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TESTIMONIALS FROM HAPPY TRAVELERS
From Bill
and Connie Sprunk, of
Oceanside, California
Jerry,
Now that the dust has settled after our return, I'll get back to you as
promised. Overall the trip met our objectives and is considered a
resounding success. The Saigon portion of the Vietnam trip was strictly a
tourist jaunt as I had flown into there many times but never really left
the airbase. We both enjoyed the sites of the city and the Delta very
much. The guide was a very personable 24 year old college graduate who did
his best for us.
The Da Nang portion was very nostalgic for me and enjoyable for both of
us. Our guide was 55 years old and a native of Da Nang. He had personal
and detailed knowledge of the region, its history and sights, and the
battles fought from 1965 to 1975. The area along the DMZ was about what I
expected - not much changed except for vegetative incursion over time.
Seeing it seemed to bring a sense of closure to me.
The India trip was very different but also well worth while. The sights
and general environment were new to us since neither of us had been
anywhere but Delhi and Mumbai and that was many years ago. The city guides
were all top notch and very accommodating. The game preserve guides were
impressive in their knowledge and efforts to satisfy. They tell us that we
did well above average in tiger sightings. We saw them on 5 of the 9 game
trips and had 18 separate sightings involving 16 different tigers (7
adults, 6 cubs 18 months old which is almost full size for females, and 3
cubs 12 months old). Twice we saw tigers feasting on or resting beside a
kill. Our closest encounter was a very large mail male we saw sprawled out
along a cool stream in a ravine. Since vehicles were not permitted to
leave the roads, elephants were used to get us closer for a very memorable
occasion.
Should you ever need a reference from us to a potential traveler on either
trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
From Gary
Young,
of Fort Myer, Virginia
Jerry,
My apologies for taking so long sending you a report of our trip to
Vietnam and Cambodia. Jetlag and catching up at work collided with holiday
preparations and I just didn't seem to get to it.
In a word out trip was . . . UNBELIEVABLE.
The arrangements, accommodations, food, guides, etc, were all first-rate.
The drivers were especially competent or we'd both be roadkill somewhere
in Southeast Asia--their skill was phenomenal (I was constantly telling
Luetta, "Don't Look!"). I can't thank you enough for putting it
all together for us. To give you an idea of how much we enjoyed it, Luetta
is already plotting a return trip with a side trip into China next time.
Some quick comments:
Hanoi: A must-see for anybody who goes to Vietnam. Pockets of elegance (Metropole,
the new Hilton, the Opera House) in the middle of a third world city. We
loved it--even the occasional power outages and twisted history regarding
our War. The only thing we probably could have skipped: the water puppets.
I know it's considered a high art form but, despite the obvious difficulty
of manipulating the puppets, we were a little underwhelmed. The hotel was
exceptional; it would not be out of place in any world capital. Our guide
in Hanoi and Ha Long, Xuan Thang, was a delight. Recommend him to any of
your clients! And next time we want to head north to Sapa.
Halong: Probably our best
"fun" time. Thang and the crew of our boat made the day very
memorable. And the meal prepared by the boat crew was probably the BEST
meal we had on the whole trip!
Hue: Miss Tuyet, our guide, was a most elegant and gracious hostess--her
knowledge and ability to convey it to us was most impressive. The Citadel
and the visits to the tombs up the Perfume River were excellent although I
have to admit all those pagodas, temples, and shrines started to run
together a bit.
Saigon: The only "blip" on our trip. Our first guide, Mr Phung,
was polite, charming, and friendly. We immediately hit it off on the level
of sharing war memories from back in the Sixties. That perhaps was the
problem--his focus was on the War and we had deliberately planned this
trip as my return to the COUNTRY not to the WAR. It was with a great deal
of regret that I called BenThanh Tourist and asked for another guide. We
really felt we needed one who could keep us informed about history, art,
culture, etc. I genuinely hope we did not cause Mr Phung any embarassment
or difficulty in his job. With groups of veterans revisiting the war,
he'll be great. For those on a more cultural tour, his replacement, Nguyen
Bang Phi, is an excellent choice. He took our need for information
seriously; he kept us informed about everything we did and saw. We really
felt he became more of a friend and travel companion than a guide. He's a
credit to BenThanh and we thank Mr Hoang Cam Giang, Tour Director, for
being so responsive to our needs and assigning Phi to us.
Everything else about Saigon was perfect. The Rex was an ideal hotel
choice, the meals were great, the day trips (Cu Chi, TayNinh) well
managed. Jewelry deals in HCMC at the new Diamond Department Store aren't
bad either for those who don't make it to Cambodia. Ho Chi Minh City
definitely isn't the Saigon I remember from 1969.
Siem Reap: There are a handful of
places in the world I believe everybody should see before they die
(Pyramids, Grand Canyon, etc) and I've added Angkor to my list. What a
phenomenal place. The sense of history was overwhelming plus the place was
just plain fun. Our guide there, Kol Bunrith, was first-rate (by this
time, we knew the standard you set and expected no less--he didn't
disappoint). I suggest you strongly recommend this easy side trip to
anybody going to Vietnam and Bunrith as their guide. With all the new
infrastructure going up in Siem Reap (new airport terminal, lots of new
hotels), this will become a major world-class destination. I hope people
will see it before it gets too touristy or pricey. We also had another of
our "best" meals here at the Angkor Restaurant--the absolute
HOTTEST food I've ever eaten. Luetta thought I was having a stroke--I
couldn't talk; it was that hot! And the jewelry prices put a definite dent
in Luetta's budget. All in all, a great side trip.
I plan to send thank-you e-mails to as many people involved as I can but
in case I miss anyone please convey my thanks to everybody. It was the
experience of a lifetime and it all started with a simple phone call to
you. Thanks so much for making it the perfect adventure.
From
Chris Jurack, of Chardon, Ohio
Jerry -
As you recall, my trip to Saigon was made in conjunction with business in
Hong Kong, and as such allowed for slightly less than two days in Vietnam.
This was my second visit, and very abbreviated. My guide was a gentleman
named Tifo Vo, and you could not expect a higher level of professionalism.
He was really faced with an unusual situation, in that I arrived with no
planned agenda nor destination, and we jointly converted that wanderlust
goal into a well orchestrated tour. We walked extensively - probably an
unusual experience for him with an American on foot - and toured Saigon.
He
accommodated my interests as a photographer of sights and architecture, and
given the short duration, did extremely well. After I returned to the
States, I happened on a similar tour which was televised on - I believe -
the Travel Channel - and I can assure you that Tifo helped me discover
Saigon in a far better fashion than those who spent upwards of $15,000.00 on
their adventure. For want of a better way to describe the adventure, we
just hung out together for a couple of days - on foot and in car - and
maximized the time. Tifo is a well versed historian, very knowledgeable,
and a great conversationalist.
Everyone was on time - to the second - for schedules; the transportation was
excellent, and you were left with the feeling you were in very good hands.
Your part in bringing all this together is truly appreciated - and I know we
went down to the wire on the visa - and you certainly have a polished and
professional system here in the States, as well as in Vietnam, to bring
things together. Consider yourself and your associates highly recommended,
and Happy Holidays.
From
Major Gregory C. Meyer,
on active duty in Korea
Jerry,
Sorry it took me so long. I walked back into a whirlwind in Korea, as I
immediately became the J2's Executive Officer. First of all, thanks for
all your help in customizing our trip. We had a super and memorable trip.
I think the Pleiku area and Montagnard villages were the most exciting
part of the trip, but My Son, Da Nang, Dong Ha, Khe Sanh, China Beach, Hue
and Lang Vei were all close seconds. Everything about the trip made it a
truly memorable experience and one that I will carry with me for a
lifetime. Having completed a graduate level course on the Vietnam War a
week prior to our trip definitely enhanced my experience ten fold and
provided me a benchmark to view the current state of Vietnam. I have some
old pictures of China Beach in its American heyday and it was amazing to
see many of the US built facilities still intact. I think we spent four
hours in the water, body surfing. Other than the vegetation, it doesn't
look like much has changed. Pleiku had additional significance for me
because an uncle was killed in action there in May 1969. Walking around
Pleiku was an experience because I think we saw one other western person
in two days. In Dong Ha we saw no tourists, but that only added to the
great experience. Like the Thais and Cambodians, the Vietnamese are
gracious hosts and am amazed at how little hostility, if any, they overtly
display toward Americans. If the opportunity arises again, I will gladly
spend more time in Vietnam. I think it would be very interesting to visit
Hanoi and Halong Bay too. If we visit Vietnam again, I will come your way,
or if someone I know wants to gain a true appreciation of Vietnam, I will
send them your way. Thanks again.
Take care,
Greg
From
Joseph A. Vallecorsa, Jr, of San Dimas, California
Dear Jerry:
Just got back from our trip to Vietnam the night before last and wanted to
take a moment to send you a quick note of thanks. Mark and I had great
time. We came back with many interesting tales and experiences which we
shall never forget. (I took 30 roles of film and over 900 pictures).
First, let me say that the trip was expertly organized and met or exceeded
all my expectations. Hotels were great (even Dong Ha wasn't all that bad
considering where we were) and our food was very good. Neither one of us
got ill and we had no problems with the food. Notwithstanding the many
changes in Vietnam since I was last there in l968 we were able to visit
everyplace I wanted to see, particularly the northern I Corps area along
the old DMZ. In that regard I would be remiss if I didn't tell how
fortunate we were to have Nguyen Chanh Trieu (a.k.a. "Tango")
for our guide. He is excellent! Not only is he intimately familiar with
the areas we wanted to visit but he is also very knowledgeable about the
history and geography of the area as well. I doubt if our trip would have
been as interesting and enjoyable had it not been for him. He was also a
good conversationalist throughout our time with him. He spoke excellent
English and we thoroughly enjoyed his sense of humor and flexible and
accommodating demeanor. Mark and I were sad to say goodbye to him when we
flew out of Phu Bai to go back to Saigon. If we ever go back for another
visit (and we are considering it only this time maybe go on into Laos and
end up in Bangkok) I would request to have Trieu as our guide again if at
all possible. He was a big factor in making the trip a memorable success.
Many
of my associates here at work have been asking me about the trip and how I
went about organizing it. I told them the hard part was just making up my
mind to go. Once I made the decision to go your offices largely did the
rest. I really appreciated how well organized everything was; from the
great hotel accommodations and food to the seamless transitions from place
to place and excellent guides and drivers. I really mean it when I say
this trip was a tremendous experience for me and my son. Going back with
him meant a lot to me. He gained a new perspective on Vietnam as a country
and the war as well as the opportunity to meet many good people. It may
take awhile to absorb all that we saw and did but I told my other two
son's that sometime in the future I would like to go back with all three
for a longer trip, perhaps starting in Da Nang and work our way north
through Laos and Thailand ending in Bangkok. They of course are ready to
go as long as I pay.
Thanks
again for making my dream come true.
Regards:
Joseph A. Vallecorsa, Jr.
Maj.
Gen. Donald Shepperd, Ret. is from Alexandria, Virginia
Don Shepperd was part of a group that I recently sent to Vietnam. You
will see in the article that Don is a retired Major General and former
head of the National Guard. A journalist covered several days of their
trip, and you can find his article at the following website: http://www.foxnews.com/national/vietnam/vietnam_bombers.sml
Here is what Don wrote on April 5, 2000 to a friend asking about a
trip to Vietnam:
If you are considering planning for a Vietnam trip I highly recommend the
agency we just used. Jerry Landman is the contact. I believe he is a
veteran, but more important he speaks our military language and
understands what veterans want to do and see. He is dependable. He
delivers what he promises and more at a very reasonable price. He has a
Vietnamese partner in Vietnam. His vans and equipment in Vietnam are first
class - new, reliable and clean. His drivers are really good (you will
understand the importance of this once you get there). His guides and
interpreters speak fluent English and are experienced in handling we
gringos. Although I'm sure prices will increase, our tour cost with medium
priced hotels, two to a room, all inclusive meals, tips, etc. from east
coast was $1868 - and everything in Vietnam is dirt cheap. Go before you
get too old and the prices go up.
Regards - Don Shepperd
Tedosio Samora
is from San Francisco, California
Hi Jerry,
I wanted to thank you for the great Vietnam tour you organized for me and
my brother. The hotels, drivers, sites (temples, museum, etc), and tour
guides were beyond what I expected. All the tour guides in Saigon, Nha
Trang, and Hue were great. They were all knowledgeable about the history,
customs and religion etc, I learned a lot. I wish I new this when I was
there in 1966. The tour guide that stands out is Nguyen Chanh Trieu
(Tango), very well read, ex-soldier and great guide, who knew all about
the history and customs, and was very willing to share them with me and my
brother.
Jerry, Vietnam is different and it has changed since I was there in 1966.
To me the war is over. I saw this written on a wall in a bar club in Hue,
called the DMZ. "I came, I served, and survived, and I now love
Vietnam and people. That's how I feel.
I am going to be making plans with you again for a trip in 2003 or 2004.
Another brother and his friend who served in Vietnam want to visit also.
Thanks again.
John and Lynne
Konheim, from Gahanna, Ohio, went with
their friends Burt and Mary
Shurly from California on a Norwegian Cruise Lines tour of various Asian
ports. They did not want the package shore
excursions in Vietnam provided by the
cruise line with large groups packed onto buses. Nine Dragons provided
custom shore excursions for their group of four at a lower cost than
the cruise line's excursions. They preferred their excursions to the
three ports in Vietnam to any of the
excursions (with the cruise line) at the
other ports on their cruise. John and Lynne are planning to return to
Vietnam for a land tour. Here is John's
conclusion from a long write-up he sent
to Nine Dragons:
Final impression. Great trip. Best
part - Hoi An and Nha Trang ,Vietnam. Best
way to go - buy an airline ticket and go. The hell with the cruise -
waste too much time with the ship. We used
Nine Dragons (www.nine-dragons.com;
Jerry Landman - owner) - exceeded all expectations, especially
in Da Nang and Nha Trang. We compared to the passengers who went with
the tours provided by the ship and Nine Dragons surpassed them by a
wide margin. The 3rd best (our Saigon
adventure) still was better than any of
the ship's packages. Everyone was envious of us.
From Carolyn
& Doug McGillivray, Toronto, Canada
Hi Jerry:
Just wanted to send you a note to tell you how
wonderful our experience in China was.
Everything went off like clockwork - we were met at every airport
by our guides, the hotels were good, meals excellent, guides were helpful,
friendly and well informed - and what can you say about China - WOW!!
We would wholeheartedly recommend your travel
company to anyone! If you get a
reference page up on your website, feel free to put in our email. Thanks
again for working with us and making this trip - the trip of a lifetime!
This is from Jeff
Rosenberg an American living in Kiev, Ukraine. Unfortunately,
there were a couple of rare and non-typical snafus in the arrangements for
Jeff's tour in Hanoi, but here are some comments from his lengthy e-mail
notes as the tour progressed:
Up until now I have been quite pleased with my trip so far in Vietnam.
The guides have been terrific and the hotels (especially the Continental)
are well situated and more than adequate. Hoi An was terrific, and would
be a good layover.
Back on track with the trip as I write this from Hai Phong which is
gorgeous. Your local group here threw in a free lunch and dinner. Thank
you for introducing me to such a fascinating country. I realize that this
is one country you shouldn't attempt to see for the first time on your own
(unless you're really brave and don't mind roughing it).
Just bought my last water puppet and I'm ready to head back. Had a
wonderful time in Ha Long Bay with a spectacular boat cruise and terrific
hotel room. There is a new joint venture amusement park/museum (water
puppet/cultural show) which is brand new (so empty) but will be a nice
evening activity for groups although touristy. Luckily, we made it back in
time to see the History Museum which was worth it.
All in all, a terrific trip thanks to you and your organization. Realize
the Hanoi mix-up is not your fault and mistakes do happen. If I had more
time I would certainly add an extra day or two in Hanoi. I fell in love
with its charm and would enjoy just strolling the streets and drinking
good coffee.
I look forward to recommending you to all my friends and will urge them to
visit Vietnam before (unfortunately) the coming tide of commercialization
and mass tourism spoils some of this country's charm.
Sincerely,
Jeff Rosenberg
P.S. Feel free to pass on my e-mail if a skeptical client needs a personal
recommendation or a bit of a nudge. As you know, you judge a quality
outfit by the way in which they address problems which are inevitable from
time to time.
From Jack
Helfgott, Edison, NJ
Jerry,
Just to let you know that our trip to
Vietnam exceeded all our expectations. A special thanks for having Ngyen
Trieu as our guide in the Danang portion of the trip. He was
exceptional. I'll make sure you get a copy of the
semi documentary we made in Vietnam once it is complete in about 6-8
months, we will acknowledge your assistance. Again thank-you. I will refer several
vets that are interested in your tours, they were waiting to hear
about mine. Thank you, Jack Helfgott
From
Margaret
Galloway and Wynona Mulcaster, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico:
We both want to thank you for arranging a tour for us which was excellent
from start to finish. Each of our five guides met us and all were
well-informed, helpful and friendly. We enjoyed Shanghai and Wuhan, and
then joined our splendid ship Princess Sheena where every activity was
excellently organized and the food very good. The visit to the dam was
thought-provoking, deeply impressive and memorable. In Xi'an we were
disappointed not to have opportunity to meet Mr Hu Bin, who had evidently
been responsible for selecting our guides. Perhaps the most exciting
experience was our visit to the Terra-cotta army of 8,000 soldiers, with
horses and chariots and metal weapons: this surely is the 8th Wonder of
the World. The Forbidden City in Beijing was a final treat with a very
special young lady guide whose address we have unfortunately lost. We hope
to maintain correspondence with this intelligent young Chinese woman -
when you next communicate with Mr Hu Bin will you please ask the name and
address of "Connie", the guide who was with us in Beijing?
We both wish we were young enough to go on other tours arranged by
you. Every hotel was totally luxurious, food was all good and there
was not a single hitch in our program. Thank you again from us both.
From
Rita
Falcon-Smith, Scottsdale, Arizona::
Dear Jerry and Connie,
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my trip to Vietnam. All of
it was fascinating and fun, enlightening and enriching. I'm left with very
fond memories and am very pleased I chose to travel with your tour
company. I'm sure sometime again in the future we will hook up again on
another adventure.
Fondly,
Rita
From Dave
Fetters, Holland, Michigan
Jerry, just to let you know how much we enjoyed our five days in
Vietnam! I don't know how it could have been better or more
interesting! Having you take care of our complete itinerary gave us
freedom from worry and grief. The tourist service you work with in
country must be a good one since we had no problems whatsoever. Our
guide/interpreter (Phuong, age 33) was friendly, knowledgeable, and most
helpful. We had a great time with him. We also had a very good and
safe driver named Phong, 24. We never became completely comfortable with
Saigon traffic, but Phong was masterful. Everyone treated us like
royalty. The natives are definitely friendly. We saw everything we
wanted to including my former camp area only 9km from the Cambodian
border. Although the hotel in Tay Ninh may not have been up to your normal
standards, it was very adequate and serviceable for us. We wanted to
sample the local food as they would eat it and all our lunches and dinners
were solely Vietnamese eaten with chop sticks. We had a good laugh at
lunch in Tay Ninh where some French nationals came in and sat at a table
near ours and watched my wife and me using chop sticks with some
dexterity. They kept trying to emulate us and never could get it. I
don't know who picked the restaurants, but they were all good. There were
times we needed help with the proper way to combine foods and we never
lacked for polite help. Shopping was fun and fruitful. From my
personal perspective, I was surprised at how little has changed in 31
years. Certainly the war materials are gone, but the Saigon traffic is as
busy as ever. The city is bigger but the look is almost the same.
The city is dirty away from the most central area but not different than
years ago or different than what I expected. It was more of a surprise to
my wife even though I tried to explain what we were likely to come
across. Nui Ba Den was the same beacon now as it was then. Took a
better look at the Cao Dai Temple complex as well as the Buddhist temple
on the mountain. Stopped along the road to visit with families
engaged in brick making and others who were working with corn. The
children were cute and inquisitive but shy until my wife started to hand
out matchbox toys, pens and small super balls as gifts. They were so
excited. All in all, a very enjoyable and satisfying experience that
I would not hesitate to recommend for anyone interested in Vietnam whether
a veteran or not - maybe especially for a vet. Thanks again from both my
wife and me, Jerry. Maybe we can do it again.
From Martha
Scrase, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Dear Jerry,
I knew I would enjoy the trip, but I did not know that it would captivate
me the way it did. I think about it all the time, and actually things have
been very dull since I returned. My husband is anxious to take a trip,
perhaps Spain, but nothing really excites. If I had my choice I would go
back to Vietnam. Of course then everyone I know would really think I had
lost it. As I have told everyone it was a perfect trip thanks to all
of your hard work. I called our travel agent to tell her about the
trip and how wonderfully organized it was in case she had some inquiries
about Vietnam. I have heard from some of the people on the trip, and
R--- and I e-mail all the time. Actually, we would like to take
another trip together we had so much fun. The other element of the
trip that added so much was that it was a great group. Thank you,
again, for one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Wouldn't
it be great if the whole group could get together for another trip!
From
Dave Weimer. Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jerry...
A note to express sincere gratitude for a wonderful trip. Indeed, you put together an itinerary that exceeded my
expectations, and was so flexible that
we could implement changes "on the move". The
guides were all tremendous. All of us guys on the tour are indebted to those guides who quickly determined our
wants and needs, and made sure our
preferences were well satisfied. They all went out of their way
to accommodate us... and they all fit right in with our small group of guys. Thanks again for a GREAT trip.
It sure makes me appreciate Viet Nam from
a whole different perspective.
Regards,
Dave
From Homer
Johnstone. Petaluma, California
Sorry to be so long in getting to you. We wanted you to know that the tour
(to Vietnam) was OUTSTANDING. The accommodations were all excellent, as
advertised, and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Perhaps the best
part of the tour were the guides. They were knowledgeable and energetic --
and very, very conscientious. Many times they improvised on the spot when
minor things went awry, as they always do. All in all,we had a
wonderful time, and I'm recommending it to my friends.
From Mike
Philipps, Assistant Managing Editor of the Cincinnati Post:
Mike and Melvin Grier, photographer, did a series of articles on Vietnam
which ran daily from April 22-27,
2000. Mike wrote:
Jerry,
Here are the tear sheets I promised you from the trip you arranged for Melvin and me. As you can see, it was very
successful. Thanks again for all your
assistance.
Mike
From
Anne Seelman, of Rochester, New York:
To follow up my phone call, I just wanted to tell you again what a
wonderful trip we had to Vietnam. All of the arrangements were set and I
just had to show up! We met in Saigon at the hotel, and our little group
of seven hit it off from the start. Nga was a very attentive escort and
wanted to be sure that we were happy with the hotels, service, tours, etc.
She is delightful, and we had a lot of fun.
Our local guides were
informative and helpful. Tu, who stayed with us throughout the south, is
one of the best tour guides that I've ever had anywhere. Casually
mentioning something that you wanted to see or were interested in resulted
in a visit! He also has a marvelous sense of humor, and we had lively
discussions and plenty of laughs as we drove through the countryside.
The
hotels were clean and nice. The facilities were a pleasant
surprise--western style bathrooms and quite tolerable even in small towns.
The food was varied--I don't think we ever had the same thing twice--and
Delicious! I didn't expect to like it so well and not suffer for it.
Despite eating breakfast and eating 2 feasts (and I mean FEASTS) for lunch
and dinner every day, I remained healthy (My personal pharmacy proved to
be baggage rather than useful).
Every detail was taken care of--travel
arrangements, hotels, meals, ground transportation, guides, entry fees--it
was the easiest way to travel. I'm sure that I spent more getting my film
developed afterward than I did during the whole trip! Vietnam is one of
the most beautiful countries that I have visited. Saigon has a pulse and
beat that hums all the time. There is a feeling of an underworld-just out
of reach, but thriving, a city of exotic contrasts. The traffic alone
brings on world class astonishment-and makes Boston traffic look like a
tricycle meet.
The
Mekong Delta, with its hidden jungle canals, was gorgeous. Floating down a
canal on a little paddle boat through sky-high ferns and water coconuts
was idyllic.
Visiting the tunnels at Cu Chi
was an incredible experience. Despite reading the book (The Tunnels of
Cu Chi by Mangold and Pennycate), it was unexpectedly moving to
actually go in the tunnels for a brief time and to imagine the tenacity of
the people who spent long stretches of time in this creepy underground
world.
The
drive north to Da Lat was one stunning vista after another-breathtaking
beauty at every turn. Visiting the Chil and Lat Tribes was going back in
time to glimpse a way of life that is not going to be for much longer.
Nha
Trang and its beautiful island beaches is not something people think of
when they envision Vietnam. We took a boa out to three islands--Mun was
the best. Crystal clear water near the shore deepening into aqua and turquoise,
coral reefs and colorful fish made it a true tropical paradise. We were
the only ones there--which made it perfect!
Hanoi
was lovelier than I expected. It is a city whose culture is felt in the
tree-lined avenues and French flavor. I loved the Old Quarter and walked
to both West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake. I met some of the nicest
people--they just wanted a chance to practice speaking English. Actually,
the people everywhere were wonderful. They are poor in monetary resources
but rich in values that really count--family, kindness, and generosity. It
surprised me that there doesn't seem to be much, if any, war-related
animosity toward Americans, at least none that I experienced. I suppose in
a country whose culture is centuries old, a 10-year war is a rather small
and inconsequential piece of an ancient
puzzle. Still, with many legitimate reasons to harbor resentment, it just
wasn't there.
The
trip was a complete success in every way. It exceeded all of my
expectations. I came home awash with memories--stunning scenes forever
etched in my mind of gracious people and exceptionally beautiful
landscapes. Nine Dragons did an excellent job - I'd recommend it to anyone
and would be glad to share my experience with anyone who would like to
know. Thanks for doing such a great job.
From
Stephen and Deborah Goldblatt, of Hillsborough, California:
I would like you to know
that my wife, my son (age 11), and I enjoyed our trip to North Vietnam
more than we can say. The people, our guide, and our driver made a wonderful
and wonderfully interesting adventure. We have fallen in love with this
country and intend to return for a longer stay early in the new millennium.
I
would particularly like to thank you at Nine Dragons Travel & Tours for all your
hard work and also for the professional and ethical manner in which you
handled some rather large hiccups in our arrangements at the start of our
travel. Please feel free to use this letter on your testimonial page.
From
Dan Goldberg of Columbus, Ohio:
Jerry,
just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful trip to Vietnam.
Everything went as planned and the weather
cooperated.............the rain was not a problem.
I just wished we would have had more time but that always gives us
the opportunity to return to Vietnam.
Again thanks for planning our trip.
PS...........we are now just getting back to our normal sleep
patterns!!!!!!!!!!!
From
Doug Lavery, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania:
I
wanted to drop you a note and tell you what a wonderful time Kathy and I
had in Vietnam. We really enjoyed the tours you set up for us. The country
is beautiful and we were very well received. The tour guides were
exceptional. We especially enjoyed meeting Trieu Nguyen. He is a true hero
and was a real pleasure to meet. He gave us a great tour and brief on the
country. I would recommend both our guides to anyone interested in
visiting Vietnam. Thanks again.
From
Loretta and Arnold Trautman, of San Francisco,
California
Dear Jerry,
We very much enjoyed the trip to China, Tibet and Hong Kong. The Park
Hotel was an excellent choice. The service was very good and the location was
perfect. We spent Sunday morning in Kowloon Park as you had suggested and were
amazed by the big variety of birds and the friendly Chinese trying to look in
our bird book to identify birds with us! We will definitely travel more
in China and are looking at Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, too. Thank you
for all the help you provided us. We look forward to more travel with
Nine-Dragons.
From Mike and Jan Frans, of Wales, Wisconsin:
This thank you is
long overdue, but we wanted to get back to you and thank you for one of
the most meaningful and enjoyable family trips we have ever taken. As a
Vietnam vet it was especially meaningful to me as well as my family. We
loved it and would do it again, only we would stay longer! The
transportation and hotel arrangements were excellent, the meals were
scrumptious, and the tour guide and driver were like friends we'd like to
get to know better for a lifetime. They made us feel like royalty!
Keep
up the good work, You're a great goodwill ambassador!
From Dr. Vicki Hirsch:
Going to Vietnam
with Jerry, who has so much experience and could tell us so much about the history of the
Vietnam War, the country and the people, made all the difference between a good trip and a
great trip. My husband Don and I have traveled all over the world, and Jerry made this
trip one of the most interesting we've ever taken." Note: Vicki and Don of
Cincinnati are so famous for their travels, that a Cincinnati newspaper regularly features
write-ups of their travels. Since going to Vietnam, Don and Vicki, along with their son
and daughter-in-law, have gone to China, Tibet, and Nepal, and they are planning on future
trips with Nine Dragons Travel & Tours.
From Dr. Gary Clayton
Taylor Mill, Kentucky,
Professor of Economics at Northern Kentucky University. Gary, his wife Jonna, and his
children are also frequent travelers with Nine Dragons Travel & Tours. They are also frequent
travelers with Nine Dragons Travel & Tours. This trip really does include everything. You don't
have to bring any money along.
From Andy Beauchamp,
college student when he
traveled to Vietnam:
This was the most interesting thing I've ever done in my life. For
me, perhaps for all of us, it was a mountaintop experience.
From
Scott and Debbie Moon, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Jerry,
Wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much my husband and I enjoyed
our recent trip to Vietnam. The itinerary and travel arrangements set up
through your company were flawless. The guides and drivers
throughout the trip were very knowledgeable and helpful. I would like to
give a special thank you to our guide, Nguyen Chanh Trieu. I became sick
in Da Nang, and he was able to locate American made cough syrup. It truly
helped me feel better so that we could continue our trip. Thank you,
From
Steve Bell, former ABC Vietnam War
correspondent and original news anchor for Good Morning America. Steve and his wife, Joyce
have gone on two trips with Nine Dragons Travel & Tours. Commenting on the first trip,
For our
study group, it was the memorable experience of a lifetime.
From Dave McIntyre,
Wickenberg, Arizona:
(Note--Dave and his wife Betty traveled to Vietnam without a detailed itinerary. They
decided day-by-day where they would go. Dave and his guide were able to locate the various
locations where Dave had served during the war).
The trip was a wonderful time in a
wonderful country. I cannot truly express how satisfied we were with the service provided
by Ben Thanh Tourist. The Toyota van was most comfortable, good A/C, a skilled driver, Mr.
Sang, and a great interpreter, Mr. Duc. Three meals a day were provided regardless of
where we were in country, not a bad one anyplace and at most places too much to eat . . .
You provided a hell of a trip at a reasonable price. Thank you!
From David Keeton,
construction company owner,
Los Angeles:
It has been close to two weeks since our excursion to VietNam, and I am
still riding high from the trip! It would be difficult to explain in words what the trip
meant to me and how it has affected my life. I do know that I am more at peace with myself
with regards to the American involvement in such a peaceful and beautiful country. . .
Jerry, you kept us so busy, and even though I complained at times about this, I was so
pleased that you showed us so much in such little time. I was and am so happy that I made
this trip with you and your company! Once again, thank you for everything.
P.S. I really loved Hong Kong once I recovered
from the cultural shock of jumping forward 200 years from VietNam.
From Dr. Tony Edmonds,
history professor at
Ball State University and teacher of the Vietnam War for the past 19 years, on his first
trip to Vietnam:
The sheer physical beauty of the country almost overwhelmed me. I've
never seen so many shades of green. And mountains rose from green fields with spectacular
views of the South China Sea--all from the same spot."
From
Al Goodpasture,
of Topeka,
Kansas:
Dear Jerry:
Gigi and I arrived early this morning to Topeka after a delightful trip to
Vietnam. The arrangements you made for us worked out perfectly; all 5 of us were
very pleased. Our guides in Ho Chi Minh City and in Hanoi were excellent and met
all our expectations. The meals and accommodations were better than I expected.
Thank you for your assistance. I intend to go back and will certainly use your
services again.
From Rick Connell,
of Mesa, Arizona:
Dear Jerry:
Just a follow up on our short conversation we had Friday. To summarize in three
words, it was great! The accommodations, food, and touring were above
expectations. Our guides were informative, courteous and helpful. Plus, the
Vietnamese people were as friendly as can be. We felt extremely secure our
entire stay. I am still a little jet lagged, but I wanted to thank you for the
great adventure.
From
Ingrid
and Hans Geibel, of Munich, Germany::
Dear Jerry:
Back to Germany, we would like to thank you for your excellent organization of our tour to Vietnam. We were very much impressed
with all the things we got to see learn about
this country and appreciated not to be on an ordinary tourist
trip. Our guide was great and a very pleasant character working together
perfectly with his driver. Also in Hanoi we were very well treated.
So we will further recommend your company in cooperation with Ben Thanh
Tourist Service and thank you again for bringing together people from Kansas,
California and Munich, Germany for an outstanding trip to the Far East.
Anyone who has gone on a trip with
Nine Dragons Travel & Tours could give you a good report. Everyone I have asked is willing to be contacted for
reference. If you need references before deciding on a trip, just ask for a list of names
and addresses.
jerry@nine-dragons.com
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