This trip exceeded our expectations. We had previously done cycle Cuba and loved it but this trip was better. Everything from the hotels, the glorious food, the mix of cycle days/rest days, the trip leader Long, the endless smiles from children and families as we cycled through their villages and the really lovely group we were part of all made this a trip to remember.
There were 17 in the group which sounds very large but as we all got on, everyone mixed and everyone supported each other, it turned out to be the backbone of why the trip was so successful. The crew lead by Long also made the holiday.
After speaking with two other family friends, we booked our vacation through travel agent and it was one of the best trips we have been on. We spent 18 days traveling from Hanoi , Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An, Mekong Delta and Phnom Penh and Siem reap. As a family of 5 (Kids ages 10, 15) it is hard to find accommodations and activities that meet the needs of all family members. However everyone came back happy campers. We loved every activity and all the food was wonderful. We saw temples, rode bikes, explored downtowns and went kayaking. Hands down worth every penny.
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.