Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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325 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Suzy Horne

Reviewed December 2022

Wonderful journey through Vietnam...

Superb trip taking in a huge variety of scenery, places and experiences in 2 weeks! Cycling is a brilliant way to travel and interact with different environments and see the friendly locals….lots of waves and hellos! We didn’t see another Westerner between leaving Ho Chi Minh and arriving in Hoi An (5 days) which definitely added to the authenticity of the trip! Everything was amazingly well-organised and the hotels, food and the group fantastic!

Most Inspirational Moment

Lots of favourites - Whale Island for its beauty and tranquility, Hoi An for its culture and lovely historic merchants houses (and great shopping!), Hué for its fascinating Imperial culture and Ha Long Bay for its mindblowing scenery & geology!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Son Nguyen is amazing and generally a fantastic human being! He's incredibly professional, organised, hilarious, supportive, warm and knowledgeable. We arrived in a restaurant in Hoi An and found the table reservation for "Son & his family" and we certainly felt like part of his lovely family after 2 weeks together, and found it very hard to say goodbye! He and his team made everything possible and were a wonderful support with much-needed delicious refreshments, snacks and bike maintenance when required. We miss you Son, and thank you so much for everything!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travelling light is good (laundry opportunities on several occasions, and easy enough to rinse out tops and cycle shorts each night) and also has the bonus of allowing you space to bring home any clothes you get made in Hoi An, and other shopping possibilities! (The embroidered pictures on the craft/food outlet stop on the road to Ha Long Bay were exquisite!) There's much been written on other reviews about the overnight train being far from ideal, but really this is just in comparison with the amazing standard of the other hotels in which we stayed. The train cabin was great (though bring extra clothes if on the top bunks as air con is strong!!), the experience a lot of fun (we felt like kids on a school trip!) and pretty comparable with UK overnight trains in my experience.

Michelle Grech

Reviewed November 2022

Another Great Adventure with Exodus

In my opinion, the success of these trips depends mainly on 3 factors – the itinerary and logistics, the guide and the fellow group participants. For me, the three were excellent. As always, the attention to detail from Exodus’ side was impeccable from the choice of hotels to the choice of snacks in between rides. Yes this is a fast moving full on trip as clearly laid out in the trip notes so if you like lie ins and lazing on the beach type of holidays think again! But to see so much of Vietnam in 2 weeks this is expected.

Most Inspirational Moment

The exhilarating downhill 30 km ride through beautiful scenery, the snorkelling around Whale Island and the first glimpse of the islands whilst cruising into Halong Bay!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tung was magnificent! He did his job exceptionally well without being too pushy. He was there to help all of us until the moment we got on the plane back. Great sense of humour and good knowledge of the country’s history. Very streetwise too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you love cycling and would like to visit Vietnam then this is the way to do it. Cycling is generally easy except for a few days where there are a couple of long hills. Some fitness is required here. Also, one needs to be calm when cycling in traffic as you have to negotiate and share the road with the million scooters and cars! All part of the fun.

Christopher Mills

Reviewed November 2022

That was simply brilliant; thank you!

Every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations. Qatar Airways was a very smooth service, and the moment Tung met us at Saigon airport, we felt we were on the holiday of a lifetime; this view never changed. Our only concern is how can we possibly find a comparable cycling – or any other – holiday?!

Most Inspirational Moment

I don't think I can narrow down one moment; every day brought incredible inspiration. It is too obvious to talk about things like Whale Island; the lunch stops at family homes were just as amazing in different ways. The scenery, the villages and cities, the people and the food were all quite incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

There cannot possibly be a better group leader than Tung Hoang. His care, attention to detail, sense of humour, and engagement with every member of the trip were just amazing; I think we all said goodbye to a friend for life after just a fortnight. And his brilliant support crew were perfect too. Thank you, Tung and the team! (And thank you, Exodus, for allocating them to us!)

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need a holder (possibly a pocket!) for your telephone; don't bother with any other bikke carrier attachments. Cycling refuels were every hour so there is no need for gels etc. If you were really worried, carry a waterproof but even the rain is joyously warm and cooling.

Michelle Gale

Reviewed November 2022

A Great Holiday (mid Oct departure)

The itinerary is fast paced requiring early starts and a quick turnaround following the day’s ride – often arriving the hotel early evening/out an hour later for dinner at local restaurants. Some of the transfers are long but the coach was comfortable and had wifi. Chi, our Leader, and his team (Sow, Ee & Minh) were brilliant, as were their time management and organisation skills. The bikes (Giant Rincon) were brand new. Each day we were handed a detailed Ride Plan with the route stats, logistics and transfer timings etc which certainly managed my expectations re the gradients. The majority of roads were relatively quiet but when we had to navigate a couple of highway intersections the Team expertly shepherded us through (which was slightly daunting coupled with exhilirating). Some rides had several 8%-10% inclines which I and a few others part-walked – snack stops were usually every 15-20km. All meals throughout the trip were excellent, with one exception (Qui Nhon) – we arrived later than usual so ate in the hotel roof-top bar, however, the view made up for the poor service & meal. Hotels were good (one or two very much so), and when on ‘two-night stays’ the laundry service was efficient and inexpensive (I wished I’d packed less and made better use of the service). Highlights of the trip: a great Leader & team, sharing the experience with fellow travellers, the food, exploring Saigon (we travelled a day early), Whale Island, and Hoy An.

Pippa Kershaw

Reviewed November 2022

Vietnam Oct 2022

This was a great trip for seeing a huge amount of Vietnam – a rich fortnight of many new experiences and a wonderful introduction to a new country for me. The leader and his team were super and the bikes were excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

Many highlights - the street food experience, the coffee, the warmth of the Vietnamese people, the green abundance in the fields and markets, the architecture in Hoi An and Hanoi, clear waters and calm at Whale Island, caves and kayaking in Halong Bay.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi was calm, kind and very organised. Things ran very smoothly and we were never aware of any mishaps etc which probably means he was working very hard in the background. Three others supported him and they worked really well as a team, I always felt looked after, well-supplied with snacks/water and safe on the roads.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We did a free walking tour of Hanoi with a couple of students which was a really good way to spend our final morning. The exhibition in the Maison Generale (Hanoi Hilton) is definitely worth seeing. Be prepared to get wet (we travelled last half of October) - although the rain is warm it is worth having a change of cycling gear/clothes on the bus for this, and to use walking sandals rather than trainers for cycling in these conditions. I did a load of laundry in Hoi An (moped delivery from/to hotel) for about £2.50. There is more cycling on suburban roads than I expected. There is a lot of development underway - a market visit listed in the trip notes did not happen because the market had been displaced by road construction. Halong Bay is beautiful but it is not worth swimming - we were taken to a tiny crowded designated beach and it did not seem that swimming was permitted anywhere else. We anchored with about 15 other cruise boats of various sizes, two playing loud music in the evening which was a shame. We were lucky that we kayaked and looked at the caves without anyone else around.

Deborah P

Reviewed July 2020

Fantastic Trip

I am a little late in posting a review. We returned from this trip in early March, right when everything started to close down due to Covid-19. I can tell you that the memories of this trip have kept me going while sheltering in place. If you are thinking this might be the trip for you, please know that it is very fast paced with moving from place to place almost every night was quite challenging. The cycling itself was challenging based on one’s fitness level. My husband completed every kilometer, while I did about three-quarters of the cycling. A lot of it depends on the heat, but for a female in my early 50s, I found it very doable. We had the most fabulous guide and crew. I cannot say enough of about our guide Son – he was absolutely amazing – taking care of all the details while we enjoyed ourselves. There are plenty of water/snack stops with fresh fruit and amazing snacks (ginger/nuts/cookies). They take very good care of you.

Most Inspirational Moment

We loved the other people on this trip. We were two Americans and the rest of the group was from the UK. Great group of people who helped and encouraged each other each step of the way. I laughed until I cried on many occasions and have kept in contact with a number of individuals from the trip. And riding through towns hearing the kids say “hello” and the adults singing karaoke with large speakers is unforgettable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Son Nguyen was AWESOME. As Covid-19 was present, he was very diligent with cleanliness and offered us hand sanitizer at every opportunity. His motto was “Safety first” and he meant it. He was enthusiastic and was always making sure everyone was okay. He is a top notch guide and you would be very lucky to have him be your tour leader. The support crew was phenomenal - I can’t say enough about their professionalism and friendliness.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light and prepare for moving almost every night to a different hotel. I think there were three times when we stayed more than one night. Also, don’t feel that you can’t do something. If you don’t want to cycle or you have leg cramps (like happened to me the second day), there is no shame in jumping on the bus. Oh, and get used to finding a place to cop a squat as bathrooms are not always present.

Tim Waite

Reviewed February 2020

A Brilliant Trip

We have been on a couple of cycling trips before and this one was probably the best. Tri our guide was outstanding and all our fellow cyclists were a great bunch of people. We got a real flavour of life in Vietnam. Lots of interesting food.The meals were good and plentiful. Thought we would lose weight but didn’t! Good Hotels. Many highlights but a couple or so to point out,Whale Island and Hoi An, the 30km exhilarating downhill ride and cycling in city centre traffic…… great fun but leaves your heart racing. It is quite full on which leaves you wanting to spend more time in some of the places visited. The usual pattern is arrive at 5 – 6 pm, leave at 7.15 next morning. However we did find time to swim in the hotel pools. Overnight train was great fun ….all part of the adventure. To cover the length of the country there are some longish times in the bus but the bus was comfortable but great chance to talk with your fellow travellers. This also gives you time to see more of the country and people watch. Staggered us how much could be piled on a scooter!
The bikes were ideal for the road conditions as well as being clean and very well maintained. At the frequent refreshment/rest stops there was lots of juice, water, fruit, nuts and biscuits. The driver and bike mechanic were very friendly and very competent. Great organization, things happened when Tri said they would.

Most Inspirational Moment

The local people were very friendly and were very welcoming. They seemed to have put the past behind them and were striving to build a modern country with no rancour about the past. We had four Americans and a Frenchman on our trip and they experienced no animosity. I accept this is the view of a short stay holiday maker looking at things through rose tinted spectacles but the people smiled a lot and the little children shouted greetings and wanted to high five you.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tri our group leader was outstanding. He was highly organised and efficient. He instilled confidence and was always cool, calm and collected. Tri ensured we were always well briefed. He and his team ensured our safety was paramount at all times. Tri had a lovely sense of humour and made things enjoyable. He was a great ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully.Get your self into reasonable shape but if you have any doubts about your fitness hire an electric bike........you will have a much better experience. Go with the flow. Learn some basic Vietnamese, it goes a long way if you can say good morning/evening and thank you.

Paul Felgate

Reviewed February 2020

A good trip but.....

Good points.
A very varied trip. Plenty of cycling but other things too.
A taste of real life in Vietnam as well as tourist destinations.
Lots of interesting food.
Interesting culture
Good Hotels
Highlights are whale Island and Hoi An

Bad points
Too fast paced to spend quality time in some of the places visited – Arrive at dusk, leave at dawn.
Trip notes are full of things that there would never be time to see or do.
Overnight train is a low point!
Too much cycling in dangerous city centre traffic.
Lots of time in the bus.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 30km descent on day 5. Also the general friendliness of the local people considering all that the country has been through over the years.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tiet was a real joker who tried hard to make sure everyone in the group got what they needed from the tour. Nothing was too much trouble and he took us to some great dining experiences.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be sure to take a small overnight bag for whale Island in particular, but also the hideous sleeper train.

David Hindley

Reviewed January 2020

Excellent, probably the best yet.

This was an amazing trip. Totally fell in love with Vietnam, We did so much in such in two weeks. The cycling, somehow. only felt like a small part of the experience as there were so many other things that we did. Each day was full on, exceptionally well organised, great food, etc Been on a few cycle trips, and I think this was the best one so far.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many, how could I choose? I'd always wanted to go to Hoi An and the Hai Van pass. Both did not disappoint. The whole trip was inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Linh was a perfectionist in all he did. There was no waiting around for buses to turn up, bikes to be made ready, trains to catch, boats to board, meals to eat. etc Everything was there at the time stated or when we just happened to turn up. He was very knowledgeable about all aspects of the places we visited. A great leader. The support team was great too, fixing my puncture on one occasion, and replacing the whole gear system on another. Just great, great and great!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I stayed an extra day each end, and depending on how you counted my stay, I was in Vietnam for 15 or 16 days (if you counted the part days at each end as whole days). I asked Exodus if I needed a Visa, they said no. I emailed the Vietnam Visa website also, but got no reply. Vietnam Airlines, flying from Paris, did see this as a problem, and I needed to sign a disclaimer form before they would let me fly taking all responsibility. The Visa counter in Ho Chi Minh also saw this as a problem, where I was questioned at length, but they did eventually let me in. Personally, I would have preferred to have paid the Visa, so I did not have this uncertainty. Others in the group, staying the same length of time, did not have the same problem. So your choice if extending your stay, but you may want to be aware that some see 15 day visa as counting a part day, as one whole day! The accommodation throughout was excellent, but I found the "1st class" train compartment very claustrophobic and far too hot and spent some of the night sitting on a small plastic chair in the corridor. The 2nd/3rd class carriages were far cooler and more spacious. I would probably decamp there if I did this again.

Terry Knowles

Reviewed December 2019

Wonderful experience

This was our first organized cycling trip, and it was very enjoyable. The group was larger than I expected (18, whereas I had thought we would be about 12), but everyone got along well and our tour leader, Tung, was very efficient and attentive, friendly, patient and entertaining.
There was also more city riding than I expected, through some rather hairy motorbike traffic and roundabouts. Tung and Lee, our tail gunner, shepherded us through them, but it took some guts at first to weave through the scooters and cars and buses. Note that red lights apparently don’t apply to motorbikes; they just sail on through. We got used to it after a couple of times and in the end it was rather exhilarating. Some riding on main city streets and bridges, too, and through towns and suburbs. All in all the tour was a bit more urban than I’d hoped. But I suppose if you want to see all aspects of Vietnam… Riding through the rice paddies and the countryside and along back lanes, on the other hand, was quite enchanting. Little children ran out to call “Hello!” everywhere.
I see this tour is rated as 3/9 for activity level. I would say more 5/9, and that’s without the (very enjoyable, if you’re up for it) 10-km uphill ride one day. On the other hand, the bus is always available and there was no shame in taking a day off.
We missed the Whale Island tour because of a typhoon, but Tung and Exodus rearranged everything seamlessly. The Halong Bay overnight boat tour was a real delight, as was the overnight train to Hanoi. And Hoi An and Hanoi were wonderful, particularly the pedestrian streets (no motorbikes!) on the weekend in Hanoi.
We could easily have skipped the boat trip to the overcrowded beach and hike up to the viewpoint on Halong Bay, however, and the kayaks were uncomfortable, at least for the person in the stern with no back support.
The meals were good, even for us vegetarians, the bikes were clean and very well maintained, and there was lots of juice and water and fruit provided at the frequent rest stops. Nice that they didn’t insist on handing out plastic bottles of water! The bus was comfortable and the driver and bike mechanic were friendly and very competent. Definitely a 10/10 for organization.

Most Inspirational Moment

One day they drove us up to the top of a mountain and let us off to ride 35 km downhill. Just fantastic!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tung was terrific. Tireless, funny, patient, informative, enthusiastic and efficient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

See above regarding the activity level. Take a look at the distances to be covered every day and make sure you're comfortable with that. You may want to bring a small bike bag (e.g. to fit on handlebars or under the frame) for suntan lotion, camera, etc. Padded bike shorts a must, although they provide optional extra padding for seats.

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