This trip to Vietnam changed everything I knew about group tours
- Justin Meneguzzi
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
I never thought I’d find myself part of a motorcycle gang in Vietnam. Our 12-strong entourage of motorbikes hummed and purred as we zipped through the city streets of Hue, a former imperial city clustered around the Perfume River that marks the midpoint of Vietnam’s serpentine coastline.
Founded in 200 BCE, Hue has changed hands over the centuries between the Chinese, Cham, French and Japanese, and now – with my t-shirt rippling in the breeze and wind whistling through my helmet, I felt like the latest conquistador in Vietnam’s long history – an unstoppable tour de force zipping past rice paddocks.
Suddenly, we’re stopped in our tracks by ducklings. After coming to a screeching halt, we watch from our motorbikes as hundreds of adorable ducks flood the road and waddle towards their next feeding grounds.
It’s day five of my 10-day Vietnam Express Southbound small group tour with Intrepid Travel and today we’ve set out on a motorbike tour of the city, exploring some of Hue’s historical sites as well as its storied back streets. It’s been an absolute highlight of my trip – but then again, I said the same thing about our street food tour in Hanoi, kayaking the emerald waters and karst caves of Halong Bay, and sleeping on an overnight train to Hue.
Vietnam's unexpected surprises
I never thought I was the group touring type. Having backpacked through Europe and South America independently, I thought tours were for tourists. The idea of being carted from one place to the next on a strictly managed schedule just didn’t appeal to me.
However, when my fiancé and I found ourselves with an unexpected window of opportunity, and not a lot of time to plan or research a holiday, we decided to join a group tour and see where the ride took us (after getting help from our travel agent to secure a Vietnam visa, which can be a confusing process).
We eased into things on the first day with a private transfer from the airport to the hotel, and then a welcome dinner where we got to meet the 10 other guests on our tour as well as our guide, Buc.
To our surprise, the group was an eclectic mix of Australians, from two mates who wanted to travel together without the hassle, to a solo traveller looking to make new friends, and a quartet of Sydney mums who met through their kids and now organise annual trips together like this one. Liberated by being on holiday, with help from a welcome cocktail or two, we all gelled immediately and became a travelling family.
Each day afterwards falls into a comfortable rhythm. If we weren’t travelling to a new city, we’d generally start the day with a breakfast buffet at the hotel, then either meet the group for a shared activity like a motorbike ride or walking tour of the Old Town.
After that, we’d get free time to explore on our own. If we wanted to return somewhere to explore more, we could, or we could do something entirely different. As someone who likes to get to know a city by walking, the freedom to explore at my own pace was welcome.
If we needed a hand, Buc was always contactable on WhatsApp with tips on what to see or where to eat, or to help organise something special for us, like a cooking class.
Can’t beat the locals
Travelling with a guide who knows their way around is one thing, but Buc’s true value lay in the fact he was a local,
which made him an encyclopaedia of information.
Born and raised in Hanoi, Buc had close and personal connections to the Vietnam War, capable of sharing personal anecdotes from the war as well as unique insights into the country’s culture and psyche. During a visit to Ho Chi Minh City’s War Remnants Museum, Buc waited outside a room housing a historic guillotine. Only later he told the group it had been used to execute his uncle.
As the trip unfolded, I learned that group tours weren’t for tourists but offered an ideal mix of convenience and freedom. Led by locals, tour companies can access special experiences that independent travellers couldn’t on their own, like sitting down for dinner at Buc’s friend’s house in Hanoi one night or getting express entry into Ho Chi Minh City’s popular museums.
Another benefit I hadn’t realised was how helpful it would be to travel with a group as a hearing impaired traveller. With a 30 percent loss in both ears, categorised as moderate sensorineural hearing loss requiring hearing aids, I often find travelling to new countries where English is not the common language a challenge. Even languages where English is the primary language can be difficult when you factor in accents.
With Buc at my side, and a group of new friends around me, I felt more confident navigating Vietnam’s shops and markets, knowing I had someone available to help me hear the menu being read or translate a vendor’s spruiking.
On the last evening in Ho Chi Minh City, our tour ended as it started – with a farewell group dinner. Going around the table, we reminisced about our favourite experiences, and finally said goodbye to Buc, knowing that Vietnam would always hold a special place in our hearts long after we’ve stepped off the plane and unpacked our suitcases.
Ready for your own Intrepid adventure? Get in touch with one of our Professional Travel Advisors and we’ll arrange your Intrepid small group tour, flights, pre and post tour hotels, travel insurance and more.
All images courtesy of Justin Meneguzzi
