Vietnams Reunification Express

The hop on/hop off nature of the Reunification Express gives travelers a chance to experience quintessential Southeast Asian scenes rolling past carriage windows as well as having the chance to stay overnight in historic Vietnamese cities and seaside towns. For lengthier sections, overnight sleeper compartments make light work of the journey and more time spent onboard invites opportunities to meet local people, learn a bit of the language and snap an album full of photographs en route.

Below is a guide to what you can expect, with the chance to join a small group certainly adding to the spirit of camaraderie on what could well be one train trip that you’ll never want to forget.

A four-hour bus ride from Hue takes you to Hoi An via the mountains of Bach Ma National Park and the palm-fringed blue waters lapping against Lang Co Beach. As one of Southeast Asia's most important ancient maritime trading centers the UNESCO Wold Heritage Site of Hoi An stands as testament to restoration projects with much of the canal-infused Old Town, including the Japanese covered bridge, looking exactly the same as centuries past. From Chinese pagodas and store houses to French colonial architecture and vintage Vietnamese buildings, Hoi An has become a big draw for cultural travelers and is worth a couple of nights off the rails.

From Hoi An, pick up the Reunification Express again in Danang and head onwards to the beaches of Nha Trang. Although the journey is ten hours, the accompanying countryside ensures time flies by with the reward of relaxation at the beach or exploring the temples of Po Nagar or Long Song, definitely worth enjoying at your leisure. Nha Trang has garnered a reputation for fine seafood and equally exquisite snorkelling and dive sites. Boat rides to nearby islands or afternoons spent pampering at the local spa or wallowing in natural mud baths all add to the laid back charm of Vietnam's premier seaside town.

With villages along the Mekong Delta just a three-hour private bus ride away, Ho Chi Minh City offers ample excuses to experience the essence of Vietnam as well as providing a world of souvenirs and guided sightseeing at the end of a two-week trip on the Reunification Express.