Railbookers Adds Locally Guided Southeast Asia Itineraries

Railbookers is expanding its Southeast Asia portfolio with five new locally guided vacations, including four new journeys through Vietnam and a new itinerary connecting Laos and Thailand by rail.

The expansion gives travellers several new ways to experience Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing travel destinations, from shorter introductions to more extensive journeys and a luxury rail experience aboard The Vietage. The new Laos and Thailand itinerary extends the collection further across the region, connecting two countries in one vacation.

At the centre of the new collection is Railbookers’ Locally Guided approach, combining the freedom of independent travel with added support throughout the journey. Local experts are there to help travellers along the way, with transfers, sightseeing, rail travel and hotel accommodations coordinated in advance, while still leaving plenty of time to explore independently.

“Vietnam continues to grow in popularity, and we see a real opportunity to give travellers more ways to experience the country by rail,” said Andrew Channell, Senior Vice President of Product at Railbookers. “From the energy and history of cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the mountain and coastal scenery found throughout the country, there’s so much to experience along the way. What makes these new vacations especially exciting is our Locally Guided approach. Travellers have the independence and flexibility they expect from Railbookers, but with local experts there to guide them, handle the logistics and help them get more out of each destination.”

The five new itineraries are:

• Essential Vietnam
  Designed as a shorter introduction to the country, this eight-day trip connects Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City by rail. The itinerary includes two overnight sleeper-train journeys, sightseeing in Hanoi, UNESCO-listed Hoi An Ancient Town and a Mekong Delta cruise.
• Classic Vietnam
  This 11-day journey travels from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with stops in Hue and Hoi An along the way. Highlights include Halong Bay, the Hai Van Pass, Hue’s Imperial City, a Hoi An cooking class and two overnight journeys aboard the Reunification Express.
• Best of Vietnam
  The most complete of the new Vietnam itineraries, this 15-day north-to-south journey includes Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. Along the way, travellers experience an overnight Halong Bay cruise, Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, a Saigon River dinner cruise, and the Mekong Delta and Cai Rang Floating Market.
• Classic Vietnam and the Luxury Vietage Train
  This 15-day premium journey travels from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, with stops in Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. It combines classic Vietnam highlights with two journeys aboard The Vietage, plus a Halong Bay cruise, the Hai Van Pass and time along Vietnam’s coast.
• Laos and Thailand by Rail
  This 15-day multi-country journey travels from Bangkok through Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang before continuing by Mekong River cruise into northern Thailand and returning to Bangkok via Chiang Mai. The trip combines overnight rail, the Laos-China high-speed railway, private sightseeing and a two-day cruise on the Mekong.

The new vacations join Railbookers’ growing collection of journeys throughout Asia, providing travellers with more ways to explore the region by rail. Railbookers’ Rail Experts coordinate the trains, hotels and experiences before departure, while the Locally Guided format provides additional support on the ground throughout the journey.

For more information and to explore Railbookers’ Southeast Asia vacations, visit Railbookers.com.