Vietnam and Cambodia - unforgettable memories!

Vietnam | Jun 21 - Jul 5, 2024

We had a wonderful trip and planning it was super easy! We had 4 different drafts before we settled on one we loved. Dat was great about communicating the changes and answering questions as we planned. He even made sure the visas we got for both countries were correct.

Transfers: All pickups and drops off went smoothly! It was so nine knowing those logistics were taken care of. It was great to have the domestic airline tickets booked as well. We simply had to show up at the right time and be transported to the next spot.

Highlights
Hanoi: Tam Coc River tour was amazing! I would suggest people bring a hat or umbrella as it was super hot!
Bahn Mi 25 - best sandwich we have had! We went two times!
Dal Vostro Hotel - this was the best hotel we stayed at and the best breakfast we had on the whole trip. The rooms were great and the staff was so incredibly helpful and kind!

Sapa: trekking is a must! I do wish we would have realized how muddy it got on parts of the trail. I would have brought shoes that I did not care about ruining. Thankfully we were able to get them washed for $2 in town! This was such a beautiful place and the people we met along the way were lovely. We had an amazing lunch at red Dzao house and got a foot massage after trekking for $6. We did not do the part of the itinerary about spending time in the Dzay village. Once we arrived there, we got in the car and left. It was disappointing. Hotel was great - not as friendly as the one in Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay - AMAZING! Doris cruises were so wonderful! The rooms are huge and the lunch they served upon arriving was outstanding. We got to kayak and swim. I was stunned by the scenery and the small cruise made the experience personal.

Ho Chi Minh - we learned so much while we were here. The War Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels - while hard, were well worth the time. Johnathan our tour guide was great! Dinner at Propaganda was a highlight! The hotel was ok. It was right across from a nightclub, so the first night was really loud. The breakfast was ok - nothing special.
Mekong Delta was awesome! Again, we learned so much! Watching the coconut candy get made was fun. We brought some home to share. The set lunch was not good at all. It was a lot of food that didn't taste that great.

Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields and S-21 were really heavy places to visit, but also necessary. Our guide was helpful. It was really special to meet 4 of the survivors of S-21. We had an amazing dinner at Eleven - one & at The Titanic. Our hotel was great! Getting a tuk tuk was easy and able to walk to restaurants!

Siem Reap - We LOVED our guide - Narong! He was so funny, helpful and taught us a lot! He is also a sharp dresser! He and the driver took such good care of us with cold water and cold wipes, especially after a hot day at Angor Wat. The hotel was lovely - and the massages are heavenly! We had a wonderful dinner at Haven and at Mesa. Lunch was supposed to be included on the Angor Wat day - but our guide said it wasn't. The lunch place was good!

Overall it was an amazing trip! Here are a few things we felt could be improved upon:
1. The lunches on the group tours (private tours was great) were disappointing. It just wasn't good food.
2. There were 2 things on our itinerary we did not do - one in Sapa and one in Tam Coc - disappointing.
3. Be clear about what meals are included.
4. It was hard to communicate with Dat once we were in country. There were times we reached out via whatsapp and had to follow up because we didn't hear back from him. There was also an urgent matter he had to attend to which is fine, but it would have been nice to have a back up number.
5. I might chose a different hotel in Ho Chi Minh City - because of the nightclub.