Journey of a Lifetime

Sorry not to have chosen the pre-tour trip to Thailand as the glimpse of the city and the information provided by the guide on trip to airport was enchanting. Overall I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the lives of the people and the history and civilization of Cambodia and Vietnam, both through places we visited and personal interventions of the guides in both countries, including (for Cambodia in particular) the very difficult histories since the 1960s when the United States was involved in the war in Southeast Asia. The temples at Angkor Wat were truly extraordinary and learning so much about Hinduism and Buddhism as we visited them was wonderful. I loved the fact that these historic sites are also still centers of worship today and seeing the ancient statues clothed and garlanded and incensed in so many places was very moving. The temples where the tree roots were left as they were growing when first rediscovered are particularly beautiful. In Vietnam we came face to face with so many places that recalled the events of the war (the Presidential Palace in Saigon in particular and the so-called Hanoi Hilton), but also a sense of a young country on the move, vibrant, dynamic, developing all over the place, with a viable future and great hope. People were all very welcoming and friendly and eager to practice their English (especially kids). Highlights of the trip for me included the market at Hoi An and the cooking school where we made rice pancakes among other dishes and learned about fresh herbs straight from the garden; the cruise on Ha Long Bay; the boat ride to Tonle Sap with live alligators farmed; the Temple of Literature; seeing the houses that Ho Chi Minh lived in as well as his final resting place; witnessing the tunnels of Cu Chi where the guerillas lived during the Vietnam War; the excellent meals everywhere at very reasonable prices; the comfort of all the hotels (especially the Saigon Morin with its combination of colonial history and modern luxury, beautiful outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees).

A true eye opener

It always takes me a week or so after returning from a tour to "digest" all that I have seen and experienced. This trip to Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam was no exception. I have never been to Southeast Asia and even though I read up on the sites that we would be traveling to, I was unprepared for the overwhelming beauty of the temples in Bangkok, the intricacy of the Angkor Wat complex, the traffic in the streets of Vietnam, the beauty of the outlying areas and the warmth of the cultures. We had exceptional guides throughout each country and no question was left unanswered.

Joys of Southeast Asia

Our Vietnam tour guide, Hiep was sensational. Truly saved my life twice due to seafood allergies. Rhoads in Cambodia and Trish in Bangkok were also fantastic. The education from the guides and experiencing the history of the three countries was exceptional. GoAhead, as always, had everything very well organized. From the gold in Bangkok to Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the differing cities and growth in Vitnam, this trip is a great value and a must see to round out your world travels. We recommend it highly.

Southeast Asia March 2012, extremely educational

This trip gave a tremendous opportunity to view three countries in a unique part of the world in a two week time period. As always with GoAhead, the tour guides were incredible. Their knowledge, work ethic and desire to handle your every need was exceptional. Learning the cultures and history of these areas that many of us have read and heard about for years and to see first hand was excellent. The Bangkok temples were very opulent, overall strong economy and ease to get around was a great start for us. Cambodia, while much poorer was an eyeopener with Angkor Wat and the massive ruins. The tours through the country side gave us a vivid view of a very diverse life style, while often depressing to see the struggles they endure, yet very proud and making it work. Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, to Hoi An to Hanoi again showed a wide variety of a very strong development after many years of wars and strife. As always GoAhead had every aspect of the tour extensively planned out and we encountered no glitches. The distance from the US is long and the 4 internal flights keep you jumping, but it is well worth it. The fact that all three areas readily accept the US Dollar also made it more accommodating. The hotels all were at least 4 stars and very well done. Meals were heavy into seafood and nuts so be careful with allergies. We recommend this trip very highly if you are one who is interested to continue to see and experience all phases of our wonderful world. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or want more information. Louise & Bob Geier