Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

Trip was absolutely amazing! Perfect coordination with the guides, hotels, driver!
Our tour guides Quang, Sunny (in Ha Long Bay) and Mr. Hai our driver, GREAT people, and very good at what they do!
Hotels were perfect!

Hotel Reviews

Renea Cruise

I would love to back to this place, in the same boat, same room ;) and with the same tour guide (Sunny) Amazing experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

An's Eco Garden Resort

Beautiful and very relaxing place. Great service. Delicious food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pu Luong Valley Home

Thanh Hoa

Very relaxing place! Great services! Amazing view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GM Premium Hotel Hanoi

Great service. Spotless! Excellent food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Great staff members!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bicycle Tour of Rural Villages - Cultural Tour of Hanoi

Hanoi

Very interesting, different, beautiful! We loved the show!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The quality of the guides were mixed, but always very lovely people, who tried hard, who loved being guides, and ambassadors of their country. Often difficult to understand (like guides in most SE Asia countries) - not from their lack of a command of the English language, but from their Vietamese accent.

The Realistic Asia team are really great. Email responses done in a timely manner. There was great care to ensure all arrangements were to our satisfaction. Most of our guides were terrific! Big shout out to Cuong, Victor and Tommy!! thank you for being great guides - you made us feel like family. The excursions were terrific in the countryside. We loved the Eco tour outside of Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ho Ch Minh day on the Mekong, visiting coconut plantations, brick factory with 100 year old kiln! The Mekong was beautiful The only disappointments which had nothing to do with Realistic Asia were Sapa. We found it was very commercial and Halong bay quite dirty with garbage.
I highly recommend Hien at RA! So kind, caring and professional. You can’t go wrong with this great team. Thank you Thank you! Joy and Richard

I usually try to book our trips on my own, but I stumbled across KimKim while searching online and the rest was easy! Our special thanks to Huyen for putting together a few different options to choose from. Every step of the way there was communication to keep us posted as to who was picking us up and when. Always clean air-conditioned private cars with friendly drivers, guides, and water waiting for us. One of the highlights was the Saigon by Night street food tour. We spent 3 1/2 hours touring around and enjoying the local food, our guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. I would recommend this tour to everyone who visits. The rooftop pool at La Vela Saigon was beautiful day and night! If you are staying at, or even close to La Vela you MUST try the seafood buffet, it was incredible. Bamboo Village in MuiNe was fantastic. The staff were very helpful and attentive and the grounds were beautifully kept. At any time during the trip, if we had a question or even just wanted a restaurant suggestion, Huyen was quick to reply. Thanks again, we will be back next year to try the northern part of your beautiful country.

All guides were amazing. Zoom (Daniel ) Ken amd Liam were all above and beyond expectations. Suggestes itinerary was busy but allowed us to.see a whole lot of the country in 12 days. The one negative was the boat trip Ha Long Bay. The rooms all smell like mildew. We talked with 3 other couples on the.boat who all had the same complaint. Boat staff was nice but not enough to make my rating of the overall boat cruise better

We were really happy with this trip and very pleased with how everything went. Every guide and driver was terrific. Huyen was responsive and helpful at every turn. She made the logistics anxiety-free.
In Vietnam, Binh was wonderful. He worked very hard to ensure that we got to do everything we wanted. Our driver was also friendly and helpful. We appreciated that they had water for us at all times. We loved the restaurant where we had lunch. the first day. The whole itinerary was great. We can't wait to return to Vietnam.
I loved our time in Cambodia. Breeya was a fantastic guide and very responsive to our needs. The driver had not only cold water, but chilled washcloths for us every time we returned to the van. What a lifesaver in the heat! The lunch was again outstanding., and the entire visit was amazing. We really loved the Won Residence Hotel. Definitely want to return to Cambodia, too.
We had a lot of fun in Thailand.. It would be great if the guides/drivers there would have water and cold cloths. Palm and Nan both were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable guides. The Bhodi Serene was a very nice hotel in Chiang Mai. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary was a highlight of the trip.

Hotel Reviews

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

My one-night stay at the Bodhi Serene Hotel in Chiang Mai was delightful. The hotel had a serene ambiance, and the staff took good care of us. The room was comfortable, and we enjoyed our time there. It was a peaceful retreat before departing.

Novo City Bangkok Hotel

During my two-night stay at the Novo City Bangkok Hotel, I found it to be a comfortable accommodation. The hotel was great, and the location was convenient for exploring the city. The rooms were spacious, and having breakfast included was a bonus. Overall, a pleasant experience.

Location

MK Premier Boutique hotel

Hanoi

I stayed at the MK Premier Boutique Hotel in Hanoi for three nights, and it was a great experience. The location in the Old Quarter was fantastic as we could easily walk out and find food at night. The room was nice and met our expectations. Breakfast being included was a big plus, and the spacious rooms were comfortable. Overall, a satisfying stay.

Location

Won Residence Hotel

We all loved this intimate boutique hotel. They greeted us with delicious watermelon juice. Dinner at the rooftop restaurant was bliss., and breakfast by the pool was lovely. The housemade pineapple marmalade was fantastic. Every single staff member was friendly, helpful, and a pleasure to interact with. Our only regret was that we didn't have more time to spend at this lovely hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Intimate and serene.

Location

Not quite sure how easy it is to walk from there. We were only at the hotel at night.

Staff

The manager who greeted us and took care of. Also, the restaurant staffs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bed!

Activity Reviews

Bangkok - Visit the floating markets - half-day city tour (B)

Bangkok

While on our way to the floating markets outside Bangkok, our tour made a stop at a place where we could see elephants and even ride them if we wanted. However, our daughter was uncomfortable with the idea of seeing animals perform tricks, so we decided to skip that part of the tour. Despite this, the conservation efforts and care for the animals at the sanctuary were commendable, and we appreciated the positive environment. It was a good experience overall, but we chose to opt-out of certain activities based on our values.

Quality of Experience

Arrive in Bangkok - Dinner cruise Chao Phraya Cruise (D)

Bangkok

During our time in Bangkok, we had the opportunity to experience a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River. The dinner cruise was a memorable experience. However, it was quite crowded and we stood for a long time in queue due to the high season. Overall, it was a fantastic way to enjoy the city lights and indulge in a delicious meal.

Chiang Mai - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Chiang Mai

Mai exceeded our expectations. The sanctuary focused on conservation efforts and treated the elephants with care and respect. We had the opportunity to shower the elephants and even apply mud on them, which they enjoyed. The experience was hands-on and educational, allowing us to spend quality time with the elephants in a responsible manner. It was a fun and heartwarming experience that I would highly recommend to others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Ashley listened to exactly what I wanted and what I didn't want. All four of my guides were reliable and spoke great English. They were real pros, yet at the same time were able to convey the beauty of their people. This area of the world is brimming with history, culture, art, nature, and culinary delights. I was able to accomplish everything I had set out to do and more in the comfort of reasonably-priced hotels, and never felt rushed! Thanks again Kimkim; as a multiple-time repeat customer, you never disappoint!

I received very quick and detailed information from Doris the local specialist during the planning phase of our trip. She planned out a few different options for us to choose. She connected with me several times before and during trip to make sure that everything was going smoothly.
Han was a great local guide. We learned so much from her during our tour around the Mekong delta. She has great knowledge about Vietnam. We totally enjoyed learning about the plant life, food and culture. Each one of our experiences were very well organized and enjoyable.

Trang was very helpful and thoughtful, while guiding us through the trip planning process. We appreciate the way she took the lead and built a thorough itinerary with limited information around our expectations for the trip.

This was our first time traveling to this part of the world and my first time traveling internationally, but we felt very comfortable and confident throughout the trip. Each hotel was informed of our honeymoon ahead of our stay. Each room we entered was decorated with rose petals, decorations, cake, etc. The atmosphere was romantic and inviting. Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable. They arranged many of our meals with delicious fixed menus and provided us with immersive activities, including a truly special bike tour in which we visited local residents of Hoi An and learned more about their daily lives. We felt truly moved by the kindness, humility, resilience, and grace of the people we met in Vietnam.

The accommodations were luxurious, but exciting. The drivers expertly navigated difficult traffic and terrain to ensure we made it to all of our destinations on schedule. I think the greatest compliment I can pay to the kimkim team is to say that we already miss this place! We'll be sharing our experience with our friends/family and encouraging them to use kimkim for similar trips.

Activity Reviews

Hoi An biking thru country side + visit ancient town

Hoi An

This was by far our favorite tour of the trip! We enjoyed the freedom of seeing the town on bike, and we felt a special connection to the local residents. Our guide was very respectful and accommodating of the people we visited. We felt encouraged by these positive interactions.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Overnight on boat

Ha Long Bay

We had a great time on this cruise and were truly blown away by the incredible landscape of Halong Bay. It was a cruise, meaning the events and activities were very tightly structured. But we still felt the staff were very courteous and respectful of our space. We had plenty of downtime too. We enjoyed the excursions and would do this cruise again in a heartbeat!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We really enjoyed our trip to Vietnam. Our favorite experiences were ha long bay, our bike trip through hoi an, and our stay in nha Trang. Both Ky and A were amazing, friendly, and knowledgeable guides.

Activity Review

Hoi An biking thru country side + visit ancient town

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long did a great job in organising my solo Vietnam adventure. The trip was seamless, everything was perfect. The accommodation was great, tours as advertised and drivers to collect me when required. I want to return to Vietnam to see more. I would highly recommend KimKim

Our entire trip was amazing. Our guides were wonderful and gave us a lot of information and answered our questions. They were always helpful at every location. Our driver was excellent and skilled. The most memorable part for us was the overnight cruise on Ha Long. These cruise ships are small with only about 25 passengers. Our quarters were spacious and beautiful. The food was gourmet. In addition, every place we visited was interesting. One place where we did a river tout, many of the rowers, rowed using their feet. This was in Ninh Binh. With the help of the guides, we learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and religions. Their religious practices were particularly interesting to me. Our only issue was the weather and I would have rather gone in another season, not winter.

Doris planned a great trip for me and my son. We booked at the last minute and worked with Doris to plan a trip that included our main interests. She always responded promptly and made any changes we requested. When a last minute problem came up at the airport with my son's visa to Vietnam, she dropped everything and helped us get things worked out without any interruption to the trip. We walked through the Hill Tribe country near Sapa in awe of its beauty. Went to a jaw dropping (for Americans) traditional market in Bac Ha. We saw cultural sites in Hanoi that helped to gain a bit of understanding of the Vietnam culture. All the hotels and home stay she booked were excellent. The hotel in Hanoi was in a prominent location within easy walking distance from food and entertainment. It would have taken weeks to plan a trip like this on our own but working with Doris really made it easy.
Doris even met us at the hotel when we arrived to be sure things worked out and continued to check on us during the trip. I would recommend her to anyone wanting to travel to Vietnam.

Hotel Reviews

Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

I stayed at Hanoi La Siesta Trendy Hotel & Spa in Hanoi, which was centrally located. The hotel was excellent, but it would have been helpful to receive clearer directions on navigating the busy traffic in Hanoi. Once we settled in, we found the location perfect for exploring the city. The hotel staff were helpful, and we enjoyed some evening activities we found online. Overall, a comfortable and convenient stay.

Location

Staff

Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa

Lao Cai

Local Homestay in Ta Van Village

Sapa

Our stay at the Local Homestay in Ta Van Village was a unique and memorable experience. The host prepared a delicious dinner for us and ate with us, offering an authentic cultural exchange. The view from the homestay was breathtaking, and interacting with the locals added to the charm of the visit. It was a beautiful and enriching stay that I would recommend to others.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cong Fu Hotel

Activity Reviews

Ha Noi- HaLong Bay day cruise - Ha Noi

Vietnam

The Halong Bay day cruise was a delightful experience. The stunning landscapes and limestone karsts were mesmerizing. The boat cruise allowed us to explore the beauty of Halong Bay and enjoy the serene surroundings. It was a relaxing and scenic day that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa - Hiking to visit local villages (Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van)- Explore weaving craft of Black H'mong people

Sapa

The trekking experience to local villages in Sapa was perfect for me. Despite being a bit strenuous, the local guides were helpful, and the scenic views were worth the effort. Interacting with the villagers and purchasing textiles from them added to the authenticity of the experience. It was a fantastic introduction to the hill tribe areas of Vietnam.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bac Ha Ethnic Market- Hanoi

Vietnam

Visiting the Bac Ha Ethnic Market was an extraordinary experience. The market was unlike any other I had seen, filled with vibrant colors and a rich display of culture and tradition. The textiles and handicrafts were exceptional, and the opportunity to engage with the local people was a highlight of the trip. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My local guides were amazing and very knowledgeable... My family had a very comfortable trip, very well curated by my consultant Doris.

She took care of everything leaving nothing for us to worry about. I had to make a lot of changes to my plan due to unforseen things and doris embraced everything with a smile.

I will highly recommend their service if you want a no hassle trip. Enjoy...

Camellia did a nice job planning and executing our trip. Here are a few comments about the itinerary and overall experience of our time in Vietnam.

The eight day trip gave us a great sense of the northern regions of Vietnam. Four destinations in eight days was a bit more ambitious than we might have liked. Since we spent so much time in the van en route to Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, and back to Hanoi, perhaps three destinations rather than four would have been a bit better. The hotels were all nice with pleasant service.

Our guide Hiep was a lot of fun and shared interesting information about the country. Our driver, Mr. Hong, was also very good and helpful. I would say that Hiep tended to be a bit more reactive than proactive in terms of telling us about the culture and history of the country. That said, we enjoyed our time with him.

We found that a couple of the activities didn't quite map to the description. The "food tour" in Hanoi as described didn't happen. We sat down to eat at one location for Bun Cha, then walked around the neighborhood without stopping to taste or learn about different kinds of foods. By the end, we had a chance to have Bahn Mi, but were tired and by that point and just returned to the hotel after coffee (and didn't learn anything about egg coffee, as an example of something that was described in the write up, but never happened). By comparison, a food tour we did through Kim Kim in the Netherlands included about seven different spots to try seven different dishes and learn about them. Also, the bike rides were more challenging than expected so Carla didn't have a good experience. I have more experience cycling so they were fun for me.

The food was all good and we particularly enjoyed the opportunity to make spring rolls in a home in Hanoi. We appreciate Camellia's and Hiep's efforts to explain Carla's food allergies at all of the meals to keep her safe.

Overall, we enjoyed our time in Vietnam and are grateful for the different experiences that were organized for us.

The guides and drivers were all very welcoming and knowledgeable. Each guide had different perspectives of Vietnam in general, which I appreciated. I especially enjoyed our visit to Mai Chau and Pa Co. Having lunch with a Mường family was a highlight for me. The homestay in Mai Chau, although chilly, was an experience. Our host provided nice, warm comforters and her meals were delicious. Kayaking in Halong Bay was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure as was bicycling from Hoi An to An Bang beach. Getting to see how the people live along the Mekong River and Mekong Delta was fascinating.

We had a fantastic time traveling around Vietnam. Ashley was very responsive to questions in the planning stages and helped us develop an itinerary that everyone was happy traveling from from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Ha Long Bay, Hue Hoi An, Can Tho and finally HCMC. Mr. Curong, Mr. Than and Mr. Phat(Kelvin), our guides, were excellent and each provided us with their unique perspectives on their country's story.

Hotel Reviews

Victoria Can Tho Resort

excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport

good location for getting to airport

Authenticity & Character

standard nice hotel which is all I wanted

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Quảng Nam

Really really comfortble, so pretty and nice walking distance to sites and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eldora Hue

Hue

Nice and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

i enjoyed floating around in the company of friendly staff and guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

very nice rooms on the boat

Mai Chau With Love Homestay

Though it was a bit chilly at the time we visited the homestay owner was very friendly and an excellent cook.

Authenticity & Character

Friendly

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Soleil Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Very comfortable and the staff were very helpful. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Can Tho - Visiting Cai Rang floating market

Can Tho

Fun!

Discover the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre and Can Tho)

Vietnam

Private Cooking Class at the Red Bridge Cooking School

Hoi An

Excellent! A must do if you like to eat

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour in Tam Coc and Cycling Trip to Hoa Lu

Ninh Binh

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

Visiting Cam Thanh Village By Car

Hoi An

Hue - My Son Sanctuary - Hoi An Sightseeing

Vietnam

It was good to visit My Lai Massacre memory, pay respects. This is a place you have to have a lot of intention and purpose in your visit

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

Hue

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

very relaxing

Walk The Mountain Trails in Xa Linh Village

Mai Chau

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

our guides in Saigon and siem Reep were better than the ones in Hanoi and Hoiann.

We had trouble understanding the first 2 guides, their English could be better. Jade was a little low energy, lacked dynamism and did not have much commentary for us.

Hotel Review

Angkor Miracle

The Angkor Miracle hotel was below our expectations for a five-star hotel. The rooms felt dated and lacked the luxury feel we were expecting. Despite the staff's efforts to make up for these issues, we would not recommend this hotel for future travelers.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave

Vietnam

Siem Reap – Angkor Wat morning visit (S)

Siem Reap

While the Angkor Wat morning visit was visually stunning, the day felt long and hectic. We felt that our guides could have offered more flexibility in the schedule to accommodate our needs and preferences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Hanoi

These activities were quite well organized and enjoyable. However, there was a bit of a language barrier as our guides had a strong accent which made it difficult to understand them. This made it challenging to fully engage and enjoy the activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip and itenirary were great. An, Doris Cuong, and Long were all great guides and showed us the south, central and northern parts of vietnam. The highlights were ha long bay, hoi an, the cu chi tunnels and I also recommend ba na hills.

Mr Minh and his team provided superior service from the planning stage through the trip support. He was knowledgeable, responsive and caring. My friend had a birthday during the trip and Minh not only helped with the restaurant booking for a special dinner but also arranged for a special birthday cake from him and the team. Very much appreciate the experience and will recommend to others.

Hotel Reviews

Pavilion d'Orient

Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not centrally located but serene and relaxing - a true oasis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Harmony Saigon Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoian Central Boutique Hotel & Spa

Excellent and responsive service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Despite the name, the hotel isn’t very centrally located, but within walking distance from the center.

Staff

Excellent service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragon Legend Cruise

Hon Gai

Very friendly staff and excellent food. Too bad the ship common areas are equipped to deal with the cold temps we had during the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Clos Du Fil Hotel

Ninh Binh

Taking off a star because the restaurant wasn’t staffed for dinner and had very limited choices.

Can Tho Ecolodge

Can Tho

The ceiling fan was not working in the room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Remote and away from anything other than the river

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anatole Hotel Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A half day exploring the historic Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide (Ms. Vivian) was very nice. We had a great time with her!

Transport

Hoi An Fishing Village - Ancient Town Walking with Street Food Tasting

Hoi An

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide in Hoi An (Mr. Nhat) was very good

Street food tour on Vespa in the evening (Private)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The leader (Hero?) was amazing. The rest were ok - friendly.

Transport

Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay with Dragon Legend Cruise

Vietnam