Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

Our trip to Hanoi organized by Nga via kimkim was great. From the start, Nga was able to customize our trip to fit our schedule & needs. Accommodating our various requests, she was able to give us various options to choose from especially during this holiday peak season. We spent 5 days in Hanoi and our local guide Chris was fantastic as well. Nga and Chris from Footprint were very helpful throughout the trip and would highly recommend them!

This was a wonderful trip arranged by Victor from KimKim travel and with local guide specialist Nga. It was off peak and my family had the luxury of the full 9 sitter van to ourselves served by 1 driver (Mike) and 1 local guide (Tom). They have local names but it was too difficult for me to remember.

There was a lot of driving and the driver was key to a safe and pleasant journey throughout. The local tour guide gave a very nice tour of North Vietnam mountainous beauty and experience of local Vietnamese food throughout. The mountain trekking was also amazing!

I also like the relaxing iternary and at the end of the trip, i could see the relax and happy faces of my family members including myself.

Miss Linh did a fabulous job! Our only trouble was not understanding that we had to take care of the Vietnam Visa ourselves. However, she ended up handling it for us and even did the fast track. I would recommend KimKim or the agency for Vietnam take care of it and include it in their fees because most Americans don't know how to do the Visa on their own. We were so worried about the Hong Kong portion of the trip that we overlooked doing the visa ourselves. Anyway that got resolved and she helped put together a fabulous trip. We loved the hotels. We only had one hotel in which the rooms were really small so I wouldn't recommend the Rex hotel in Hanoi. I liked all the tours she recommended and tried to limit our tours to just half days with many free afternoons. My husband and I are the types that don't want a hectic holiday, just running around from one tour to the next. We enjoyed most of the local tour guides. It was difficult in that we had in one city, sometimes several guides and at one point there was confusion and we had 2 tour guides taking us back to one place. In my previous experiences in Thailand and Laos, we had only one local guide for each city and that was much better. That tour guide had the chance to get to know us and we had the chance to build a better relationship with him/her. The Kim Kim platform was easy to use and to make payments. Sometimes the communication threads got long and it took awhile to scroll down to previous conversations. That was perhaps the only drawback. This is the 2nd time we have used KimKim and we have been very happy. We really loved our Slovenia/Croatia trip from 2 years ago. Unfortunately we did not use KimKim for Portugal because your Portugal rep was difficult to communicate with and seem to have a bit of an attitude. We really liked Miss Lihn and she helped me when I got sick in Saigon. I would suggest somewhere in the KimKim description some emergency information. I got sick in Saigon and she told me to go the International hospital there, which was excellent and I got treatment from an English speaking Doctor. I would for sure mention Miss Lihn to my friends. At times, it was a bit difficult to understand her English; however she really made an effort to be understood. I do understand that Vietnam, since it's tourism is still developing, that many tour guides and tour operators do not have the command of English as many of the European countries. However I had 3 outstanding guides that spoke very good English, Miss Song from Topas Eco-lodge, Ben from Saigon (our first guide who picked us up at the airport and lead our city tour) and Mr Kha from Les Rives Mekong delta cruise. Those 3 were the most outstanding. Again thank you KimKim for the great travel experience. Vietnam will definitely be included as a trip of a lifetime.

Best of Vietnam Review

Tour leader Ms Linh was very good.
Ms Pi was a very good tour guild in Hanoi. She was informative and helpful.
The boat cruise to Halong Bay was great....a must do if in Hanoi.
Taking the night train to Sa pa was very worth while. Sa pa is a stunning part of Vietnam and well worth visiting. Mi was a very good tour guild in Sa pa.
Phong was a very good tour guild in Hue and Hoi An. He was very flexible with our times and very informative.
Ben our tour guild in Ho Chi Minh City was very good. Very informative and helpful.
The Vespa scooter tour in Saigon was very fun! The drivers were excellent and the places we visited were great. The Mekong Delta Tour was very informative and highly recommend this to anyone who is visiting Saigon.
All of the hotels we stayed at were great in there location and easy to reach.
All of the drivers who took us from place to place were excellent.
Would highly recommend this tour for someone who wants to see the most Vietnam has to offer!

We had a specific requirement to accommodate our own tandem bike. Kimkim and Grasshopper Adventures were very attentive to that and made it happen.
Our trip was a chain of itineraries beginning in Bankok and ending in Hanoi, with the mix of companions changing as we went. At one time we were 16 (a bit over the promised limit of 15) but on the final leg we were the only travelers, making it a private tour with a guide, a passenger van and a service truck and two drivers! A bit much for a couple who ordinarily ride on their own. They were very attentive.
Accommodations were always 5 star if available and excellent in every case. The entire trip was well researched. We were impressed with Grasshopper Adventures' focus on patronizing local businesses and restaurants and seeking those which included a mission to help disadvantaged youth get training in the booming hospitality trade.
Early in the trip we were both had colds and the heat was debilitating, causing us to fall several times on the second day out and we had to ride in the van for the last few km. The guides, staff and our riding companions were all very attentive and supportive. At 76, we were at least a decade senior to all the others.
Guides and assistants who stood out were Sophat and Rong, in Cambodia, and Ky and Huong in Vietnam. We came to know Rong and Huong quite well because we were always last in and they were riding sweep. My only minor complaint is that they were too attentive and I kept having to remind them that "I can do it myself." There were two communication lapses which did not detract from our experience. On our arrival in Cambodia, Sophat was surprised by our tandem bike. He never let on to us and he managed it smoothly. And in Saigon we were sceduled for a foodie tour on Vespa motorbkes, but we did not know and had arranged for dinner with some departing companions that evening.
Our favorite experience was at Phong Nha national park with the Choy Lap Farm Stay, karst landscape, caves, waterfalls and scenic riding.

This was a truly amazing trip, I got to see everything I wanted to see and experience.
Alex the travel agent was simply amazing as well, catering this trip to my needs, available at any given time help, answer questions, give information and make any small changes I requested.

Thank you Alex and KimKim for an amazing trip

We had a wonderful trip to Sapa with Ms May who picked us up from Lao Cai Train Station.
Ms May was helpful and took good care of us throughout the trip. She was with us from the start of our Sapa tour till the end where she sent us off at the Lao Cai Train Station for us to take our overnight train back to Hanoi.

During our tour in Sapa, she showed us the ways of the local and we went to the less crowded spots to have a splendid view of rice terraces. As it is very crowded to queue for the cable car at Fansipan, she made sure we got in and prebought tickets for us.

Overall the tour is to our pace and we didn't feel rushed- which we appreciated. As she knows we like to visit markets, we made additional stops to see "pop-up" weekend/Sunday markets set up by local farmers and traders selling their produce.

She also brought us around Bac Ha market so that we didn't miss anything out. The Sunday buffalo sale is quite a sight not to miss!

Hanoi portion:

1) The pick up from the airport to the "cafe" (to take the train from Hanoi to Lao Cai) to wait for our tickets was frustrating at least. We were given a piece of paper (which apparently can be exchanged for train tickets) and with no instructions whatsoever. Do we wait for our tickets to be collected? Or do we collect them ourselves? In fact we walked out of the cafe and suddenly a kind gentleman told us to wait and have a seat whilst he collect our tickets. Then he disappears for quite a while- leaving us confused again.

But fortunately he returns in time for us to trolley our bags to the train station to board the overnight train to Sapa.

2) The pick up from Hanoi Station was at the same meeting point as we waited (see 1)) Unfortunately at wee hours in the morning 5am meant we had to exit the Hanoi Station at the other end of the block. In order to get to the same cafe (1), we had to make a huge detour around the block, in darkness. But luckily our driver was looking for us in the dark and we finally found each other and he drove us safely to the airport for our onward journey.

I booked a trip to Vietnam with Ms. Thuy and she set everything up. We set off in Hanoi and out guide was great. He knew the area and was knowledgable about the sites we saw. We then had a few days in Tuy Hoa which we did ourself. This agency lets you customize trips to your liking and needs. I love that. We ended our trip in Saigon which was great too. Guide was great and was knowledgable. I would recommend Kim Kim. Great trip planning experience.

Thuy was simply amazing. She was attentive and available at all times in the planning process and on our trip. Everything was seamless from our drivers picking us up on time to the expert guides and the lovely accommodations, we really could not have asked for more. My husband and I typically plan our own trips but with recent busy work schedules we really needed someone to step in and make sure all the details were nailed down & Ms Thuy did this flawlessly. She was willing to let us customize the trip to our liking and not have a guide at every pick up so we could explore on our own. When there was a guide, they were always super knowledgeable and friendly. We can't say enough about our experience with KimKim and what a pleasure it was to work with Ms. Thuy. We were sad to leave Vietnam.

Alex and her team organised a bespoke company team trip in Hanoi. She was very flexible and patient and managed our requirements with great standards.

Thank you!

Our trip to Vietnam exceeded our expectations in every way. Victor put together an itinerary that was perfect for our group. He answered all of our enquiries promptly and was very flexible to suit any request we made.
Our English speaking guides were very friendly and more than willing to share their knowledge of Vietnam, its history and way of life. Our transport was comfortable and always on time.

The highlights of northern Vietnam were the evening street food tour of Hanoi by Vespa, trekking in the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and the overnight Junk on Ha Long Bay.

Our accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City was very central and comfortable . Our day trips to Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta were interesting and well managed.

We cannot recommend KimKim and Victor highly enough.

Thanks for planning a wonderful trip for my wife, daughter and me to Vietnam and Cambodia. The itinerary provided a number of diverse experiences, ranging from visits to historical sites, such as the Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi; introduction to the varying geography of northern Vietnam, ranging from rice fields to hill villages in Mai Chau to coastal areas to the river and caves of Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex; visits to cultural sites, such as Angkor in Cambodia, Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, and the old city of Hoi An; fun tourist sites, such as Ha Long Bay, and the hiking, biking and kayaking along the way. The itinerary was paced just right, with a number of sites and activities, but also including down time. Our guides were the best: Si in Hanoi and its environs, Rati in Angkor, and Nina in Phnom Penh were all highly qualified and in addition to explaining the sites to us, allowed us to get to know them as individuals and friends. The hotels were all comfortable, with staff who went out of their way to see to our needs. The three most memorable highlights of the trip were spending the night on the boat in Ha Long bay (along with the swimming and kayaking), experiencing Angkor Wat and its nearby temples, and touring the genocide museum in Phnom Penh. Without exception, we found the people of Vietnam and Cambodia to be welcoming and friendly and would love to return to these wonderful countries.

We had an amazing time exploring different areas of the country. Even though our stay was short, we thought we experienced a lot of variety and interesting parts of the countries. Thank you for showing us your amazing country!!

The trip is well prepared. I like going around Sapa and even though it was really hot on that day. Ha Long bay is the most memorable trip of Vietnam. Thanks Kim Kim and Will for arranging this trip.

We booked 2 trips with Victor. The first was a 3 day trip to Cat Tien and then transport on to Dalat. The driver was great, the car very comfortable. We did choose to upgrade our accommodations at Cat Tien due to the extreme heat and humidity and felt we needed to have air conditioning. He arranged for several events in the park, which went well. Overall, we were pleased with his planning!!

Our other trip was a 10 day tour of North Vietnam beginning in Hanoi, and traveling up along the Chinese border. Both our guide, Doan, and our driver were excellent. Doan’s knowledge was broad, including history, topography and his ability to identify flora, including medicinal uses. Given his experience guiding in the north, he knew lots of people and introduced us to multiple cultures. He also has a great sense of humor and we got to know him and really like him, which made the 10 days very special. We stayed in homestays much of the time, and met very interesting families that opened their homes to us. This trip left us with awe and amazement, at times, given the beauty and vastness of the mountain regions we visited. We can highly recommend this trip, the guide and driver and Victor’s attentiveness to our needs.

The overall experience was excellent. The guides chosen were knowledgable and the trip was organized very well. The accommodations were excellent.

Alex was excellent overall. She communicated well and on time. The only glitch we encountered, was we missed our pick up to Halong Bay. This cost us additional fees. We would have appreciated 10-15 minutes to go over the entire itinerary upon arrival with confirmation of times etc., or daily updates/ reminders by email.

In summary, our expectations were met and we found the whole experience excellent. I would not hesitate to book with Alex again.

On many of the locations that we visited the detailed information could show that walking in gravel and dirt pathways should be know so as to not ware your best footwear. Asking us if we had out swimwear when in-route to the Delta was not good. That river is very dirty and to swim for someone from the US is not even a question to ask. Also the car travel time to locations should be included so that trips to areas are not booked without reason. Many of the things advertised to tour in the City were not gone to Post Office were not done. When people come from cold areas to Hot they do not have that much energy to be marched around all day. We paid a lot of money for taxi to and from the airport and some trips to the Market.

Wonderful experience and I felt taken care of . Traveling as a single woman I felt very safe.

Working with Victor was excellent and he was always super responsive. We were very happy with his services. We probably did too much travelling in the course of our 2 weeks, our fault as we wanted to see a lot. We had little time to plan our trip so more guidance on how much we could realistically see would have been useful. Overall we could have concentrated our trip in North Vietnam and the Central zone, leaving out the Mekong delta. To get to the delta we travelled for 1 day, by car and plane to basically do a 2.5 hour morning visit the next day to the floating market and leave immediately for HCMC (a 5 hour drive). The market was lovely to see, but I felt guilty travelling by plane for such a short visit. Our time would have been better spent with a few more days at the beach near HoiAn, with day trips to some cultural sights in the mornings. Looking at our trip plan day 12 and 13 were not really done. There was a pick up from the airport, lunch and onto hotel. No time given to visit Can Tho. Next day, boat trip, a visit to a small fruit farm and on the road to HCMC. Our guide seemed more keen to get us back to the the city than show us anything more in the delta. A bike ride on an island as described in your other tours would have been nice.
Our stay in the Eco Lodge near Sapa was wonderful and the highlight of the trip. A really beautiful location and a great place to stay. Halong bay was also a beautiful place.
The KimKim service makes it easy to plan a trip. This is the first time we have ever used a service like this. I would use the service again, but want a more flexible option. Travelling independently gives you a lot of flexibility to change your plans and I missed that on the trip. We did end up cutting a couple of guided trips short as we preferred to do things ourselves and just sometimes had done too much travelling to want to be out a whole day on a sight seeing tour.
All our travel arrangements, pick ups at airports, hotels, etc. were perfect and there was always someone there to greet us. Execution was well done.

Thank you for crafting a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my son and stepson. We had an amazing time in Vietnam under the care of Sens.
I’ve traveled to many places around the world, and I think Vietnam may very well be my favorite place. The food is wonderful, the scenery is gorgeous, and above all, the people are so kind and optimistic.

Regarding the tour. Mr. Khoa was an outstanding guide. He was pleasant, patient, and knowledgeable. He went out of his way to make sure we stopped at interesting places and beautiful views.

Our accommodations were great. The hotel in Hanoi was very well located, and the staff was attentive. The rooms were very spacious and clean. Our visit to Mai Chau was outstanding. Our lunch was tasty, and the “homestay” was a fun and delicious experience. We very much enjoyed biking through the villages. I hadn’t been on a bike for 20 years, but it’s true that you don’t forget how, and it was so much fun! Again, Khoa made sure to stop at interesting places and explain what was going on. Our driver was excellent. I always felt that we were in safe hands as he navigated the crazy streets of Hanoi, and the winding roads in the country.

Our visit to the school in Mai Chau was wonderful. We’d bought some soccer balls and badminton sets in Hanoi under Khoa’s recommendation, and they went over very well with the staff and students. We were warmly greeted by all of the staff/teachers, and were treated to oranges and conversation before we got a tour of the school. There was one young student in particular who was a wonderful conversationalist in English. He is a particularly fond memory.

I’m glad that you convinced us to go to Bai Tu Long Bay. It was stunning. The host on the Swan Cruise, Marcus (Minh) was very engaging and fun. I liked the size of the group on the cruise—being somewhat small.

I have only two disappointments I would like to convey. The first was the lunch at Mother’s Kitchen in Hanoi. The food was very good, but I would much rather have gone to a true local spot for some Pho or Cha Ca. Similarly, the lunch in Ninh Binh was another tourist spot I would like to have avoided. I recall the food being just “okay.”

While on the Swan Cruise we met a Vietnamese woman from Hanoi who was traveling alone for the first time, and rounded out our table of three to a table of four at mealtimes. In such a short time, we became friends, and continue to communicate!

None of this could have happened without the fantastic work that Linh and Ha did to pull this all together for us. Gam un!

I hope to visit Vietnam again one day, and look forward to you helping plan a trip to visit the South! In the meantime, I wish you all the very best.