Most Inspirational Moment
Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi tunnels, Marble Mountain, small, local cottage industries.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Thanh Vu in Vietnam was an exceptional leader. He was informative, considerate and attentive. He ensured that the needs of all the group members were met, whether dietary needs or activity preferences. He was always on hand to offer advice and we felt very well cared-for and respected. We were with Theavy in Cambodia for only a short time. She was very knowledgeable about the temples at Angkor Wat. , however, she was not as attentive or readily available to solve problems, i.e. delayed flight home and its impact on taxi arrangements.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take plenty of insect repellent for the mosquitos! Although we were advised that it would be cool in the north in January, the temperature was in the low- to mid- 20s. Take US dollars in larger denominations as this will enable you to obtain a better exchange rate with the local currency. Also be warned - in Cambodia, old, dirty or torn dollar notes are not accepted (or some will accept them at a discounted value).
Suggestions
There was a good mix of activities that took in the natural features of the areas we were in as well as allowing a real insight into the culture and history. A couple of suggetions: From Ha Long Bay, we had a long drive back to Hanoi for the night before our flight to Dnang. Could we have gone from the visit to the Green Centre in Ha Long Bay to Dnang rather than undertake a long trip back to Hanoi? The hotel in Hoi An, although very comfortable, was not able to serve an evening meal and it was too far out of the main town to easily walk and get food.