Name: Humour is what makes a vacation a true holiday.
Rating: 5
Author: Margaret L

There is always the unknown when signing up for a tour, the itinerary gives an insight into the activities, the places to be visited Continue Reading

Margaret L June 15, 2019

I have been slow in replying and have spent the last week processing our wonderful trip. As Monika said, it is heard to tell people about Continue Reading

Shelagh F June 15, 2019

I have just returned from two weeks in Portugal with Monika Czerveniak as our leader with our small group of seven women. It was an amazing Continue Reading

Karen H June 15, 2019

Thank YOU Monika for these photos. Thanks for a fabulous adventure. Love how you showed us, by how you live, that we can squeeze life out of every moment and we too can live our lives fearlessly. Continue Reading

Lois July 4, 2018

I couldn’t think of an appropriate way to express my thanks for the great adventure that you took us on. Vietnam was never even on my radar until Sandra told us about her adventures with you. Your tour sounded like a great way to try something different. Here we are now, almost 2 weeks post Vietnam, and I am still finding myself looking at my pictures daily to try and keep the feeling of being there alive. Continue Reading

Scott and Ali July 4, 2018

And thank you so much, Monika and Jean Ann, for providing such a memorable experience. Did you know that I have always been fearful of motorbikes and my kids were forbidden to get one. Now they are framing the photo of their Motorcycle Momma.
Siem Reap was hot, as was expected, but we had some fabulous meals thanks to your suggestions. The sunrise Vespa tour at Angkor Wat is the only way to go in the heat. Continue Reading

Nancy July 4, 2018

Thank YOU for everything! I learned a lot: I am questioning the condiment bottles in the fridge; I made my own dressing a few nights ago; I stuffed a chicken with . . rhubarb! from the garden because I didn’t have any lemons or onion (so boring) and it was awesome = “fearless”; I am looking at produce labels and questioning how far it has travelled to get here and started going to the nearby farmers market which I never made a priority to do before. Continue Reading

Shelley July 4, 2018

We had such a great time. I can’t tell you how amazed we were at how well you put the entire tour together. The people were great – the adventure was great – I wouldn’t change a single thing. Well – except for the fact that I wish we were still there. Continue Reading

Al July 4, 2018

Hi Monika – don’t know where to begin…home safe and sound. I had the time of my life and can’t thank you enough your kindness and thoughtfulness. Your special efforts around my safety and comfort were so appreciated. It was my sincere pleasure to meet you and Jean-Ann and I do hope we can connect when u are in Vancouver. Continue Reading

Ann Griffiths July 4, 2018

Chowdown Vietnam was one of the best experiences of my life. Monika and Jean Anne treat you like you are family. Kind, loving and personable. Ok, perhaps better then family. haaha. Our accommodations were fantastic and the locations around Vietnam were so memorable that I would love to go back and see more. Monika’s knowledge of the food and culture are informative and Continue Reading

Sandra Taylor May 8, 2017

Booking this trip (at the urging of a friend who had done it the year before) was one of the best things we’ve ever done! I had not been to Asia before, and I knew there would be many aspects of it that would be very new, of course, but also potentially a little… Continue Reading

Jen Boucher May 8, 2017

I am definitely not one for “typical tours”. This trip was an utterly rich, and wonderfully unexpected immersion into Vietnamese life. We had one unique and unsurpassed experience after another. Street foods and markets, cooking classes, making rice noodles and tofu, biking to coconut groves, rice fields and an organic garden, round boats, river cruise, vespa tour, water Continue Reading

Susan MacKechnie October 22, 2015

I wanted to thank you for the amazing time that I had in Vietnam. I enjoyed every moment of the trip due to your professionalism, detailed planning, understanding of the customs and beliefs of the country and sense of humour. At the end of each day, my thought was that day was the best ever and nothing could top it. Each day there was continuous laughter, extensive Continue Reading

Gail October 22, 2015

This tour was THE BEST. We had a knowledgeable, easy-going, and outstanding tour guide that made this trip exceptional. She planned everything down to the smallest detail. She went out of her way to accommodate everyone’s needs. The experiences were varied and each and every one was fantastic, packed full of cultural wonder that satiated every one of your senses. And, on Continue Reading

Diane Rice October 8, 2015

Your warmth, generosity of spirit and knowledge made our trip to Vietnam so wonderful. We certainly never could have discovered so much in such a short space of time on our own. We felt like locals! Ready for the motorcycle tour!! Continue Reading

Victor Pisapia October 4, 2015

What can I say to encapsulate all the enthusiasm, knowledge and love of food and Vietnam that both Monica and Jean-Ann have and share with their tour friends? It was a truly wonderful experience, the country is amazing as well as the people and the food is to die for although there were a few ‘delicacies’ that I didn’t try! The tour in March/April 2015 included Hanoi, a wonderful Continue Reading

Anonymous October 3, 2015

To whom it may concern !! I would recommend the chowdownvietnam tour to anyone who has a lust for life and FOOD !! I experienced some of the best of both on my recent trip to Vietnam , the Hoi An gang is one I will remember for the rest of my days , the hotels were first class , beach time was second to none , custom made clothes , it is one of the Most affordable trips I Continue Reading

Mike Von Schilling October 3, 2015

In March (2015) I participated in Monika Czerveniak’s excellent Chowdown Vietnam Food adventure. There were eleven of us altogether one of whom was male – me (an aged one at that). Someone asked upon my return to Canada, what was Vietnam like ? I said if you would like to visit a safe country where the people are enterprising, outgoing, helpful, seemingly happy and you Continue Reading

John Nicholson October 3, 2015

My husband , daughter and I went on Monika’s three country food tour and it was a trip of a life time. Monika ensured that we saw all the sites the best way, Vespa Tour of Ankor Wat, Verspa food tour of Siagon that included a incredible performance at a small coffee house and then at a happening bar, not to mention the food! We got to see how people live and eat, on our bike Continue Reading

Jean Wheeler April 27, 2015

I had the pleasure of accompanying Monika for a 4 week exploratory tour of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Phu Quoc Island, we ate, explored, ate, went on motor cycles, ate, cruised the Mekong… Did I mention we ate? The freshest most delicious foods ever. Monika made the experience seamless. Loved every second of the trip. Will definitely go back. Continue Reading

Coco22 October 20, 2014

Sept 2014 my wife and I have just returned from an amazing tour of the gastronomy, culture and history of Vietnam, all facilitated by Monika and her Chowdown Vietnam experience. And experience we did, in ways that would be difficult to create without the Chowdown Vietnam concept. It starts with the food: fresh, local and plentiful, viewed and sourced at the markets in Continue Reading

Tim Woodland October 20, 2014

On the end of august four of us set off on our excellent ChowdownVietnam adventure in Vietnam and we had a fabulous time. Monika and Jean-Ann make sure you actually experience the local food and people while staying at wonderful hotels. I have been to 46 countries and been on many tours and cruises and never experience so much of the local culture on any organized Continue Reading

Rosa Balicki October 20, 2014

It is rarely that I recommend anyone or anything, due to the obvious. As a backpacker I had been reluctant to join the Chowdown Vietnam tour in previous years, simply because it was a “tour”. However, I finally did join the tour group Aug-Sept 2014. The inadequacy of the English language prevents me from finding enough and appropriate adjectives to truly describe the Continue Reading

Jan Chambers October 20, 2014

I recently joined Monika’s chowdownvietnam food tour, had the best fun, great food and interesting and different adventures, in Hoi An, Monika organised and led us on some wonderful and scenic bicycle trails, a great way to see local food industries operating in small viliages. We travelled all over Vn, one of the highlights was a Vespa tour from HCMC to the Mekong. I’m a Continue Reading

Susie K. Biber October 20, 2014

I had the privilege of experiencing the “Chow Down Tour” last September. Everything was taken care of and I enjoyed every minute. The cooking classes in both Hanoi and Hoi An were a great experience along with the Hanoi market tour. We learned a great deal and even ate silk worms ( a very sustainable and healthy food source). The “fearless” cooking class in Hoi was located Continue Reading

Jean-ann Robinson April 17, 2014

I joined Monika in Hanoi, Vietnam for her Chowdown Vietnam food related tour. It was a fabulous way to connect with the people and the foods of the country. Monika is very knowledgeable having been in the food business in multiple countries throughout her life. Her passion for the food and people of Vietnam come across in every aspect of our 2 week tour with her. We Continue Reading

Anne Langhout April 17, 2014

Monika became my enabler of all things Vietnam. Especially food, glorious food! We traveled for two weeks in March 2013 following her suggestions and had a fabulous time. The culinary tradition of Vietnam is a fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese and French cuisine and the meals were of excellent quality in the hustle and bustle of Hanoi,the markets in northern Sapa or the Continue Reading

Cynthia July 2, 2013

My husband and I have travelled extensively throughout the world with some of the best travel companies such as Ambercrombie and Kent out of London. But the best was yet to come, our trip to Vietnam with Monika. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are simply amazing. Monika arranged everything from flights to transfers to hotels. A magical adventure without Continue Reading

The Coopmans July 2, 2013

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LATHER UP FOR FOOD SAFETY SAKE