After a delicious early breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide at 8.15am for a briefing and tour of this fascinating city.
With the help of your tour guide, unearth the best of Hanoi, starting with a visit to the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex to view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh. Wander through the park to the Presidential Palace, then stop by Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the leader’s historic private residence, which still stands just as it did more than 50 years ago. This tour will be a combination of walking and transfers between each destination.
Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, then make your way to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university that was built in the 11th century. Then, at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, delve into the cultural heritage of the country’s 54 recognised ethnic groups. Cross the vermilion Huc Bridge to visit the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple, set on Hoan Kiem Lake. From here, take in views of Turtle Tower – one of Vietnam’s most well-known architectural landmarks.
Following a whirlwind of city adventures, relax back at your hotel with the evening free to spend as you wish.
Today, drive through the countryside to the Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll board your luxury vessel to embark on a one-night cruise across Ha Long Bay.
After a welcome drink and a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and crew, lunch is served as you cruise into the emerald waters aboard Lyra Cruise Collection’s Lyra Grandeur. Contemporary design meets Indochine charm across the ship’s 33 spacious suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony or terrace. As jungle-topped limestone islands slip by, take advantage of the ship’s five-star features – from a sparkling infinity pool and bay-facing waterslide, to traditional tea ceremonies and hands-on cooking classes. Explore Ha Long’s hidden caves, stop by a floating farm or unwind on the beach, then return to the sundeck for uninterrupted views of the bay.
Anchor late this evening for an unforgettable night of sumptuous food, all the while floating in luxury between Ha Long’s towering cliffs.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Ha Long Bay cruise on the Lyra Grandeur
Begin your morning on the boat’s sundeck with tea and coffee as dawn breaks over the bay and enjoy a tranquil tai chi session as the sun rises.
Take in the beauty of this pristine landscape before packing your belongings to prepare to disembark. Once the vessel returns to Tuan Chau Marina, meet your transfers for the journey back to Hanoi where your luxury train awaits.
After afternoon tea in Hanoi, you’ll be picked up, escorted to the train and welcomed into the exclusive VIP lounge. Step aboard and into the 1930s – where French colonial elegance meets the bold aesthetics of Southeast Asia in Indochine style.
SJourney is widely regarded as one of Vietnam’s most opulent trains. With just 60 guests across 13 carriages, it offers intimate cabins, gourmet dining and personalised service.
After you’ve settled into your cabin, dress for the occasion and join your fellow travellers in the restaurant carriage, where wine and beer flow freely. Then, settle in for a refined multi-course dinner.
As the train departs, the city lights slip away and Vietnam’s quiet countryside unfolds. Rest well – tomorrow brings new adventures.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Ha Long Bay cruise on the Lyra Grandeur
SJourney Luxury Train journey
Waking up on this exclusive luxury rail journey brings a new view each morning. Today, enjoy a delicious breakfast as the spectacularly emerald waters of Trang An – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Ninh Binh – glide past your window.
Here, you’ll hop off the train and step aboard a sampan, a traditional wooden boat used across Vietnam’s inland waterways. Sit back as you drift through towering limestone cliffs, vivid greenery and glassy waters – a scene that feels straight out of a fairytale.
Next, you’ll continue to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital from the 10th to 11th century. Explore centuries-old temples and historical sites where the Dinh and Le dynasties once ruled, and their legacy still lingers.
Return to your luxury train for lunch, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea onboard.
As the train winds past mountains and away from the Hoa Lu, bid farewell to its storied past while the scenery unfolds outside your window.
This evening, sit down to a refined dinner aboard your luxury train.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
This morning’s windows frame the dramatic beauty of central Vietnam’s Quang Binh, known for its magnificent network of caves.
Visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site – and hop aboard a boat along the Son River. The park’s karst formations rank among Asia’s oldest, while its caves feature stalactites, stalagmites and underground rivers – unique wonders best experienced from the water.
This afternoon, set out on a voyage along the Son River. As you glide across the water, take in the breathtaking scenery – mountains rising from the riverbanks, their rugged beauty reflected in the still surface below. Drift into the subterranean world of Phong Nha Cave, where time has sculpted extraordinary formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
Return to your opulent train for a homestyle dinner overlooking rice paddies. Afterwards, you may wish to participate in a Vietnamese cooking class.
Tonight, rest as the soft rhythm of the train carries you to Hue.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
This morning, begin with a rickshaw ride through Hue and then step back in time to the Nguyen Dynasty – Vietnam’s last imperial rulers – and explore the sprawling Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Leave the citadel behind as you travel by private van to the Tomb of Tu Duc – one of Vietnam’s most popular royal tombs, designed by Emperor Tu Duc himself before his death. Then continue to Hue’s Incense Village where artisans shape cinnamon, agarwood and lotus-scented incense by hand. Try your hand at crafting incense or weaving a conical hat from lotus leaves as the fragrant air drifts around you.
Savour a lunch of Hue’s signature cuisine at a local restaurant before returning to your luxury train.
From your seat aboard the train, the Perfume River, mossy pagodas and solemn mountains fade in the distance. You’ll pass Lap An Lagoon, where calm waters, golden sands and emerald hills form a serene postcard of Central Vietnam.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
Early this morning, the train sets course for Hoi An. Once a bustling trade port, Hoi An is still a powerful melange of cultures, influences and traditions. Beautifully preserved Japanese merchant houses and historic Vietnamese trading warehouses rub shoulders with grand Confucian temples and modern offices to form a colourful tapestry.
Enjoy breakfast as you travel through misty valleys and along the East Sea.
Arrive in Hoi An’s countryside and start your day with a freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee – rich, dark and sweetened with condensed milk. Then, set off on a jeep ride to Au Lac Wood Art to learn about the craft of woodblock painting and create your own design. Continue to Thanh Ha Pottery Village for another glimpse into Hoi An’s local artisan community, where you can try your hand at ceramics.
Lunch will be served at an organic farm, showcasing local produce.
This afternoon, explore Hoi An Ancient Town – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Start at the lively market, where traders offer handwoven silks, lacquerware, spices and street snacks. Nearby, visit the 17th-century Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built by the Fujian Chinese community. Continue to one of the town’s preserved merchant houses – Phung Hung or Tan Ky – with timber interiors and antique furnishings that reveal the lives of prosperous traders. Then, cross the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, once linking Hoi An’s Japanese and Chinese quarters, and now one of the town’s most photographed landmarks. End your walk in the quiet laneways, stopping by artisan studios and family-run galleries where local culture still thrives.
Dinner this evening is served onboard your luxury train, featuring a selection of Vietnamese and international dishes, as you set course for Phu Yen.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
After a leisurely breakfast onboard, the day begins in the quiet heart of Phu Yen, a province on Vietnam’s south-central coast.
Visit Mang Lang Church – a graceful relic of Gothic architecture – before continuing to Phu Tan Mat Weaving Village. Here, artisans transform rush grass into colourful mats, a tradition passed down through generations.
Return to the coast for a delicious lunch, where freshly caught seafood showcases the flavours of Phu Yen.
This afternoon, settle into your cabin as the train glides through the countryside. As evening falls, dinner is served onboard – a thoughtful reflection of the day, shared as the landscape drifts by.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
Greet the day with views of Phan Thiet – a colourful port city alive with boats, markets and seafood vendors. This morning, travel to Ta Cu Mountain, a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site crowned by a reclining Buddha at its summit. Ride the cable car to its peak and take in spectacular panoramic views before descending back down into the city.
Learn about Vietnamese cuisine at the Fish Sauce Museum – a condiment that sits at the heart of most dishes.
Enjoy a relaxed lunch at an oceanfront restaurant before returning to your luxury train for a leisurely afternoon.
As the sun melts into the horizon, arrive at Poshanu Tower, where your rail journey farewell dinner takes centre stage. This cluster of imposing brick temples has stood since the 8th and 9th centuries, offering a spectacular setting to close the day. Dine on fresh seafood, regional specialities and dishes that reflect the diverse culinary influences of Phan Thiet as the sky turns golden and the warm evening sets in.
Return to your opulent cabin and unwind as the train makes its way towards Ho Chi Minh City.
SJourney Luxury Train journey
By morning, you’ll be in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy one final breakfast onboard, then checkout by 9am and meet your transfer to the hotel.
Join your guide for a street tour of the city’s many landmarks such as the soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and impressive Ho Chi Minh City Hall. Choose a picturesque postcard and make your way to Saigon Central Post Office to post it home, taking a moment to gaze up at the beautiful ceilings and intricate detail of this heritage building. Later, learn about the tumultuous history of Reunification Palace, where a convoy of tanks broke through in 1975.
The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure – unwind at your hotel, stroll through winding streets, or sample local flavours at quaint cafes and fragrant street vendors.
Your luxury Vietnamese voyage concludes after breakfast, with a transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your onward flight.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 60 minutes