Rail travel enthusiasts are counting down to the arrival of a new luxury train journey that links Vietnam’s major cities – from the vibrant capital of Hanoi to the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Carving its way in an s-shaped route across the country, the Sjourney train will be Vietnam’s first private train experience with 10 cars and a total of 30 deluxe sleeping cabins for up to 60 passengers.

The all-inclusive rail journey includes seven nights on board the train with all meals, excursions and transportation included in one convenient package. Guests will have several opportunities to disembark and explore historical cities, towns and landmarks en route, such as the captivating cliffs of Ninh Binh, the caves of Quang Binh, the imperial citadel of Hue and more.

Travelling at speeds of up to 50 kph, the train embraces the slow travel concept and comes complete with a host of unique dining experiences, including a home-style dinner amidst endless rice paddies and al fresco dining beside the historical Cham towers.

The Sjourney train is set to depart on its maiden journey on 4 September 2024. After that, weekly services are scheduled to depart every Wednesday from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Contact our team for more details at Asian Trails Vietnam.

A contemporary, technology-driven hotel has opened its doors in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.

With innovative features such as mobile check-ins and 24-hour services and facilities, the Wink Hotel Can Tho provides a convenient base for exploring nearby villages, fruit farms and floating markets.

The hotel is located in the lively commercial and cultural centre of Can Tho and offers a range of options, including family rooms and one-bedroom junior suites for an extra level of comfort. Each room is equipped with a smart TV and in-room controls as well as high-quality linens and sustainable, locally-sourced shower products and amenities.

Guests can take in panoramic views from the rooftop pool and bar and access a range of facilities, including grab-and-go dining options, a gym, laundromat and coworking space. The hotel is LEED Gold certified for sustainability, a certification award for a building that has excelled in its sustainable design and operation

For more information and booking details, contact Asian Trails Vietnam.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi is now closed for annual maintenance until 12 August 2024.

For an alternative experience, guests are encouraged to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Presidential Palace or the One Pillar Pagoda. These are all located within the vicinity of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The final resting place of Vietnam’s former independence leader, President Ho Chi Minh, the Mausoleum and Monument for Heroic Martyrs commemorate a hugely significant period in the country’s history and the site requires regular maintenance to ensure it remains in prime condition for future generations.

Contact our team for more details and expert travel advice at Asian Trails Vietnam.

A new railway journey launched in March 2024 is delivering eco-friendly and engaging travel experiences in Vietnam.

Connecting the Central Vietnamese cities of Hue and Da Nang, the ‘Central Heritage Connection’, train passes through the Hai Van Pass, a scenic mountain route that was named among Travel + Leisure’s 10 most beautiful drives.

Overlooking spectacular coastal scenery and rolling landscapes, the three-hour train journey makes one stop at Lang Co Beach, allowing travellers to admire the beauty of the Bac Ma National Park along the way.

The train transports passengers in five modern carriages, with another carriage available for community activities. VIP waiting rooms at Da Nang and Hue stations ensure passengers enjoy a warm welcome ahead of the journey.

For advice and information about this new train journey in Vietnam, contact Asian Trails Vietnam.

Our team at Asian Trails Vietnam recently took part in a tourism-led initiative to help clean up Halong Bay.

The UNESCO-listed bay, famed for its unique geological features and iconic limestone cliffs, is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming over 6.8 million visitors in 2023.

In order to preserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations, the tourism community, led by our partners at Paradise Cruise, came together to collect waste material that had accumulated in the water and along the shore.

Among the clean-up crew was Nguyen Thi Ngoc Xuan, Deputy Manager of our Hanoi office and her daughter, Khanh Linh, who were both inspired by the community spirit that stemmed from this experience. Ngoc Xuan said, “It was wonderful to be part of a meaningful activity and I hope our small actions will spread to create more positive outcomes in the future.”

Contact Asian Trails Vietnam for details about how you and your clients get involved in meaningful CSR activities around the region.

Since opening its doors just over one year ago, The Anam Mui Ne has become one of the most compelling options for a luxury beach stay along Vietnam’s southern coast. Just three hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City, the property is a convenient base for exploring the white sands and historical charms of Mui Ne.

The hotel celebrates Vietnamese art and design, with works by local artists adorning each of its 127 rooms and suites. Antique mosaic tiles and hand-crafted woodwork add to the sense of nostalgia, while the architecture harks back to the days of old Indochina, reflecting the grandeur of old French villas of that era.

For recreation and relaxation, the resort offers a selection of beachfront dining options, as well as a variety of Asian healing treatments at the spa. A yoga room, water sports centre, kids’ club and two stunning swimming pools complete the experience.

Mui Ne is located on Vietnam’s southern coast and is home to several fishing villages and iconic sand dunes. The area is also popular for windsurfing and sailing. Discover more about Mui Ne and how to design memorable journeys in the region by contacting Asian Trails Vietnam.

For the first time ever, Vietnam is hosting two prestigious motorised water sports events in south-central Binh Dinh province, from 22-31 March 2024.

The UIM F1H2O World Championship, also known as the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship, is an international motorboat racing competition, attracting top teams from 13 different countries. The high-powered catamarans reach speeds in excess of 240 kph on the straights.

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is the world’s leading professional jet-ski racing tournament and this also involves the world’s best riders.

A sideline festival, the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 Week, features cultural, sporting, culinary and art activities. The closing night will feature an impressive performance of 500 drones lighting up the sky with elaborate formations.

For more details about the event or to book a tour to Binh Dinh, contact us at Asian Trails Vietnam.

The sky’s the limit for South-East Asian tourism with travel to and around the region set to become more convenient through extra flight options.

Prominent among these is the resumption of Emirates’ daily Phnom Penh service via Singapore – boosting the airline’s South-East Asian connectivity to and from Dubai – from 1 May 2024. The Cambodian capital’s renewed schedule with the Lion City is conveniently timed, providing optimal connecting opportunities with major airports in Europe and the US.

Lao Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Vientiane and Phnom Penh from 19 March 2024. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Cambodia Airways will launch direct flights between Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur from 11 April 2024. The service will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The airline is also considering additional routes to other Malaysian destinations, such as Penang, which would further enhance connections between the two nations.

Cambodia Angkor Air recently revised the launch date of flights to India, with a Phnom Penh to Delhi service set to take-off on 16 June 2024. This will operate four times a week once the route is confirmed.

Looking further ahead, Vietnam Airlines will fly to and from Munich, Germany starting from 2 October 2024. The airline will utilise its Boeing 787-9 aircrafts to service the new routes, which will provide smoother connections to Europe from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights will operate twice weekly from Hanoi, on Mondays and Saturdays, and once weekly from Ho Chi Minh City, on Tuesdays. A second weekly flight from Ho Chi Minh City on Thursdays will be added in December.

For advice about how to plan a journey across Asia with the best routes and connections, please contact Asian Trails.

Vietnam Airlines has announced changes to their domestic travel routes in Vietnam. From 1 March 2024, the airline will no longer offer direct flights between Da Nang (DAD) and Cam Ranh Airports (CXR). For Asian Trails’ guests travelling on this route, a train journey will be arranged as an alternative.

The airline has also suspended flights between Da Nang and the following airports: Buon Ma Thuot (BMV), Lien Khuong (DLI), Cat Bi (HPH) and Can Tho (VCA). These routes are unlikely to impact any Asian Trails’ itineraries.

For more details about travel arrangements within the country, our team is always ready with the latest advice. Contact us at Asian Trails Vietnam.

A new Asian Trails’ night time tour of Hanoi’s Temple of Literature reveals this iconic site in a completely different light. The ‘Quintessence of Education’ excursion evokes different emotions from daytime visits through the use of mystical displays created by 3D mapping technology.

Guests are guided through 15 colourful exhibits at the country’s first national university, which dates back to 1070. Fascinating tales relate how this legendary building transformed Vietnamese society and laid the foundation for centuries of learning. Visitors also get an insight into studying with the old masters, being a Confucian student and learning ancient calligraphy. The experience is enhanced with a traditional musical performance.

The building was founded by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to worship Chinese philosopher Confucius and for over 700 years, hundreds of renowned scholars gained enlightenment. In contemporary times, the ancient altars are popular with students who pray for good grades and pose for graduation photos against the backdrop of the venerable halls and in the peaceful gardens. For more details or to make a booking, contact Asian Trails Vietnam.