Hi Anh,
Sorry we have been so long in getting in touch, following our trip with Paradissa in December; UK Christmas, and a short trip to our Greek house in early January have compromised our schedules I’m afraid !
So - Happy New Year to you and all the team at Paradissa.
Thank you so much for organising such an interesting, stimulating and inspiring trip for us - we all enjoyed ourselves immensely and you even laid on an Asian Cup final for us …. with a win for Vietnam - Amazing !
Some of the highlights for us may serve as useful feedback for your customers in future:
1. Hanoi La Siesta Classic Hotel : right up there with some of the best hotels we have stayed in, world-wide - wonderful attentive, supportive staff, first class restaurant - absolute delight and a great base to explore Hanoi.
2. Ho Tram Beach Resort : excellent resort hotel…. so sad we couldn’t stay longer ( next time !?)
3. IndoChina Sails, Ha Long Bay: well organised boat, good cabins, food and very attentive staff - certainly less frantic than some of the posts we came across - recommended ( for none-Karaoke lovers !)
4. Mango Cruises, Mekong Delta: Excellent day and superb guide provided by the Company - so enjoyed the home visits, cycling and generally meeting Vietnamese people
5. Guides: All of the highest standards - Ha-Ha ( Hanoi) and Daisy ( Saigon) also our Hmong guide for our day’s trekking in Sa Pa were exceptional.
6. Would also like to mention our driver for the Southern journey - he was one the best we have ever come across in Asia… anticipated our needs, drove very well and was incredibly considerate - very impressive.
Negatives:
Well, very few…
1. Journey from Cat Tien to Ho Tram far too long for a day’s drive…
2. No leach gaiters on the Jungle trek… we should have insisted… great learning experience!
2. Needed more time in Vietnam … our fault !
Over all, the one single issue that impressed us the most was the Dignity and Hospitality of the Vietnamese people we met in all parts of the country.
Anh - thank you so much…. can we come back again…. please ?
Jace & Margaret