Classic Vietnam & Angkor Wat: Cambodia & Vietnam

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 12 reviews.

Ian Sharpe

CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written February 2012
This trip gave a good overview of the country, its history and culture. Doing a multi stop trip afforded us some quality time in each location, we were able to absorb the different atmosphere between north and south and see the things we most wanted to
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
difficult to decide on one, but enjoyed kayaking in Halong bay, looking around Hoi An, the Cu chi tunnels and war museums in Hanoi and Saigon. Angkor Wat complex was also clearly in a league of its own.
What did you think of your group leader?
Very friendly, helpful and wanted to help us make the most of our stay in his country.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Only to choose carefully between the different types of holiday available from Exodus in Vietnam. There are many ways to see the country and you have to work out your priorities and work this in with the travel arrangements
Romy in London
Comfort and variety, well paced

Written February 2012
I had wanted to do this trip for some time, and specifically chose it to avoid any long bus/train journeys. I enjoyed it greatly, particularly thanks to Dzung, the tour leader, who made an incredible effort to ensure we all experienced whatever it was that had drawn us to Vietnam.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling for 4 hours in the countryside surrounding Hoi An in a small group with a local guide (organised by our TL) who knew his ways through the many waterside paths. It rained but that made it a truely Vietnamese experience.
The variety of food available. The cooking school in Hoi An was enjoyable and a nice inclusion.
Kareoke with some of the group in Saigon; organised by our tour leader in a private room place which also had good food and cheap beer.
The Mekong Delta - I knew little about it before going and the various boat trips took us to see a variety of industries and environs.
What did you think of your group leader?
Superb. Dzung is one of the best tour leaders I have experienced, and mature beyond his 26 years. He established early on what sort of experiences, food etc that we were all interested in and made sure we were given the opportunities we sought.
My only disappointment with the tour leading is that Dzung was left behind when we left for the last 2 days in Angkor and the "tour leader" in Cambodia was sub-standard - basically he was a historical guide who did not look out for us at all. It was a flat end to what had been a good tour, and given it was the most "deluxe" type of Exodus tour, it seemed mean not to keep the Vietnamese tour leader for the last 2 days to ensure the group ended on a "high".
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't expect Halong Bay to be the highlight; it's a mass touristy experience and care for the environment seems minimal. The water was full of floating rubbish and the boats didn't appear to have holding tanks or the courtesy not to run noisy generators all night.
Eating out in Vietnam is cheap so order more than you think you might eat and share some of your "finds" with others in your group.
Try to take lots of US$1 notes if you can get them as they are useful for tips, purchases etc
Don't sit at the front of the bus if you are a nervous passenger as Vietnamese road usage is scary!
I didn't take the group flights, and the others complained about them (seat size, route and stopovers). I paid a bit more to fly via Bangkok, but it saved me 8 hours travelling on the way home, so I thought was money well spent.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Earlier reviews mention going to a beach and it looks like Exodus removed that component, which we didn't miss at all. Personally I would have liked to spend another day in the Mekong Delta area as a contrast to Saigon and Hanoi, but overall the timings weren't bad, aside from the 2 days required to "do" Halong Bay.
This was a confortable tour with good hotels, nice breakfasts, a big bus (in Vietnam) and enough free time to do our own thing as well as see the "must see" highlights with the group.
Audrey Philbrooks
CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written February 2012
A whilstle stop tour of the highlights of Vietnam - with each destination having its own character. Served with great food.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The best bits:
The trip was worth while for the food - which was very fresh and tasty. The market trips were very interesting
Shopping in Hoi An
The contrast of Angkar Wat
The Vietnam War Museum & tunnels in Saigon
Meeting the rest of the Group!
What did you think of your group leader?
Dzung was outstanding as a tour leader. He went the extra mile at every opportunity to make sure that everybodies expectations were met. He was immensely professional but also relaxed & smiley. Dzung made a good trip great and is a great ambassador for Exodus. Thank You.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip is leisurely but there is a lot of travelling around so there is not much opportunity for a lie in.
The Vietnamese seem to get up early, so the hotels were often quite noisey first thing so bring earplugs.
Have lots of space in your luggage for the shopping!
Road crossing freaked a few people but you soon get the hang of it.
Consider booking your flights separately - the eight hour layover in KL made for a long flight home.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The itinerary for the trip altered in line with feedback from previous trips - thanks to Exodus for listening.
Chris Smith

CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written November 2011
An excellent introduction to fascinating countries. Vietnam was very special with wonderful people and great food. Cambodia and Angkor Wat was simply amazing. Guides great, very warm and welcoming and made the trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The first glimpse of Angkor Wat
What did you think of your group leader?
In Vitnam the group leader made the trip and literally went the extra mile every day.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel light and take as few clothes as possible. Plenty of laundry opportunities
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We've already booked our next trip!
Alison Vaughan

CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written February 2011
An excellant trip which I would recommend to others.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Really enjoyed the boat trip on Halong Bay and the cookery lesson.
What did you think of your group leader?
Amazing. A top class leader. It was our 25th Wedding Anniversary when we were away and he made it a special event.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It can be cold in the North so go prepared.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It would be good if a cycling half day in Hoi An could be included. We did it alone and really enjoyed it.
A local guide would have been well worth it.
Jenny Evans

CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written January 2011
Really good trip. Got see to a lot in a short space of time. Tour leader was very good and had a great group too.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Halong bay
What did you think of your group leader?
Amazing
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Its cold in feb in the north!
Bruce Sutherland

CLASSIC VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Written December 2010
This trip is a great taster for Vietnam and Cambodia. There are parts which can feel a bit rushed (see additional comments), but overall the pace is fairly relaxed and yet still covers most of the top highlights of the region.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The temples at Angkor are incredible. Pictures don't give you a real idea of the scale and just how many there are. That stop alone makes the trip worth it.
In Vietnam, Halong Bay has spectacular scenery and is a real highlight. I also enjoyed the food, in particular the lunch that our tour guide organised with a host family.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both group leaders in Vietnam and Cambodia were excellent.
In Vietnam, Triet organised plenty of extra activities and was genuinely interested in showing us plenty of authentic Vietnamese culture and way of life.
In Cambodia, Thy was a wealth of information and even stayed on to take my wife and I round further as we stayed an extra day.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Change money in Vietnam - the rate offered even at the hotels was about 10% better than what I got this end before going, and they don't charge any commission. Everything in Cambodia is priced in US dollars.
Spend an extra day or 2 in Cambodia after the trip. The temples are massive and you could easily spend 3 days going round them. Also means you'll be there on a Saturday night and can go to the Beatocello concert at the children's hospital - a very worthy cause.
Do get your tour leader to take you to the Cu Chi tunnels outside Saigon - worth the visit.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It's been mentioned in other reviews, but Mui Ne is still not worth the more than 10 hours round trip on the bus. It would have been much better to have more time in Saigon or the Mekong delta, both of which were a bit rushed.