Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Trails of Vietnam--Traveling During the TET Holiday
We were a group of 7 representing 5 nationalities. The size of the group bonded us quickly and kept it that way through out the trip. Couple with an excellent guide it was and will be remembered as a memorable trip.
Before booking a trip in January or February check to see when the TET holiday will occur and decide if potential deviations from the standard trip notes will have an impact on what you want to see and experience.
TET is not a festival, rather a holiday period for the Vietnamese people to leave the cities and return to the country to spend time with their families. Millions of people are on the move which starts with the Vietnamese New Years Eve. All told we experienced the impact from Day 5 through Day 13 of our trip. Some guide books will advise you not to visit during TET as you will experience closed businesses and the businesses that remain open often hike their prices. While the hotels are operating restaurants options are limited and may only offer a set course meal to serve to tourists. Our guide was constantly adjusting our schedule to accommodate for TET–substituting a cycle day for a kayak trip, locating someone to do our laundry while in Hoi An and of course picking our restaurants. On the plus side there was less traffic to deal with.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reflecting back now it was clearly the two nights we stayed with the hill-tribes. Given our small group it was easy to interact with the adults and especially the children. The music and the dancing on the second night was as enjoyable for the village as it was for us.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tuyen Nguyen was everything you would want in a guide--professional, well organized, capable of dealing with multiple changes in itineraries (think TET) plus a good sense of humor. He worked his hardest to make sure we enjoyed our time in his country. Our bus rides were filled with his wisdom and wit.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Weather in the north can be really cold especially at the homestays--a sleeping sheet or a light sleeping bag if you chill easily--the bedding provided is a sheet and a blanket. Ear plugs are essential as the dogs and roosters are everywhere. Bring the slippers from the Day 1 hotel to use in the sleeping rooms.
You will be backpacking on Day 3 to your new homestay. It rained on us and was very slippery and muddy. Your large bag will be stored at a hotel on Day 2, 5, 11 & 12. You can pack more stuff after the homestay but you still have to carry it between the bus and your night's stay.
Day 7 is a long day and one needs to have cycle gear readily available--from the train right to cycling--gel saddle cover and gel cycle shorts really help.
We didn't see the sun until Day 7 but the sunscreen came out from then on. Bugs were not a problem.
Just returned from this trip The Trails of Vietnam and we have had the time of our lives. It’s the first time as a couple we have attended a group holiday and we were a little nervous about how we would mix with the 12 other participants. We need not worry as our group were all of a similar age group (50 plus) and we all got on very well indeed. The group leader was called Thanh Vo although he preferred to be called ‘Ten’. Ten was a absolute legend and made the whole trip so enjoyable and he was professional and knowledgable throughout.
The balance of activities is perfect and the organisation was impeccable. We stayed in homestays with families in the Vietnam countryside and in some rather nice hotels in the towns and cities. What struck me is we never had to spend time waiting for anything. When we’d arrive at a hotel we didn’t have to all queue to check in. Instead we would immediately be given our room keys and sometimes our bags would already be waiting for us in our rooms. There are times when you need to pack for just 2 nights and leave your big suitcases at the hotel so take a rucksack too. The whole transportation of our baggage was very well organised throughout.
The overnight train is also great fun and its surprising how well we all slept on this journey. In some of the home-stays you are all in the same room (although you do have privacy) and the odd snorer in the group may keep you awake so take some earplugs!
The cycling was a reasonable length of time but do take gel cycling shorts to prevent a sore bottom. There is absolutely NO need to take a saddle or helmet as the equipment provided is of a high quality.
The walks/hikes were not too taxing and were very scenic and done at a leisurely pace.
There are plentiful times to do shopping to buy ‘original copies’ shirts/bags/trainers etc.
The bus journeys are done a very comfortable bus with plenty of room and WiFi onboard with suitably spaced out refreshment/toilets stops. We chose to relax and conserve our energy on the bus journeys and they were also some of the funniest parts of the trip too.
This really is a wonderful holiday experience. Go for it!
Most Inspirational Moment
The boat trip to Halong Bay and the kayaking were great days/nights and the overnight train. Walking through the towns and taking in the history of this amazing country. Too many highlights!!!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
I think his name was Thanh Vo although we all called him ‘Ten’
We cannot put into words how brilliant this man is at his job and he made the whole experience for us so special. A true professional who really cared about the group and his enthusiasm for his country was infectious. His organisation was top class and we all felt lucky to have him as our guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t take a saddle ( a saddle over cover or gel shorts is adequate) No need to bring your own cycle helmets as the equipment provided including the cycles themselves are of a very high quality.
Along with you big suitcase bring a decent size rucksack to hold 2 days clothes and toiletries.
Don’t pack to many clothes as the laundry services (they’re everywhere) are of a good quality and are usually 1USD for 1KG washed dried and ironed within 24 hours absolute BARGAIN!!!
The many markets sell t shirts, shorts, sandals, trainers etc for next to nothing so leave plenty of room in your cases.
You can go your own way in an evening if you wish, or stay with the group for dinner. The guide Thanh always pointed us in the right direction as he knew all the best eateries and we found our group amazingly great company. Usually the group are all of the same mindset after all we’ve all booked the same holiday! We expected the group to be younger but were pleased to see we were all within 10 years of each other around the 50 year old mark.
This was an intensive two weeks of exploration, adventure, learning and physical challenge. As the holiday approached, I had begun to feel some apprehension as to whether I (aged 65 )was fit enough for all the activities, especially the longer cycle rides. From the first day, on arrival in Hanoi, we fell in love with Vietnam. The expertise, knowledge and support of our fantastic guide, Bac, helped us to meet all the challenges, including the 40+ km cycle ride on tracks along the Mekong Delta. All the members of our group ‘gelled’ very quickly. This was fortunate as the day after arrival we were off to our first home-stay with hill-tribe families where we all shared sleeping quarters and limited washing/toilet facilities in a traditional long house!
This was supposed to be the dry season. We expected it to be a little cool in the North but it was really quite cold and damp with unseasonable amounts of rain. In the south it was warm but also wet. Nevertheless, we found the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Vietnam to be thoroughly alluring even if the more distant mountain views on our hill treks were shrouded in mist – still very atmospheric!
Don’t expect to have much time for relaxation – the schedule is pretty tight. This tour gives you a really good taste of the country, from North to South and also perhaps, a desire to return to spend more time exploring in greater depth and at greater leisure!
Most Inspirational Moment
I think the opportunity to meet with the hill-tribe families and get to know a little about their lives was a great privilege and education. We also took an optional morning's cycle tour on the island Cam Kim near Hoi An where we met local villagers in their homes doing their work such as weaving sleeping mats from reeds, making rice wine and making rice noodles. We had the privilege of being able to try our hand at reed weaving and at making rice noodles. We spent time with Mr Do, the rice wine maker and learnt about his struggles to build a new life after he had lost his leg to a landmine during the war with Cambodia. He was truly inspirational!
Everywhere we went, especially in the rural areas, we were greeted with great enthusiasm and the children, particularly, would run out shouting, 'Hallo!' and waving. The warmth and friendliness of the people was a joy.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were so lucky to have had Bac as our group leader. he worked 24/7 to make our experience very special, including recommending and organising group meals in local restaurants and also in a family home. He managed to keep us all, more or less to schedule, organised to have our laundry done by local workers etc etc. He was an extremely knowledgeable and effective tour guide both during our visits to historic sites and our treks and other pursuits. He never seemed to get tired or lose his enthusiasm for what he was doing. No request was too much trouble for him. He is a true asset to the company.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you are not already a moderately experienced cyclist, I would recommend some regular practice prior to the holiday. I was very pleased that I had spent time building up a bit of stamina before the holiday as I had not been on a bike for 12 years and would never have referred to myself as a cyclist! We found our silk sleeping bag liners extremely useful for the home-stays and overnight sleeper train. Padded cycling shorts are to be highly recommended! Even with them we couldn't avoid getting somewhat saddle-sore! Don't be put off though because the experience is really so worth-while and ample compensation for a temporally sore bottom!
This is a full-on experience , not a relaxing holiday. At times you may feel you would like to spend longer in certain places, but that will have to be on another trip!
Great trip but a lot of time traveling. Which if you can sleep on buses is great as gives you a chance to catch up.
It really is a on the go all times trip. But the locations and different cities is worth it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the kayaking especially in the rain.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Lam was great. Good sense of humour, and the patience of a saint.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I think this trip is accessible to all.
I would recommend taking an umbrella. Buying a waterproof case/pouch for phone for the kayaking. Pack of cards. Small hold-all for all the home stays. Most of us just had backpack which we needed to use for walking so ended up with stuff in platic bags.
A fabulous experience, not least because Vietnam is such a varied and beautiful country with vibrant, hectic cities, enchanting villages and wonderfully welcoming people. This trip gives you the chance to experience all aspects of life in Vietnam and the excellent service you receive from the tour leader means that you can relax and fully appreciate everything on offer.
Most Inspirational Moment
LOTS of this trip was inspirational. All the food we ate was phenomenal - if you like cooking I would highly recommend the cooking class in Hoi An which was great fun and educational. Riding through the backwaters and villages of Central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta was wonderful - the best way to see 'real' life for the majority of Vietnamese people. If you get chance to do the additional cycling day then take it! Kayaking at Halong Bay was great fun and the best way to see the limestone cliffs. The people of Vietnam are truly inspirational having been through so much conflict and to be so open and welcoming to tourists.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Cong was absolutely fabulous. He was engaging and knowledgeable, very proud of his country and wanting us to love it as much as he does. He really understood our group and our sense of humour making the (sometimes long) bus journeys more fun! He encourages us to make the most of our time ("you can sleep on the plane!"). Every recommendation he made for experiences, restaurants, laundry, shopping etc turned out to be excellent. We cannot thank him enough and he was a great ambassador for Exodus.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As our guide advised us... make the most of every second. Yes, it is a full on trip and you will sometimes feel tired. But the travelling was part of the experience for me and I learned a lot just by looking out of the bus window! Mosquito nets are provided everywhere. I only used my cotton sleeping bag liner on the train because it was a bit cold, otherwise it was not needed. Neck pillows did come in handy because of the amount of travelling. The bikes are reasonably good mountain bikes. I did use padded cycling shorts but my husband didn't to no real ill-effect. Don't take a lot of clothes... laundry is available very cheaply at several points on the trip. Almost everywhere we stayed provided soap / shampoo for washing you don't need loads of toiletries (if you are not fussy about what you use). Just take some for the first homestay in My Chau and on the train. They are provided on the boat and in the second homestay.
A full on and intensive tour of the many facets of Vietnam, giving a flavour of this extraordinary country. Be prepared for long days, but you will be richly rewarded often seeing parts of Vietnam that other tourists may not see. As always the trip notes are very accurate.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many different and wonderful experiences in this fascinating country.What will stay with us, were the inspirational and continually cheerful people, the delicious food and the manic driving. Just crossing the road is challenging and as for the cycling .....we loved it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were SO lucky to have Tham Tu as our leader. What a remarkable young lady she is. So knowledgeable and passionate about her country. She always had a smile on her face, was brilliantly organised and nothing was too much trouble. She always went the extra mile to make the Trails of Vietnam a special experience. How could we forget her making cocktails for us on the train!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take Cycle shorts and / or a gel seat, but there is no need to take a cycle helmet, as those supplied were of good quality. Don't pack too much as there are plenty of opportunities to have laundry done very cheaply and you need the extra space for souvenirs and new clothes of course!
Once again Exodus did not fail to deliver, the was an amazing holiday covering a vast area of the country. The activities were great and very well organised. Our guide, Tham, was amazing, very knowledgeable, attentive and social. She looked after out every need. The food was great and the local people were very welcoming and happy to help.
Most Inspirational Moment
I think the local people were the main inspiration. They have turned their country around, stopped living in the past and are building a great place for people to visit and enjoy. The families at the home stays could not do enough for us and welcomed us with open arms in to their homes and were pleased to be able to show us how they lived and worked.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tham was amazing. She is one of very few female guides in her country and has had to work really hard to hold this position. She has done this with grace and a great deal of intellegence. She dealt with everything with ease and professionalism. She was also great fun and made sure we were all happy at all times.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a GoPro or something of that nature as you will not be able to describe the traffic in the cities or the beauty of Kayaking down the river. Photos just don't cut it. I have never seen so many motorbikes carrying so many different things as well as so many people. It is a sight to behold. Make sure you take padded cycling shorts and a gel seat if you have one. The bikes are good and there is no need to take your own helmet as the ones provided are good.
