Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

Our 18-day trip was titled "Vietnam: History, Art, and Nature". History is essential to understanding Vietnam -- all our guides were well-versed and shared in a meaningful way. The American War was won by North Vietnam, of course, and the people are proud of defeating a powerful imperial country; this contributes to the pride they feel in how the country has been rebuilt, both North and South. Our understanding was greatly enriched by this. And then the Art part of our trip was also evident everywhere, from formal art museums to the design of lovely tourist items for sale: weavings from the ethnic tribes of the Sapa region and grass place mats from the Mekong Delta. We were introduced to incredibly beautiful Nature in the mountainous region of Sapa as well as in HaLong Bay. Driving between these sites were also spectacular.
Our trip arranger -- Ha, a resident of Hanoi -- listened carefully to what we wanted to experience on our trip. She was easy to communicate with and creative in solving some of the conflicting priorities.
Truly, memories of this trip will last our lifetimes!

We had an excellent trip thanks to Minh, Vu Thuy, our local guides Charlie, Ben , Quyen and Cong (on the boat) .
We had a great trip and was able experience the beautiful culture, history, food , visit with local families. The guides were very knowledgeable , friendly and easy to get along with. This made our trip very memorable and one which we will remember.

Thank you!
Melvin

We are a group of 6 from Australia travelling with 4 adults (including one 82 year old) and three teenagers. We had a lovely tour of Vietnam organised by Hien and Realistic Asia through Kimkim. We visited Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong. We loved every minute of our trip. Our guides were fabulous, specifically Johnny Cuong who took us for three days to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong.

I'd highly recommend every part of our tour. Ha Long Bay on Heritage Cruises was brilliant. La Siesta Hotel in Hanoi was AMAZING. The Vespa Food tour in Ho Chi Minh City was so much fun. Even my 82 year old Mum got on the back of a scooter. We had a cycling experience in the Mekong too which was lovely. The Cu Chi Tunnels were a must see too if you love history.
Hien our travel agent even arranged some flowers for my birthday!

Honestly we were sad to leave Vietnam. Thank you for our lovely holiday!

Great hotels, trip was rushed but we covered a lot in 7 days. Tour guides did speak English -however expectations need to be reset in SouthAsia. We did HoChi Min City, Hoi Ann, Hanoi and Halong Bay - such a beautiful country. We will be back for a more relaxed tour in the future.

Hotel Reviews

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Quảng Nam

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Majestic Saigon

Ho Chi Minh

Authenticity & Character

No

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capella Cruise

Halong

Activity Reviews

Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dark & Bright Cave - Lan Ha Bay - Tuan Chau (Capella)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong - Lan Ha Bay - Frog Lagoon Area (Capella)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class at the Red Bridge Cooking School

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day City Tour (In afternoon)

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our two week vacation in Vietnam was absolutely incredible. My husband Paul and I enjoyed going up and down Vietnam experiencing local food, culture and daily life. Each guide was so incredibly knowledgeable not only about their specific region but the entirety of Vietnam. Ms. Mai was our tour guide in Sa Pa and she was absolutely delightful. She was local to a village in Sa Pa and knew everything about the area. She spoke with us as if we were friends. I didn't care for the lunch provided in Sa Pa on the first day, but the hike through the rice terraces was an absolute delight and the lunch we had in the village was outstanding. The only think I wish we could have had more prep for was what to pack, especially for Sa Pa. We went on an 8.6 mile hike and that would have been nice to have that disclosed to us before we left the U.S. so we could make sure to pack correctly. Thankfully, my husband and I did pack correctly but we did not realize the extensive hike we would be going on. The lunch we had in Hanoi was very flavorful and delicious. It was so much food and we enjoyed every bit of it. Our coordinator Long was an absolute joy to work with. He was so responsive before and during our trip and had everything mapped out meticulously. We never had to worry about where our transfer would be or how to get ahold of our tour guide. He made any sort of anxiety of going to a brand new country wash away because of his careful planning abilities. Another thing that Paul and I would have liked to know ahead of time was the tipping expectations as well as how much cash we should anticipate to exchange. We felt a bit underprepared on that arriving in Vietnam. Nha Trang was beautiful as well, however I wish that we could have gone to a beach that was a bit more relaxing than the one we hung out at. The one we visited was a bit small and didn't have a lot of areas to relax on the actual beach. The snorkeling was amazing though, we truly enjoyed being able to explore the beautiful waters in Nha Trang. Our boat trip in Ha Long Bay was breathtaking but I would say that Ninh Binh was even more breathtaking. We did however enjoy the trip in Ha Long Bay being able to meet other travelers from other countries and enjoy some karaoke that night. For the boat trip in Ha Long Bay I would have paid more though for a five star experience. The boat we went on was nice but there were some things that I think could have been improved upon. I would also suggest a two-night trip in Ha Long Bay. There is so much to explore in Vietnam and Paul and I would definitely go back to explore more of their elephant sanctuaries and caves. Looking forward to booking another vacation with KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Au Lac Charner Hotel

This breakfast buffet was nothing compared to the others we had during our trip, it was almost zero breakfast food. It was centrally located which was good because I didn't want to hangout at the actual hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was so hard it felt like a rock

Amiana Resort Nha Trang

Five star experience at the Amiana Resort. It's not in a convenient location but you have everything you need at the resort. The staff was friendly and really enjoyed talking to us. I wish there were more food options for dinner, but the breakfast buffet was unreal. They had absolutely everything, and it was very tasty. I wish I stayed the entire time in Nha Trang at this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully built.

Location

Staff

Very kind people who work here

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly clean and comfortable.

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

I wish I could write a rave review about this cruise but was mediocre. There was not enough awake time on the cruise to be able to enjoy and experience it. We hardly got any warning about any excursions that everyone was going out on and it was entirely too early to wake up and run out to an excursion, 6:50am was when the boat was leaving to go to the cave excursion and that was not fun to have to run out of bed scarf breakfast and go out. The bathroom was atrocious. I couldn't bare to go in to use it and any other bathrooms on deck were just as bad, one didn't even have a women's seat. I liked the people I met on this cruise but didn't like the cruise itself.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom smelled so bad the entire time.

Hidden Charm Ninh Binh

Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

I wish we stayed more than one night at the Hidden Charm hotel. This was a beautiful hotel with all the amenities we were looking for. The staff was so friendly and inviting. We would love to go back and stay longer. I loved this hotel room as well, it was large and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not very close to the main strip

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing Sapa

Sa Pa

I wish we could have seen more, but the fog was so thick we couldn't see the views we paid for. I wish it was disclosed that the views would not be the same in the winter as the summer. The breakfast was ok, there were too many lunch options and not enough breakfast options. There also was not a bar area to hangout in. The actual room we stayed in was comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adora Art Hotel

Unfortunately not the best experience at this hotel, the bed was very hard, the bath mat in the bathroom had a ton of mold on the bottom of it and the room in general was very small that we booked. The staff was mediocre, did not seem very inviting at all.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Beautiful hotel to stay in while in Hanoi. The French toast they have in their breakfast buffet is absolutely incredible, best French toast I have ever had. This is centrally located next to where everything is happening in Hanoi. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Truly enjoyed this experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Time in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City

Self-guided walking in Ho Chi Minh is really hard when you have no idea where to walk to or what to see.

Quality of Experience

Islands And Snorkeling Tour

Nha Trang

Enjoyed the snorkeling very much but didn't like the beach that we spent time at after the snorkeling. We were also the only ones at the restaurant. we ate at.

Quality of Experience

Food

Squid, shark, and prawns all very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat driver did not interact with us at all.

Dark and Bright Cave - Ha Long Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

The wake up call for this experience was way too early at 6:50am we had to leave the main cruise boat and go out. My husband and I didn't even get to have breakfast and enjoy the scenery before we had to go out. I really wish we booked two nights to have a more relaxed time.

Quality of Experience

This was a beautiful experience but it was really short.

Food

Missed breakfast because the excursion was too early.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk To The Love Waterfall And Heaven Gate

Sapa

Visit in August if you want the best views. The fog was so thick we could hardly see any views. We loved the hike to love waterfall and that it was cooler weather though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mai was the best tour guide.

Transport

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

This was a nice boat cruise but I wish we would have paid more for a fancier boat. There is a 45 minute boat ride from the harbor to the boat though so make sure you prepare for a long transfer boat ride. The bathrooms were really bad on the boat though so keep that in mind too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Truly was in awe in the boat tour, just superb. I loved the lime stone rock structures, they were so beautiful. This is a two hour boat tour that was so gorgeous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing

Sapa

Incredible, amazing, breathtaking and a very difficult hike if you are not accustomed to hiking. This was 8.6 miles of hiking through hills. The beauty was unreal and amazing to see the villages.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mai is the best tour guide.

Transport

Explore The Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing

Hanoi

Visit a few historical places on this day. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking around the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as this day had a lot of walking around Ho Chi Minh. A wonderful experience and make sure to bring tissues for the Vietnam War Museam.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was top notch , Trang was very professional and diligent in her job.
Very impressed with the transportation modes.
Definity will use Kim Kim again !!

My two week adventure in North Vietnam as a solo traveller in December 2023 was a great success, due in no small part to the services on Long Pham. My particular interest was in the embroidery and textile techniques of the ethnic groups in Vietnam (over 54!), so after a short stay in Hanoi I went to Sapa and then on a 3 day 'trek' (walk, but at times difficult) through rice paddies and villages and was able to see first hand the techniques of the very skilled tribal women as they wove, dyed and embroidered their traditional outfits. The homestays arranged were good, comfortable and very authentic. I spent a further 5 days in Hanoi, with a day trip to Halong Bay on one day. All was wonderful and very well arranged by Long. I changed arrangements during the trip and Long handled everything with immense patience and ease. Finally, I would like to give a shout out to guides: Andy on my vespa food tour of Hanoi, Bach on my full day seeing the sights of Hanoi and Lu on Sapa walking leg. Andy and Bach in particular were very knowledgeable about the history of Vietnam and generous in sharing their personal histories and experiences in modern Vietnam. Terrific holiday. As a solo traveller (older woman) it was important to me to have someone I could contact if needed, and Long was available 24/7. Highly recommended.

We were a group of 8 joining a cruise to Thailand and Vietnam. Most of us have never been to Vietnam and not familiar with any of the landmarks. In addition, because of the geographic location of the ports of calls which shortened the time we had touring, posed challenges. We contacted KimKim whom by chance I saw in an internet advertisement. A tour plan was then devised for us. We are all very happy that we went with KimKim.

Trang, our main agent in Saigon from the very beginning answered all our questions, walked us through the payment process, and was keen to accomdodate all our needs throughout the trip. It was a surprise to us that at all the port of calls we had both an English speaking guide and a driver. The 8 of us sat in a roomy 14-16 seater at every stop, and at Halong Bay we had a private boat just for our group to tour the Bay for six hours. The tours were not overly ambitious and the guides were good in controlling the pace so we never felt rush but were able to see most of what we should see. They, like Trang were very accommodating.

I read many of the KimKim reviews before going with them. I saw that a prevalent complaint in the few negative reviews that the price was higher. We thought that the price we paid was reasonable for the level of service.

If you've never been to a place and have little knowledge of the landmarks and not sure of where to go, and want a higher end experience, I recommend KimKim. Everything is planned for you and your group and you just sit back and enjoy.

We recently returned from an 18-day customized trip to Vietnam with Alex from Realistic Asia, and I cannot express enough how phenomenal and carefree the experience was. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene beauty of Phu Quoc, every moment was meticulously planned with our travel style in mind. And every hotel was not just a place to rest but also a part of the immersive experience that took guesswork out of our travel. The charming boutique in Ninh Binh with the fabulous pool, the trendy hotel in the bustling center of Hanoi and the serene beachfront resort in Phu Quoc were all highlights.

Realistic Asia's local expertise was evident starting with the upfront planning. Alex was patient and knowledgeable crafting our itinerary with the popular tourist spots and insightful details which made each destination unique. In Hanoi, Kuong took us through the heart of the Old Quarter, sharing stories about the city's rich history and culture that you wouldn't find in guidebooks. One of the highlights of the trip was our time in Hoi An, a town that effortlessly blends history and charm. Realistic Asia went above and beyond by making real time changes due to weather for our biking adventure and arranging an amazing cooking class at Red Barn, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local traditions.

What truly sets Realistic Asia apart is their unparalleled flexibility. Throughout the trip, some of our plans evolved in real-time, and Alex seamlessly adapted to our requests and solved problems real time. Whether it was adjusting our schedule to spend more time on Phu Quock or rearranging our accommodations in Ha Long Bay, Realistic Asia's team demonstrated an impressive ability to cater to our desires on the fly. It felt like we had a personal concierge service at our disposal, always ready to tailor the journey to our preferences.

Our 18-day adventure through Vietnam with Realistic Asia exceeded all expectations and if you're seeking a personalized and unforgettable journey through Vietnam, look no further than Realistic Asia. They don't just provide tours; they create memories that will last a lifetime.

The trip was always going to be difficult as we travelled with a two and four year old. That said, we were a bit disappointed in how the itinerary was planned given that we emphasized multiple times that we were travelling with kids.

For example - There were multiple days of 5 hour round trip driving only to see a monkey or a temple for 45 minutes. It’s impossible to have a two year old sit through all of that. Ultimately we ended up cancelling about half the itinerary

I think Trang did her best when we gave her this feedback, but the service wasn’t as tailored to our situation as we expected it to be having planned it four months in advance and providing all that information about our needs. The itinerary was just basic and didn’t really get altered at all for our needs. Also there was a big issue with Visas, where we weren’t informed that we needed to take care of them or even promoted to do so, so the trip almost didn’t happen at all

On the positive side: the country is beautiful, the hotels were nice, and guide in Hoi An specifically was amazing

The local guides are all professional and catered to our needs, even the drivers. They can be very flexible since we’re a small group. Thank you Trang for all the arrangements

It was an amazing trip from start to finish! Very well thought out and showed us such an interstellar cross section of the country, both the “must see” sights as well as the small out of the way places that many travelers don’t get to see.

Can’t say enough about our guides who were so knowledgeable, friendly and eager to share their country with us. Each deserves a shout out, Dongho, Sơn & Hiếu were each so helpful, fun and took great care of us.

Would be remiss if I didn’t mention the architect of it all, Dat who put this incredible adventure together for us and was with us each step of the way, even from afar. Thank you, thank you, Thank you.!

We will definitely use Kimkim again and in fact they have already put a ski trip together for us in the Dolomites.

Activity Review

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

The cruise in this other worldly place was one of the highlights of the trip. From the amenities of the boat, friendly crew and excursions, it was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We will never go back to planning a trip without Kim Kim. Kim Kim exceeded our expectations and got us connected with a local travel agent to help us plan our dream vacation. Trang (the local travel agent) listened to our asks and made recommendations based on what we were looking to experience. No matter how many questions or changes we requested Trang provided answers and was never bother by our request. Trang went out of her way numerous times to provide us with multiple options based on what we wanted to experience, see, or eat. She explained pros and cons of each excursion and location we wanted to visit, and even made recommendations based on the weather during that time of the year. We did not have to worry about transportation, food, or safety as it was all planned by Trang. She was very quick at responding and there was no question off limits. She made this trip run smoothly and so memorable, from day 1 to the last day we left Vietnam.

I also planned a surprise engagement and worked with Trang directly to make sure my partner did not find out. She made sure that our hotel knew it was our birthday during the trip even though we never mentioned it. Again, she did all the little things, went above and beyond our asks, and was so knowledgeable! 1000% recommended working with Trang and Kim Kim. Thank you Trang!

Mother/ Daughter Visit to Vietnam was a success thanks to KimKim and Trang.

Trang was extremely helpful from start to finish. Her prompt responses to questions and planning of our itinerary made the entire experience so seamless and easy. Trang made a few recommendations regarding our itinerary that really made our trip more enjoyable. Along our Journey, Trang checked in on us to see how things were going. We greatly appreciated her just reaching out. It was reassuring to know we had a resource for help if we needed it. We ended up getting a food illness during the very end of our trip. Trang and the Guide were very helpful in rearranging our plans and checking in on us to make sure we were okay,

We visited 3 areas in Vietnam and were greeted by 3 separate Guides in each location. All 3 Guides were professional, knowledgeable and flexible to our needs.

Highlights of our trip were the walking tour of Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoi A Visit to the Carpentry Village and the Ancient Town along with the Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh with XO Tours.

Everyone of the drivers and guilds were amazing.

We just came back from a wonderful trip to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We had already booked some of the "must-dos" in Vietnam (like Hanoi, Hạ Long bay, etc.), but had a few extra days so I contacted Kimkim to solicit suggestions. Hien from Realistic Asia replied immediately and suggested to spend some time in Pu Luang and Ninh Binh which is less touristic then Sapa. She organized a fantastic trip including transportation, hotel, and tour guide.
Our time in the Pu Luong are has simply been wonderful! The hotel was great and we really enjoyed all activities. Ni is a fantastic guide. He is obviously very familiar with the area, is passionate about the nature and the people, and he is very easy to get along with. The 15km hike through the forest and indigenous villages was the highlight of our trip. We learned so much about the people and culture, all while enjoying breathtaking landscapes.
We are so grateful to Hien for recommending this tour to us😊
In addition, Hien checked in every day with us to make sure everything was ok. We could not have been in better hands, and I would recommend this wonderful agency to anyone.

What an incredible trip Dat organized for 4 retired friends venturing to Vietnam for the first time! We spent 15 days exploring off the beaten track places with the help of knowledgeable and fun guides who spoke excellent English.: Dongho, Son and Hieu .
I would highly recommend KimKim for the high quality organization and design ( Dat), guides, drivers and location suggestions. It took all the stressors out of travel!

Hien, was attentive and responded promptly throughout our experience with Realistic Asia from planning the itinerary to daily enquiry for feedback and on the last but one night we requested support to change hotel room, she was promptly right there on the phone and facilitated a change of room for us! Not
The accommodations chosen by Hien were a mix (on request) of 3 star to 4.5, the beds were incredibly comfortable in all places!
All of the staff were of this amazing high quality.
The travel guides were all so helpful, informative and fun-MsHa who picked us up from the airport, Ms Ngoc who showed us so much- Ba Bi Eco Tour, Ninh Binh- Tho Ha Village, Hanoi-Temple of Literature and Museum of Ethmology and Ms Zee our guide in Sapa on a trek, Ta Van Village homestay. We were so impressed by how attentive the guides were to our needs and were also able to accommodate changes when I developed a reaction to a covid booster before the trip and couldn’t trek or bike ride and both of our guides organised me to go by motorbike- amazing! The drivers, although spoke little English, managed to communicate effectively and were prompt, drove so expertly so that we felt comfortable and safe at all times.
We thoroughly enjoyed everything about our trip. We were continually surprised how attentive and supportive the whole experience from Realistic Asia was!

Hotel Reviews

Dragon Legend Cruise

Hon Gai

This overnight excursion was incredibly well organised. No time was lost on fitting in the maximum amount of activities in this short amount of time. The staff were incredibly enthusiastic and attentive and it felt like this was their maiden voyage! The boat has a wonderful authenticity and is tastefully decorated and there’s consistency between cabins from what I could tell. I loved this trip to Bai Tu Long Bay, but do have concerns for the environment there and was happy to hear the staff voice that this is starting to be addressed.

Le Clos Du Fil Hotel

Ninh Binh

I loved everything about this hotel. It was simply stunning down to every last detail. The room was very spacious. There were many extras in the decor to add to a feeling of comfort. I loved the little teapot set on a coffee table for the ubiquitous tea ceremony. The pool was fresh and clean, the gardens much more developed than the website photos and so lovely to spend our rest day enjoying the environment. The staff were respectful and attentive. I would love to stay here again.

Lacasa Sapa Hotel

This hotel appears to have been one of the original grand hotels in Sapa but is quite tired now and in need of renovations. This has been attempted with murals on the walls up the stairs but although I’m fond of murals, it added to the feeling of shabbiness. The beds were comfortable though and this is my number one priority. The dining room was vast and the breakfast good and varied.

Local homestay

Sapa

This homestay is a main hostel type arrangement with bar and balcony dining area and cabins situated around a pretty pond. We were lucky to stay in a cabin, other trekkers we were with stayed in the hostel accomodation. Our cabin was very rustic, it had comfortable beds, and an ensuite. The bathroom has open brick sized vents to outside. We enjoyed the night time cold fresh air and snuggled under the covers but the room would be pretty cold in any temperature below 6-7 degrees at night and there’s no heating. The hosts were good at getting the party spirit going during dinner with the ‘happy water’, the meals were good, the trusty cooking lesson before dinner, and the atmosphere was convivial on the deck. We really enjoyed our stay here. Our fellow walkers complained about mattresses as thin as strips of cardboard and too few bedclothes and no sleep as a result. This may have been because their tour company changed their itinerary but they insisted on keeping the same one and thought they were bing punished. We thanked our lucky stars for having Realistic Asia for our tour company!

New Livitrans Train

The bed mattresses are fairly thin and narrow. We used silk sleeping bag inners for extra warmth. We slept well on the train. The toilet was grubby and we didn’t see the sink until we we’re getting off the train because it was at the other end of the corridor. The complimentary water bottles, clean wipes and snacks were appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleaner toilet.

Splendid Star Grand Hotel

The beds are so comfortable in this hotel. I consider this the most important thing in accommodations in order to get a good sleep. The hotel has sister locations that you may be accommodated in if you are travelling back and forth to Hanoi from trips outside Hanoi. The rooms are all different, we had family rooms and they were all spacious, one out of the three different rooms was tired in its bedroom decor but the bathroom was pleasant enough. One of the rooms was so lovely looking out towards St Joseph’s Cathedral and below is a karaoke bar; we thought the people performing were professionals, it sounded so good! This hotel- Splendid Starlight doesn’t have an elevator if that’s an issue for you though. The staff are fun, friendly and helpful. We did need to engage the support of our travel company to change one of the rooms though because it was around the corner, at a different hotel again, in what we considered, an inferior depressing room, but the staff did change us back to Splendid Star and we were happy with our room.

Authenticity & Character

All the rooms were different. All were spacious.

Location

Walking distance to Ho Kiem lake and in a shabby chic district with interesting shops and good eateries.

Staff

There were many different staff, happy to help and cheerful. The dining room staff were very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were clean. The decorating just needed a touch up.

Activity Reviews

Visit Bac Ha Market ( Only on Sunday)

Sapa

Bac Ha Market wasn’t what I was expecting. It was super busy, a sensory over. It felt authentic but I understand for our guide that since the Chinese boarder has closed with Vietnam, there is no longer large livestock traded. I expected it to be open air in a field and not based in the streets of a town. I quite enjoyed the haggling for the beautiful crafts but didn’t enjoy my attention grabbed at every corner as soon as I showed an interest in something! The guide was incredibly helpful throughout the day, so attentive and energetic but although enjoyable, it was an exhausting experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling And Farming In Tho Ha Village And Boating To The Galaxy Groto

Vietnam

We loved this day with the hosts at Tho Ha. We didn’t realise what a special experience we were having until exploring Tam Coc that evening and seeing the mass tourism of the boats to be taken to the caves. Our experience was very individual. We had a bike ride and again our tour guide was able to arrange to take me on the back of a motorbike, a late change to arrangements; a cooking lesson, the wonderful trip to the Galaxy Grotto caves and a lesson on planting rice, and catching fish and crabs traditionally, all in the rice paddies on the farm. We did a lot but it didn’t feel too much or tiring. The host had a wonderful understated dry humour! I loved this activity day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day City Tour & Water Puppet Show

Hanoi

Our tour guide for this trip was as usual incredibly knowledgeable about The Temple of Literature and The Museum of Ethnology. We so enjoyed her company and felt like a friend to her. The tour guide graciously changed the itinerary at the last minute on my request due to health issues so that the walking wasn’t too much. As usual the tour was very well organised and we very much enjoyed our lesson on the vast culture of this country.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family trip to Ba Vi Eco Tour

Hanoi

The hosts were well organised, so friendly and attentive. The cooking class was fun to experience with other travellers and the group well managed. The food was amazing! The bike ride was enjoyable in the local countryside and the host and a tour guide had a lovely playful rapport they shared with us. We loved the tea plantation experience and meeting the couple, Mr Duc I think his name is was an American War veteran. We won’t forget his beautiful sharing of his experiences translated by the tour guide. It was fascinating tasting the different types of tea and I have a new found appreciation of my morning cuppa now!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa - Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Overnight at homestay (B/L/D) GROUP TOUR

Sapa

This tour was very well organised, challenging enough in the trek but not too much. Good footwear is a must. The tour guide was so informative about the local culture. There was plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the company of fellow travellers, the food was great and plentiful, there were numerous opportunities to haggle with the locals over some beautifully crafted goods. It was a most enjoyable trip.

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My girl friend and I celebrated turning 70 and 75 with a vacation to South Viet Nam. We happened upon the website for Kimkim and liked the itenarary. It included a variety of locations and activities in each. The variety of siteseeing, walking and hiking, bike riding, and time on boats gave us a real feel for the country. Out guides and drivers provided on-time pick-ups and interesting information. Our guides participated in our activities, too. This gave us a chance to constantly interact with a local. I highly recommend Kimkim for first-time travelers to Viet Nam.

Hotel Reviews

Sunrise Central Hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to activities, comfortable room.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vinh Long homestay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

West Can Tho hotel

Can Tho

Very nice accommodations. Nice massages there, too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to ocean, walk to town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phu Quoc Eco Beach

Lovely cottage overlooking the ocean. Nice massages, too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walk to town, nice scenery.

Cleanliness & Comfort

National Park Guest room

All of our accommodations were fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

HCM City - Cu Chi tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

This was probably the most memorable historical part of the trip. I was in college during the Viet Nam war so seeing this site was moving for me.

Quality of Experience

Food

My being a vegetarian was accommodated everywhere we went! Thank you!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Cycling

Ho Chi Minh City

We cut our bicycle trip short as the terrain was difficult to ride on. But we enjoyed the time we rode.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vinh Long - Can Tho (Cycling)

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

See

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Cat Tien National Park

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Lol

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Speed boat to Phu Quoc

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cat Tien National Park - transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city

Vietnam

Our hike was long as we got just over half way and had to turn around due to deep mud on the path. We saw gibbons and tracks of several animals.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Vietnam was out of this world! The trip planning was super easy with Camellia, and she accommodated all our ideas on the trip plan. We had absolutely no issues on the trip! The smoothest trip I have had in my life! All our guides and drivers were amazing and super nice. Shoutout to Daniel in Hanoi and Thanh in HCM City. We visited Hanoi, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and HCM City. We had tours every day; our favorites were the Mekong Delta Tour, where we stopped by a local shop and enjoyed some tea and local fruits and bought handmade coconut candy; we also loved our Ha Long Bay Cruise; our guide, Cong was AMAZING and it was super fun, one of the highlights of the trip was kayaking to a beach and swimming in Ha Long Bay. Ninh Binh was also out of this world; I recommend it 100%! We did a two-hour hike with Daniel in Pu Luong, despite it not being harvest time, the rice paddies looked stunning, filled with water. The sunset reflecting on them prompted us to appreciate the beauty of nature, and witnessing the dedicated work of the locals in the area only deepened our admiration. Our hotels were all super good! The locations were super central, allowing us to walk around in our free time. We also had the Footprint Travel team check on us every few days, which was super valuable. We also enjoyed the gastronomy, history, and culture of Vietnam! It's such a BEAUTIFUL country with the sweetest people. It's definitely on my list to go back and explore other areas. Thank you, Camellia, for this amazing trip that my mom and I will forever remember!

Hotel Reviews

Sanouva Saigon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Renea Cruises Halong

Hon Gai, Ha Long

The cruise is AMAZING! It has super nice staff and super fun as all the activities are for all the people on the cruise. As it is a small cruise, it allows you to meet other travelers and we had the best guide ever! The food was also really good!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tam Coc Boutique Garden

Ninh Binh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pu Luong Valley Home

Thanh Hoa

You will wake up to the most beautiful sunrise ever! Expect some insects around the area as it is in the middle of nature, however, the room was really big and they have a super nice common area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MK Premier Boutique

It has a central location and has super nice staff! Also has a super nice rooftop for drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

HCM City - Cu Chi tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

The Cu Chi tunnels were really fun and interesting! It is a long drive from the city but totally worth it! We enjoyed an amazing lunch with our guide (not included in the tour), who took us to a great restaurant he knew. Our HCM City tour was also really good!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Big shoutout to our guide, Thanh!

Transport

More cruising on the bay - back to Hanoi then transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to HCM City

Vietnam

It was really special the cave visit we did as we ended up in a beach with amazing views! We also had a super fun cooking class back on the cruise.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ninh Binh - Bai Tu Long bay welcome on board

Ha Long Bay

One of the highlights of our trip was our Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise. The boat was super comfortable and cosy as we where not many people. The crew was super nice, and our guide was amazing! Kayaking to the beach and swimming in the bay was a memory we will always remember

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Don Village to Ninh Binh & Tràng An

Ninh Binh

The boat ride in Ninh Binh was beautiful, it lasted for two hours, and we went through four different natural caves, which was one of the highlights!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Mai Chau, Hiking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Mai Chau was a complete surprise for us! We stopped there for a short hike around the rice paddy fields and had lunch there. It is a super beautiful village and a great first contact with nature. It was good that we only went there for lunch as apparently it gets quite busy with tourists and locals, and we also went on a Monday, which really helped! The food and the views were amazing. Then we drove to Pu Luong, which was astonishing. The hike was beautiful, and it was great that our guide gave us the option on how long we wanted the hike to last, we decided on 2 hours, and it was the best option, as the route we took gave us the most amazing views.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi City Tour of Capital of Vietnam

Hanoi

This tour was really complete; we started with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you can not take any photos but it is pretty impressive. Our guide was super informative and told us everything about Vietnam's recent history and Ho Chi Minh's role. Then we visited the Temple of Literature, which was super pretty and interesting. We enjoyed local lunch and then we could choose between a museum or a prison. We chose the prison, which was also super interesting! We ended the day with a water puppet show and a cyclo ride around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. It was a really complete tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day trip to the fertile Mekong delta, Ben Tre

Ho Chi Minh City

One of our favorite tours! The people in the Mekong were the nicest! The highlight was visiting a coconut candy workshop where we bought local products!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi and walking street food tour

Hanoi

I loved that our guide took us to places we probably would not have found ourselves. Our favorites were the Green Papaya Salad and the cooked rice cakes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport