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What an amazing holiday we had. Thanh our guide had expert knowledge about every aspect of our trip and of every place we visited. The trip was very organised from every transfer, every type of transport, minibus, train, bike, kayak and plane all went off without a hitch. Thanh was also very good at keeping a large group together and in the right lace at the right time. From the wet humid north to the dry humid south Vietnam is a fascinating place with friendly – mostly happy people who live on next to nothing. Very humbling.
Watching hardworking people just get on with heavy manually labour intensive work in basic conditions without complaining.
As above very knowledgable friendly and organised
Buy a silk sleeping bag! Be prepared for lots of packing and unpacking and a packed non stop trip.
The trip was a fast moving an all encompasing thorough cultural experience throughout from North right down to the South of Vietnam. It was informative, informal, and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
There were so many moments from seeing how the Northern tribes live in traditional houses, their dependence on their animals and many on their rice crop; to the busy frantic street scenes crowded with scooters and mopeds in the cities of Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh city. The steet sellers with their wares straddled across their shoulders with everything from baskets and hats, to sweetmeats and the street food scenes are unforgetable.
Binh Bui was amazingly organised. He never let us down once. His timings were amazing, his care and his attention to detail were unsurpassed. If things outside his control happened he just adjusted and surmounted them without fuss. His genuine care and emotional investment in his job is unquestionable.
Be prepared to walk and ride bicycles in high temperatures and don't be afraid to say I need a break!
An excellent trip, our first with exodus.
Sight of Halong Bay
Bac was brilliant, so much so we wrote a song saying so,and sung it at the final dinner
Make sure you are reasonably fit. If you haven't cycled for a while have a practice before you go otherwise sitting on a saddle for a few hours can be a bit sore.Take waterproofs for the occasional downpour
The Trails of Vietnam trip is a full-on, busy trip which packs a huge amount in to the time available. You travel the length of Vietnam and enjoy a wealth of adventure on the way. From the hills of the North to the deltas of the South, you will meet and speak with many local people and gain an understanding of their way of life, the history, culture and food of Vietnam. We had a fantastic group of 16 very different and interesting people who all got along so well together.
I particulary enjoyed the hillside walks in the North where we really got off the beaten track and witnessed the simple way of life in the hill villages. Also top of my list would be the kayaking in Halong Bay where we saw monkeys with their babies swinging in the trees on one of the islands. Hoi An was probably my favourite city, but I loved Hanoi with its bustling nightlife and where we enjoyed a session of laughing yoga with some local ladies. A trip on a cyclo through Saigon's chaotic streets will also never be forgotten.
Hai our group leader was superb. His command of the english language was excellent with a fantastic accent and ability to tell englishman/irishman/scotsman type jokes. He kept us laughing throughout the trip and brought a smile to everyone's face whether in the group or amongst the vietnamese people we met along the way. He provided us with a wonderful insight into Vietnamese culture, history and politics with an honesty and balance that we all found compelling. He was supremely organised at all times and faced every challenge with a smile; calmly smoothing every situation. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious, his patience and friendliness outstanding. We could not have had a better leader.
We travelled in December when it was a little chilly in the north and hot and humid in the south. Hanoi is a fantastic place to buy warm down jackets and rucksacks (big and small) so if you need anything of this sort buy it whilst you are here. We took sheet sleeping bags which we used on the train and gel bike seats which were great. The cycling involved three days of 40km and took us along some stretches of very busy, bumpy unmade roads. I am reasonably fit and found some of it quite hard, although the teenagers in the group thought it was easy! The bikes were good quality and the helmets fine. We had regular stops every 10km or so, for water and snacks which helped. The mosquito net we brought was only used once and that was on the train to escape the ubiquitous cockroaches! Take plenty of mosquito repellant as the mosies have a habit of finding you and a rain jacket came in useful for a deluge in Hoi An. We organised a separate four day stay in a beautiful hotel in the beautiful sandy palm fringed resort of Mui Ne at the end of our trip which I would highly recommend. After the hectic fourteen day trip we really appreciated a bit of rest and luxury. Many people stay in beautiful places like that for two weeks and go home saying that they went to Vietnam but we knew that we'd seen the real Vietnam first on our Exodus tour and were staying in a luxury version unknown to most local people.
Viet Nam is a stunning country full of breathtaking scenery, friendly people and a rich and colourful history and culture. This trip packs a lot of punch into the two weeks and covers just about all of the main highlights the country has to offer. This is due to a very well organised itinerary and great organisational skills from the group leader. The food was the best I’ve tasted anywhere in the world and the variety and freshness of the dishes was huge. If you like seafood this is the place to visit! Got to mention the local beers as well – each region produces its own local beer so the trip from start to finish is a great beer tour! The hiking, cycling and kayaking were all excellent and amid some of the most amazing and varied scenery that I’ve experienced. This was topped off by visits to some excellent pagodas and temples and famous landmarks throughout. I stayed for an extra week after the end of the trip to visit the beaches and even after three weeks in Viet Nam I still didn’t want to return home!
The biggest highlight for me was the river kayaking in Hoi An. I can't stress enough how scenic, peaceful and enjoyable this experience was. It was only my second time in a kayak after the Halong Bay kayaking but I doubt I'll ever top it. The most inspirational part of the trip was the Vietnamese people themselves. Given how much trouble they've had to endure in their recent history, I never ceased to be amazed by their warmth and friendliness towards our group. Always smiling, waving and making us feel welcome.
Kien was great throughout the trip. He organised the itinerary and our activities well and went out of his way to try and accommodate everyone's wishes in the group. He was very knowledgeable about his homeland and provided plenty of information about the country as a whole and the different regions and sights that we visited throughout the trip. He even organised my coach transfers for my extra week to the beach after the end of the trip for which I'm extremely grateful. Thanks Kien.
Firstly I would say Exodus have pitched this holiday just right. Plenty of activities throughout but as in the trip notes with an activity level of 3 you know its not going to be particularly strenuous so most people with a moderate level of fitness will have no problems. No need to take as many clothes as you may think because there's an option for laundry mid way in Hoi An. Don't bother taking US dollars. Just take Vietnamese Dong because there are plenty of ATMs throughout to withdraw more Dong. No towell needed, they are provided throughout, even in the homestays, boat, etc. Take plenty of suncream because you'll apply loads in the south, particularly during the cycling in the Mekong Delta. I read up on the history, culture and wars before the trip which I thoroughly recommend. I find its much easier then during the trip to understand and comprehend the country and its sights and put everything into context.
This holiday is non stop from the first to the last day with some amazing experiences. Its an excellent way to see Vietnam – it would take two months to pack in what we did in two weeks! The organisation was excellent and despite not having much free time we never felt rushed and had time to enjoy every experience with a great group of fellow travellers.
It's impossible to choose one moment from this trip. Every day was different and we enjoyed the whole experience. Walking in the jungle, cruising Halong bay, crazy cycling through Hue, relaxing in Hoi an, playing volleyball with villagers on Women's day and experiencing the home stays.
Binh was amazing. He always had a smile and worked tirelessly to organise everything to ensure we had the best holiday possible. He provided us with an insight to the country its people and its history. We couldn't have asked for more.
Take a 2l camel-bak or similar for the walking and cycling. Don't expect any spare time - our books returned with us unopened - relax and enjoy.
We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Vietnam and would highly recommend it to others. The trip was a great way to see as much of this compelling country as possible in two weeks, and a fantastic balance of culture and activity.
Cycling in the Mekong Delta was so beautiful and we felt like we really got a snapshot into the lives of the people living there as we cycled past locals doing their washing in the river and children playing in their gardens and houses. Trekking in Mai Chau was another highlight; the rice paddies in the morning mist were unbelievably atmospheric.
Our group leader Danh Nyugen was outstanding; knowledgeable, unbelievably attentive, and he had a great sense of humour to boot!
Don't be afraid to ask questions or for things to be done differently, as long as you ask with a smile! Everyone we met was incredibly hospitable and very accommodating to any requirements we had, e.g. I am vegetarian and everywhere we went Danh would ensure I was extraordinarily well looked after. There is no need to bring travel towels. Although we used our sheet sleeping bags on the night train, I don't think there was really any need as there was bedding provided. Make sure you have plenty of room in your case for all the clothes you will buy in Hoi An and all the genuinely lovely souvenirs you are bound to collect!! Alternatively, the tailor in Hoi An will ship clothing for a relatively affordable price. It's well worth taking either padded cycling shorts or a padded saddle; most people (though not all) who didn't regretted it. You don't need both though. We took our cycling helmets but others didn't and the ones provided were of good quality. There are mechanics on hand so no need to worry about technical glitches! We didn't take cycling gloves and neither of us missed them, although there was one person in the group who did regret not bringing them.
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.
Halong bay
Our group leader was excellent, knowledgeable and friendly.
Be prepared for many hours sat on a bus.
This is an action pact holiday full of adventure and fun.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!