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Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on the Reunification Railway: 10-Day Plan You Can Actually Do
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The 10-day version for March: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 8-day plan · 10-day plan · 13-day plan · best time to go.
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10
days
1726 km
distance
46.5 h
on trains
38
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- The most balanced cross-country window: generally clearer central-coast weather, with heat building toward May. Confirm every dated train and local opening.
- Heavy transit: day 3 (11h53), day 7 (12h08), day 9 (9h20) run over 6 hours in transit. Around 11 days would keep daily travel comfortable on this route — or keep the dates and start each of those days by 08:00.
Day 1 Hanoi → Ninh Binh
- Transit
- 4h37
- Finish
- ~17:55
- Temperature
- 17.4°C–25.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~7
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:00
Wander five courtyards honoring Vietnam's literary heritage.
90 min · Hanoi · Adult 30,000 dong; student, senior or disabled person 15,000 dong; child under 15 free
open: Daily 08:00-18:00
10:40
16:05
16:55
Overnight: Ninh Binh
e.g. Ngoc Anh Hotel · Queen Mini Hotel
Day 2 Around Ninh Binh
- Transit
- 1h38
- Finish
- ~16:20
- Temperature
- 17.4°C–25.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~7
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:00
Explore a vast network of tranquil waterways and hidden caves in a picturesque landscape.
180 min · Ninh Binh · 250,000 dong. Parking fee of 15,000 dong for motorbikes or free for bicycles
open: Daily, boats start from 07:00-16:30
12:25
See Vietnam's largest pagoda tower glowing at night.
50 min · Ninh Binh · Free entrance, motorbike parking 15,000 dong, shuttle e-mobiles with fee
open: 07:00 to 20:00, entrance to the large tower until 17:00
14:30
15:20
Chookie's Beer Garden chookiestravel.com map ↗
Relax with tasty burgers and smoothies in a lush garden, away from the bustling streets.
60 min · Ninh Binh
open: Open from 09:00
Overnight here
e.g. Ngoc Anh Hotel · Queen Mini Hotel
Day 3 Hue
- Transit
- 11h53
- Finish
- ~16:15
- Temperature
- 20.2°C–26.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:50
13:05
14:25
15:15
Overnight: aboard Vietnam Railways SE3 overnight to Hue
Day 4 Da Nang
- Transit
- 4h12
- Finish
- ~17:00
- Temperature
- 20.3°C–27.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 11.9h
13:40
15:00
16:00
Overnight here
e.g. Danang Backpackers Hostel · Dang Viet Hotel
Day 5 Hoi An
- Transit
- 1h08
- Finish
- ~14:25
- Temperature
- 20.3°C–27.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:50
10:50
11:55
13:25
Overnight here
e.g. Melody Boutique Villa · Hoang Trinh Hotel
Day 6 Around Hoi An
- Transit
- 0h12
- Finish
- ~11:50
- Temperature
- 20.3°C–27.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:00
10:00
11:00
Overnight here
e.g. Melody Boutique Villa · Hoang Trinh Hotel
Day 7 Nha Trang
- Transit
- 12h08
- Finish
- ~15:05
- Temperature
- 24.7°C–27.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 11.9h
10:20
12:00
13:15
14:05
Overnight: aboard road reset to Da Nang station, then Vietnam Railways SE7 overnight to Nha Trang
Day 8 Around Nha Trang
- Transit
- 1h12
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 24.7°C–27.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:00
10:00
12:00
14:00
Overnight here
e.g. Azura Gold Hotel · Blue Star Hotel
Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City
- Transit
- 9h20
- Finish
- ~14:50
- Temperature
- 23.0°C–36.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:50
12:00
View the cathedral’s French-era exterior from the public square while tourist entry remains closed for restoration.
50 min · Ho Chi Minh City · Free
open: Exterior view only during restoration; church closed to tourists, daily Mass remains for worshippers
13:00
Enjoy panoramic city views from the towering skydeck.
50 min · Ho Chi Minh City · Adult 240k VND, child (4-12) / senior (65+) / disabled 160k VND
13:50
Overnight: aboard Vietnam Railways SE3 overnight to Saigon
Day 10 Around Ho Chi Minh City
- Transit
- 0h12
- Finish
- ~11:50
- Temperature
- 23.0°C–36.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 11.9h
09:00
10:00
11:00
Be enchanted by one of Southeast Asia's finest venues, home to acrobatics.
50 min · Ho Chi Minh City
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.