Vietnam Reviews
Review 1
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting Angkor Wat, fantastic place
What did you think of your tour leader?
We had 4, all of them were organised, friendly and competent
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take as little as possible, buy everything there
Reviewed by John Staveley who travelled in March 2012 on the The Indochina Experiment trip
Review 2
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Two things stand out. Angkor Wat is one of those few places in the world that exceeds your expectations - it is truly awesome. At the other extreme, our bike ride through the countryside around Hoi An allowed us to see lush and immaculately cultivated market gardens and gave us a glimpse of rural life today.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Both of our tour leaders were excellent - Vantha in Cambodia and Phoung in Vietnam. They were both tireless, always cheerful, well informed, anxious that everyone had a good time, and brilliantly well organised. Great assets.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
There's a lot packed into this holiday - it's an assault on the senses in everyway. You need to enjoy crowded hot cities for their life and vitality. You need to enjoy ruins and be interested in ancient civilisations, And you need to be prepared to contemplate man's inhumanity to man in the Killing Fields of Cambodia and in the photographs of the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
Reviewed by Ronald David Harker who travelled in March 2012 on the Heritage Cambodia & Vietnam trip
Review 3
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Scenery in Laos; one of the trip members falling off the elephant into the Nam Khan river (several times!); then capsizing us into the Nam Song in Vang Vieng on the very first rapid and losing her sarong.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Thinh Lai, our guide in Vietnam - the very best tour guide! We missed him on crossing to Cambodia. Other guides, with the possible exception of the Lao guide, were also very good, but Thinh was exceptional - informative, helpful, funny, friendly. He organised optional activities taiored to the group's wishes and went far beyond the call of duty.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
1. Read the pre-departure notes, and stick to the advice in it. You really don't need to take anything other than what it recommends. 2.Make use of the tailors in Hoi An - excellent value and quality of work. If you have favourite garments you'd like copied, take them with you or bring photos/patterns. 3. Make sure your insurance covers itinerary changes caused by weather. We had to but extra flights because of flooding and not all of us manged to get our money back.
Reviewed by Magdalena Styles who travelled in October 2011 on the The Indochina Experiment trip
Review 4
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There's 2 stand out memories - Halong Bay and cycling round Hue. Halong Bay was stunning and we seemed to have the pick of the boats, which was very comfortable indeed. Ensuite rooms, excellent staff, spacious...My only regret was we didn't spend longer there. The cycle ride round Hue was a complete contrast - 2 hours of total mayhem! And it isn't even a particularly busy place by Vietnamese standards. Weaving in and of traffic and seeing some of the more local parts of town was both exhilarating and humbling.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Bao was a great tour leader. Whilst his English was a little limited he could virtually always get the message across. However, what he lacked linguistically he more than made up for which his mischievous sense of humour and insider knowledge of the best way to do things - how to avoid the crowds, where to get the best price etc. He was also very caring - going out of his way to keep us safe and make sure everyone was satisfied. In my experience that's a rare trait in guides.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Just take 1 jumper (it's very warm even in the supposedly cool North) plus thin clothes to cover your legs and arms. The mosquitoes are viscous at times! Take a poncho or buy one there - a conventional rain jacket will leave your lower half sopping wet in seconds...Don't do this tour if you dislike buses - there's a lot of bus trips all be it in very comfortable buses with air con.
Reviewed by Thomas Hazeldine who travelled in October 2011 on the Uncle Ho's Magical Mystery Tour trip
Review 5
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Halong bay
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader Linh, who was from south Vietnam, was without doubt, outstanding.. Very informative, told us a great deal of history, organised tours on free days, and calmly dealt with a very awkward and difficult member of the group or did nothing but complain for the whole 18 days
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, many locals talked to us, looked at our photos and were very friendly.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Slightly, would need to go back again.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
To be open to experiences and enjoy it as much as you can and always remember where you are, in a foreign country and not at the Hilton
Reviewed by Tracy Beattie who travelled in November 2010 on the Uncle Ho's Magical Mystery Tour trip
Review 6
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I really enjoyed Sapa and Halong Day. I would have liked to stay in Halong Bay for a few days because it was so nice! Hoi Ann was also lovely. I also loved the Meekong Delta.
What did you think of your tour leader?
They were brilliant, really informative and also fun too.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes i think it did as we met people from some remote areas and brought things that we knew were ethically sound because they had been made by the people we brought them off.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, i feel like we saw a diverse range placed such as the delta and Sapa as well as the busy cities of Saigon and Hanoi.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Buy a sleep sheet for the overnight trains!
Reviewed by Elspeth Muir who travelled in June 2010 on the Vietnam in a Banana Leaf trip
Review 7
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Staying in the Mekong Delta was very interesting. It was good to see how other people go about their lives, make money, live, do their shopping etc.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent. Krista was very knowledgeable throughout the tour.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, we had local guides, and were encouraged to go to restaurants and cafes that helped the local communities.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, I think so.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared for the cold weather!!! Its further north than Bangkok, where most people fly in from, and much cooler!!!
Reviewed by Emily Ashdown who travelled in February 2008 on the Vietnam Visas trip
Vietnam Forum Feedback
Vietnam Currency
We are off to Vietnam on 22 May (Vietnam Highlights) and I was just looking into currency and noticed the Post Office don't supply Dong. Is it worth getting some prior to arrival or is an ATM easily found in Hanoi? We are being met on arrival by ImTrav.... We will have some US$ but I was hoping to have some local currency on arrival.
Indochina Adventure, 18/12/09
So, I took the plunge and booked this tour today, and I know time's going to drag between now and December as a result, particularly as I pretty much can't have any time off work until I go! Anyway, I just thought I'd get in early and start a topic for anyone who's taking the tour, to say hello etc. Apparently only me and one other person have booked so far (feel free to step out of the shadows and say hello, whoever you are), so we could do with at least another 4 of you signing up too - that way the tour will be guaranteed to run. :D Look forward to hearing from you! Dom
Beyond the Ho Chi Minh Trail departing 1st Aug 2009
Hi - My wife Val and I are looking forward to our first trip to Asia. If you are going on the same holiday please feel free to swop brief emails. dsmith_@ntlworld.com Regards Dave
Vietnam Adventure, July 4th
Anyone out there going on this one? Eric and Ashley Las Vegas
Vietnam vISA
What is the easiest way to get my Visa for our Vietnam trip? We are doing the Viatnam Adventure and Hanoi to Bangkok back to back. Eric and Ashley Las Vegas
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