Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The cycle ride around the paddy fields and cottage industries just outside Hoi An. This gave us a real feel for how ordinary Vietnamese people live outside the major cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader in Vietnam was excellent. Very knowledgeable about local history and culture and made some great restaurant recommendations. The leader in Cambodia was also great, though we only had him for a day and a half.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take enough Vietnamese dong. There were many places outside the cities that were cash only. Take any opportunity to see life outside the cities and make the journey to the river market on the Mekong. Well worth it, despite the early start.

Suggestions

Whilst our Vietnamese guide was excellent, I found the requirement to contribute to what I consider to be an enormous tip was alarming. Our guide received approximately £700 from our group, which was in line with the amount suggested by Exodus. It led me to question how much the guides are paid (by Exodus?) and whether they are receiving adequate wages. This leaves me very uneasy as I would hate to think these very professional guides are reliant on tips for their income. More liaison between the Vietnam guide and the Cambodia guide would have been useful. We arrived in Siem Reap expecting a relaxing afternoon but were told that we would have 15 minutes to freshen up then we would be going to a temple then straight to dinner. Some members of the party hadn’t had lunch as they were expecting to get something in Siem Reap during the free afternoon! We did insist on 30 minutes to freshen up but this still wasn’t enough time to grab something to eat. Time was a bit tight at the airports for the internal flights.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights but Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat stood out. Meeting the friendly Vietnamese people and experiencing the scooters at rush hour was also most memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Exceptional all round leader who loves his country and wants to share as much of it as he can in the time available. Definitely another highlight of the holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Ha Long bay experience and the meals in general - TV took us to some places we would not have chosen without his expert guidance. Also enjoyed Hoi An.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I really cannot rate TV high enough - he made the holiday - he was on top of every situation and ensured everyone of us were on board. His organisational skills were excellent - It was a seamless set of experiences. He really went above and beyond his remit to ensure we all had a great experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Marble mountain, Angkor Wat and the Red Bridge cookery trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanh definitely went the extra mile.

Most Inspirational Moment

Night food tour of Hanoi, Cu Chi tunnels, Angkor Wat, acrobats at Saigon Opera House.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Best guide we have had. He was so attentive to detail and determined to make sure we all had an enjoyable holiday. Thanh was an absolute star and a great ambassador for Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

The cookery course, the trip to Hoi An, our Vietnam guide TV.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanh made the whole group very welcome from our first greeting at the airport to our departure to Cambodia. He was very knowledgeable and extremely attentive to the groups needs. We all felt very well looked after with Thanh.

Most Inspirational Moment

Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and the Cu Chi Tunnels. We also learnt about the dreadful long-term effects of Agent Orange affecting second and third generations. We were prepared by having read 'Vietnam (An Epic History of a Tragic War)' by Max Hastings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Than Vu was exceptional and ensured that Shelagh was provided with the necessary support throughout the time in Vietnam. He was very knowledgeable and happy to discuss the war and politics. Phan Sotheavy was also very solicitous and happy to give historical background

Most Inspirational Moment

Maybe places where it was quiet such as the very top of Marble Mountain and watching the sunset from the top of the boat in Ha Long Bay when the day trip boats had left. Meeting the victims of Agent Orange at the craft works was sobering, as were the Cu Che tunnels and the War Museum; difficult, but necessary, inspiring to see how humanity can prevail.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Thanh Vu in Vietnam and Theavy in Cambodia were excellent. They had different styles, but then the countries cultures are very different. They were both great company and I felt I could trust them implicitly. There didn’t seem to be a question that they couldn’t answer and their English was very good. Theavy had some great ideas for photographs which she took delight in helping us with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t underestimate how sapping the humidity can be, the free times were welcome to help us recoup. Be aware that there is some hopping on and off of little boats to do; and the wooden staircases around Siem Reap can be a raking angle and rarely have handrails. A degree of nimbleness is useful to make the most of this trip. On the plane from Vietnam to Cambodia, the flight crew will issue you with Customs and Immigration forms. The forms are tiny; be ready with spectacles, a pen, and maybe a crib sheet with your passport number and the address of the Siem Reap hotel.

Suggestions

The evening street food visit in Hanoi is well worth doing, as is the cycle ride in Hoi An. I wouldn’t recommend the Cave visit in Ha Long Bay it’s too busy with people to be able to appreciate it; unless this changes, stay on board and enjoy the views instead. Trust your Guides!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved Siem Riep and Hanoi in particular but it is really difficult to pick highlights when there were so many - Ha Long Bay, Hoa Lo Prison, the Temple of Literature, the cooking class and walking tour in Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnels and Angkor were all excellent

Thoughts on Group Leader

Faultless and a pleasure to travel with. Nothing was too much trouble for Nhi. She made herself available at all times whether to sort out any minor issues (lost passports and hotel keys!) or to suggest and accompany us to restaurants (without in any way imposing herself). Nhi put her heart and soul into ensuring that we enjoyed our time in Vietnam and that our group socialised and bonded (again without imposing it), and she was sociable and fun without being overbearing or imposing, and her knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge was superb and presented with a sprinkling of her personality and personal experience of living in Vietnam and always came across as authentic and creative rather than just reciting lines that she had learned. She was always willing and able to understand and answer questions clearly and interestingly, and her understanding and use of English (both the literal language and the nuances of the language and our humour) were excellent. Lastly her organisational skills and willingness to support us meant that when she left us at the airport to move on to Cambodia we all felt slightly exposed without her!

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nhi was an amazing guide - see previous comments. My daughter left her passport on the plane in Da Nang and Nhi sorted the whole thing out on her afternoon off so we could carry on our day. It should have been an afternoon off for Nhi but she went with my daughter back to the airport to collect the passport. We were so very grateful to her.