NAM trip - Any advice?

[ge_rik]

Hi folks
On my way back from NZ, I'm planning to spend a few days in Vietnam, travelling from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) via the Reunification Railway to Hanoi.
My outline itinerary at present is:

Day 1 - Arrive Ho Chi Minh City @ 1100 - Explore Old Town
Day 2 - Depart Saigon Station @ 1310 (Hotel is 5 min from station)
Day 3 - Arr Da Nan @g 0815 - Then to Hoy An, Explore town
Day 4 - Dep Da Nang @ 1358
Day 5 - Arr Hanoi @ 0530 - Drop off stuff @ Hotel - tour of street food outlets and Train Street - Water Puppet Theatre
Day 6 - Halong Bay
Day 7 - am chill - pm Flight home

Still at outline stage thus far.

My thinking is that if there weren't any problems with the train, I would prefer to have an extra day in Hanoi as a contingency than an extra day in Ho Chi Minh City.

Any observations, suggestion or cautions gratefully received

Rik

[Peter Butler]

I'm very much looking forward to reading the book!

[philipy]

Phew! ...and my wife accuses me of being obsessed with trains if I spend more than a couple of hours a day sitting beside her drawing on my laptop!