www.railwayadventures.co VIETNAM BY PRIVATE TRAIN 17 days 2 – 18 September 2013 HO CHI MINH CITY – DALAT – HOI AN – HUE – HANOI – HALONG BAY Featuring: The Reunification Express, The Dalat Railway, Steam at Thai Nguyen and the Indochina Sails on Ha Long Bay Embrace this rare opportunity to explore Vietnam by Private Train on the legendary Reunification Express – one of the world’s great rail journeys. Welcomed onto your private sleeping and restaurant cars in Ho Chi Minh City you will travel in stages enjoying Vietnam’s most iconic destinations on a 1,700 kilometre odyssey all the way north to Hanoi. The adventure includes side trips to the colourful colonial hill station city of Dalat, the ancient trading port of Hoi An, a special charter on the normally inaccessible last steam railway in Indochina and an overnight cruise on the stunning World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. An optional extension to the mountainous colonial hill station of Sapa, near the Chinese border, caps off this special journey. Enjoy two nights on board our private train, in two-berth compartments, a night on the luxury Indochina Sails on Ha Long Bay and the balance in luxury 4- and 5- star hotels. On the way discover the rich culture of Vietnam: its ancient kingdoms and colourful colonial past, the fascinating ethnic diversity and triumphant post-war reconstruction. Legendary food, friendly people and excellent shopping complete the experiences of this wonderful and unique railway adventure. Itinerary Day 1 – Monday 2 September 2013 – Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (D) Suggested flights Vietnam Airlines departing Sydney: Sydney – Ho Chi Minh City 11.15am – 4.30pm Arrive Ho Chi Minh City late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel on arrival. Scott McGregor – host of Railway Adventures Guidepost Tours, Gerringong NSW 2534 Australia Phone 1300 733323 Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA Uniglobe JTW TCF 01022013 website: www.guideposttours.com.au email: [email protected] www.railwayadventures.co Later this evening enjoy a welcome dinner with Scott McGregor and your fellow tour members. Overnight at the newly renovated Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. Day 2 – Tuesday 3 September 2013 – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L) Begin your exploration of Ho Chi Minh City with a leisurely introductory city tour stopping at the Ben Thanh Market, the historic City Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. After lunch at a local restaurant take a look at the Vietnam War Remnants Museum and the old Presidential Palace now known as the Reunification Palace including a little-visited secret VC Hiding Place used to store weapons for an attack on the Independence Palace in 1968. Overnight at Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. Day 3 – Wednesday 4 September 2013 – Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Mekong River (B, L, D) After breakfast follow the path of Vietnam’s very first railway line (opened in 1885, abandoned in 1958) to My Tho, 70 kilometres south west of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta. On the way you are introduced to the railway history of southern Vietnam and see some of the surviving vestiges of the abandoned line. From the site of the former railway station on My Tho quayside take a boat cruise on the Mekong River to a nearby island, where you can walk through rice fields and orchards, sample local fruit and rice wine and listen to a musical performance. Afterwards row a small sampan along a canal to another island where you will have lunch, sampling the delicious local specialty – ‘elephant ear fish’. Then it’s back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. Day 4 – Thursday 5 September 2013 – Ho Chi Minh City, Thap Cham, Dalat (B, L, D) After breakfast head for Saigon Railway Station where your private railway carriages are coupled onto Train TN2, departing at 1005. The first scenic train journey takes you along the southernmost section of the former Transindochinois railway, built between 1904 and 1913. It meanders across the rice paddies and busy towns of the fertile south while lunch is served in your private buffet car. Reaching Thap Cham (‘Cham Tower’) Station at 1655, you are conveyed by bus up the mountain to the old French hill station of Dalat. This was once the favourite retreat of the French Colonists in the cool climate of the Central Highlands and you will reside in the old world grandeur of the Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel. Dinner will be served in the opulent dining hall at the hotel. Overnight at Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel, Dalat. Day 5 – Friday 6 September 2013 – Dalat (B, L) This morning take an exhilarating tour of Dalat by motorbike, visiting the summer residence of the last Emperor, Bao Dai, who was forced to abdicate in 1945. Take in the quirky architecture of the Crazy House Art Gallery and then the Truc Lam Temple on scenic Tuyen Lam Lake. On the way, stop at the Prenn Waterfall. After lunch head for the old Dalat Railway Station, an art deco masterpiece completed in 1938 and the terminus of the former Langbian Cog Railway (1932-1969, now earmarked for reconstruction) to take a short diesel-hauled train trip along a reopened 7-kilometre (adhesion rail) stretch of the old line and learn about the line’s fascinating history. Take time to see the tall Linh Phuoc Pagoda before the return journey behind the vintage Russian diesel railcar. Overnight at Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel, Dalat. Guidepost Tours, Gerringong NSW 2534 Australia Phone 1300 733323 Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA Uniglobe JTW TCF website: www.guideposttours.com.au email: [email protected] www.railwayadventures.co Day 6 – Saturday 7 September 2013 – Dalat, Thap Cham, Danang (B, L, D) After a leisurely breakfast head back down the mountain taking in the breathtaking scenery on the way to resume our train journey in Thap Cham, stopping to view some surviving vestiges of the old Langbian Cog Railway. After lunch visit the Poklong Garai Temple, built by the Cham in the early 14th century to discover more about this ancient people who left their architectural mark on the entire south-central coastal region of Vietnam. Then reboard your private train, coupled onto Train TN2, departing at 1655 and travelling overnight along the final section of the Transindochinois railway built by the French colonial government in 1935-1936. Dinner will be served in the private buffet car as the countryside rolls by in the deep glow of evening. As you travel, enjoy a talk on the history of the line you are riding and enjoy the on-board Karaoke and Movie system. Overnight on Transindochinois railway. Day 7 – Sunday 8 September 2013 – Danang, Hoi An (B, L) The sights and sounds of villagers beginning their day flash by as you enjoy an early breakfast on board, arriving at Danang Station at 0644. The coach will meet you for the short trip by road to the old port of Hoi An, renowned for its architectural heritage. After depositing the luggage at the Life Heritage Resort, enjoy a guided walking tour of the town exploring the Thien Hau Temple, the Japanese Covered Bridge and several ancient houses. Hoi An is also renowned for its skilled tailors, who can make up any type of clothing within 24 hours, so today will also provide an opportunity for a fitting session. After lunch you can check into the hotel, enjoy a free afternoon to stroll around the ancient town, lounge by the pool or be fitted for the latest tailored fashions. Overnight at Life Heritage Resort, Hoi An. Day 8 – Monday 9 September 2013 – Free day at Hoi An (B) Free day to enjoy and explore the wonders of Hoi An or take in the many options available. Highly recommended is a cooking class where you can study how to cook some Vietnamese traditional dishes in the company of an experienced chef. You will be taken to Tra Que organic herb gardens to purchase ingredients at the local village market, then it’s in-depth hands on cooking followed by lunch and a return trip to Hoi An by boat: OR an early morning by road to the My Son temple complex, a cluster of stone towers and sanctuaries built by the Cham from the 7th to the 14th centuries which is often compared to South East Asia’s other major temple complexes such as Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Pagan and Ayutthaya. In 1999, My Son was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Arrive back in time for a late lunch. Overnight at Life Heritage Resort, Hoi An. Day 9 – Tuesday 10 September 2013 – Hoi An (B) Day at leisure to enjoy optional tours or just relax at the resort in the spa or by the pool. Overnight at Life Heritage Resort, Hoi An. Day 10 – Wednesday 11 September 2013 – Hoi An, Danang, Hue (B, L) This morning follow the route once taken by a 0.6m gauge steam tramway known as the Tramway de l’Îlot de l'Observatoire (1907-1915) back to Danang, learning about the railway history of the central region. We then offer an option of either: (i) visiting the world-renowned Cham Sculpture Museum, established in 1915-6 by academics of the École Française de l’extrème orient, containing the world’s largest and most valuable collection of Cham sculptures from various temple sites, including Tra Kieu (Singapura), Dong Duong (Indrapura) and Thap Mam (Vijaya) and dating from the 4th to the 15th centuries CE; or (ii) visiting Guidepost Tours, Gerringong NSW 2534 Australia Phone 1300 733323 Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA Uniglobe JTW TCF website: www.guideposttours.com.au email: [email protected] www.railwayadventures.co Danang Diesel Depot, Vietnam Railways’ main traction hub for the central region (guests must indicate choice when booking this tour as permits must be arranged in advance).