Most Inspirational Moment
The war museum in saigon
Thoughts on Group Leader
KHOU DUONG was the absolute best. I have already commented o n this
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have extra batteries and a memory card for your camera
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
Reviews
AOV170729
Firstly, I wish to thank EXODUS for allowing an 87 year old to take this trip. It was such a rewarding experience and I was very touched when on the last evening the group praised me and said I was an inspiration to them. I did opt out of only two activities but I was not the only one. Although I was with my daughter, our guide, KHOA DUONG , was wonderfully encouraging too. In fact he was outstanding the way he showed sensitivity to the group as a whole and altered timings and activities according to our energy levels or more to the point, how we were all coping with the heat and humidity! I was impressed with his knowledge of the history of Vietnam as it affected different areas of the population and he always gave both sides of the story. His impartiality was without irony too. At the end of the trip were all felt like an extended family, with myself as the great- grandmother.
Vietnam adventure
The tour guides behaviour on our trip to Vietnam spoiled a once in a lifetime holiday
Most Inspirational Moment
Boat trip to halong bay crew on the boat were very pleasant and place was amazing
Thoughts on Group Leader
Was disappointed with our guide. He did not interact with the group and was often rude and impatient with people in the group Was not very professional and this affected our enjoyment of the trip
Reply from Exodus
We were very concerned to learn that Teresa was so disappointed with the leadership of her trip and we have been in touch with her on an individual basis. We usually receive fantastic feedback about our leaders in South East Asia so to hear that Teresa was so underwhelmed was very disappointing and her leader is no longer being scheduled to lead trips for us.
Megan Devenish – Product Manager for Vietnam
Amazing trip
Our trip was amazing, can’t believe we did so much! Leaving the hotel by 8 each morning we seemed to do a week’s worth of adventure in one day! Our guide was brilliant, he was informative, fun and had great English. The hotels were much better than I expected, the one in Hoi An was particularly good.
Most Inspirational Moment
We went to a local house for a meal. Not only was the food the best of the whole trip but it was really interesting to meet the family and to gain some understanding of their way of life.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was excellent. I don't think he could have been improved upon. Clone him!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do it!
Vietnam for Americans
As an American who grew up in the 60s, the American war in Vietnam was a painful episode in our history. The exodus trip did not shy away from some the sites that caused me some personal pain. That said, I welcomed the reflection. For me it was not a trip entirely about lounging, great food and shopping. And I am grateful to our gracious guide for that; and the amazing Brits who were my traveling companions.
Most Inspirational Moment
Taking a side trip to a war memorial in Hue. The peddle car driver opened up to us that he lost a father and uncle in the war. He was very kind about your mutual loss.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I can't say enough about Binh our leader. He let us know that all subjects were acceptable to ask questions about. He wanted to share information about his country ; political and cultural. He told us his own personal story, which reflected the hardship after the reunification of Vietnam. His honesty and kindness are qualities he did not have to share with a bunch of tourists, but he went there. The first day he called us his little family. A two week family.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The itinerary is touristy. There are masses of people at each site. There are painful reminders of the war at several places.
What a Fantastic Holiday!
This was my first organised party trip and my first holiday experience with Exodus. Everything about the Vietnam Adventure exceeded my expectations, the group were great company, the hotels were so much better than I expected, the food was superb and Vietnam was such a wonderful experience – a fantastic country with lovely people.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were two: Halong Bay was such an amazing experience, I didn't know too much about before my trip, but it was breathtaking. Secondly, the vibrant colours of the night time lantern displays in the super resort of Hoi An were a sight to behold, a photographers dream.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Cong, was brilliant. He was so enthusiastic and caring, nothing was too much trouble. He certainly educated me on currant & past Vietnam.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't expect a relaxing holiday lazing around! This is a full-on trip, with a huge amount of variety to experience every single day. There are some free afternoons, but mostly you're on the go.
Fantastic Vietnam Adventure
This trip is well named and proved to be a most enjoyable adventure from north to south Vietnam. We experienced so many different things from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and Saigon to the peacefulness of Halong Bay. We walked a lot, climbed to get the best views, we cycled, we travelled by road, rail, boat and aeroplane. We stayed in excellent hotels, a very well run boat and a very welcoming home stay.
Most Inspirational Moment
Witnessing the resourcefulness, resilience and work ethic of the Vietnamese people, their smiles and how well they have built up their country after the horrific war. Arriving in the hustle and bustle in Hanoi with motorbikes every which way.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Thuy le, was wonderful, very likeable and hardworking. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him. He gave us an informative insight into Vietnamese history and culture. He answered our endless questions with patience and ease. He had excellent organisational skills. Everything worked like clockwork. Buses miraculously appeared and tables were always laid up ready as we walked into a recommended restaurant. He made sure we tried a variety of different types of excellent restaurants and escorted us back to the hotel if that's what we wanted. He had a wonderful sense of humour which was contagious and made for a very happy group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
In February/March, bring warm clothes for the north and be prepared for very hot and humid weather further south. Bring rainwear as well. Travel light as laundering can be done locally very cheaply. Bring a small overnight bag for the boat in Halong Bay and the homestay in the Mekong Delta. Having clothes tailor-made in Hoi An (or elsewhere) is great so bring a picture etc of anything you want copied, although they do have their own catalogues to chose from
Vietnam Adventure
This truly was an adventure in Vietnam! From busy and interesting Hanoi to a lovely overnight in Halong Bay. The night train journey to Hue was an experience ; I slept well, though probably in the minority! Hue is a lovely city with its Citadel, and we had a delicious meal at a local family house. Hoi An is wonderful, a very walkable town and full of character and lanterns. We were glad to spent 3 nights there. Ho Chi Minh City is a fascinating city ; from there to a most enjoyable trip to the Mekong Delta and a homestay on an island. A perfect trip!
Most Inspirational Moment
Halong Bay My Son Cu Chi Tunnels
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader was Thuy Le. We thought he was a lovely, warm and most informative guide. He was most efficient, everything went like clockwork, buses just appeared with no delays along the way. He gave us an interesting cultural insight in his country, also joining us for meals and putting us right on menus. A really good leader and popular guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book this tour! You won't regret it. Don't forget your camera charger, you will see so many photo opportunities, including the variety of goods one can bring on a motorbike! We saw a mattress, television, wheelbarrow, chickens, a ladder, and lots more. Bring a sleeping bag liner for the train. Bring tissues and hand gel, although many loos are fine.
Fantastic Trip
This was our first trip to Asia and it proved to be very special. We were taken care of from start to finish making for a worry free holiday and Vietnam turned out to be a gem of a country. The people, the scenery, the history, the experiences all combined to make a fantastic trip with a great group of people and a very special leader.
Most Inspirational Moment
The amazing streets of Hanoi, sailing in Hulong Bay even though the weather wasn't too great, and the Mekong Delta homestay. The gruelling history of the Vietnam war.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader Thuy Le was a star, he never tired of answering our endless questions, always with charm and a sense of humour. He went the extra mile on many occasions taking us to amazing restaurants lunchtimes and evenings that we never would have found on our own.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel light, we slept in 8 different beds in two weeks! Be prepared for the temperature differences between north and south and for living out of a suitcase for two weeks. Take some comfortable walking shoes.
Fantastic holiday:amazing people
This was an adventurous holiday: we got to try so many types of delicious food from street to best restaurants. We learnt from our guide Thuy all about the terrible conflict against the Americans and the devastation caused by Agent Orange. Despite the 20 year war the country appears to be on the up. We sailed around Halong Bay, traveled on the overnight train to Hue, cycled alongside paddy fields and stayed with a family in the Mekong Delta. It was hectic but exciting.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved seeing all the families walking around the lake in Hanoi at the weekend, playing lots of games from tug of war to skipping. The food was marvellous, delicious and fragrant. And lastly how well the folk of Vietnam have managed after the horrific Vietnam War against the Americans.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Thuy Le was superb and imparted so much knowledge of his county to us with it being over load. He even located a hat my husband left behind on a coach 400 miles away: nothing was too much trouble for Thuy.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The torches we were advised to take were not needed! If you want garments made up in Hoi An go with an idea or picture with you as this will save a lot of time. I wish I had taken a couple of smarter outfits to wear in Ho Chi Minh at the end of the tour. Thuy sorted out local folk to do our washing which was very cheap so you don't need to take as much. If you get the chance go to see a show in Ho Chi Minh at the opera house called AO its got a tremendous group of acrobatics performing using bamboo poles and huge whicker baskets. I took two old sheets to sleep in on the train and was glad I did. Water bottles are useful as you can fill up on the bus.
Vietnam Adventure
A comprehensive tour of Vietnam covering most of the tourist favourites. The hotels were good, the train an experience I would only want to do once!
Most Inspirational Moment
Ha Long Bay even though cloudy and cold. Hoi An vibrant touristy but lovely. Cu chi tunnels for the ingenuity of the Vietcong. Mekong Delta being on the water and experiencing the local village.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had an excellent leader Viet. He had great knowledge and humour. I had a problem with the internal plane ticket which he solved and prevented me from having to buy another ticket.He choose great local restaurant s and ordered shared meals for the first few days. He was supportive of the workers in the community using their guide services.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Halong Bay was cold in February. Take warm clothes for the boat. If you like a pillow take something to add to train and Homestay pillows which were very thin.