Hey, Evelyn, I never heard about that last meal on the Cu Chi Tunnel day!
Good to hear from you.

Hi Patrick and Evelyn-Based on your reports I have decided to follow in your footsteps with OAT. I would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions-

1-I noticed in your report that fresh, uncooked vegtables were served and eaten. Did you or anyone on your trip experince stomach problems?

2-Were there any included restaurants for dinner that you would recommend avoiding. I do not mind paying for dinner on my own, even if the meal is included. (I love Asian food, so the food being boring is not a reason for me to change restaurants). I usually do not eat lunch, so the luncheon stops are not a concern to me.

3-Did you take malaria meds for the short times you were in the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi area. From my reading of the CDC website, these are the only areas visited where there is a threat of malaria.

4-Any other tips for me to make enhance this trip?

Thanks.

1) I am unaware of anyone having any major stomach or intestinal problems on the trip. Our guide had originally told us things like to avoid ice when you went to a restaurant, but added that it was fine wherever we were being taken as the restaurants are chosen and carefully inspected to be "safe".

2) The only really disappointing meal for me was the group dinner at the hotel in Saigon, but if we had missed that we would have missed meeting Lee's lovely wife who joined us for that meal. One semi-complaint from some was that our lunches were about as big as dinner -- "too much food" was often heard.

3) I took Malarone but more because of going to Cambodia and Laos just before Vietnam. I had some "sick to my stomach" problems and a dry cough that I'm 99% sure where from that, but it all went away. On the other hand, I literally never a mosquito on my whole trip. I know that a number of people on the tour did not take any anti-malaria pills -- some because they have in the past and they made them sick and they just felt it wasn't necessary for this trip.

4) Just go and enjoy.

Thanks, Patrick I was at the Boston GTG on Saturday. Bob asked me where I was going on my next trip. I told him that I thought I was going to take "Patrick's trip". He instantly understood it was to Vietnam. I think we have all enjoyed following your trip report, even those non tour guys, like Bob. Thanks so much for posting.

NeoPatrick:

Excellent read - thank you so much.

Sandy

ttt

Shelleyk,

I thought I might take doxycycline as an anti malarial since it could also protect against some other infections (such as traveler's diarrhea) and it was the most affordable - however I only took it a couple of times and never did continue the entire regimen (and I'm an RN)and I didn't worry about it either. It never seemed necessary and I had it along more as a 'just in case' type of antibiotic. I also was not aware of anyone getting any severe GI issues. We were guided well by our trip leader and those whose constitutions might be more susceptible, really did have choices of what we were offered - either at regular meals and with any of the extra 'treats and samples' we were offered on the spontaneous moments.
Hope you decide to go and enjoy!!

Fabulous trip report, Neo!

thanks for this fabulous review and story....one of the best in a long line of good reports

Are you home yet Patrick? I seldom come to the Asia Board, but I remembered you were traveling there and have been following you from the beginning. It's been a fabulous trip.

Yes. I returned to Naples, Florida on Wed. of this week after a wonderful week in London to complete my "round the world".

Welcome back to Florida. We are on the East coast in Boca. Thanks for your great review. I've tried convincing my husband for years that tours have definite benefits in some respects and you certainly sound like you did much more on the tour than you would have done on your own. Glad to hear you had such fun.

Smashing report! Many thanks!

This has been a wonderful read. I do agree that as a solo traveler, I frequently don't do or see as much as I would have if on a tour. You have made me re-think that maybe I could consider a tour at some point.
Thank you for taking the time.

neo....we need you to attend the boston GTG next october...

neo did attend the Hawaii GTG last year, its where we first heard of this amazing trip in its infancy stage

Patrick, glad to see you made it home safe and sound. Thanks again for taking the time to write this wonderful series of reports, just amazing. So where does one go next after you've been around the world? Any plans??????

Aloha!

Any plans? Well not specifically.

Buenos Aires, Santiago, Rio
The Amazon
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
African Safari
Capetown and Johannesburg
Russia
Many returns to Europe (still my favorite)
Boston in October (LOL)

I'm so happy that your OAT trip was a success. I recall reading your earlier posts and that you were worried about the Vietnam trip being canceled.

The report is wonderful -- good writing with just enough detail (makes me hungry). I agree with you about having experiences with OAT that you wouldn't have on your own. (I can't imagine an independent traveler stir frying in a Vietnamese family's kitchen.)

I've done a lot of independent travel and taken a couple of OAT tours and found that the items on the itinerary that I had little interest in turned out to be great fun. Like you, I enjoy traveling and dining with others, but also like being able to get away and explore on my own. I'm not an early riser but it doesn't bother me on the trips since I know there's a day of discovery ahead.

The OAT web site Oattravel.com now has a "Travelers Discussions" section. Lots and lots under the Africa forum. I've been reading about the Ultimate Africa trip and it looks darn good. There are also traveler's reviews posted under individual trips.

Thanks for taking the time to write the comprehensive report. Since you're interested in South America, have you looked at the Wilderness Beyond trip?

Luisah, funny you mention it. I'm looking at the ultimate Africa trip too. Perhaps in June or July.

Actually the Wilderness Beyond Trip isn't high on my list, not sure why. Just other things calling to me first.

That is funny. There are lots of questions and answers on that trip in the "Travelers Discussions." I've read all the reviews on the OAT web site. It sounds fascinating and I hadn't had much interest in Africa before. One thing that appeals to me is that it is adventurous but not strenuous. I slept in tents a couple of nights on the OAT Morocco trip and loved eating and drinking wine under the stars -- nothing like home.

Most people loved the trip except for the long flights. However, I checked Delta and there is a non-stop flight from Atlanta to JNB -- 15 hours but better than 20 plus on BA. I entered dates that I would consider (Sept because I hate being cold and it should start warming up by then) and with the $1200 credit for booking your own flights, it would only cost a couple of hundred more and the trip insurance would be about $100 less. I travel from a regional airport in Florida and I'd be able to get home after the Atlanta flight so the extra money would be worth it to me.

I just finished reading Peter Allison's book, "Whatever You Do, Don't Run" and I'm even more excited. Allison is an Australian who traveled to Africa and got a job as a guide in a safari camp in Botswana. His adventures with the animals and the "guests" are interesting and sometimes hilarious.

It's the ship through the glaciers and to Cape Horn that appeals to me on the Wilderness trip, but Africa appeals more.

I loved reading your Vietnam report. A friend has wanted to make that trip but I was put off by the number of flights but your report cleared that up. I'd love the experience on Halong Bay, so my list is growing.