Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from...sunset on Ha Long Bay, the lanterns of Hoi An, the manic energy of Hanoi and Saigon, the tranquility of Hue, life on the water in the Delta. Vietnam is a beautiful country of great contrasts, where the ancient and modern worlds sit side-by-side. Inspiration is everywhere you look.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Win (aka Tan) was absolutely outstanding. He brought the history and culture of Vietnam vividly to life and has a real passion for what he does. Nothing was too much trouble for him and everything was approached with kindness and good humour. He has a lovely manner that made the whole group feel quickly at ease and was great fun to travel with - we laughed a lot.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel as light as you can - there are opportunities along the way to get laundry done overnight, supporting local vendors at the same time. There is a definite climate change as you move south. Hanoi was a bit chilly in the evenings - Saigon is hot and humid. Layering is the way to go and take a lightweight rain jacket. Take a bit of cash if you can to get yourself going - a lot of smaller vendors will prefer it and its helpful to have immediately to hand when you land. ATMs are fine to top yourself up, but look out for bank charges which vary from bank to bank. Credit cards are accepted widely in the cities but vendors often add a surcharge for using a card. Vietnam is great value for money, so even with a surcharge it will still feel like a bargain, but its just worth being aware of.