Franko's Rail Tours of Vietnam

15/09/2025

Vietnam was hard-going for tour guides when Frank started his new job. Luckily he spoke Vietnamese (tieng Viet) and understood the culture better than most foreigners …he was in! Now after years of doing ‘something different’ it’s time to pass the driver’s key over to a new generation (family) keen to ensure that FRANKO’S Rail Tours by private train in 2026 remain “the very best way to go” into 2026 and beyond.

It’s been fun …this is my third and definitely final attempt at retiring …I’ll miss it I’m sure …but it’s not over yet! 😎🍺🌻
See below re 30 Oct - 16 Nov. Clocks are ticking 😮

15/09/2025

Still 2-4 vacancies available on my last Rail Tour as tour es**rt between 30 October to 16 Nov this year. Bookings close this week. Hope you can spread the word …time is short. 😎🇦🇺🍺🇻🇳

29/08/2025

*Latest NEWS* ..*Latest NEWS* .. *Latest NEWS*

Hello All. Just inserting a brief explanation of FRANKO'S tour plans for the remainder of 2025.

There is only one Rail Tour remaining for this year ...an adventure which I've planned to be my last trip after more than three decades of pioneering, es**rting and then establishing the only tour company providing Tours of Vietnam by private train. Today FRANKO'S it's still "the very best way to see Vietnam".

My time is almost up but FRANKO'S will continue in 2026 and beyond, albeit with a change to our tour booking arrangements - a brief description is shown below.

After leading ninety-six tours (83 by rail) I hereby advise all interested persons that the Dates for FRANKO'S Final Rail Tour
of Vietnam in 2025 are: 30 October to 16 November 2025

Touring Vietnam today is quite different to what I experienced in the late '80s/early '90s - back then tourism was new to a country
which had suffered half a century of wars before finally opening its
doors to the wider world in the late 1980s. Tour facilities were quite basic, but the train, food and the friendly Vietnamese people
ensured every tour was a great success - traintrippers all loved it.

Today Vietnam is one of the world's fav tour destinations ...as I knew it would be!

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Tour Dates for the very last scheduled Rail Tour in 2025 are:
30 October - 16 November 2025...*Currently 4 to 6 vacancies still available....

This last tour will indeed be "SPECIAL"
Comfy weather, perfect hotel locations, great food (all meals)..plus the very best way to travel through Vietnam!
*I'm es**rting the tour (for the final time) & Mr Zen (our fav national guide) will be aboard.

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Have questions? Don't delay!

Simply call or text to 0414-403038 to record your interest at the earliest ...we hate to disappoint.
*W'll send a Rail Tours Information Pack upon request.

*Pre-tour arrangements are simple ...no matter where you live.

If you are KEEN to GO ...Please LET US KNOW ( NLT Friday 19 Sep).

Tha Tha Tha That's all Folks!

19/06/2025

Apologies for my absence but I’ll soon be back!
I’ve been busy travelling since returning from
our Apr/May tour of Vietnam.

Now there’s just one last Rail Tour of VIETNAM
available in 2025.
WHEN?
Answer: Either late Sep to mid Oct
OR late Oct to mid Nov.

Details will appear here soon! 🌻😎🛎
*see more at the frankosvietnam website

20/05/2024

Stay tuned 😮
I will soon update with news and pics of my recent 18 Day tour of Vietnam

Soon as I can. I haven’t been on this page for a while …apologies to all but I have been so busy winding down my involvement with FRANKOS …I retire (definitely this time around) after my last tour this year between 03 - 20 November.
If you’re keen to know more send me an email and I’ll respond …I am back at the Travel desk from Mon 28 May. See www.frankosvietnam.com

Thanks …I’m on holidays in Hà Nội myself at this time, enjoying the sun and freedom. On the loose 😇😎🇦🇺

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!

20/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MXvAwHtGW8j1FHcC/?mibextid=WC7FNe

20/05/2024

China Beach, Da Nang, I was still in the army and I’m wearing PINK …it was September 1992. I’d just been offered the job of Tour Escort/Interpreter on a pioneering Australian travel company.

I was on a language refresher training trip as a client on the very first Rail Tour of Vietnam run by Dorothy Button’s “Vietnam Ventures” based in Melbourne Australia. It lasted 14 wonderful days and gave me the confidence to tender my resignation from the army after more than 29 years and follow my gut instinct by becoming a tour es**rt on Dorothy’s puffing billy linked to the “Reunification Express”.
I’m still at it some 32 years later
(with FRANKO’S since 2003) …It’s been a hoot! 😎🇦🇺🇻🇳👍