Kimkim Trip Reviews for Vietnam

This vacation was great! Long planned interesting cultural site visits and respected our choice to have some free time. Our guides were all knowledgable, spoke great English, and made everything convenient for us. Meeting the guides and drivers were so helpful and took a load off our shoulders!

We loved Vietnam. What a beautiful and very friendly country. We didn't get a chance to see it all and hope to return to revisit Hoi An (our favorite stop with the BEST hotel - the La Siesta) and then get down to Ho Chi Minh city, which we had no time to visit.

Kimkim.com made the trip so much easier even though I did do the initial planning of WHERE to go for our limited time. Once that was decided, all the plans were put in place by Long. He provided excellent communication during planning and while we were in country. Super grateful for his immediate responses if we had any issues. Would definitely plan another trip with Kimkim.com

First, I want to compliment Long on his incredible planning. Every detail was thoughtfully offered to me in the planning stage. We went through four iterations of the trip until it was exactly what I wanted and Long helped me add some details to match other plans as I wanted to meet up with my husband and friend at the end of the trip also. I was so delighted with each and every daily adventure! I had no idea how special each decision Long offered was until I experienced them. The attention to the details of the experiences provided the best possible stays, the best possible guides, and the best possible experience of the trip. He even managed to help us with a missing item mid-way through the trip and oversaw its return without issue. Amazing customer service! I will recommend Long, KimKim, and Realistic Asia to all my friends and family that want to travel in the SE Asia area.

Our Hanoi guide, Tony, was great! He walked with my friend and I around Hanoi, explaining culture, food, local museums, and many sights. It was a great introduction to our Vietnam trip and was very fun. Nothing like having a great kick off to a trip that helps you understand and build your appreciation of a new place like a fun, knowledgeable guide.

We went on to Sa Pa and our guide was Mei. She is a local Hmong woman who really shared her country with us. It was a long hike through the valley that might have been a Top 5 experience. Lots is changing in Sa Pa - I'm so glad we were able to experience it while it still has its ethnic origins to display and admire. Mei was so kind and very helpful. She spoke in great detail about her culture and answered all of our questions. We were happy to know her and enjoyed her time with us immensely.

Que took us on our adventure to Ninh Binh. He was fun, explained a lot about family culture in Vietnam, and took us through the Ninh Binh area on boat and bicycle. This might be my favorite part of the trip as everything was awe-inspiringly beautiful and still has a small town feel.

We took the 2 day, 3 night cruise through Ha Long Bay. Do the 2 night trip!! The second day we got to go farther and see privately bays the day trip boats cannot. We kayaked, swam, and took well over 100 photos because the scenery was amazing. Athena Cruises were amazing and even accommodated our request for a second beach visit.

Trinh was our guide in Hoi An, after a great flight down to Da Nang from Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines. She was very thoughtful and managed many of the details of the last days of our trip throughout Hoi An and Da Nang. Trinh introduced us to all things culinary in Central Vietnam. Hours of tasting, learning about the farming of vegetables and herbs, and more tasting! We really appreciated Trinh's love of her country and her enthusiasm for the local cuisine. We tried so many different dishes and she even sent us recipes! My travel companion is hosting a dinner this weekend to try and recreate some of the wonderful flavors we were introduced to. It will be a pleasure to continue to exchange food stories with her over the next several months!

We spent the last two days on our own. It's here that I want to share that the choice of hotels at each and every stop of our trip was fantastic. Long chose places in the heart of the areas we wanted to visit without losing any luxury or service. We were able to sleep deeply, comfortably each night and had breakfast each day as part of our stay. We were able to do laundry along the way with fast, great service. The choices were perfect - thanks Long!

The bottom line is the service we received in planning and executing the trip was fantastic! Hard to imagine that anything could be better. Well done Long, Tony, Mei, Que, Trinh and all the others we met!

Hotel Reviews

Belle Maison Parosand Da Nang Hotel

Son Tra, Da Nang

This hotel is the best location for beach, restaurants, and it has a great nightclub on the roof with a spectacular view that was unexpected of Da Nang and the ocean. The breakfast was very good and the restaurant is one floor below the nightclub in case you don't enjoy loud music. The spa was very nice with a facial that was moderately gentle. The front desk was very helpful with transportation arrangements and luggage storage needs. The chairs by the infinity pool were a great place to hang out by day or evening!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athena Cruise

Ha Long Bay

We took the 3D,2N version. It's really half a day, a whole day, and another half day but it is HIGHLY worth the extra day. the second day you get to go further out to a more secluded bay to kayak and enjoy the sights. The meals served are several courses of delicious food that is custom fit to your dietary needs. Go soon - it was not crowded as the weather was cooler than most think of in Vietnam. As upper Midwest Americans, it was plenty warm for us in February. Tim, our Cruise Director, was fantastic. We were even accommodated for a second beach visit without issue.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An (former: Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An)

Hoi An

We fully enjoyed our stay at this fine hotel. The breakfasts were very good. The room was clean, and the beds were very comfortable. You are a walkable distance from the tourist area, but there are also many electric cars, bicycle rides, and Grab scooters to get you back to your room. We sat by the pool and enjoyed the sunny, warm weather. The town is awoken with announcements over loudspeaker (sometimes with drums) at 5 am. There's no escaping that. It adds to the experience for us Americans.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very near vegetable gardens. Great for biking.

Staff

Very helpful, courteous staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The 5 am loudspeakers are probably not something the hotel can change but it is a bummer to be awoken so early.

Amazing Sapa

Sa Pa

Beautiful vista from indoor pool area. Night skyline was spectacular. Very delicious breakfast, especially the banana crepes with dark chocolate sauce. Deck area for drinks at sunset. Laundry service was super fast! The staff overall was very attentive and made every request possible during our stay. Business gala was held so no karaoke was attempted, but plenty of walkable area places to eat and drink at night. Farther from SunWorld Plaza and main traffic areas, so it was quiet in the evening. A huge plus for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MK Premier Boutique

The hotel was the perfect location for our trip to Hanoi. Clean, quiet at the back of the building, great breakfast, and tea/coffee cafe up front. Very near Beer Street in Old Quarter - walking distance to many popular places. Food nearby highly recommended. English speaking sports bar nearby - saw Super Bowl at 6:30am Monday! Front desk was very helpful with baggage storage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to Beer Street and other Popular Sights

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hidden Charm Ninh Binh

Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

Lovely hotel. Lots of luxury to be found in this hotel. Brief one night stay was restful and the breakfast was very good. Little time to enjoy the outdoor bar area or pool, but it looked fabulous!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore The Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing

Hanoi

Tony, our guide, took us through the streets, helping us to orient ourselves to the city. We tried local foods and experienced the big tourist areas. our favorite was the Museum of Ethnology which really helped explain the 56 ethnic groups and prepped us for our visit to Sa Pa. Tony explained a lot about the different groups and took us to a fabulous lunch. We saw a wonderful sunny day at the lakes and in the temple area and enjoyed the School of Literature.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Vietnam and couldn’t have been happier with the service we received from Lucy. Whenever we had questions or wanted to make last minute changes she was so quick to get back to us. Would highly recommend.

My adventure in Vietnam was excellent!!! It was a wonderful experience. Alex was very attentive of everything I needed on my journey. Transportation arrangements were excellent and the quality of the tour guides was also great as they were very knowledgeble guys about Vietnam. I highly recommend Alex for any trip to Vietnam. The Hotel and cruise chosen by Alex were also factastic based on my budget. I will come back for sure with my family to Vietnam.

Hotel Reviews

Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to all main atractions in the Old Quarter!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

Excellent experience on this cruise, not only they were very attentive and organized but also the activities were great and the food as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything was great!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Hanoi Half Day City Tour

Hanoi

Great Experience to get to know more about Vietnam Culture!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

CODY weas the BEST tour Guide!

Transport

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

A MUST in Vietnam! Worth every minute

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Rural Village - Thai Vi Temple (N)

Vietnam

The Boat Experience was fantastic as well as the visit to the temples!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class

Hanoi

The experiences regarding Tea, Tofu, cycling, Rice wine and Cooking class were awesome!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanoi Evening Walking Street Food Tour

Hanoi

The tour guide was amazing on all recomendations about food! Would not be better. I was very pleased with the attention!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip (it didn't matter that we had very foggy weather the whole time in Sapa and Fansipan. In particular Mr. Huan was brilliant and completely made our trip 🤩 his love and knowledge for Vietnam, the history and stories he told were so good. Would highly recommend we had a truly fantastic and memorable holiday.

The service provided both prior to and during our trip was exceptional. The KimKim team is knowledgeable, organised and reliable. The team understood our high needs especially given that we were travelling with small children (3 and 6 years old). Thank you for welcoming us and making this trip such a beautiful memory.

I’m 100% thrilled with my trip. Realistic Asia was responsive, flexible, creative, and helped me see the best spots in vietnam. I was a difficult client because I needed to change plans a few times and they were gracious and proactive each time. Highlights are the halong bay cruise and hoi an.

Had a wonderful time in Vietnam. All the places visited were spectacular and enjoyed it thoroughly. Trang was very helpful from the planning stage till my last day of my trip. She catered to all my requests and ensured that my trip was comfortable and had no hiccups. She went beyond to check up on me constantly and answered to my queries and doubts instantly during my trip. Very thankful to her for making my first solo trip a memorable one

Activity Reviews

Hanoi - Ninh Binh Group tour full day

Ninh Binh

Learnt a lot about the Vietnam history and culture

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi

Vietnam

Beautiful landscape and scenery. Relaxing and a calm visit

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa - Ham Rong Mountain - Fanxipan Peak

Sapa

The view at the top was amazing and the travel via the cable car to there was short and smooth and was beautiful

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Sapa by shuttle bus (6-7 hours) - Cat Cat Village

Sapa

Got to see the minority ethnicity and their culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip!!! From start to end we felt we re well looked after. Planning, guide and driver where all aligned and very profesional. I would highly recomend using Alex for travels in Vietnam :)

We recently completed a holiday in South and central Vietnam. After partially organising the holiday from Australia, I realised I needed some assistance from someone with local knowledge. I was travelling with my husband and my 3 older children. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Kim Kim but after reading the reviews I thought I'd give them a go. I cannot express how fantastic they were. Throughout the planning stage I dealt regularly with Long. He was so helpful and provided so much advice and assistance in planning the trip. He responded promptly to all of my enquiries and replanned the holiday four times due to my changes of mind. Long made suggestions and recommendations and took into consideration everything I put to him. The trip plan Kim Kim provide is comprehensive and detailed. Little details that I may have missed were raised by Long and I cannot thank him or recommend him highly enough. When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City we were contacted by Dat who became our Vietnamese contact person. He gave us his contact number and we conversed via whatsapp. Dat was in regular contact, confirming pickups, tours and transfer details. He was wonderful. When my daughter became unwell he gave us recommendations for assistance and kept in regular contact enquiring how she was progressing. We did a number of tours throughout our holiday and the tour guides Kim Kim use are just wonderful. They are punctual, patient and knowledgable and made our tours not only interesting but fun. Tuyen, Tuyn and our other guides are fabulous. Tuyen kept in contact with me via whatsapp and sent recommendations for restaurants and activities in our next destination which was so kind and very much appreciated. All of our drivers were great too, they drove safely and assisted us with luggage and stops. On Long's advice I really feel that we spent the right amount of time in each destination. The tours we did were a full day tour of Hue and then a 1/2 day bike ride through a village out of Hue. Both of these trips were excellent, despite the weather being awful. Tuyen our guide was fabulous and the sights we visited were really interesting. The trip to Bana Hills from Danang is one that I cannot recommend. This is definitely not Kim Kim's fault as I asked to go there. Please do not waste your time and money. If you want to go up, simply do the cable car up and back but don't waste a day there. The cable car ride was lovely, until the mist set in and we couldn't see anything. Our guide for the day Tuyn however was fabulous. We also visited the Mekong Delta and stayed on the Mekong Eyes houseboat. Whilst the experience was good, there is not a lot to see at the Mekong Delta, so I wouldn't go back. We also did a cooking class at Ms Vi's cooking school in Hoi An, what fun. This is a definite tour to do and the quantity and quality of the food is unbelievable. Our 1/2 day bike ride through the countryside and to the fishing village out of Hoi Ann was also lots of fun, although the fishing village is certainly not what we expected. Our guide on this trip (I'm so sorry, I've forgotten her name) was just lovely and made the trip really enjoyable.
So, would I recommend Kim Kim? 100% most definitely. Would I use them again? 100% most definitely. Thank you to Long, Dat, Tuyen and all of our guides and drivers. You helped to make our holiday unforgettable.

Hotel Review

Mekong Eyes Cruise

Whilst the trip was fun and the houseboat was interesting I was a little disappointed with the trip content. I thought we would see the floating markets that the Mekong Delta is famous for and found the village tour not very interesting. The staff on the boat were wonderful and spending time with other travellers was fun it is a long drive down and back for what you get.

Authenticity & Character

The houseboat is amazing.

Location

The tours lacked.

Staff

Very nice, very accomodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds, nice deck, authentic eating areas

Activity Reviews

Visit Can Tho on cruise (Mekong Eyes) (N)

Can Tho

The houseboat is great and the staff are lovely, but the trip lacked content. I think it's a long way to go for not a lot to do and see. We didn't see any floating markets which was why we wanted to go, however the people on our cruise who did do the 2 night version said there were very few sellers at the markets, which is not what you imagine when you see the images.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cantho - Cai Be (Mekong Eyes) (N)

Can Tho

Can Tho was quite interesting from the river and on shore. The sweet and popcorn making place was good

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride

Hoi An

What a fun 1/2 day. Loved the bike ride through the countryside. The fishing village is 'interesting', we did have fun, whilst it's not that authentic it was still interesting a funny to see the men competing in a battle of the huge speakers on the water singing Gangnam Style. Otherwise the ride in the coconut boats was interesting and fishing for crabs fun. It is pretty there. Lunch was excellent but again way too much food.

Quality of Experience

It was a fun day. Favourite part was bike riding there and back

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide (i'm sorry I've forgotten her name) was lovely.

Transport

Bikes were comfy and easy to ride

Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Taste Vietnam street food tour, cooking class and lunch (N)

Hoi An

This was one of favourite things we did on our holiday. It was so interesting and fun. Our guide was fabulous. there is SO much food to eat and it is all delicious. We ended up taking our left over food with us and eating it over the next couple of days.

Quality of Experience

It was all great.

Food

Everything!!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lovely, lovely guide

Transport

Leisure Time In Da Nang

Da Nang

Danang is just lovely. There's lots to see and it is clean. the beaches and beach bars are great, the night markets are fun and Marble Mountains are a must. they a fabulous.

Quality of Experience

Day Trip To Bana Hills - Visit Golden Hand Bridge

Vietnam

Bana Hills is awful. It is a pretend Disneyland without the atmosphere or rides. Some parts like the gardens and the cable car ride are great. It so out of keeping with Vietnam. It may be better in peak season (although I doubt it), but in Winter most things are closed. The food is AWFUL. It was a punish being there.

Quality of Experience

It is just awful

Food

The WORST food we ate in Vietnam

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide, Tuyn

Transport

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

Hue

This is a really interesting tour and is full of history and landmarks

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuyen is fabulous

Transport

Clean and comfortable

Half Day Biking Around Hue Countryside

Hue

Loved the bike ride despite the bad weather. Really enjoyed visiting the artist in his home and watching him paint and the incense making was fun. Was great to be out in an authentic village riding bikes.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fabulous

Transport

Bikes were good van transport clean and comfortable

I cannot write enough good things about our service provided by Long and KimKim. From the very beginning stages to the last day of our trip, Long was especially helpful and reliable. I had so many thoughts and plans and he made it possible to include nearly everything we wanted to do in Vietnam within our time restraint.

Long checked in with us during the planning stages of the trip and throughout the entirety of the trip. All of our rides and transportation were taken care of and we were given the driver information, emergency contact numbers and any further assistance we needed to feel at ease and safe during our travels in Vietnam.

Booking through KimKim definitely helped make our trip more organized, which then allowed more time for exploring. I would definitely use this service again when traveling to other countries.

Hotel Reviews

Cochin Zen Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

InterContinental Nha Trang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Allegro Hoian

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monarque Hotel Danang

Danang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oasis Bay Party Cruise Halong Bay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi Allure Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ha Long - Onboarding Oasis Bay Party Cruise (2D1N)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels tour by luxury speedboat

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mekong Delta Group Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre) (updated)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Cooking Class

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oasis Bay Party Cruise - Halong Bay - Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Food Tour And Sightseeing On Vespa Bike

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing. Hien was very communicative and made sure everything went according to plan. We were taken care of from A to Z and had the private car, driver and tour guide to ourselves during the trip. We paid a fraction of the cost compared to other tailor tours. When I had some plan changes or requested additional tours or services, Hien quickly accommodated the request and got the driver and the tour guide ready for us. She was our private concierge and ready to answer any questions.

Hien was such a detailed, thoughtful, and organized planner! We traveled to three different cities and she single-handedly coordinated seeing all of them, seamlessly.

She's also very patient as well as, I've made a lot of requests throughout the trip, and she delivered on all of them.

Vietnam was amazing, highly recommend, lots of history there and very beautiful place.

Activity Reviews

Hoi An Sightseeing & Food Tour - Joint in tour

Hoi An

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

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary Luxury Tour - Joint in tour

Hoi An

Thank you Ashley for assisting me organise the 'Grand tour of Vietnam' in January 2023.
You were very helpful in suggesting the most efficient route and listened to my requests and were quick to accommodate any changes I wanted to make.
I was grateful for your prompt responses when I was in Vietnam with the questions I had which was very reassuring.
All the transfers were on time and very efficient and friendly as were the guides.
Thank you very much for putting this trip together.
With kind regards
Jason

Our itinerary followed our guidelines to be action packed and cover lots of ground. We went to incredible locations and were with great people. We had an agency operator assigned that was available at all hours to answer questions and correct any issues. There were few communication errors but the agency was always very open to dialogue and fixing things. The places we went were AMAZING and we definitely see the benefit of getting a local to organize and plan the best set up. The hotels were aligned (some were great) and the places far exceeded anything we could imagine. We made memories for a lifetime and hope to be back some day

Hotel Reviews

Pu Luong Retreat

Thanh Hoa

Beautiful, tranquil location with amazing view

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Renea Cruises Halong

Hon Gai, Ha Long

This was one of the top experiences on our trip. Great staff, food, rooms, excursions and place. What’s not to like?!?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Incredibly unique and picturesque. Also less crowded

Staff

Instructive, funny and happy

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon National Park

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai - Elephants Camp, orchid farm, Doi Suthep

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Rai - Golden tringle boat trip - opium museum - White Temple

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luang Prabang - Khuang Si waterfall - Luang Prabang city tour

Luang Prabang

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ANGKOR TEMPLES & DINNER APSARA DANCE SHOW

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

H

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cai Rang floating market - Ho Chi Minh city - Flight to Siem Reap

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoian relax on the beach

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Halong Bay with overnight Cruise

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

B

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve & Hike

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bicycle Tour of Rural Villages - Cultural Tour of Hanoi

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our recent trip to Vietnam was AMAZING and would not have been possible with Hien's expertise, patience, and geniune desire to make our trip exactly as we wanted it to be. She answered all our questions during the planning process and was easily reachable during our trip so if any hiccups occurred or if we needed extra help, she was always in touch. We went back and forth making changes, etc. and had many versions of our itinerary; but throughout all of it, she was very accommodating. I highly recommend Hien and her travel services. I would not hesitate to work with Hien again on future trips.

Hotel Review

The Oriental Jade Hotel

Hanoi

The entire staff was so friendly and welcoming, the restaurant food was delicious, our rooms were so comfortable and spacious. Love the location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Vietnam

Drive was punctual and made sure we remembered our passports, etc.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boarding cruise in Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

Being in Halong Bay is pretty breathtaking. From cruising between this huge limestone structures, to seeing monkeys, to watching the sunset, it's a once in a lifetime experience. Would love to do this again!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

HANOI FULLDAY CITY TOUR - STREET FOOD TOUR

Hanoi

Hanoi is a modern, beautiful city. We loved it so much and really enjoyed the food. Our guide was so amazing and spoke perfect English. He made our short time in Hanoi worthwhile.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - Imperial Citadel sightseeing with lunch

Hue

Our guide was the BEST! Her English was perfect and she was so knowledgable about the history of Vietnam and the Imperial Palace. Futhermore, she grew up in the Citadel and could share personal stories with us. Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leisure Time In Da Nang

Da Nang

Our driver was the best! He dropped off and picked us up at Bana Hills and was so kind and patient since he waited for us nearly an hour after closing since we got lost trying to exit the park, etc. Bana Hills itself is also amazing and definitley work an entire day's visit!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Sightseeing and Food Tour

Hoi An

Hoi An is a beauitful small town with so much history. Our tour guide did a great job taking us to local sites and then onto delicious food. He also was a great photographer and helped us take a lot of family photos.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Danang airport - Marble Mountain - Danang

Da Nang

Our airport pick up and direct transfer to Marble Mountain was the perfect introduction to Hanang. Marble Mountain was beautiful and lunch was delicious. Couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Danang.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nha Trang street food tour by cyclo

Nha Trang

This was my son's favorite experience! Riding around the coastal town of Nha Trang in cyclos is a definite must do and see! The cyclos are motorized so I didn't feel as bad making this older gentlemen peddle me around. All our food stops was delicious and so good we went back the next day to eat again!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Da Lat Full Day City Tour

Da Lat

This was another family nostaglia tour of us and our guide was again amazing! He was very patient and made sure we got to see everything we wanted.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Datanla Waterfall

Da Lat

We loved Dantanla Waterfalls and stayed all day until closing. With that in mind, do not make lunch plans and pack in a lunch or purchase food there. You'll want to stay the entire day to experience the falls, the alpine coaster, the ropes course and of zipline!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Our kids loved the Cu Chi Tunnels. So much history and information. Our tour guide, Vinh, took us later in the day to avoid the morning and late afternoon crowds so it was perfect!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Your Private Tour To Memorable Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City

Our tour guide Vinh was great! He did such a amazing job finding all our family locations and was so patient helping us taking photos, ask locals about the area, etc. It was definitely the most memorable part of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vietnam? Yes Vietnam!
To be honest we pondered that question as well prior to making our plans to visit this little known country located in SE Asia, but Vietnamese expats we knew reassured us that it was a beautiful and very friendly country, and boy were they right!
We used KimKim Travel to help us plan a vacation which took us from the capital city of Hanoi and Ha Long Bay to the ultra-modern Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) and Mekong (river of the 9 Dragons) Delta. We initially viewed Vietnam as a small country but were surprised to discover that the distance along its coast from the northern tip to southern tip is further than the distance from Vancouver Canada to Tijuana Mexico! Just letting you know in case you thought this could be covered in a week’s time. We spent 17 glorious days and discovered that the wonder that is Vietnam will take time to truly savor, and savor we did!
We started in Hanoi and met our northern guide, Khoi, at our very charming boutique hotel, La Siesta Classic, located in the old French quarter of the city. We toured the capital and biked through the suburbs, learning about Vietnam’s early history and the Buddhist influence. We toured the local markets and met with a local family where we learned to make spring rolls before heading off for two days in Ha Long Bay. This is the one you see in literally all the brochures about Vietnam and it is every bit as magical in real life, especially aboard a Junk Ship, the Dragon Legend, where we spent the night in a luxurious stateroom. Sunset and sunrise at among the 1500+ limestone islands was a delight. The expansive development in Ha Long impressed us and we pondered where all the people would come from. The why is obvious, Ha Long Bay is definitely a destination in itself.
Returning to Hanoi we quickly boarded a flight to the Imperial City of Hue where we spent another two nights. We met our next local tour guide, Chu, at the airport and headed off to another fantastic hotel, The Eldora. Hue was not only the political but also the cultural and religious center under the Nguyen Dynasty, the last royal dynasty of Vietnamese history. A private tour of the King’s fortress with its multiple moats rivaled the finest of medieval castles of Europe but with a definite Asian flair. The afternoon was spent bicycling alone the Perfume river stopping to visit another local family where we learned how to make paper flowers.
Day 8 began with a drive through the marble mountains to Da Nang and eventually the ancient town of Hoi An. If you are a fashionista, this is the place for you. The town abounds with tailors and is renowned for crafting whatever garments you can imagine overnight. You can bring a picture of what you have in mind or spend hours perusing the many fashion catalogs to design the perfect tailor-made wardrobe. Just bring an extra bag to take it all home with you, or you can opt to have a leather bag made to your specifications, as we did to hold your new apparel.
The beach front Boutique Hoi An Resort, was our home for the next four nights. Tip, the Spa is fabulous! Over the three days we toured My Son, learned about the Champa people who helped to settle Vietnam in its early days. We returned to Hoi An by boat but not before stopping to learn how to make fishing nets and how to cast them as we went on our first fishing trip of the tour. At another stop along our river voyage, we stopped to learn about pottery making where we got to take a spin at the potter’s wheel to make souvenirs. The next day we toured the ancient city of Hoi An, a much slower life style, walking its streets are a delight, especially since it is also known for its colorful oriental lanterns which turn magical in the evening. Round boats! I sore they didn’t look safe but my fears were quickly assuaged when we were treated to a river filled with them including people using the round boats to literally “dance” on the water (granum style).
The next day was beach and spa day, Ahhhh! That night we ate at a new restaurant, Reu, that we heard about from other guests at our resort. As much a work or art as it is a restaurant, hands down our best meal the entire trip, and trust me that is quite a compliment as the food of Vietnam is extraordinary. I am not sure if it is due to the French Colonial influence or that they influenced the French, maybe a bit of both!
Day 12 and we were off once again, our flight took us from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City where we met our last tour guide Duc (Dee). I include his nickname here because he showed us how complicated the Vietnamese language can be. The same spelling of a word, such as Mo, can have 5 different meanings based on the accents and hence the pronunciation of the word. The meanings can be vastly different. Our hotel this time was the classical Saigon Majestic Hotel located on the waterfront which afforded us front row seats for New Year’s Eve celebration.
Early the next morning we traveled north to visit the Cu Chi tunnels, made famous by the Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War (or as they call it the American War). First created during the French colonial period, the Cu Chi tunnels became strategic in the fight to retain South Vietnam and quite possibly, what helped them win. The 155 miles network of tunnels were ingenious to say the least and a must see.
The afternoon was spent touring the modern city along with its historical landmarks from its French Colonial period including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and the Saigon Central Post Office. Ending our day at the Thien Hau Temple helped slow our pace down, preparing us for the next day’s trip to the Mekong River Delta, or as they call it, the River of the Nine Dragons. Amazing how each tributary of the river can be so massive and support so much maritime trade.
In Can Tho we started our day early so as to our guide could take us up river to the floating market. Although we were told that it pales in comparison to what it once was, we were impressed with the hundreds of boats gathered together selling fresh produce and other goods and service including breakfast on the water. Surprisingly breakfast was served in china dishes that had me wondering what to do with them once we were through, not to worry they’re quite adept at keeping track of everything and soon they reappeared and gathered up all their china. Anthony Bourdain spoke highly of the floating market cuisine, and I can definitely see why! Our river tour continued with occasional stops to educate us about the agriculture and life along the Mekong Delta. We met up with our driver who drove us back to the Majestic in Saigon.
Our last day in Ho Chi Minh City, sad to go, so much left unexplored but memories to last a lifetime. We are sure glad we made the choice to visit Vietnam as our first foray into Asia. Truly, a magical place filled with amazingly friendly people, I can see now why so many people have tried to conquer this marvelous country for over a thousand years.
Thank you KimKim for putting together an extraordinary package of experiences, led by great tour guides and top rate accommodations. You exceeded our expectations. We will definitely seek you out for our next adventure! We’re already beginning to plan where to next…

We really enjoyed the trip and wish could stay longer to see more of the beautiful place. We love the places we visited, the foods, the hotel and the guides. The guides ( Tu in Hanoi, Mr. Dzung in Hue And Hoi An, Mr. Minh in Hoi An, And Tony in HCMC were all very knowledgeable of the history of the places we visited. We learned so much about Vietnam and the culture.
Mr. Nguyen, our driver in Hue And Hoi An
Was very nice and helpful.

Hanoi is very nice city, clean with a lot of lakes and beautiful flowers.
Halong Bay is very beautiful, we couldn’t get enough of the scenery. Hoi An is a very nice city, and peaceful , we love our bike ride through the rice padi field , visiting organic Farm and had Bamboo boat ride along the water coconut tree.
Mekong Delta is another experience, we love the bike ride in the Village, seeing all kind fruit trees, visiting local local people making hand craft from water Hyacinth and Banana midrib. Then listen to the Vietnamese song. We love our Bamboo boat ride along the Creek.

I think overall Vietnam is very beautiful Country.

Dat did a very good job in combining sightseeing, history and eco tour. He was always standby and always there to help us with any questions we had. He made sure everything went smoothly and made sure we enjoyed our stay. He always checked on us to see if everything went well.

We highly recommend Realistic Asia , especially Dat as the Travel Specialist, who designed our trip.

We will sure come back to see more places in Vietnam and will asked Dat to design our trip again.

Cảm ơn Dat! Hẹn gặp lại

Hotel Reviews

Mekong Lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Êmm Hotel Saigon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phu Thinh Boutique Hotel & Spa

Very nice room , but breakfast wasn’t that good. Shuttle bus needs to have longer hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Can walk to Old Town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed is very comfortable and spacious

ÊMM Hotel Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Verdure Lotus Gradeur (former Halong Aquamarine Cruise)

Ha Long

The door to the Balcony needs to be repaired , it has big gap.

Location

Staff

The staffs in the dining room were friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Good breakfast And friendly staffs

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Continue Mekong Lodge - Ho Chi Minh City

Cai Be

Love the ride on Bamboo boat along the Creek, Listening to traditional music. Learn about the making of rice paper, rice pop , Banana candy and tried honey tea

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Lodge

Cai Be

Love the bike ride through the Village . Learned about the local hand craft and saw a lot of fruit trees.

Quality of Experience

Food

Love the fish and the Banana flower dish

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tony Will make sure we learned about life in Mekong Delta. He is very knowlageable about life in Mekong Delta

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tony is very knowledgeable and informative. We learned a lot about the History of HCMC.

Transport

Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride

Hoi An

Love the bike ride , visit to Oganic farm and the Bamboo boat ride.

Quality of Experience

Food

Love the Banana flower dish and the Phuong Bahn mi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Minh is very easy going and fun.

Enjoy Walking Tour of Hoi An's Ancient Town

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Hue

Quality of Experience

K

Food

It’s home cooking meal, delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Dzung is very informative And knowledgeable . We learned a lot from him. Mr. Nguyen, the driver is very nice and helpful.

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay (Verdure Grandeur Cruise )

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful scenery. Shuttle from Halong Bay back to the hotel was not on time. The driver came very late.

Quality of Experience

Food

The egg coffee was very good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The manager and the tour operator was lack of Information . They couldn’t give answer on the problem that we had. The tour operator wasn’t very knowledgable giving explanation on Hang Sung Sot cave. The Kitchen staffs were friendly.

Transport

The driver came very late to take us back to the hotel. We had plane to catch and have to ask the travel specialist to solve the problem.

Explore The Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing

Hanoi

Loves the lakes and the Museum of Etnicity

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tu is very friendly, fun and knowledgeable

Transport

Just returned from an 8 day trip planned via KimKim to Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay) and could not recommend KimKim and Realistic Asia’s tours more highly. This was my husband and my first time taking an entirely “tour guided” vacation, as we typically plan and organize everything ourselves. To be honest, when researching KimKim tours, I found mixed reviews (mostly due to covid and changes it forced upon past clients), but after filling out the initial query into the trip, I felt Ashley and the AI questionnaire had a great grasp on the type of travelers we were and our expectations for a private, 2 person tour that focused on nature, getting to know local people and food. When we received the final quote, the price was not much more than if we were to plan it ourselves, but allowed us to sit back and enjoy rather than deal with the stresses of booking and organizing everything before and during the trip. We did food tours, treks through rice fields, visits with local farmers, tastings of rice wine and tea, train rides, cave tours, cooking lessons, and boat cruises…all of which were scheduled exactly as promised- away from the beaten path, individualized and to our level of care and quality. Ashley checked on us throughout the trip and was prompt in replying to any questions or concerns about the trip before and while it was happening. I would definitely travel through KimKim in the future and have no problem recommending them to others who are looking for a reliable, personalized, and responsive agency to make your next dream vacation become a reality.

Hotel Reviews

Era Cruises

Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

A nice, medium sized boat to cruise Halong bay in. The staff were very kind and hospitable, paying attention to details and making sure each group was taken care of in a similar fashion. All activities were run to plan and on time. The boat furnishings, floors and decor were a bit run down, and some repairs and updates would be helpful, but overall a beautiful boat and setting to spend a night. Our room was by far the best part! It was HUGE for a cruise and had an amazing bathroom with large rain shower, beautiful soaking run by the window, lounge chairs on our private deck and fabulous Japanese toilets. The bed was large and comfy and the heating worked efficiently for us during the cold nights. We had a spa treatment which was nice, although the space was also a bit musty and could use some updates to decor. Food was plentiful and the staff did a great job accommodating my vegetarian needs.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa

Lao Cai

Beautiful grounds and architectural details at this hotel. Unfortunately it was extremely foggy our entire stay, but even despite that, the ambiance was incredible. Very kind and caring staff who were attentive and caring in their interactions. The room was large and the bed was a dream to sleep in. Bathroom could use some more ventilation and the drain in the bathtub was very slow. Food at breakfast was amazing and we were spoiled for choice of delicious options. The spa experience was one of a kind and we wished we had more time to enjoy the amazing facilities there- hot and cool plunge pools, sauna, herbal bath and excellent massages. We took the free shuttle into the city center, which was a short trip and always on time. Would highly recommend this hotel as a peaceful and gorgeous spot to start and end your days when exploring Sapa.

Authenticity & Character

Very nicely decorated and attention put into everything from the elevator walls to the high quality furniture.

Location

Just outside of town and up a hill for amazing views. Shuttle regularly takes you into city center if necessary.

Staff

Very attentive and friendly staff in all locations of the hotel- front desk, breakfast, Italian restaurant, spa, drivers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All spaces were warm and cozy despite the super cold temperatures. We slept soundly and felt pampered in this hotel.

Livitran Express

As far as overnight train rides go, this is one of the most comfortable I’ve been on in SE Asia. The sheets and pillows were very clean and the complimentary snacks and drinks were appreciated. The room was a bit cold in the winter months, but manageable. The rooms were very quiet and we couldn’t hear anyone once they were all in their rooms. The shared bathrooms were surprisingly clean, even at the end of the long journey and I would compare to any average airplane bathroom on a long flight. Stocked with toilet paper and soap as well.

Authenticity & Character

Cute Christmas decorations and an adjustable table lamp made for a nice ambiance at the holidays.

Staff

Great onboarding staff. Had a train staff unlock and open our door as we were about an hour into the trip which was unexpected and unexplained. He said something in Vietnamese then shut the door immediately.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean beds, sheets and fairly clean shared bathrooms

Aurora Premium Hotel & Spa

Great location and very friendly, responsive staff. Comfortable rooms and a good spread of food for people of all diets for breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to many restaurants, shops and local sites of interest.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dark & Bright Cave - Halong Bay - Hanoi (Era)

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful but a very short experience. The “dark” cave was closed so we only toured the “light” cave which was not big. The rower was amazing and worked so hard. Despite the rain and fog, it was still peaceful and gorgeous. Our tour took us about ten minutes earlier than other boats did and it made a HUGE difference to be the first ones out on the water. When we returned, the dock was crammed with tourists. Enjoyable but i would have liked a longer ride and to have seen more than one small cave.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dining at Comet restaurant (Aurora Hanoi hotel)

Hanoi

Had NYE dinner here. Excellent views of the city. Upon entering, we were seated right next to another couple even though there were two top tables available across the room. We asked to be seated there instead for our privacy and the other couples. We were told this was not possible after much discussion. When ordering a bottle of wine, we were brought the wrong bottle that was not on the menu and told it was the only one. My husband went to ask management about it, as the service staff were not able to explain the situation. We ended up ordering beer and wine by the glass instead. The vegetarian food was extremely plentiful but it was all brought out at once so much of it was cold before I could eat it. My husband, on the other hand, was only brought one dish and a salad, which seemed miserly compared to all of the vegetarian dishes I was brought. We had to leave the table multiple times to find staff and order more drinks or ask for plates to be cleared. Overall, it was an average meal. The staff were trying but they seemed overwhelmed and inattentive for such a big night of celebrations.

Quality of Experience

Badly timed dishes, staff who were inattentive and not knowledgeable about the menu.

Food

Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing

Sapa

A great day of trekking through the countryside and enjoying the beauty of the rice paddies. It was extremely muddy, so I appreciated our guide’s suggestion to rent rain boots for the day’s excursion. The first two villages of the hikes were east walks on paved roads and footpaths, but hardly anyone except us out walking. The walk to the last village was through the rice paddies and very challenging to navigate in the thick mud and hills. Two very capable and kind local women held my hand through much of this section of the trek and saved me many times from face-planting into the mud! Our guide seemed more relaxed than the previous day which made for a more enjoyable, fun experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great veg and non veg options at the end of the hike to fuel us through the rest of the day

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Same driver at start and finish of day

Half day Taphin red Dao hill tribe village

Sapa

The walk was mostly on paved roads and our guide was very quiet on the first day. We were challenged to know what to ask and weren’t provided a lot of information. The walk was peaceful and we did meet some local woman artisans, but we felt like their goods were machine made, wrapped in plastic for loads of tourists, and it didn’t quite feel authentic other than seeing one of their homes briefly. We would have rather learned how to make something with them or played games with the local kids than be haggled to buy something most of the walk.

Quality of Experience

The location seemed a bit lack luster. Just walking on a road people drive on most of the time.

Food

Excellent lunch and variety of local options to try

Guides, Drivers and Staff

First day our guide was very quiet and shy. We didn’t feel her as chatty so seemed less knowledgeable than other guides we’ve had.

Transport

We were told that we didn’t have a driver to take us back to the hotel after lunch. After questioning this, we were told actually never mind and that it could be arranged, but my husband could not leave his bag in the van during lunch because our driver may change.

Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class

Hanoi

Wonderful variety of activities, scenery and authentic experiences with local people. We enjoyed tasting the rice wine, tea, and SO MUCH food local food (for vegetarians and non). While we didn’t get to ride bikes due to rain, we didn’t feel like that diluted the trip. Our guide was kind, chatty, and helped us in translating and playing games or asking questions with our hosts at each spot. We felt very welcome and while I know there are other tourists who do come to this area, we felt like we were the only ones there and only saw one other small group of expats at lunch. We are grateful for this tour and the insight it gave us into local daily life in the countryside.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Evening Walking Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Super full after this short tour of Hanoi specialty foods. We loved the variety of spots our guide took us and how he gauged where to go next based on our preferences and thoughts. Vegetarian and non-veg options were available at all stops. Our guide was very friendly and easy to laugh with, ask questions and trust for other suggestions to check out during the rest of our stay.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking around with a local guide where we stayed was helpful in gathering our bearings for the rest of the trip.

we had a wonderful trip to vietnam for 15 days , Our specialist Ha helped me plan the trip . we conversed many texts and she answered all my questions in detail. we first went to Hanoi, the Halong bay for overnight stay, then Hue, Hoi An, Danang , HCM city then to Siem Reap Angkor Wat . we booked our international flight ourselves, but Ha arranged all internal flights, from Hanoi to Hue , then Danang to HCM city , then HCM city to Siem Reap. the flight arrangements were very smoothly . all our guides were very attentive and all drivers drove very safely. total we had 7 guides throughout our trip , all very professional and spoke good enough English to understand

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

needs to update the interior

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Somerset Ho Chi Minh Hotel

Ho Chi Minh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa

Authenticity & Character

Location

not in the downtown area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Palace

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Era Cruises

Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Somerset Grand Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hanoi Full day city (S) - water puppet show

Hanoi

Our guide Cheung was very attentive, answered all our questions, took us many places

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport