Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

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.

Excellent trip! Trang was so helpful every step of the way. We had a great adventure in Vietnam and got to see so much thanks to Trang’s amazing itinerary.

We were very pleased with the service of Camellia and the guides and accommodations she lined up for us.

Hotel Reviews

Renea Cruise

Overall very enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They refused to take a charge card and we weren’t aware of that ahead of time.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Did not like being charged for water during meals.

Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Great location in the midst of the Old Quarter. Very nice and kind staff. Nice breakfast included. Not a luxury stay but more than adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything in the Old Quarter

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A/C leaked water all over my clothes on the luggage rack

Activity Review

Hanoi City Tour of Capital of Vietnam

Hanoi

Very good guide. Jimmy did a very good job. We saw most of the highlights on our tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All on time, communicated well

Transport

Doris was really wonderful. The overall planning and attention to detail was just amazing. She also checked in on us along the way to make sure everything was running smoothly (which it always was). There were so many things along the way that were so efficient that you might not even notice them. Getting picked up and driven all over Vietnam and Thailand, on time over a period of 30 days is really incredible.

We just returned from an exceptional trip to Vietnam and Cambodia and we were so thankful for Kimkim every step of the way. Ashley, our travel consultant from Realistic Asia, was a godsend. She was so patient and helpful in the planning process - we wondered if she ever slept because her responses were so immediate. Once we were in SE Asia, she assisted us in every way and kept the lines of communication consistently open. Mind you, everything went so smoothly that there were practically no issues to resolve. Highlights of our trip were: day trip to Ninh Binh, food tours in Hanoi and Siem Reap, Hoi An, home dining in Hue, Mekong Delta tour, our stay in Phu Quoc, temples in Siem Reap. As a former global studies teacher, I also greatly appreciated the many connections to the Vietnam War and Cambodian Khmer Rouge era. Our expert guides throughout taught us a great deal about the history and culture of these beautiful countries, but we especially enjoyed learning about their lives and the everyday lives of people there. This trip was so memorable and well planned. Hats off to Ashley and Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Saem Siem Reap Hotel

Siem Reap

Excellent staff, room and pool.

Thanh Kieu Beach resort

Kien Gianh

We really loved our stay here.

Odys Boutique Hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

Great place - beautiful rooftop restaurant/bar.

Cherish Hue

Cozy An Boutique Hotel Hoian

Hoi An

So much character!!

Doria Cruise

Really liked the accommodations, staff and food.

MK Premier Boutique hotel

Hanoi

Liked the rooftop restaurant.

Activity Reviews

Visiting the Floating Villages on Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap

Full day Banteay Srei, the gem of Yajnavaraha

Siem Reap

Siem Reap Evening Street Food Tour by tuk tuk

Siem Reap

Really fun. Interesting food! Again, loved our guide Phirob.

Full day Temples Sightseeing (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm)

Siem Reap

Loved our guide. Temples were amazing

Experience Island Life Trip

Phu Quoc

Great snorkeling and fun fishing. The meal was yummy too. This excursion was a bit different than how it was described.

Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour - Joint in tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Very interesting half day tour!

Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

This was a good day - nice to get out of the city and see the countryside. Really good guide too.

Ho Chi Minh City Full Day

Ho Chi Minh City

Our guide was a last-minute replacement for the original guide assigned. He was underwhelming. We all had problems understanding him and he was a bit disorganized. Very sweet though. The Imperial Palace and the War Remnants Museum were the best parts of the tour.

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

Hue

Our guide was very knowledgeable, but we had to cut this tour short because of illness.

Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner

Hue

Loved this activity so much. Our hosts were wonderful and our guide was excellent.

Visit Marble Mountain

Vietnam

Really liked our guide on this excursion.

Hoi An Walking Tour & Making Lantern - Joint in tour

Hoi An

Great guide - fun half day tour.

Boarding cruise in Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

Boarding and disembarking were fine. Cave excursion was okay. Ha Long Bay is beautiful, but you're basically looking at a bunch of other cruise ships. Also, the water was visibly polluted so swimming was out of the question. We did appreciate the ship we were on - very nice.

Hanoi City tour - Joint in tour

Hanoi

Especially liked the Ho Chi Minh complex and Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Day trip to Ninh Binh (Cycling – Local family - Bich Dong Pagoda - Trang An)

Vietnam

Great guide, super fun group. We really had a great day.

Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)

Hanoi

Our guide T was very helpful on our first day there.

Great itinerary loved the diversity of locations and the fact the team worked with me to craft an agenda the fit our wants. To break it down:
First Stop – the airport reception and half day tour was very trouble free, and I appreciated the guide being flexible with our ask including finding a very local spot to grab lunch and making sure we had time at all the spots we wanted to see.
Second Stop – Lucky was very knowledgeable about everything and was a very gracious host. We very much enjoyed our day on the boat and all the activities that were planned. I would not change anything about that.
Third Stop – Our guide in Da Nang was extremely knowledgeable about local history and culture and made the trip very enjoyable from a cultural experience. All the activities and transportation including the hotels were top notch.
Forth Stop – We enjoyed our time in the city and more importantly we had a great experience on the bay. The cruise ship was very well managed, and accommodation was excellent. Again, it would not change a thing.
Overall.
Hotels – Top of the line, great rooms and great service
Guides – All very attentive and professional, felt like they wanted to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.
Transportation – Did not miss a beat, on time and great coaches at all stops.

Hotel Reviews

Indochine Grand Cruise

Quang Ninh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GM Premium Hotel Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Sands Oceanfront Danang Hotel

Da Nang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silverland Mây Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)

Vietnam

Not nessasary, did not feel like we gained anything with this. The regualar service was fine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim is so thorough with planning our trip , we went to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Bangkok and Phuket. Everything is exactly like our wish ,we felt very well taken care of. Love that Kim can answer any question we had.
Long our tour guide in North Vietnam is so knowledgeable with history and places. He always reminded us where and what time to meet.