fishing destinations in comfort and style. We would be happy to travel with AAT again and will definitely recommend them to our friends.
Cherry
16 May 2024 ★★★★★We've had two "A+" experience with Absolute Asia Tours. It is a pleasure to work with an organization where I feel confident that what you say will happen, happens. This was true with our complicated China itinerary six years ago, and was true with our recent itinerary in Vietnam. your on the ground guides and logistics were top - notch, and I would recommend you to anyone to visit Asia.
James
17 January 2024 ★★★★★Absolute Asia tours gave us a wonderful tour of Southeast Asia (working with sister-agency My Way Travel based in Vietnam). For our Siem Reap/Angkor Wat journey, our party of two had a private driver and guide named Jak, who was a cheerful and knowledgeable companion, explaining the history, culture, architecture and religious significance of the sites while keeping it always fun. We moved efficiently from site to site, and finished with a boat tour of the fishing village on stilts at Kampong Pluk on the Tonle Sap Lake. During most of our trip we stayed at top-notch locally-owned hotels, but in Siem Reap we were at the excellent local Hyatt hotel. Absolute Asia and My Way Travel our outstanding local providers, less expensive than name-brand group tours, and customized to our interests and schedule.
Hope
2 January 2024 ★★★★★We had an awesome time on cycling tour with AAT! It was incredible, filled with good vibes, laughs & a fantastic way to explore Vietnam & Cambodia. Tony our guide made it special by introducing us to locals and showing us the real charm of these countries. The whole tour was well-organized & the way they took care of us awesome. It's an unforgettable trip and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia.
Nas
1 January 2024 ★★★★★My group of six completed a 30 day cycling tour in Asia with AAT. We traveled form Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Saigon to Siem Reap. Every day we pedaled through stunning countryside views, passing villages, fields & limestone karsts. Our guide Tony was fantastic-interesting, friendly & personable. This experience stood out as the highlight of our Asia trip.
