Most Inspirational Moment
Halong bay
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was excellent, knowledgeable and friendly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for many hours sat on a bus.
Reviews
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Reviews
Nathan
The way the trip is advertised you are expecting a really active two weeks requiring good levels of fitness. In reality you do very little over the two weeks. You spend more time on the overnight train than you do hiking, cycling & kayaking combined! You really should quantify how little actual activity there is on this trip for people to be able to select an appropriate trip.
Trails of Vietnam
This is an action pact holiday full of adventure and fun.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling around the Hue Imperial City and around the villages of the Mekong Delta this enabled us to interact with the local people who were just so welcoming and I lost count of how many times people shouted hello to us. It was also the looner new year while we were there and was very special to experience how it's celebrated and being part of the celebrations.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vinh was an amazing leader he went above and beyond to make sure we had a positive experience of his home country. Because it was new year this created a few challenges for him and he always dealt with it with a smile on his face and a positive attitude. On our last cycling day it was very hot and I really struggled with the last 2k but Vinh stayed with me encouraging me home! What a star!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Plan for the cold in the North ....I really underestimated how cold it would be and my amazing group of travellers gave me a jumper, gloves and hat. Also I can't stress enough to take a padded bike seat cover, especially for the women if you don't it could be painful!
Get there before it changes!
This must be the best Exodus holiday I’ve experienced. First of all a great bunch of fellow travellers make the trip; we all got on very well from the outset. Vinh, the tour leader was very well organised, always knew what was going on and made sure we also knew the ‘plan’ for the present and following days. Hotels and homestays were of good quality and we were very well looked after wherever we were. Included food was usually excellent and abundant, a slimming holiday it was not! Our leader arranged optional meals at local restaurants; again, the food was varied but always of a high quality.
In travelling in and between Hanoi, Ha Long, Hue, Danang, Hoi An and Saigon, we were exposed to the history and culture of this country. Our guide was very well informed about historical events which has shaped Vietnam.
A good bit of walking, a little bit of paddling and some mad cycling composed the active part of the holiday. I was disappointed with so little kayaking but this was somewhat mitigated by the tremendous views in Ha Long bay.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cu Chi tunnels are an experience not to be missed, but anyone who is even slightly claustrophobic would do well to stay above ground! The differences between North and South Vietnam is notable; food, the people, the atmosphere are all, to a certain extent, defined by the geography of this very long, thin country.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Group leader Vinh was brilliant, Very well organised, great communicator, knowledgeable about his country. Good sense of humour and provided a running commentary for all aspects of the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Temperatures between the north and south of the country vary greatly. Make sure you know Hanoi temperatures before you leave. One of our party was unprepared for the cold!
Trails of Vietnam
Great trip to discover Vietnam but NOT an active holiday! All the activities are done at a very leisurely pace with stops all the time. You’ll be busy discovering Vietnam during the days but you’ll always have lots of free time in the evenings, which i found very disappointing. I hope Exodus will review the level of this holiday package.
I picked this trip because it was listed as an active holiday with different kind of activities “On foot, in the saddle, with paddle – active the length of Vietnam”. However, this is not true: there is only one day trekking with 17km done. The rest is just about 1h – 1h30 walks there and then visiting places. As for the kayaking, there is only a 2h kayaking included in the Halong Bay. There is the option to pay for additional kayaking in Hoi An which is much better than the one on the Halong Bay. It should be included in the trip.
As for the cycling, there are four days that involves cycling: two very small bike rides (less than 20km…) in Hue and two great rides along the Mekong Delta (about 40km). But 40km is not much to do especially if this is the only thing planned to do for the day.
Most Inspirational Moment
They were many highlights to this trip, such as kayaking in Hoi An (optional activity), getting a suit made in less than 24h in Hoi An, cycling between the rice fields, meeting lovely and friendly Vietnamese people, feeling like Poh in Kung Fu Panda when climbing up Marble Mountain...
Thoughts on Group Leader
Kien was passionate about his work. He tried very much to teach us about his culture but sadly the group was not interested at all by learning about the Vietnamese culture and history. The activities were planned smoothly but he tried too much to adjust things to this group lacking motivation by proposing later starts for activities thinking people would prefer sleeping in the mornings.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do not take this trip if you really expect an active holiday. This package is great for sightseeing and discovering Vietnamese food and culture but it is not as active as mentioned in the description. Most days there is nothing to do after 4pm. And lot's of time is spent traveling by bus. But it is a great holiday if you just want to relax. ***** I traveled end of march/beginning of April and I'd recommend taking a warm polar sweater for the north part of Vietnam, a light jacket against the wind and long walking trousers. It was actually quite cold. But then you'll need shorts and t-shirts for the central/south parts of Vietnam. ***** You absolutely need to bring a third bag with you: your suitcase, a backpack (for the days) and a light bag to put in clothes for 1-2 days trips. Your suitcase will stay at the hotel while you go to the homestays and it is essential to have a smaller bag to carry your stuff in. ****** For the money, don't bother with US dollars => it is extremely annoying to have people asking to find a bank to exchange their US dollars because they didn't withdraw dongs. The money in Vietnam is dongs and even though they can take US dollars in some places, it is much easier to use dongs. You'll find ATMs everywhere (usually in front of the hotel you'll find one). ****** Don't worry about finding mineral water bottles, you'll always get a free one at the hotel every night, and you can really buy some everywhere, even in the middle of the jungle. ******
Reply from Exodus
We would like to thank CG for posting a review, although we are very sorry that CG was disappointed with the amount of activities included in the itinerary; whilst this trip is designed to be a cultural holiday with the addition of active elements, we will certainly bear CG’s comments in mind should we hear similar feedback from our clients.
Megan Devenish, Trip Manager for Vietnam
Fantastic trip
We had a great trip on our trip around Vietnam. Seeing and experiencing what felt like a very authentic Vietnamese experience. This trip put you right into the Vietnamese culture and not just the ‘touristy’ parts either. You got to see a lot of the path less travelled. Excercise wise, it was great, nothing to hard and the group worked at a nice leisurely pace. Biggest day by far is the trek around the northern Vietnamese mountains but again, plenty of rest stops etc.
If there was only one thing that could be improved, because the trip is so action packed you do get pretty tired, there is a few hours here and there to just sit down and relax but no substantial ‘free time’ so go in expecting to be busy a fair bit.
Most Inspirational Moment
Definitely the War Museum as well as the Cu Chi tunnels. Both places really opened your eyes up to the atrocities of the war and its effects on the Vietnamese people.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Viet was an absolute legend. Obviously extremely passionate about his country and culture he was always trying to enrich your experience with extra information or little experiences a long the way to get you more in sync with the local way of life. Extremely organised and a very good communicator, he made sure the group got the best out our trip. Which is not always easy when you have 14 people of different nationalities and goals. The whole trip honestly ran like clockwork.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you pack a sleeping bag liner for the train trip.
Just the best tour I've ever done
I picked this trip because it was a great blend of cycling, hiking, sight seeing, shopping and kayaking for a 2 week tip in Vietnam. I loved that we got to get out of the cities and walk amongst the hill tribes of Northwestern Vietnam or cycle amongst the farmers and fishermen of the Mekong Delta. But I also appreciated all our city stops to experience the different characters and cuisine of the cities throughout Vietnam. It was also fun that transportation varied from buses to boats to ships… This trip was just a fantastic blend of activities and exercise.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were several.. The day hike amongst the hill tribes, the cave we visited in Halong Bay, watching the sunset from a kayak in Halong Bay, the train trip to Hue, walking the utterly charming streets of Hoi An - and getting a 'couture' dress made in less than 24 hours..., the cycling in the Mekong Delta. And possibly, the knowledge that I survived crossing the road every time in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dahn was brilliant! He is an enthusiastic and passionate tour leader who clearly loves his job. He was brimming with knowledge about his country, happy to share such knowledge with us and answer all our 'dumb' questions. He was super super organised - we were never left waiting for anything - the buses, the boats, the bikes - all there when it was time to move on to the next activity! I was very impressed by that as we sailed past other tour groups standing around idle, waiting for whatever their mode of transportation was... And I loved his highly infectious laugh - you can't help laugh when he does, and he laughs a lot!
Advice for Potential Travellers
**Most cash transactions will be in Vietnamese Dong -but you can get it out of an ATM when you arrive (or at the airport). Helps to have some $US in reserve, but I think I only spent a total of $US50 on the entire trip... ** We were there in mid-November. I did not find the mosquitoes were that bad in the north or south. Some repellent is nice but not sure it had to be Deet. I'd strongly recommend if you do buy Deet, you test it on yourself before you go - I had an allergic reaction to it on my face only, and of course had not packed anti-inflammatory cream.. **There are 5 nights where the accommodation is a bit more basic. If you are sensitive about your mattresses, you may want to invest in a small, compact inflatable mattress to add a bit of comfort to the bedding. ** As others have said, no need for mossie nets - they are provided and the ones provided are more than adequate ** For the cycling, it is STRONGLY recommended, male or female, you invest in a gel seat cover or if you are a cyclist, take your padded cycling shorts (do not take long leg cycling pants - you'll melt away). ** Helmets are provided. They are good enough but some are not as comfortable as you might be used to at home (I was given an XL which barely fitted and I am a S/M in my country, so have to assume it was Vietnamese sizing!). However the provided helmets are of comparable quality to what you are used to so up to you if you bring your helmet or not. Most people on my tour did... were probably happy they did - but also cursed endlessly at how much space it took up in their luggage! **Once you have packed, halve it. If you take more than 2 t-shirts, 2 pants, a pair of sandals, a pair of day walking shoes and maybe 1 weeks underwear, you've packed too much clothing! (well, ok - through in cycling shorts if you don't take a gel seatcover for the bike). There are plenty of opportunities to have clothes washed and it truly is peanuts ($US2) and you'll buy tons more clothes you don't need on the trip... ** Strongly recommend you have a hydration backpack not water bottles for the longer cycle trips and walks. Most people had 2 litre hydration packs and they were adequate and it was so easy to drink on the fly. There are plenty of water fill up stops included so you'll never run dry with 2 litres. But you will run short if you are only toting a 500ml or 1 litre water bottle...There is also no guarantee the bottle holder will work on the bikes.
trails of Vietnam
I have just had 2 of the best weeks of my life absolutely amazing a group of 16 different people from all walks of life come together and get the chance to experience a culture unknown to any of us no negatives whatsoever still buzzing from the trip thanks to exodus and all my traveling companions
Most Inspirational Moment
In one word our wonderfully humble guide lin
Thoughts on Group Leader
lin an incredible interesting gentleman a man who will remain in my memory bank forever thank you sir
Advice for Potential Travellers
go for it you will never regret it tip take powdered tea
Trails of Vietnam - April
A full-on enjoyable trip with an interesting mix of sightseeing and activity – would highly recommend.
The itinerary enables you to learn a lot about this rapidly developing country – it’s history and current development, with interesting contrasts between city life and rural life. There is almost no free time on this trip, but that’s the only way to fit so much into two weeks! The Vietnamese people are friendly and welcoming and the trip is interesting and enjoyable from start to finish.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to highlight just one: Cycling through rural villages (approx. 50% of the cycling). Exchanging hundreds of 'hellos' with local children and people as we cycled through their lives. Visiting local markets. Cycling through the Friday night rush hour with the locals in Hue - and surviving! (It was a challenging experience, but our guide looked after us well). Sharing a little of the fun with local people as they prepared to celebrate their New Year. The water buffalo that expressed such joy and excitement when it was let off its rope to play in the river (running back and forth and rolling in the river like a puppy! I didn't know water buffalos did that!) The homestays. Experiencing the process of getting clothes, shoes and prescription glasses tailor made in Hoi An.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Anh was a brilliant leader - well organised, great sense of humour, knowledgeable, part of the group, excellent English and such a pleasure to spend time with. Anh handled the boisterous nature of our group with ease and everything was organised to perfection without any fuss.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I was unsure of the following before I went, so hope these pointers help: You will need: Lightweight walking boots or shoes (heavy boots unnecessary) Silk sleeping bag liner (not a sleeping bag) Cycling helmet (must be worn, but are provided by the bike hire company if you prefer not to take your own) Padded seat cover or padded cycling shorts (recommended, not essential, I'm not a cyclist and suffered even with my padded seat cover!, but most people seemed to experience at least some saddle soreness!) Walking sandals were fine for cycling (I didn't need trainers) You won't need: Additional sleeping mat (those provided at the homestay are fine) Mosquito net (all provided where needed) Currency - VND is the preferred currency, but most places also take US dollars. Credit cards can be used in towns and cities. It's quick and easy to get laundry done whenever you stay in a hotel for 2 nights - this cuts the amount of clothes needed (and eliminates the whiffy socks after the hike!) Would recommend a massage at the hotel in Hoi An if you get chance - excellent for a very reasonable price.
Trails of Vietnam with Anh
A great time and a very varied trip with many different activities.
Most Inspirational Moment
The people. Their happiness and their welcoming attitude.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Anh was very well organised, funny and always had a positive attitude. His English was also very good.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Follow the guidelines on The Exodus website an you'll be fine. I didn't use the mosquito net as they were provided in the homestay.
March in Vietnam
A very enjoyable experience, superbly arranged by Exodus and the local team – I would strongly recommend the trip. While it could not be regarded as very “active”, it was an incredibly “busy” two weeks. The walking, cycling and canoeing were undertaken by people with variable experience and enjoyed by all.
Most Inspirational Moment
The homestay and walking at Mai Chau region would be regarded as a major highlight of our trip. In retrospect, this was a relatively peaceful phase and a major contracts to the hustle and bustle of the bigger towns and cities.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tom/Tho – excellent from start to finish, he watched out for our needs and looked after them. How he managed to get 7 disparate family groups to arrive on time each day is beyond me, he did it with ease and without hassle. We will long remember the statement “OKAY Lets Go” and his infectious laugh.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Hotels: All perfectly satisfactory, even the “Simple Hotel” in Can Tho seemed to be of similar quality to all the others. Generally the hotels were well situated near the centre of activity. Good to have the use of a hotel bedroom and bathroom after Ha Long bay and before the train journey to Hue. We did not realise that at the homestay we would NOT have to carry our overnight gear, this was left in the homestay before our walks began. We though that we would be walking with our gear. The cycling through Hue was an experience – how we navigated the roundabouts without getting killed can only be down to the skills of the Vietnamese motorbikes, not to anything we did. Don't expect a lot of "free" time on this trip, there is activity going on all the time and even some of the supposedly "free" times have optional activities arranged that should be undertaken.