Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the Hai Van Pass. I was determined to do it and with the help of Lam who stayed by my side encouraging me all the way.....Other members of the group were at the top cheering me on...The downhill part was great fun to..Halong Bay was beautiful as was the boat and we had a fantastic evening. One of our group did a little presentation highlighting some of the things that had happened to a few of us - this had us all screaming with laughter. A lovely ending to the holiday 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam and the rest of the team were exceptional. Nothing was too much trouble and their favourite saying was "No Problem" 

Advice for Potential Travellers

I think a reasonable level of fitness is required and perhaps a little experience of cycling up hills!!!  Your stamina will improve over the course of the holiday (mine certinly did).There are opportunities to get laundry done along the route so travel light.....

Most Inspirational Moment

Where do I start......I really enjoyed all of the cycling especially up Hai Van Pass and then down again.  The 30km descent from 1600m was pretty cool too.  Ha Long Bay was spectacular and kayaking was fun.  Even the overnight train was a enjoyable experience!   Loved the food too!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh was the best leader ever of the best group ever!  Having never done a tour like this before I was so impressed with how well it was organised.  Whilst Danh ensured our safety at all times he was also great fun!  Danh made the tour worry free, and the whole support team was amazing.  I can't rate Danh and the team highly enough.  The group was fantastic too!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it today!  This trip exceeded all of my expectations.  It helped to have done some "training" before hand which made the trip more enjoyable. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Many. Cycling through the villages with paddy fields and mountain scenery. Meeting very friendly vietnamese people and lots of high 5's with the kids.   Cycling up and down the pass was just inspirational. Hoi An is a beautiful traditional place. Loved all the lanterns hanging up.  Ha long Bay is touristy yes but has to be seen and ticked off. An amazing place. Food is just so delicious. Missing it already.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leaded Lam and the support team could not be faulted. They put so much work into the holiday to ensure everything went smoothly. I felt sorry for him as he was bombarded with so many questions but he coped admirably.  Not sure about some of his jokes though.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it. Make sure you do some cycling before you come. Don't take too much stuff.  There are plenty of opportunities for laundry. Bring immodium,wet wipes.  Take padded cycling shorts and lightweight tops. Fleece needed for Ha Long Bay if you go November-December. It was quite cold when we were there. Hoi An is a good place for measured suits and leather jackets. Just have an idea of a style before you get there. Wireless in every hotel so no issue with comms. Cambodia and Ankor Wat is easily done before the trip. It was only 1 hours plane journey from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh. Suggest spending extra time before/after the trip if you have time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling up to the pass was very exhilarating and rewarding.The sceneries all along the roads are amazing.The welcoming of every child and adult along the way is heart worming.Hoi Ann is a fantastic place to have couples of days rest.The boat trip and night in Hanoi Bay with the kayaking trip are 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was the most smilly, carring, patient and kind person I know. He was constantly checking on our needs and comfort. He always kept is calm when we were asking him time and time again the adgenda of the day despite him eplaining it very clearly the 1st time but because of us not being focused. His knowledge of his country is exellent and we could ask him any type of questions he always knew the answer. He really made this trip interesting and comfortable. He is a fantastic guide.His team, Hi, the truck driver and bus driver were also ever so helpull and carring, they also made this trip ever so pleasant 

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the paddy fields and the villages. Seeing all the children shouting at you at the side if the road and coming from school. They loved to slap your hand as you went past, shouting and screaming! Seeing the Cu Chi tunnels Cycling the big hill challenge near the end of the trip The happy spirit of the guides we had and Vietnamese people we met

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader, Lam, was just great. He just dealt with and organized everything with a happy and calm demeanor. He was good fun and made us all feel that we were being looked after. He was very knowledgeable and was always able to tell us something about the parts of the country and people we were visiting. We always had the information we needed at all times and didn't have to ask many questions at all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some cycling training before hand, if you are not a regular cyclist. Take your own seat or a gel-seat cover! Take cycling shorts, with chamois padding - and Assos cream! Take 2/3 of the clothes you think you'll need (there's chances to wash stuff cheaply)

Most Inspirational Moment

The long bike descent from Dalat, kayaking Ha Long Bay, and especially returning to Vietnam and seeing some villages I worked in 43 years ago

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh did a great job -- extremely knowledgable and invariably helpful and organized.  The rest of the crew was also first rate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for hordes of motor scooters 

Most Inspirational Moment

The 489m climb up Hai Van pass was a good challenge. All of our "cycling family" made it to the top and there was a great feeling of camaraderie.  Fantastic scenery on the way down and a great feeling of achievement.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh is the man. He ensured we were safe at all times and that we got the very most from our Vietnam experience. A complete professional and a very cheeky chap.       

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light and don't worry to much about having bike time under your belt, the trip caters for all levels of cycling ability.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the Hai Van Pass, cycling the longest bridge in Vietnam through wind and rain, Cycling 30km downhill was so exhilarating, being fed spring rolls in a restaurant, enjoying a mud bath, the cruise in Halong Bay - the list is endless!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh was at all times aware of any danger ( especially given the unexpected flooding) He had our safety as his foremost thought at all times. However despite this level of concern he was great fun and ensured that we had as much fun as possible throughout our visit to Vietnam. He made the trip so enjoyable. Thanks must also go to Leigh our mechanic who provided so much support to those of us on the trip who found the hills challengingThank you Danh and Leigh for making our trip so enjoyable. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

To enjoy this holiday it is necessary to have a reasonable level of fitness - As we were first timers with Exodus I do not feel that this was stressed enough before we went and a little more guidance on levels of fitness prior to departure would have been useful.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Each day had a highlight for me! The 30km downhill was a real buzz, visiting the Buddhist monestry and orphanage was heart renching, the fabulous fresh fruit, drinks and sweets prepared by the crew for our morning and afternoon breaks, the delightful children along our route and the wonderful overnight boat trip in Ha Long Bay would be up there with especially memorable moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tho Nugyen was such a nice person with a wonderful sense of humour, and his passion and respect for his country was contagious. As the group leader Tho set the tone for the group and he was a joy to be around. He looked out for each member of the  group and tried to ensure that each person achieved what they wanted from their holiday. Tho went out of his way to smooth arrangements impacted by the typhoon and we felt that Tho went the extra effort to resolve any issues  that arose- he was often seen with 3 phones on the go at once!!.  I loved especially how Tho would present us with the problem and 2 - 3 ways to resolve it. He was a real gem, knowledgeable, informative and thoughtful and his goal was to make this trip a memorable experience for us - and indeed it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You should be cycling fit to obtain the maximum benefit and enjoyment from the trip. All up we cycled around 550 kms ranging each day from between 30 kms to around 107km- and there was some undulating ( read "hilly') passages along they way with temperatures reaching the 30s on occasions. While the bus and support crew are there to help and you can leap onto the bus when your legs have had enough, the best sightseeing and interaction with locals comes when you are on your bike.

Most Inspirational Moment

Don't really like long downhills but really enjoyed the 34K descent we did.  Total quiet, beautiful scenery, fabulous.  And of course Hoi An is truly wonderful

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simply the best, better than all the rest.  Have been on many cycle trips with Exodus and your competitors, so I feel I am qualified to judge.   Danh never just went the extra mile, he went the extra 500K.  It always felt that we were his number one priority and nothing was too much trouble.  I think he was a true friend to all of us.Very knowledgable about his country, history, customs etc. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Several laundry opportunities so you really don't need all those clothes.........