WELCOME        

...and thank you for visiting

FRANKO’S Rail Tours of VIETNAM

If you were looking for the very best way to see Vietnam, or you are a train buff, or you are interested in tours to CAMBODIA and/or LAOS, or just looking for a great holiday and a chance to do something DIFFERENT, then you can relax …you’ve found us! 

Our experience of rail tourism in Vietnam is second-to-none and goes back to the very first rail tour in 1992 …long before Vietnam became a tourist hot spot.    Since that time our focus has been on providing the best value rail tour holiday in Asia.    We combine the experience and knowledge gained over many tours to design comprehensive, informative and fun itineraries based around our private rail carriages, good hotels, good food, hand-picked guides, and one of the most interesting rail routes in the world.

It really is the very best way to see Vietnam!

(*see FEEDBACK from earlier tour clients)

FRANKO’S Rail Tours travel the length of Vietnam by private train - from the Mekong Delta to the Red River Valley and Chinese Border.     Visiting 7 different regions of VIETNAM

...an unforgetable travel experience!

...

.Sorry to break in here ...  currently working on website

and need to ensure site visitors are quickly advised about ...   

The LATEST NEWS on Rail Tours in 2024

 Hi there everyone ...Franko here.    Some NEWS regarding 2024. 

Apologies for delays in publishing our schedule of Rail Tours next year as I know there are many keen for news on tour dates.

Fear not, there will be Rail Tours in 2024 - whenever you wish*

I organised and completed my last 'scheduled tour' in Oct 2023

before choosing to 'hang up the boots' after first showing YOU

how to easily become a "tour organiser"  ...i.e. Take my job!

(I'll likely be in your group too ...as your escort)

In 2024 and beyond, FRANKO'S are advising clients to form groups

prior to booking a Rail Tour on dates of their own choosing.

As always, our tour itineraries and tour facilities will continue

to be as they've always been ...leaders in the field.  No change!

The only difference is HOW to make bookings - by group, not individually.

A single group can (ideally) be 10 to 14+ persons, or made up from two or more smaller groups* (2, 3 or 4pers) who can agree on tour timings.

*FRANKO'S will likely have small groups waiting to join your tour group if vacancies exist.      

Please feel welcome to call or email me should you seek advice

 on joining a group Touring Vietnam by Private Train in 2024.    

Happy to assist your plans!

You should also know that these new group booking arrangements

will only apply to our "15 and 18 Day Rail Tours of Vietnam"

all other tours (VIETNAM, CAMBODIA and LAOS) can be taken

anytime you desire with a minimum of two persons in group.

Please see NEWS/Specials for all NEWS and details about

Rail Tour 'group bookings' in 2024.

END of NEWS insert          Thanks! 

Our Superior Class rail option offers private and roomy 2 berth sleeper cabins, providing FRANKO’S clients with the 

highest standard of rail travel in Vietnam.
Standard Class is also very good, and represents great value ...especially if you are happy to share a 4 berth cabin as a ’triple’ with 2 fellow travelers for 5 nights on the train.   We didn’t have the Superior option before 2009, but everybody back then thoroughly enjoyed what we now call "Standard Class" ...you will too.

Besides Vietnam, our tours also visit historical Angkor & Phnom Penh in CAMBODIA; and Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the mysterious Plain of Jars in charming LAOS - please check out all FRANKO’S Tour Destinations on this site...they are tried & tested and waiting for you.

I trust that you can navigate successfully around our website to find the tour information that you desire.   Should that not be the case, then please feel welcome to call/email us at any time …happy to assist you.   If you notice that something is not included in our information, or is unclear, then please let us know and we’ll fix it pronto ...one never stops learning!   Happy also to provide presentations for travel groups, clubs (ie Probus, Rotary), etc. Details at News/Specials  page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION on PRICING
All prices on this website are in US Dollars (USD)

(USD prices converted to AUD prices at time of payment)
(Non-Australian clients can pay with USD-Euro-GBP via PayPal)
*See "Tour Dates & Prices" for all Tour Prices

Almost forgot!

Please enjoy our website. You might begin your visit by simply scrolling down this page to find an Introduction to our Rail Tours, plus advice on Airfares and tour sizes.   Links to all FRANKO’S tours can be found in the left column on every page on this website.

I’d also recommend that you click onto Why The Train? to see just what a difference it makes in turning good tours into

unforgetable tours!

Hope to see you one day on your first (or your next) FRANKO’S Tour of VIETNAM, CAMBODIA or LAOS.

Sincerely,    Frank O’Brien

**** **** **** **** **** ****
Take your partner on A Rail Tour of VIETNAM in 2024

A fantastic holiday awaits!

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

FRANKO’S Rail Tours of VIETNAM A.B.N. 82 679 818 112
Travel Agent Licence: 32735 (AUSTRALIA)

Memento: FRANKO’S has tours for everyone:

The Retirees, The Idle Rich, The Idle Not-So-Rich, The Railway Fans,

The People Who Like it Quiet, The People Who Like a Good Time,

The People Who Like Asia, The People Who Have Never Been to Asia,

The People Who Want to Learn Something, The People Who Like Our Radio Ad! The Young-At-Heart, The Adventurers,

The Veterans, The Gastronomes, The Culture Vultures, and

Those Who Have Always Wanted to Travel to Exotic Destinations but Somehow Never Got Around to It.

Plus lots of others!

No glossy brochures ...just a Free DVD and a website

with up-to-the-minute tour information that informs and advises.

Everyone has loved THE TRAIN ...that sure spreads-the-word!

So far, so good!

LOOKING FOR A TERRIFIC HOLIDAY?   

SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Here’s a quick introduction to our most popular tour:
(see full details under: Group Tours- 18 Day Rail Tour of Vietnam)

18 DAY
RAIL TOUR of VIETNAM
(by Private Train)

VISITING:
Sai Gon - Mekong Delta - Cu Chi - Long Tan
Nha Trang - Da Nang - Hoi An - Hue
Ninh Binh - Ha Noi - Sa Pa - Ha Long Bay

There are many ways to see Vietnam as you travel from the Mekong Delta in the south to the Red River Delta and Chinese Border in the far north (or vice-versa), but no better way than by train.      NOT just any train, but a train with our own specially prepared and staffed, private charter carriages that stay with us throughout the journey.      This tour is UNIQUE.

FRANKO’S train offers the most comfortable, relaxing way to travel through Vietnam ...and it’s GREAT FUN!

18 adventure-filled days taking in the history, sights and charms offered by this beautiful country and it’s hard-working, friendly people.    Experienced guides, good hotels, fantastic food, great entertainment, and sensational shopping ensures everyone is programmed to fully enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

TOUR PACKAGE includes 4 Star hotels (w/late checkouts!); ALL meals (yum!); ALL in-country transport (transfers, coach, boat & train); ALL entry fees, a day/night cruise on Ha Long Bay, a visit to Sa Pa, and the services of an experienced Tour Manager and a National Guide.
Our packages can also include the option of an escorted overnight tour to LONG TAN, NUI DAT, VUNG TAU and BA RIA.

RAIL TOUR PRICES (not incl airfare). 18 Day Tour in 2024 is priced from *$4000 pp/ts (Standard).   Superior Tour is *$4200 pp/ts.

*Option of 5 Star hotels on Rail Tour ...from *$5500 pp/ts with Superior Class rail.

Single Supplement cost (Single traveller/single occupancy hotel room) is $705.00  (4 Star hotels), or $1200.00  (5 Star hotels).

*See Tour Dates & Prices for all Rail Tour price options in 2024

*Consider that this is a fully escorted 18 day tour (17 nights) visiting ALL of Vietnam’s attractions, with all meals, late hotel checkouts, AND the unique advantage of THE TRAIN ...superb value!

* Almost every tour escorted by Frank O’Brien (Franko) ...a Vietnamese speaker since 1968 and a pioneer in the resurrection and promotion of Viet Nam as a tourism destination after so many years of war and hardships.      Frank will introduce you to Vietnam no matter your age or personal interests ...or pay for your drinks! 

TOUR SIZES

*Minimum Rail Tour size is 12 persons. Maximum 26. (Av 16)
Private Rail Tour Group Charter. Min 12 / Max 39 persons
18 Day Ticketed Rail Tour. Minimum 2 persons.

*Note. If minimum numbers for 18 Day Rail Tour are not reached,

FRANKO’S guarantee to provide those clients already booked

with an amended 18 day itinerary (same dates) based on

3 nights by train (not 5) with 2 extra nights in 4 star hotels (Hoi An-Ha Noi).

Tour will still be fully escorted. We guarantee no one will be disappointed!

AIRFARES
Clients can book/purchase their airfares to/from Vietnam at the travel agency of their choice, or FRANKO’S can secure air tickets for clients under our group booking arrangements.   We aim to secure best prices on offer ...as a free service.

Singapore, Malaysian, Thai,  Vietnam and JetStar airlines offer flights to Saigon and return from Hanoi.

Only Vietnam Airlines have direct flights to Saigon from Melb-Syd.

*Only Vietnam Airlines offer 40kg luggage allowance

*Other airlines offer 20-30kg luggage allowance

CLICK onto our 18 Day Rail Tour of Vietnam
and check the Itinerary to see just where we go,

what hotels we stay at   ...and how long we are there!

There’s also a DELUXE version of our Rail Tour
to cater for up to 10 comfort loving travellers
...who can go whenever they wish!

Plus

Tours of LAOS and CAMBODIA