Good overall view of Vietnam. I felt I was visiting the country 10 - 15 years too late as there was so much commercialisation and new building. Still well worth visiting
Excellent guide who went above and beyond his duties. He tried very hard to help us all with the disruption caused by the Middle East Crisis.
Rather too much food but there was no problem getting vegetarian options and the Vietnamese meals were lovely
The first Western diner we were taken to was AWFUL. That was the one place I had virtually no choice without meat or fish.. The vegetable fried rice I did get served tasted like a packet of dried vegetable rice I might have bought in the UK for under £1. Nearly everyone in the group said the food was poor and the ambience of the place was not good. We all agreed that place should not be used again.
Everywhere we were taken was interesting. The resort on top of a mountain was weird with its replica "European buildings" but the views from the top were stunning and the cable car ride up amazing.
Hu Long Bay was definitely a highlight: the cruise ship was old but quaint and comfy, the small boat trip was very peaceful and had lovely scenery and the caves were great. It was a shame that some of the group remained on the boat, having been put off by the 90 uneven steps. They could have come and spent time on the ( artificial) beach.
It is not Wendy Wu's fault that the British element of the party got stressed when the Middle east conflict disrupted return plans. We had to move hotels but the guide actually walked round the area with us, after the evening meal, helping us find somewhere else. He could have been at home with his family but him being able to converse directly with staff really helped. He even ordered taxis the next day to get us and our luggage taken to the replacement hotel.
Some of our group were offered alternative flights, at a later date than the original, through Doha or Dubai. One pair accepted but, as was almost inevitable, those flights were also cancelled. 4 of the 6 Brits had to pay around £2000 each for a business class upgrade or wait indefinitely in Hanoi
Overall an interesting and fun trip
Our Response
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and honest review. We're glad that overall you had an interesting and fun trip, and that highlights like Ha Long Bay, the cable car and mountain views, and the Vietnamese meals left a positive impression.
It's wonderful to hear your guide went above and beyond especially during the disruption caused by the Middle East crisis. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
We also appreciate your constructive feedback. We're very sorry to hear about the poor experience at the Western diner, and we will review that choice immediately to ensure it's removed from future itineraries. Your comments about commercialisation and the resort's replica buildings are noted as well, while some aspects are beyond our control, we always want to set realistic expectations for our customers.
Thank you again for traveling with us, and for acknowledging what worked well despite the challenges. We'd love to welcome you on another adventure in the future.
Jimmy, Wendy Wu Tours.
