WITH COLIN SCHROEDER9 – 28 SEPTEMBER 2O15 (2O DAYS)

HALONG BAY

SNAPSHOT• ExclusivetravelaboardRailwayAdventuresprivatetrain• 7separaterailwaytripsand6comfortablecoachjourneys• FullyescortedbyanexpertAustralianleaderandlocalguidethroughout• 16nightsinquality4–5starhotelsandresortswithmostmealsincluded• 1nightovernighttrain• OvernighttrainjourneyfromSapatoHanoiinprivatesleepingcoach.• 2nightsaboardIndochina SailsluxuryjunkonHalongBay• Comprehensivesightseeingincluding6worldheritagesights

FEATuRINgPrivate train travel on theReunificationExpress andSapa, theDalatMountainRailway,SteamSteelworksrailexperienceandIndochinaSailsluxuryjunkonHaLongBay.

AT A gLANCEEmbrace this rare opportunity to explore Vietnam by private train on the legendaryReunification Express–oneoftheworld’sgreatrailjourneys.WelcomedontoyourprivaterailcoachesinHoChiMinhCity,youwilltravelinstagesincludingsomelegsbycoachandplane,enjoyingVietnam’smosticonicdestinationsona2,500-kilometreodysseyallthewaynorthtoHanoiandontoSapa.

The adventure includes side trips to the colourful colonial hill station city of Dalat, theancienttradingportofHoiAnandaspecialcharteronthenormallyinaccessiblelaststeamrailwayinIndochina.AnovernightcruisearoundtheislandsofthestunningWorldHeritagelistedHaLongBayistheicingonthecake,showcasingmorefascinatingaspectsofthisdiversecountry.

Enjoy luxury hotels,mostmeals andpersonal attention fromyour host andhis teamofguides.AlongthewaydiscovertherichcultureofVietnam,itsancientkingdomsandcolourfulcolonial past, the fascinating ethnic diversity and triumphant post-war reconstruction.Legendaryfood,friendlypeopleandexcellentshoppingcompletetheexperiencesofthiswonderfulanduniquerailwayadventure.

HO CHI MINH CITY – DALAT – HOI AN – HuEDONg HOI – HANOI – SAPA – HALONg BAY

Mekong River

Thai NyugenHanoi

Dong Hoi

Hue

Hoi An

Nha Trang

Dalat

Saigon

Thap Cham

Halong Bay

Sapa

COLIN SCHROEDERColincan’trememberatimewhenhewasn’tfascinatedwithrailways.ThisfascinationhastakenhimaroundtheWorldseveraltimes,visitingmorethansixtycountries,insearchofuniquerailwayadventures.ColinhaslivedforovertwelvemonthsinSouthAmerica,photographingthepassingofsteamlocomotivesandridingtrainsonsomeoftheWorld’shighestrailwaylines.ThishasgivenColinanindepthknowledgeoftheSouthAmericanContinentandanappreciationofwhichrailwaysareamusttoexperience.ColinhasalsotravelledextensivelyexploringsomeofthemajorculturalsitesaroundtheWorld.HisinterestintravelledhimtostudyforandgainaCertificateinTourGuidingandManagementandaCertificateinInboundTourOperations.

DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER: ARRIvE IN HO CHI MINH CITY SuggestedflightswithVietnamAirlinesdepartingSydney(exMelbourneoptionavailable)are:DepartSydney11.15am–ArriveHoChiMinhCity4.15pmOptionsexotherAustraliancitiesalsoavailable.Transfertoyourhotelonarrival.LaterthiseveningenjoyawelcomedinnerwithColin,ourlocalguidingteamandyourfellowtravellers.

OvernightatthenewlyrenovatedGrandHotel,HoChiMinhCity(D)

DAY 2 – THuRSDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER : HO CHI MINH CITY BeginexplorationofHoChiMinhCitywithaleisurelyintroductorycitytourstoppingattheBenThanhMarket,thehistoricCityPostOfficeandNotreDameCathedral.AfterlunchatalocalrestauranttakealookattheVietnamWarRemnantsMuseumandtheoldPresidentialPalace,nowknownastheReunificationPalace,includingalittle-visitedsecretVChidingplaceusedtostoreweaponsforanattackontheIndependencePalacein1968.

OvernightatGrandHotel,HoChiMinhCity(B,L)

DAY 3 – FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER: HO CHI MINH CITY - MY THO - MEkONg RIvER AfterbreakfastfollowthepathofVietnam’sveryfirstrailwayline(openedin1885,abandonedin1958)toMyTho,70kilometressouthwestofHoChiMinhCityintheMekongDelta.OnthewayweareintroducedtotherailwayhistoryofsouthernVietnamandseesomeofthesurvivingvestigesoftheabandonedline.FromthesiteoftheformerrailwaystationontheMyThoquayside,takeaboatcruiseontheMekongRivertoanearbyislandwherewecanwalkthroughricefieldsandorchards,samplelocalfruitandricewineandlistentoamusicalperformance.Afterwardsrowalongtheislandwaterwaysandcanalsinasampantoanotherislandwherewewillhavelunch,samplingthedeliciouslocalspecialty–‘elephantearfish’.Thenit’sbacktoHoChiMinhCityandanafternoonofleisurebeforedinneratalocalrestaurant.

OvernightatGrandHotel,HoChiMinhCity(B,L)

DAY 4 – SATuRDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER: HO CHI MINH CITY - THAP CHAM - DALAT AfterbreakfastweheadforSaigonRailwayStationwhereourprivaterailwaycarriagesarecoupledontoTrainSE6,departingat9.00am.ThefirstofourscenictrainjourneystakesusalongthesouthernmostsectionoftheformerTransindochinoisrailway,builtbetween1904and1913.Itmeandersacrossthericepaddiesandbusytownsofthefertilesouthwhilemorningteaand,later,lunchisservedinyourprivatebuffetcar.ReachingThapCham(‘ChamTower’)Stationat2:57pm,weareconveyedbyluxurycoachupthemountainstotheoldFrenchhillstationofDalat,stoppingforsightseeingalongtheway.ThiswasoncethefavouriteretreatoftheFrenchcolonialistsinthecoolclimateoftheCentralHighlands.WewillresideintheoldworldgrandeuroftheSofitelDalatPalaceHotel.Dinnerwillbeservedintheopulentdininghallatthehotel.

OvernightatSofitelDalatPalaceHotel,Dalat(B,L,D)

DAY 5 - SuNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER: DALAT ThismorningwetakeatourofDalatinthecoach,visitingthesummerresidenceofthelastEmperor,BaoDai,whowasforcedtoabdicatein1945;thenthequirkyarchitectureoftheCrazyHouseArtGalleryandtheTrucLamTempleonscenicTuyenLamLake.Ontheway,stopatthePrennWaterfall.AfterlunchheadfortheoldDalatRailwayStation,anartdecomasterpiececompletedin1938andtheterminusoftheformerLangbianCogRailway(1932-1969,nowearmarkedforreconstruction)totakeashortdiesel-hauledtraintripalongareopened7-kilometre(adhesionrail)stretchoftheoldlineandlearnabouttheline’sfascinatinghistory.TaketimetoseethetallLinhPhuocPagodabeforethereturnjourneybehindthevintageRussiandieselrailcar.

OvernightatSofitelDalatPalaceHotel,Dalat(B,L)

DAY 6 – MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER: DALAT - NHA TRANg – DANANg - HOI AN Afteraleisurelybreakfastheadbackdownthemountain,takinginthebreathtakingsceneryontheway,toresumeourtrainjourneyinNhaTrang,stoppingtoviewsomesurvivingvestigesoftheoldLangbianCogRailwayandtheextraordinaryviewsstretchingoutoverthecoastalplain.Afterlunchatthewonderfulbeachside‘SailingClub’restaurantwewillvisitthePoklongGaraiTemple,builtbytheChamintheearly14thcentury,todiscovermoreaboutthisancientpeoplewholefttheirarchitecturalmarkontheentiresouth-centralcoastalregionofVietnam.Downatthestationwewillreboardourprivatecoaches,coupledontoTrainSE8,departingat1.42pmandtravelovernightalongthefinalsectionoftheTransindochinoisrailwaybuiltbytheFrenchcolonialgovernmentin1935-1936.Thisisastunningsectionofthecoastline-huggingrailway.Mountainsandlakesarealsoapartoftheever-changingscenery.Dinnerwillbeservedintheprivatebuffetcarasthecountrysiderollsbyinthedeepglowofevening.Aswetravel,enjoyatalkonthehistoryofthelineweareridingandenjoytheon-boardmusicandmoviesystem.ThetrainpullsintoDanangstationat11.16pmandthecoachwillthentransferustoourluxuriousresorthotelintheheartofoldHoiAn.

OvernightatAnataraResort,HoiAn(B,L,D)

DAY 7 - TuESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER: HOI AN Enjoyamorningfreetotakeyourtimeoverbreakfast,soakupthefacilitiesofthehotelandexplorethedistrict.Ourguidedwalkingtourofthetownbeginsjustbeforelunch,exploringtheThienHauTemple,theJapaneseCoveredBridgeandseveralancienthouses.HoiAnisalsorenownedforitsskilledtailorswhocanmakeupanytypeofclothingwithin24hours,sotodaywillalsoprovideanopportunityforafittingsession.Aleisurelylunch

isunfurledattheCargoClubintheheartoftheoldtownandafterwardsyouarefreetostrollaroundtheancienttown,returntothehotelinyourowntimeorbefittedforthelatesttailoredfashions.

OvernightatAnataraResort,HoiAn(B,L)

DAY 8 – WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER: HOI AN ThedayisfreetoenjoyandexplorethewondersofHoiAnortakeinthemanyoptionsavailable.HighlyrecommendedisacookingclasswhereyoucanstudyhowtocooksomeVietnamesetraditionaldishesinthecompanyofanexperiencedchefwhowillguideyouthroughtheprocurementofingredientsatthelocalvillagemarketandin-depthhands-oncookingcoachingfollowedbylunch.AlternativelyyoucanenjoyanearlymorningsidetripbyroadtotheMySontemplecomplex,aclusterofstonetowersandsanctuariesbuiltbytheChamfromthe7thtothe14thcenturieswhichisoftencomparedtoSouthEastAsia’sothermajortemplecomplexessuchasAngkorWat,Borobudur,BaganandAyutthaya.In1999,MySonwaslistedbyUNESCOasaWorldHeritageSite.Arrivebackintimeforalatelunch.NumerousotheroptionsareavailablewhichColinandourlocalguidewillalsobehappytoarrange.

OvernightatAnataraResort,HoiAn(B)

DAY 9 – THuRSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER: HOI AN - DANANg - HuETodaywefindourselvesbackontherails.DepartingHoiAnafterbreakfast,wewillvisitthebusyDanangRailwayWorkshopsandmeetthemanagerwhoispassionateabouttheworktheydoandthefutureofthenationalrailwaysystem.Wewillalsovisit theworld-renownedChamSculptureMuseum,establishedin1915-6byacademicsoftheÉcolefrançaisedel’ExtrèmeOrient,containingtheworld’slargestandmostvaluablecollectionofChamsculpturesfromvarioustemplesites,datingfromthe4thtothe15thcenturiesCE.Enjoylunchatafamouslocalrestaurant.Finally,were-boardourprivatecarriagesatDanangStationcoupledontoTrainSE4departingat2.13pm.SnackswillbeservedinourbuffetcarasthetrainrollsoverthestunninglybeautifulHaiVanPass.Stone-linedtunnelsandviaductsareafeatureofthisdramaticallyengineeredlinecompletedbytheFrenchin1906.Perchedonthecliffandhuggingthecoast,therailwayhaswideviewsacrosstheseaandbeyondtoourdestination,theoldimperialcapitalofHue.Thetrainwillpullintothegrandcolonialstationat3.00pmandwearetransferredtotheluxuryImperialHotel.Theeveningisfreetoenjoythemanydiningoptionsinthebusydistrictaroundthehotel.

OvernightatImperialHotel,Hue(B,L)

DAY 10 –FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER: HuE HueactedasVietnam’spoliticalandroyalcapitalduringthe19thcenturyandremainsoneofthecountry’smostimportantculturalandreligiouscentres.Ourfull-daytourstartswithavisittothevastHueCitadel,followedbyvisitstotheTuDucandKhaiDinhMausoleaandtheRoyalArena,wheretigersandelephantsoncefoughtfortheking’samusement.Visita‘gardenhouse’-auniquearchitecturalfeatureofNguyen-dynastyHuesurroundedbyflowergardensandorchards.AfterapicniclunchwewillexplorethetranquilThienMuPagodaandthentakeaboattripbacktoourhotelalongthePerfumeRiverandintheeveningenjoyaRoyalBanquetfeaturingdishesonceservedonlyintheForbiddenCity.

OvernightatImperialHotel,Hue(B,L,D)

DAY 11 – SATuRDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER : HuE - vIHN MOC - DONg HOIEarlycheck-outandafterbreakfastdepartbycoachforthe infamousregionknownastheDMZandtheresortcityofDongHoi.From1954to1975theDMZservedasthedemarcationlinebetweentheNorthandtheSouthofVietnam.Ironically,duringthewar,itbecameoneofthemostmilitarizedzonesintheworld.ThefirststopisattheHeinLuongBridgeandassociatedmuseum.YouhavetheoptiontojoinColinandourguidesonanexcursionintotheVinhMocTunnelswhichareimmaculatelypreserved,revealingthelivesthevillagerslivedundergroundtoavoidthemayhemabove.OfthemanytunnelcomplexesinVietnam,theseareconsideredthemostcompleteandeasilyaccessible(nocrawlingrequired).EnjoylunchatalocalrestaurantrightonthebeachthatwasusedforsmugglingarmsandthencontinuetotheresortandportcityofDonhHoi.Therestoftheafternoonisatleisureanddinnerisprovidedinthehotel’sfinediningrestaurant.

OvernightatSunSpaResort(B,L,D)

DAY 12 – SuNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER: DONg-HOI - HANOIMidmorningseesusboardaflight for theshort trip toVietnam’shistoricanddynamiccapital,Hanoi.Enjoy lunchon theway into townatanatmosphericlocalfavourite.Finallycheckingintoyourhotelfornextfewnight’srightintheheartofthecitynextdoortothemagnificentHanoiOperaHouse.Ashortorientationofthecitynightlifebycoachisofferedonthewaytothisevening’srestaurantforadinnerfeaturingthespecialcuisineoftheNorth.Laterreturntothehotelthroughthebustlingoldquarterbytraditionalrickshaw.

OvernightatHiltonHanoiOperaHotel(B,L,D)

DAY 13 – MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER: HANOI Enjoyafull-daytourofHanoitoday.Themorningwillbespentexploringsomeofthecapitalcity’smorefamoussightsincludingtheHoChiMinhMausoleumandPresidentialPalaceVestigesArea,theOne-PillarPagodaandtheTempleofLiterature.Lunchwillbehostedatalocalrestaurantandthenthetourofthisfascinating,ancientcitycontinuesintheafternoon.AnoptionalvisittothefamousWaterPuppetTheatreishighlyrecommendedandiseasilyarranged.AttendinganearlysessionleavesyoufreetojointhegroupattheGourmetCornerRestaurantsituatedonthetopflooroftheDiamondEleganceHotel.ThisoptionoffersanidealsettingfordinnerasyoucanenjoytheviewsacrossthelaketothecitywhilediningonawidevarietyofWesternandVietnamesedishes.

OvernightatHiltonHanoiOperaHotel(B,L)

DAY 14 – TuESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER: HANOI - THAI NguYEN Today’sexclusiveexcursiontakesustotheindustrialcityofThaiNguyen,homeoftheThaiNguyenSteelCompany(TISCO),nowtheonlyplaceleftinVietnam,andvirtuallytheworld,withworkingsteamtrains.Explorethesteelworksandseethenormalworkingdayofthisfascinatingsteamrailwayinsidethefactory,followedbyatraintriphauledbyaGongjian-class0-6-0Tsteamtanklocomotiveoutalongtheline.LunchisprovidedatalocalrestaurantbeforereturningtoHanoiintheafternoonforaneveningatleisure.

OvernightatHiltonHanoiOperaHotel(B,L)

DAY 15 – WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER: HANOI – SAPAAfterbreakfasttransfertoHanoiRailwayStationandboardyourprivatecarriagesforthedayjourneyalongtheValleyoftheRedRivertothecityofLaoCaiontheChineseborder.Thejourneyfollowsthecourseofthemightyriverformostofitslength.Alongthewayenjoylunchonboardinourownbuffetcar.AfterarrivalinthelateafternoonwethentransfertotheoldcolonialhilltownofSapahighintheHoangLienRangeofmountains.Checkinandenjoydinneratthehotel.

Overnight:ChauLongHotelSapa(B,L,D)

DAY 16 – THuRSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER: SAPAExcursionsaroundSapatodaywilltakeyoutothePostOffice,SapaHospitalandthebestvalleyviewwalkingtracks.LunchwillbeenjoyedatalocalrestaurantbeforetrekkinguptoHamRongMountain:takeinanamazingpanoramaofSapatown,thenvisittheOrchidGardenandatraditionalethnicvillage.

Overnight:ChauLongHotelSapa(B,L)

DAY 17 – FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBERAfterbreakfasttakeanexcursionbyroadandfoottoCatCatVillage(BlackH’mongethnicminority)inthemorning.Lunchisatthehotel.CheckoutthentransfertoSilverWaterfall.ContinuetoLaoCaiCityandvisitUpperTempleandtheLaoCaiinternationalborder.WewillhavedinneratalocalrestaurantandthenboardourprivatesleepingcoachattachedtothenighttrainbackHanoi.

Overnightontrainintwin-berthcompartment(B,L,D)

DAY 18 – SATuRDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER: HA LONg BAY ThetrainpullsintoHanoistationintheearlymorning.TransfertoahotelforashortfreshenupandbreakfastbeforetransferringdirectlybycoachtoHalongBay.ThemorningcoachtriptothecoastalportofHaLongCitydeliversustotheboardingpointforthespecialovernightluxuryjunkcruiseofHaLongBay.Aftercheckingin,enjoyawelcomedrinkasyousoakuptheatmosphereofthespaciousnewlybuilttraditionalteakcruising‘junk’.ItsetssailthroughthemysteriousbaywhileanexquisitelunchisservedandwefloatamongstthenaturalrockformationsandthepicturesquebeautyofthisUNESCOWorldHeritagelistedseascape.VisitBaHangfloatingvillageanddropanchorinthecalmwatersurroundedbybeautifulisletsforswimming,kayakingandanoptionalvisittoLuonCave.Enjoythecomplimentarysunsetpartyonthesundeckwithlocalwineandfreshfruitsand,asthesunsetsontheislands,wewillhearmorefromtheguideaboutthecustomsandlifestylesofthelocals.Youcanalsojoinacookingdemonstrationlearningaboutthecraftoffruitandvegetablecarving.Afterdinnertrysquidfishingwiththecrew,watchamovie,haveadrinkatthebarorjustrelaxinyourcabinwiththegentlesoundsofthewaterlappingintheprotectedbaywheretheshipdropsanchorforthenight.

OvernightonboardIndochina SailsonHaLongBay(B,L,D)

DAY 19 – SuNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER: HA LONg BAY JoinfellowpassengersforalightbreakfastwhilesailingtoSungSotCave.DropanchortoexploreSungSotCave,oneofthelargestandmostbeautifulcavesinHaLongBayandregardedasanoperatheatreonHaLongBaywiththreemainchamberscoveringanareaofover10,000squaremetres.Theboatdepartstoanotherpartofthebaytoanidyllicisolatedbeachwhereyouwillenjoyapicnicstylelunchonthewhitesands.Oncebackattheboat,relaxandthenenjoytheafternoonactivitiesorsimplyenjoysomewellearnedleisuretime.Thiseveningyouwillbetreatedtoagrandfarewellfeastonboard,achancetocelebrateanepicadventurewithyourhostsandfellowtravellers.

OvernightonboardIndochina SailsonHalongBay(B,L,D)

DAY 20 - MONDAY 28TH SEPTEMBERBreakfastisservedastheboatcruisesbacktoport.ThecoachtakesusonthereturnjourneytoHanoianddirecttotheairportunlessofcourseyouwishtoremaininHanoiforalongersojourn.

(B)

SuggESTED FLIgHTS:

Hanoi–HoChiMinhCity 5.00pm–7.00pmHoChiMinhCity–Sydney 8.40pm–overnightarriving29th8.15amNote:unexpectedcircumstancesmaycausechangestotheeventsoutlinedintheitinerary

TOuR PRICES

Perpersontwinshare $8,450Singlesupplement $2,345 (notavailablewhenonthetrain,twinsharewillapplyincompartmentstyleaccommodation)

INCLuSIONS

• Hotelaccommodationincentrallylocated4to5-starhotels• Trainjourneysintwin-sharecabinsonPrivateBlueTrainCoach+01RestaurantCar(nosingleroomingontrain)*returnfromSapainprivate

‘HARA’sleepingcoachonly.• 2nightsonboardatraditionalVietnamese‘junk’luxurycruiseboatincabinswithprivatefacilities• Mealsasperitinerary(B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner)• Comfortableair-conditionedcoachtransportationthroughout• Comprehensivesightseeingincludinglocalguidesandentrancefeesasperitinerary• Gratuitiesforlocalguides,driversandonboardthetrain• Transfersbetweenairportandhotelforthoseonsuggestedflights• Porterageathotelsandrailwaystations(1pieceperperson)

EXCLuSIONS

• InternationalFlights• Visa• Insurance• Transfersonarrivalanddepartureifnottravellingongroupflights• Drinkswithmeals,exceptforwelcomeandfarewelldinners• Itemsofapersonalnature(e.g.telephone,laundry,minibar)

DETAILS SuBJECT TO CHANgE

Pleasenote:weendeavortohaveallthedetailsofourtourscorrectatthetimeofprintinghoweversometimesoutsidefactorssuchasmovementsinforeignexchangerates,theavailabilityofrequestedhotelsor theoperationof trains andother servicesmaychange.Thereforeitemsmentionedinthebrochuresuchasquotedprices,hotelsandinclusionsaresubjecttochange.Pleasecheckwithusatthetimeofbooking.

ADDITIONAL TRAvEL ARRANgEMENTS

We can assist youwith your international flights, pre- and post-travelincludingextendedstaysinUSA,visas,andtravelinsurance.Callourofficeon1300733323ifyouwouldliketodiscussoptions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For more information on things that may affect your ability toparticipate in this tour such as fitness level, fees and charges,payment schedules,passport validityand liabilitiescanbe foundintheTermsandConditionsthataccompanythebookingformandcanalsoberequestedatanytime.

FEEDBACk FROM 2O14 TOuR:

“Varied, interesting and fun-packed train themed tour. Staff looked after us all the way ensuring no mishaps or problems whatsoever. Local guides were excellent.” - John, Mulgrave VIC

“SM Rail Adventures to Vietnam, a unique travel experience, full of wonderful surprises, loads of fun and guided by engaging, competent people.” - Anne and Brian, Gerringong NSW

“Great Scott! Great Tour!!” - Heather and Les Roleystone, WA

Sapa

This tour is operated by Guidepost Tours, a division of SCT Travel Group in conjunction with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures T/A Lic. No. 2TA5895

JAPANESE BRIDGE - HOI AN