This was an outstanding and memorable trip which taught us so much about the history, culture and geography of Vietnam. Travelling from north to south, the itinerary was exceedingly well planned and varied - from the variety of accommodation and modes of transport to the experience of both city and rural life.
As members of the generation which remembers the Vietnam War on the TV screeens for a decade, it was a profound experience to visit those places where momentous events took place, heightening our awareness of both the suffering, resilience and achievements of the Vietnamese people.
The trip gave us the perfect balance between organized activities and free time, allowing us to spend time close to nature. we spend lots of time in the villages and saw the real life of Vietnamese people. We really enjoyed this tour, our guides were friendly & knowledgeable. The transport was comfortable & the accommodation was better than we expected.
This trip is classed as "leisurely" and, yes, that's an accurate description in terms of the level of "activity". However, this is a very "busy" trip with some early mornings - but all VERY worthwhile. There is "free time" but there's plenty to do and see in the relevant location. The hotels were all in central locations, enabling us to make the most of free time. The itinerary was diverse - from countryside (our overnight homestay) to 21st century Saigon - and the "noise" of the towns/cities from the ever-present scooters is something to experience! The food was delicious and it was great fun to be "hands-on" with our meal at our homestay. At no time did we feel unsafe; rather, it was a real pleasure to be able to strike up unexpected conversations on a number of occasions during the trip.