Contiki Vietnam Experience Review
Contiki Vietnam Experience Review
Amanda Kerr lives in Brisbane and chose to travel with Contiki for her first trip to Asia. Here, she describes her Vietnam Experience and what to expect on the 12-day journey through Southeast Asia.
Our Contiki trip through Vietnam was such an eye-opener, and so different to any other tour I had previously been on. My boyfriend and I went on the Vietnam Experience tour from 4 –15 November 2014. I think there were about 24 of us when the Vietnam Highlights group joined us on day three back in Saigon. Everyone clicked well, and the homestay in the Mekong Delta really helped us bond quickly and brought our group together. Worth the extra money to add those two days to your Vietnam trip!
Our tour was special, as two girls from The Bachelor Australia were on our tour, along with writers, bloggers, and two big bosses from Contiki to manage them along the way. Having this on our tour was a unique experience (both good and bad points!), but it made for some very memorable moments! The Contiki boss, Katrina, was super lovely and amazing – so glad she came along for the ride! Our tour manager, James, was invaluable and knew his stuff, powering on even when he felt sick, and was kind enough to give those of us travelling on afterwards many tips on where to go and what to see in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand!
Crossing the road in Saigon is an experience you will never forget; you will never again see so many scooters! The markets throughout Vietnam were excellent for picking up a bargain (Hoi An probably had the best shopping). Keep in mind that Asian sizes are much smaller than Western sizes! Our accommodation was of good quality at each destination (though a little more basic at our Mekong Delta homestay). We were treated to so much delicious food over the 12 days that we were spoilt for choice; so many yummy soups, spring rolls, savoury pancakes and fresh seafood!
Nha Trang was one of our favourite spots; we could have easily stayed there longer! It has gorgeous beaches, great mud baths, and an unforgettable snorkelling trip. Dinner at The Sailing Club was one of the best meals of my life! The passionfruit mojito was the best drink I’ve ever tasted, and the mushroom gnocchi was to die for!
Hoi An is a World Heritage site, and I can’t wait to revisit it one day. I had so much fun riding bikes around the old town, exploring the markets, lounging by the pool, and visiting the hotel’s spa. We all got suits or dresses made there at Yali, but I’d strongly recommend having pictures of what you want on your phone before visiting, so you can be clear and specific with them about what you want to save time and confusion. When we reached Hu, we were getting tired, but the Perfume River showed us a fantastic sunset, and the nightlife there is pretty fun! We were exhausted when we reached Hanoi and couldn’t wait to sleep! It was probably our least favourite destination in Vietnam; the weather was cooler and overcast, and the city felt like many others in Asia. We also didn’t do as much together as a group here.
Halong Bay was stunning, although the water was a little cooler this time of year (but not so cold you couldn’t swim). Seeing monkeys close up in the wild island was amazing, and the scenery was stunning. The pirate party on the junk boat was incredible, too, too!
I’d recommend staying an extra night in Hanoi once your tour ends, as you’re bound to make new friends with whom you’d like to spend more time! Our group was a mix of (mostly) Aussies, Canadians, South Africans, Brits, a Kiwi, and an American. The average age of the group was mid-to-late 20s, which was perfect (no 18-year-olds getting crazy silly or old nanas holding us back). The tour was slower and a bit more luxurious than European Contiki tours.
I’d recommend an Asian Contiki tour – your money goes so much further in South East Asia, and for people like us who had never been to Asia before, it was a great introduction to the culture. It gave us the confidence and knowledge to travel in the region ourselves. I had a blast, and so did my boyfriend (who was initially quite reluctant to do a Contiki tour, but was surprised!). Save your dollars and give it a go – you’ll have a fantastic time guaranteed!
By Amanda Kerr
Have your Asian adventure with the Contiki Vietnam Experience. Just visit www.contiki.com or ring 1300 188 635.
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