Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

Ashley provided us with a dream vacation with continuous contact and assistance, quality guides and drivers enhancing our experience, excellent hotels, and attention to details that demonstrate why she is a top rated specialist.

Doris was easy to coordinate with, very responsive to our changes to the trip before and even during our vacation.

Our guides in each of the locations were friendly, knowledgeable and communicated well. The van drivers were all very good at navigating the tricky traffic. We have traveled in East Asia, Europe, North, Central and South America and this is the first time we have used a travel service like Kim Kim. Kim Kim handled all of the logistics of hotels, traveling from sight to sight and city to city, very well. It was low stress compared to handling all of it by ourselves.
We had one person in our group with mobility issues and all of our guides did a good helping this individual and keeping us on point with our tour.

Bangkok - Hotel - Very nice with a great location close to the river and sights.
Guide and driver - Mr Oakky was pleasant, spoke good English and unassuming.
Methavalia Sorndaeng restaurant was a very nice surprise.
Best stop - Wat Arun or Grand Royal Palace.

Siem Reap - Hotel - Metta- Nice Hotel with a quick TukTuk ride into the city.
Guide -Peuro, Driver-Tom Both did great.
Favorite stop. Loved them all. Ta Prohm Temple was amazing and Angkor Wat did not disappoint.

Ho Chi Minh
Hotel- Eden Star -
Guide - Happiness - Took extra steps and friendliest guide. He took pictures and short video clips and sent us video of the highlights with music. Added extras of the engraved straw on the Lan Thanh Cruise and engraved chop sticks at Xom Nho were appreciated.

Dong Hoi to Hoi An
Various Hotels
Guide - An, Driver Mr E
An did a great job for us going through the paradise cave and the DMZ.

Hanoi
Hotel -Delicacy - Least impressive but a good location.
Hotel - Paradise Grand Cruise - Best accommodations.

Guide - Huy(Wee) Did. Great job the first allowing us to see the Hanoi Hilton and the railroad market which were not included in our tour. Very friendly and spoke great English. He had a family emergency which he had to attend to. Our Driver Hung did above what was expected taking us to our cruise and back without a guide.

Hotel Reviews

Peony Cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thanh Lich Royal Boutique Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Delicacy Hotel & Spa

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MK Premier Boutique hotel

Hanoi

In two rooms in this hotel. Room 803 smelled musty and had some water damage on the outside wall. Good Air conditioner. The second room 502 the safe was not working. Friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Water damage and musty smell in room 803 and safe did not work in 502.

Sun Spa Resort

dong hoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Enjoy the beach. Only place with a beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Star Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Metta Residence & Spa

Krung Siem Reap Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Outside of the city but an easy TukTuk ride into the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Centre Point Hotel Silom

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi city sightseeing

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hoi An - Da Nang Airport - Fly to Hanoi

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wee and Hung were great this day

Transport

Hoi An Free Day

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Hoi An - Cam Thanh Coconut Village - Hoian Ancient Town

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue, Visit Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Hoi An

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Ok

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hue: Thuy Bieu Ecovillage, Cooking Class & Imperial Citadel

Hue

Dong Hoi - Hien Luong Bridge - Quang Tri Citadel - Hue

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh - Fly to Dong Hoi - Phong Nha Cave - Paradise Cave

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta, Explore Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Hanoi - Halong Bay, Overnight on Cruise

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siem Reap - Fly to Ho Chi Minh - Ho Chi Minh half-day city tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Happiness was great

Transport

Siem Reap: Angkor Thom - Ta Prohm - Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siem Reap: Banteay Srei - Pre Rup - Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap

Banteay Srei - Pre Rup was amazing. Since it was not the raining season, Tonle Sap Lake was low and we couldn't appreciate the area as much as expected. The stilted houses were interesting but didn't see wildlife or the floating village.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok - Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok - Railway market - Floating market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

The pancakes and spring rolls were good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok City tour (B)

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi

Vietnam

We would like 2 nights here

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was fantastic with exceptional hotels and terror guides. Lucy was always available to answer our questions and solve any issues we had although to be fair everything was fairly seemless. I would recommend KimKim without reservation. Thank you Lucy.

I have a lot to say. First of all, I am "generally" happy with my KimKim booking. Lucy was very responsive in creating a trip for us, and made changes according to our requests. However, once we paid in full for the trip, two of the hotels were changes, to what I would consider a lower level of hotel.
HCMC
Hotel. We liked the Bach Suites hotel, even though it was not the hotel we were promised when we booked the trip. The staff was lovely, and the breakfast was good. The room was comfortable and I liked the gym. Some areas were in a bit of disrepair with general maintenance needed. I just felt "duped" by the switch. Also, the noise from the nearby disco was very annoying. I understand this is not the hotel's fault, but it is a nuisance.
Tours. By far, the tours provided in HCMC were our least favorite. Our tour guide, Anna was partially to blame. She made us feel like touring for us was such a burden to her. The walking tour left a lot to be desired. The temple, meh, the lacquer museum was merely a gift shop disguised as a learning experience, and at the war museum instead of guiding us around she said "see you in an hour". The tour the following day to the Mekong Delta was not much better. She complained about the gas prices, and how they were not making any money one the tour. She took us to a bee factory - another shop disguised as an event. When I was stung by a bee on my face, she refused ice and said a cream she had was adequate. She basically blamed me for getting stung - I should not have tried to swat it away. BTW, my face was swollen for a week. It's a good thing I traveled with an antibiotic. The candy factory was another gift shop disguised as a tour, and the boat ride gave me Disneyland jungle cruise vibe. I sincerely feel like this was a completely wasted day.

HUE
Hotel. Silk Path was excellent. Breakfast excellent, staff excellent. Room comfortable. highly recommend this hotel.
Tours. Vu Dang was an excellent tour guide. The cyclo food tour was very fun, not too long, and the restaurants he took us to were great. The next day we toured the former capital and had lunch at a local home, visited the pagoda and took a dragon boat tour. We enjoyed the day thoroughly. The next day, we were supposed to go on the Tam Giang Lagoon Survival tour, but the weather was terribly rainy. Not a problem, Vu was able to pivot and take us to two local farms where we were able to learn about the local farming . It was all interesting, and the lunch at Mr. Nam's house was so fun! A great way to spend the day before flying of to Hanoi.

HANOI
Hotel. Hanoi Imperial Hotel & Spa. Another Hotel that was switched after payment. Hotel was fair at best. I am still wondering where the "spa" is. They staff was accommodating and made us feel welcome. Our room had a shower that flooded the entire bathroom, and the breakfast was mediocre.
Tour. Our full day city tour was great. Tony was an exceptional guide, and guided us around like a pro. We especially enjoyed the Museum of Ethnology, and Tony was great at pointing out interesting displays and exhibits that were housed there. We enjoyed his company and knowledge. My one comment is that it was a very FULL day, and maybe too long for older guests.

SAPA
Hotel. Aliana Boutique Hotel was nice. Staff very welcoming and our room was good. Breakfast just ok.
Tours. Out tour guide, Lo May, was another excellent guide. She really helped us to understand the region, and introduced us to a lot of the lifestyle and economy of the region. I highly recommend her for tours. She was funny, and smart as well. One highlight was visiting her family home, and meeting her parents.

HA LONG BAY CRUISE
The boat was ok. This was another Switcheroo! We were promised one boat, then after we paid, we were switched to another. Our room was in the back, so the anchoring was very noisy and woke us each morning early. The staff was friendly, especially Wendy. Food was so-so, but the bay was very picturesque. We were happy to relax for a few days as we had been so busy touring all of the other days.

SUMMARY
-upset about hotel changes, and boat change after we paid in full - VERY unprofessional i can understand one change, maybe, but THREE??
-terrible tours in HCMC
-great drivers all around. Always on time with a smile.
-lucy very responsive
-no "glitches" in the schedule

One last thing. KimKim markets a whole "sustainability" thing, and we even paid a sustainability fee. NO WHERE on this trip did we see and sustainability efforts! Kind of feel like we paid for an idea.... Trash everywhere. Even in Ha Long Bay, a Unesco site, we lay in bed seeing streams of trash float by our room. Feels like the fee is a bit of a scam

That said, I would recommend KimKim if asked. I could not have attempted to do all of that planning myself.

Hotel Reviews

Aliana Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa (Ex: Aira Boutique Sapa Hotel)

Sapa

clean room, great staff, ok breakfast

Silk Path Grand Hue

great staff, comfortable room, good breakfast

Activity Reviews

Visit Black Hmong Villages of Sa Xeng & Sau Chua

Sapa

loved being on this tour with Lo May

Trekking To The Ethnic Villages Lao Chai Ta Van - Experience Indigo Dyeing And Weaving With The H'mong Family

Sapa

excellent guide. very eye opening experience

Hanoi Fullday City Tour with Train Track Coffee Enjoying

Hanoi

excellent guide. full, interesting day

Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (BYT)

Hue

Interesting day, excellent guide

Evening Foodie & Cyclo - The Real Taste of Hue

Hue

fun night, good food, great guide

Day Trip To The Mekong Delta - Deo Islet (NBT)

Ho Chi Minh City

terrible guide, waste of time

Saigon Sightseeing Half Day Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

boring, terrible guide

We have returned from an amazing 2 weeks in beautiful Vietnam. Our tour operator, long Hoang Long, delivered on every detail of the trip - and there were many! HIs responsiveness and attention to detail were incredible. There are so many ; connections / Rendez-vous's / Guides / Car connections, etc. required on a trip like this . Everything worked out perfectly.

Sometimes -- you don't know how good a tour operator is until something goes wrong. The ability to recover quickly and right the ship is the true mark of the quality of the service. When we had minor missed connections on this trip - Long was VERY responsive and navigated the recovery quickly.

We enjoyed the day spent in Hoi An best . Seeing the craft villages by bicycle , attending an unexpected festival, and interacting with all of the very enthusiastic school kids was quite memorable. It was great having English speaking guides who could answer our myriad questions on Vietnamese ; culture, economics, tourism, politics and lifestyles.

Hotel Review

Lynnaya Urban River Resort

Siem Reap

This hotel delivers a great, calming vibe right in the heart of the city. Walking or short tuk tuk to everywhere you might want to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Transport

Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island Hoping & Snorkeling Trip by Speed Boat

Phu Quoc

The snorkeling experience is quite disappointing. In fact -- I would suggest you stop selling this as a snorkelling experience, - there are very few fish to see. Only small fish and some nice coral. I think this area is over fished by the locals. [ See all the fishing boats at night! ] The island is kind of over touristed , - too many tourists, for the size of the beach. Kind of a hectic wave of tourists getting off boats and sharing a very tiny beach.

Quality of Experience

Food

A lot of food , but not well cooked or presented. Restaurant is fairly primitive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Handicraft - Tra Nhieu Village

Hoi An

This was my favorite day and activity. Riding bikes got us closer to the people and daily lifestyles. Was great that it was not very crowded with tourists.

Quality of Experience

Food

Really enjoyed the restaurant in the rice field .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide

Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Driver was great. The Guide spoke very good English and was able to answer very specific questions on; Economics and Vietnamese customs. However, he has given the Tunnels tour one too many times and is bored with the experience. Kind of rushed us through with no real conversation or insights.

Transport

Hoa Lo Prison - Huu Tiep Lake - Vietnam Military History Museum - Ho Chi Minh Complex (S)

Hanoi

OUr guide needed a audio device and the guests headphones to effectively tour this crowded sight. This was not provided. He did not bring any extra insights and expected us to simply read all the panels, etc. No editorial was offered!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More insights.

Transport

Trang our local specialist was super responsive and catered our trip for group of 6 including a 9 and 11 year old children. I think the planning advice was good. She was helpful too when I had questions about Hanoi hotels and logistics. She advised printing out VN visa which was helpful. We did see an eco village at the sapa mountainside during our trip which I think we would have preferred to stay at because it really captures sapa well. We spent 2 night and 3 days in sapa coming from Hanoi. It was cool that we could hire a tour guide and a private limo van the entire time. The “limo” van unfortunately wasn’t very comfortable and felt like a pickup truck. We had been in other limo vans in Vietnam and unluckily we got a real beat up one. The ride to sapa was rough. Happy we made it safely though. The tour guide was nice but didn’t demonstrate much knowledge of sapa. He had only guided for 6 months.

Overall I would use kimkim travel again but maybe stay at an ecolodge and figure out how to get a better limo van and more knowledgeable tour guide but sometimes it’s hit or miss.

Hotel Review

Pistachio Hotel Sapa

Bfast was amazing. Prob the best we had in Vietnam. Beds comfortable and very spacious rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hanoi - Transfer to Sapa (Private Limousine)

Vietnam

Car was very uncomfortable. Felt like a pickup truck. We had other limo vans that were very comfortable in VN, just not this one. Driver was rough. Lots of sudden stops

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Donna and I had a wonderful trip to Vietnam with special thanks to Alex (for support on building a great itinerary, and also supporting us when we had eVisa support issues), and Bo for his solid driving skills getting us to and from our destinations, and Mr Binh for his outstanding guide assistance and local knowledge of Northern Vietnam!

Hotel Reviews

GRAND HOTEL du LAC Hanoi

Nice hotel, a bit small but clean and lovely location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Elegance Cruise

Very nice boat and accomodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jiva Hoa Lu Retreat

Perhaps the best resort of the trip. would have been great to spend and extra day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Crazy beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel de la Coupole - MGallery

Beautiful hotel and great staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Hanoi

Hanoi

Excellent location and Accommodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi By Night Food Tour - Vespa Tour

Hanoi

We did not take this tour during our visit. We chose to relax before heading back to states

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ninh Binh - Halong Bay Cruise - Overnight on boat

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital - Mua Cave - Tam Coc Boat Trip

Ninh Binh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa, Visit Cat Cat village - Transfer Back to Hanoi

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa - Mường Hoa Mountain Train - Fansipan Peak - Conquer the Roof of Indochina - Free afternoon

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa - Hike to Explore Local Villages: Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai & Ta Van

Sapa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Sapa – Tram Ton Pass – Love Waterfall - Sapa

Sapa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stephen Hoang Long and the team at Realistic Asia planned our 13 day vacation to Vietnam and Thailand. We have travelled a lot, but have never been to Asia before, so we were excited but nervous. Long took our preferences for accommodations and activities and came up with an incredible vacation plan. We were busy every day doing interesting and unique things. Each of our hotels were top notch. All of the logistics and experiences were well planned and went flawlessly. Long checked in with us during every transfer and activity to make sure we were picked up and that everything was going smoothly. He was always available for any question we had and it was very reassuring knowing that we could reach out at any time on our trip. He even came to meet us at our hotel and introduce himself and brought us a welcome gift! When we come back to Asia for our next vacation, we will definitely contact him again! Thank you Long, for giving us a once in a lifetime vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Montien Riverside Hotel

Beautiful views of the river!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ao Nang Villa Resort

Krabi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Saga Hotel Hoi An

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pu Luong Eco Garden

Beautiful location and gorgeous rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragon Legend Cruise

Hon Gai

The rooms were large and very beautiful! Amazing experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bespoke Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

The location was centrally located and the staff were the friendliest and most helpful!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit

Vietnam

Our local guide was so friendly and informative, we learned so much about Vietnamese culture!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Pu Luong Iconic Rice Terrace & Local Brocade (Excursions) Updated

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pu Luong Explore Village Life Water Wheels & Rafting (Excursions) Updated

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

So unique and educational! Beautiful scenery!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)

Hanoi

We got the local flavor by visiting 6 or 7 different restaurants! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We truly felt this vacation was unlike most we had taken. We found the planned itinerary to be perfect for us. Our goals were to see the country in a non rushed fashion in a two week period. We found the guides to be timely, have a wealth of knowledge and interested in their country. Our accommodations were mostly very good . We most enjoyed the dinner with a family in Hue guided by Charlie and the Vespa tour in Ho Chi Minh City. Although I can’t say enough about Trinh and Arthur and Qui (our other guides).
Dao Long was very helpful with all the preparations and guidance during the trip.
We had never been on a trip such as this since I usually plan everything myself but felt in Vietnam assistance was necessary. We like to travel without a group and that goal was met.
I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and hope to use kimkim in the future

Activity Reviews

Ho Chi Minh Departure Transfer

Vietnam

Exploring Ho Chi Minh city Half Day Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Didn’t really enjoy the was museum. Felt it was interesting but a bit one sided. The market was not enjoyable at all and could have skipped it

Evening Street Food Tour With Vespa Wanderers

Ho Chi Minh City

Mesmerizing. Saigon at night with all the bustle from the city and lights was amazing

Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit

Vietnam

Fun ride and loved the market

Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner

Hue

Wonderful expert and great way to learn the culture

Imperial City Tour of Hue Half-Day Exploration

Hue

Excellent guide

Lan Ha Bay - Halong Bay - Disembark the cruise (Nostalgia cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Hanoi – Tuan Chau Island – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay (Nostalgia cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful area and enjoyed the hike through the caves. I was glad it was just one night

Exploring Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave

Vietnam

Very pretty and interesting

Hanoi City in A Day

Hanoi

Great guiding. I just found Hanoi not as enjoyable as the rest of the tour

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am so glad we used kimkim to plan the Vietnam portion of our vacation. Every place we stayed at was wonderful, each tour guide was helpful, informative and attentive. Lucy, our trip planner did such a great job making adjustments for us as we went along and keeping us informed of our daily activities. I highly recommend kimkim to anyone wanting help in planning their vacation. I will certainly use them again.

There is so much to say about how amazing this trip was. We have never used a travel agency, but planning a 2-week trip to Vietnam felt a bit daunting, so after reading many reviews, we decided to go with KimKim. Our travel specialist, Alex, was beyond helpful, and together we planned a wonderful trip. I MUST mention our driver in Hanoi, Bo, who was the BEST out of the many drivers we had on our journey. Our Hanoi guide, Quyet, literally held my hand as we made our way up and down hundreds of steps to visit some of the sites. The staff at the Q Boutique Hotel in Hanoi made us feel like Royalty (shout out to Bob). Our next guide, Vy, made us feel like part of her family as she shared the Tet holiday and her beautiful city of Hoi An. We had such a peaceful time cycling through the rice fields to Tra Que village, which we followed up with a great cooking class and lunch. In Ho Chi Minh City, our guide Loan was incredible—he had so much insight into the history of the Vietnam War. We even worked up the nerve to crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels; definitely a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience! ;) All that said, we are currently planning our next trip with KimKim to South Africa; can't wait to see what's in store!

Hotel Reviews

Mekong Lodge

Beautiful hotel along the river. The pool was amazing after a long hot day! Would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

It is not trying to be something fancy. It is exactly as it should be but comfortable with little touches to the grounds that make it feel more special that the room itself feels.

Location

Peaceful view of the river and the ground were beautiful

Staff

Had a little trouble with the AC (user error on my part) and staff was prompt to assist.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Star Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh City

The size of the room was adequate for two people, but the bed was pushed against the wall, and there was no nightstand. For two guests, I would expect both would have easy access to the bed and a nightstand. Our agent Alex attempted to get us another room, but the hotel was full.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lots of restaurants to walk to. Not too noisy.

Staff

No standouts either way.

Cleanliness & Comfort

When we moved our bed away from the wall, it was pushed BACK against the wall by the cleaning staff. I would have assumed that the guest preferred it where it was and left it. Again, two people should have access to both sides of the bed and have use of a nightstand.

Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa

Beautiful western-style hotel on the beach with a lively kids program. While our stay was comfortable and luxurious, we would likely not return due to the family atmosphere and distance from the center of Hoi An.

Authenticity & Character

Lanterns, Tet decor and drumming.

Location

Beautiful beach but far from the tourist district. The shuttle bus times were very limited.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peony Cruise

This was a bucket list item that generally did not disappoint. The scenery was fantastic, and overall, we were pleased with this part of our trip. The balcony in our room was not very inviting. The tender for the morning activities pulled right up to our window/balcony, belching exhaust into the room and invading our privacy, as our curtains were open to take advantage of the view.

Authenticity & Character

The ship overall had an Orient Express type of feel.

Location

The views are beautiful.

Staff

The staff on the tender seemed enthusiastic about his job but he was really the only person. No other stand outs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hidden Charm Ninh Binh

Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

The pictures of the hotel room make it look a bit more glamorous than I remember, but overall, it was a nice stay. We slept well, and the buffet was substantial. The outdoor garden is beautiful. I think if we were to return to the area, I would choose a hotel that was closer to more restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

There wasn't anything that stood out, and as mentioned, the pictures don't quite match what I remember.

Location

Staff

Again, no one really stood out one way or the other.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Q Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

The staff at this hotel is so friendly and attentive that you won't care that the room is a bit small. The breakfast buffet was wonderful and kept us full until dinner. Would absolutely stay again, no question.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the French Quarter, ATM right next door. It may be a bit noisy for some, but we were fine.

Staff

They just seemed genuinely happy that we were guests and were honored to attend to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed and pillows were comfy, and we slept quite well. The room is small, but that is part of the charm of this hotel.

Activity Reviews

Ninh Binh - Halong Bay, Overnight on Cruise

Vietnam

The food on Peony was not very good overall. I would definitely do the the Halong Bay trip, but on a different ship, perhaps something a bit more modern.

Food

Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital - Tam Coc Boat Trip

Vietnam

The best part of this was that it occurred on the family day of Tet and our guide knew so many people in town that she was able to enjoy her holiday but in a very different way that she seemed to enjoy! There was a LOT of incense burning throughout the village though which was a little much for me. The boat ride in Tam Coc was another highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An - Cycling in Tra Que Vegetable Village - Cooking class

Hoi An

The bike ride was easy and tranquil with stops to ensure we did not get tired. The village and cooking class were a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Sightseeing & Street Food Tour

Hanoi

We had a memorable, enjoyable, stress-free trip through Vietnam planned from start to finish with Long from Realistic Asia. Our initial contact was only 6 weeks prior to the trip which did not leave much time for planning, however the trip was fully planned and booked within a short two-week time period. After giving Long ideas about what we’d like to do and how much time we had, he planned an initial itinerary that we tweaked a few times before settling on our 11 days in Vietnam that was perfectly paced according to our request for a “somewhat busy” itinerary, leaving some time for relaxing. We requested private tours and transportation throughout the trip including airport transfers, tours, car travel between two locations and two domestic flights which required a lot of coordination and was executed without issue. We visited Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh with daily tours in each location. From start to finish everything went off without a problem, drivers and tour guides were always on time. The drivers were excellent in the busy cities, driving between cities and outside of cities to tours in more far-reaching areas. We enjoyed each of the tours that were chosen based on our preference for experiencing the culture and food of Vietnam and ranged from street food tours to historical tours to dinner with a local family. All of the guides were fluent in English, knowledgeable and personable. Mr. Sea and Mr. Koi who work with Realistic Asia were excellent guides in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Each of the hotels was located in a great area and was very comfortable with excellent breakfasts. Notably, in addition to all the planning/coordination of logistics, what stands out with working with Realistic Asia is the experience while on the trip where I felt taken care of throughout with Long keeping in contact to ensure we were being picked up on time, the guides were on time, confirming times for pick up, and that accommodations were to our liking. I felt that if there were any issues, that I had someone I could rely on. I highly recommend Realistic Asia.

We had a great experience! Highly recommend Kimkim. Working with Alex for the planning was smooth and all changes were handled with our best interests in mind. Mr. Nguyen Thahn Binh thoroughly enjoys his job and always greeted us with his smile. With specific dietary concerns, he made sure each cafe/restaurant was aware. He was enthusiastic, answered our many questions, was delightful, knowledgeable, and was excellent in getting us exactly where we needed to be to capture the perfect photo. Our driver, Bo, was always there to collect us after each adventure. He was courteous, polite and respectful.

Trang set up a perfect adventure for us, it included biking, lots of sightseeing, historical and socially interesting activities we thoroughly enjoyed. Trang was available to us 24/7, she smoothed out any issues we encountered with great solutions and had our best interests in mind always. What a professional and personable specialist! Thank you Trang!!!

We just finished a two week private tour of Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Bangkok with kimkim. He had two planners based out of Hanoi: Hien, who curated the trip for us, listened to our preferences and thoughtfully suggested activities. We knew this was going to be special. And Stephen, who took over from Hien to handle our needs pre-trip and during the trip. Both were amazing, and Stephen was always available, I don't think he ever sleeps!

Upon arrival, the first representative took our photo and then everyone after that had our photo and recognized us so it felt like a friend was waiting for us at each destination. Each of the tour guides brought something special to the trip. In Hanoi, Cuong is so passionate about his country and its rich history that it is hard not to appreciate it as well. He even offered to meet us before our official tour started to take us for our first street lunch.

In Chiang Mai we couldn’t have asked for a sweeter guide in Amie, whose knowledge of the customs and culture was very much appreciated. While in Chiang Mai we had to rearrange plans due to a medical emergency and Amie was in constant communication with us and really made us feel like we weren’t alone under not the best circumstances. We loved the video collage of photos she had taken of our time together and set to music. What a treat!

By the time we got to Bangkok, we needed a little more rest time than the itinerary allowed for but Jo Jo made it happen by abbreviating some of the stops while still ensuring we got to see and experience everything we wanted to. His extensive knowledge of Thailand is quite impressive. And through it all, Stephen was in contact with us to ensure there were no issues or to resolve anything that did come up. Overall, a fantastic experience and we would not hesitate to use kimkim for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Tirant Hotel

Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Quaint hotel in the old quarter - of course the street noise can't be avoided, but it does quiet down at night. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Ivy in the restaurant was fabulous! She spoke to us each morning and on our last day even brought us treats she had bought at the market the night before especially for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

Chiang Mai

Beautiful property, expected high Thai service standards, and outstanding buffet breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the night market and downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Super helpful to be taken through customs and immigration processing like a VIP, especially late at night after a long trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just completed a wonderful trip to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Hanoi.
The highlight for us was a “village tour” during our stay in Hoi An. Our local tour guide, Trinh, introduced us to our village with a very personal itinerary, including visits to several homes in the community for food and chats.

The hotels that were selected for us were all outstanding. Our favorites were Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City and Allegro in Hoi An.

A very special thanks to our host, Trang. She made the planning so easy and (other than some minor communication gaps due to the time change) she was remarkably responsive and flexible. Trang literally saved our vacation. When checking in to our Korean Airlines flight in Boston, the airline’s crew noted an error in my visa for Vietnam - basically there was, in error, and extra “s” listed in my name on the Visa. After a long and stressful hour, in which it was clear that I would ultimately not be able to board the flight from Seoul to Ho Chi Minh City with this Visa, Trang saved the day! By the time our flight landed in Seoul, she had arranged for a “rush” replacement visa and I was able to complete travel as planned. I cannot thank Trang enough!

This was our second KimKim experience, as we traveled to Japan with the entire family this past summer. Both experiences were excellent and I will certainly use KimKim again.

Hotel Review

Allegro Hoian

A great boutique hotel with charm and a super-attentive staff. Great location and an even greater breakfast buffet! “Nancy” from the staff was warm and welcoming and made it a point to chat daily and even remembered our names throughout our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Charming feel

Location

Short walk to Old Town

Staff

Nancy was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hoi An - biking Go Noi Village - Hoi An

Hoi An

Our favorite activity of the trip. Trinh, our local tour guide, gave an amazing introduction to her home village. We learned to prepare several dishes and enjoyed a great lunch at a family’s home. Riding around the village on bicycles was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best driver ever!

We just got back from a 17 night trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. We worked with Kelly at KimKim to plan this trip. She listened to our requests and sent the first draft of the trip which included almost everything we wanted. With some tweaks, it was the trip of a lifetime. The hotels and tours selected were exactly what we were looking for. Kelly also arranged our Vietnam visas which was very helpful. She kept in touch throughout the trip making sure everything was going as planned.
In addition, the guides and drivers were all excellent, providing knowledgeable history about each city. They gave us some good restaurant recommendations. In Ho Chi Minh City, we left something behind at our hotel and our guide Tran Tuan helped get it to the next stop. He went above and beyond at his own time and expense, checking in to make sure we received it. Our guide in Siem Reap, Phally, was very accommodating giving us a break during the hot afternoons and arranged 2 excursions that were not part of the original itinerary. The driver always had cool towels and cold water waiting for us. We would definitely work with KimKim again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Emeralda Resort Tam Coc

Hoa Lu

The Emeralda Resort Tam Coc in Ninh Binh was absolutely beautiful. We only got to stay there for one night, unfortunately, but it was gorgeous with a stunning view of the lake. I wish we could've stayed longer to enjoy the surroundings better.

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa was lovely, though a bit of a walk from the city center - about 15 to 20 minutes. The hotel itself was very nice, but the distance was a bit farther from restaurants and shops than our other hotels. Still, we enjoyed our stay. A walker wouldn't be too bothered by the distance, but it's something to keep in mind.

White Mansion Boutique Hotel

Phnom Penh

Staying at the White Mansion Boutique Hotel in Phnom Penh was an amazing experience. The place was actually an old American consulate converted into a hotel, which gave it such a unique charm. It wasn't quite in the city center, but it was fascinating to be in a building with history.

Activity Review

Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1

Vietnam

The Athena Luxury Cruise on Ha Long Bay was a highlight of our trip. We did this cruise over New Year’s Eve, and they had planned fireworks, which was spectacular. Our room was comfortable, and the food was great, with all meals included. They offered activities like visiting a cave and kayaking, which was nice even though we chose to skip the kayaking.

The absolute highlight of the trip was our guid, Mu Giang, who was with us 21-26 February as we traveled through Bac Ha, Coc Pa, Ha Gaing and Ba Be. She incorporated a lot of time with local friends and families, a number of home-cooked meals and lots of great information about exactly what we wanted to understand; life today in rural (and urban) Vietnam.
This trip was the most experientially dense trip we have ever been on, and that includes some amazing trips to Anarctica and hiking New Zealand, a lot to compare to!
Hien Do did an absolutely outstanding job of arranging the trip over six months of planning and working through a few changes as plans fell into place. She gets very high marks!
Long Dao picked up the ball about a month before we started and provided the best support, communication and continuity. He is a very hard worker with good contacts.
This team provided us outstanding travel, well within budget and provided us with diverse and very comfortable lodging. We really feel that we experienced all of northern Vietnam in an outstanding way. They were with us every step of the way while providing a very independent feeling trip. We would definitely use Kimkim again for anywhere they operate.

Hotel Reviews

Ibis Saigon Airport

It was a place to crash for our last night before a very early departure towards home. It is very close to the airport. The staff was very friendly and helpful and the room was quite adequate for the mission. The top floor restaurant/bar had a fine view and is a great place for a beer, but the menu is depressing. Lots of fried and western type foods, nothing fresh or local to speak of. The things we ordered were safe and well prepared, but this was definitely the worst food on the trip. Perfect time for it though! We did walk the neighborhood a bit, and there didn't seem to be any other good options. This hotel absolutely served the purpose, but I would not call it a destination to seek out.

Authenticity & Character

It is what it is.

Location

If you want close to the airport (which will soon be replaced...) this is it.

Staff

As everywhere, the people are the highlight and could not have been nicer

Cleanliness & Comfort

Little down at heel, but certainly clean and serviceable.

Saigon - Ba Be Resort

They style themselves as being quite top tier. Almost. The place looks like it's been there for quite a while and is now under newer management. Certain areas are very sharp and well tended but not the whole place. It is clean and our room was very comfortable, though it hadn't been open for quite a while and was in need of a good airing out, which we provided. All good after that. The dining was quite adequate, but not very fresh or inspired the first night. Very short on vegetables, but we asked and they improved markedly the second night. There are not a lot of options for hotels around Ba Be it seems, and this certainly met the need but somewhere a bit smaller and busier might be more fun.

Authenticity & Character

Kind of large and a bit run down. Somebody's grand vision that needs some continuity and TLC applied.

Location

a long way from the Lake and the town, but nothing around it for hiking or sight seeing.

Staff

The Front Desk was helpful and friendly. Dining as well. No English that we could tell, but we had a guide so it didn't matter much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was great, once we aired it out. Excellent bed, good AC and good shower. Dining room was very clean. Kitchen, maybe... but we had no issues of any kind.

Ha Giang Ecolodge

This was the highlight of our trip in the North. The construction was beautiful, the room well appointed, the view over the village and rice fields from our room was exceptional. The night before we got here had been a little rough, so we really were grateful for this place. Good local fare in the dining room and Hanoi beer, which was welcome after the hiking.

Authenticity & Character

Very local flavor, but nicely done.

Location

Great location for our activities in the area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a highlight of the trip. Great shower, great bed, very quiet!

Pu Luong Jungle Lodge

This is a really fun lodge. The room was all local materials and really nicely done. They got some laundry done for us and were generally just very helpful and accomodating. You have to be very comfortable with stone stairs without any railings to navigate from Registration to your room and to dining. The place is beautiful but be ready for some stair climber action!

Authenticity & Character

All locally built and the dining was all local as well, and very nicely done!

Location

Good jumping off spot for our hiking and exploration around Pu Luong.

Staff

They were short handed due to the Tet holiday, but met our every need with a smile. They were super.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Good room, good bed, quiet AC (though cool enough at altitude not to need much!). good shower

Nung Gia Homestay

This is a family homestay and they did a great job providing us with simple but very excellent dinner and breakfast the next morning. Simple accommodations, but plenty of hot water, good air conditioning. The bed is extremely firm (board with a thin mat over it), so a little like sleeping on the ground, but no rocks! It gave us good access to the area.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely the real deal! Your are in Vietnam now.

Location

Don't believe Google Map directions. The location is correct, but the route isn't workable. The view from the deck is great, overlooking the town and river.

Staff

The family was very welcoming and the mom, who cooked for us after a long day of teaching, made us feel very welcome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness was very good. The place is very simple and a softer bed was appreciated the next night.

Bac Ha Legend Home

The family bent over backwards to provide us with great locally sourced meals that were perfect. The accommodation is simple but very comfortable. It was a good location for our travel in and around Bac Ha.

Authenticity & Character

Family run, very accomodating, excellent home cooking.

Location

Staff

They bent over backwards in feeding us locally sourced dishes our guide Mu had worked out with them. Superb hotpot!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Simple but very clean and comfortable. Plenty of hot water and a good mattress. AC worked fine, very quiet.

MK Premier Boutique hotel

Hanoi

The staff here is outstanding. Unfailingly courteous, very helpful and very good English at the front desk. The location is the best. Right in the midst of the bustle of Old Town Hanoi and walking distance to a bunch of interesting stops. The room was comfortable (good mattress!) and quiet. Excellent air conditioning. We really enjoyed the roof-top bar for breakfast and our night cap in the evening. This place was a lovely refuge to return to after prowling around Hanoi or returning from a few days in the countryside.

Authenticity & Character

Location

walkable to lots of Hanoi

Staff

Great English at the Front Desk and Bell staff. Everyone everywhere was super friendly and helpful. Top Notch

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quiet room, quite AC, great shower and comfortable mattress

Activity Reviews

Cycling Around the National park

Vietnam

The only bicycling available was rental bikes at the Saigon Ba Be Resort which were restricted to use on their limited grounds. We didn't bother. We did, however get a bonus on the way back to Hanoi, a stop at the Hua Ma cave, which is one of the longest tourist-accessable caves I've experienced. It has a good cement stair and walkway for access and is fully lit. No headlamp required. A cave purist will be horrified at the colored lighting, but the limestone structures and the size of the rooms are definitely highlighted by it.

Boating And Trekking in Ba Be

Ba Be

The peaceful boat ride to the bat cave, (Hang Puổng) is a magical experience, even on an overcast day. We got the added fun of going further downstream the opposite direction, to the primary school in a small village just northwest of the lake. Mu had arranged with the teacher for us to deliver twenty sets of crayons and coloring books to her class. Items which are outside the budget but were greatly appreciated. Do not waste time on the Fairy Pond, unless you aspire to wall up and down hill through dense smoke from the fires of the food and souvenir vendors lining the path to and from the pea green, heavily polluted pond which has no natural outflow, so can never clean itself out. The newly built quasi-Buddhist temple (Đền An Mạ) is nicely built for tourist consumption, but has no local following or historical significance. Photogenic but not a big deal if you miss it.

Xin Man travel to Ha Giang via Hoang Su Phi

Vietnam

Google Maps showed the shortest route to Ha Giang, but it was a very minimal road. We made it, but the 15 minutes for the longer route on bigger roads could have been worth it. We had lunch with another friend of Mu at their homestay, and it was one of the best meals of the trip without doubt. The village is surrounded by small rice fields and planting was back in full swing after the Tet holiday. A good hike around and we ended up at our Ecolodge, the best overnight in this part of the trip. Took a great hike, river and waterfalls.

Bac Ha Market - Xin Man

Vietnam

Bac Ha Sunday Market was mind blowing! One of the largest markets we've seen anywhere, and everything you can imagine on sale. The highlight was shopping and then cooking lunch at a local family's home with Mu. (a long time friend of her's). That was really special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Home cooking!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Would not have happened without a well experienced and connected local guide.

Visit Hoang A Tuong’s Palace - “Pho” village of Flower H’Mong People

Bac Ha, Lao Cai

Bac Ha was a definite highlight. Great hiking, with an unplanned "happy water" stop at a local farm up in the hills outside Bac Ha. That was a hoot! We did NOT visit the Hoang A Tuong Palace, as it has been redone and not worth the admission or time. Walking around Bac Ha/Lao Cai was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hiking was splended and having Mu to interpret with our (somewhat tipsy) Hmong farmer friend was essential!

Trekking to Kho Muong and Uoi Villages

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Our longest walk of the trip (14 km) and it was lovely.

Water Wheels walk and Bamboo Rafting

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

The walk around the villages was delightful. Tet in full swing and karaoke at full volume is king in every village. The water wheels were great to see from an engineering standpoint, though they were suffering from quite a bit of neglect, as they serve no purpose anymore, of course. Still, one could get the idea and admire the ingenuity of the design. The bamboo raft was most pleasant and we enjoyed it. Doesn't go very far, but it gave us a couple good photo ops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Quoc was great fun to walk with and did a good job setting up the experiences and meals.

Transport

Mr. Bao got us through the trip with no paint swapped, but he does not radiate the charm and graciousness towards others (especially other drivers) which we experienced elsewhere in Vietnam.

VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)

Vietnam

Arriving in the middle of the night, this was a godsend and greatly appreciated. Well worth the cost.

The trip was absolutely incredible. it was planned to the minute and Long was the best tour specialist ever, he was making sure all our transfers went smoothly right away, he was assisting us if we needed anything and answering all our questions. we were so happy to meet him in person as well back in Hanoi and his service was absolutely outstanding! we totally recommend to leave with his care, everything went perfectly.