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Long Dao

Hi, my name is Long. I am a young and passionate travel specialist from Vietnam. I was in love with travel since I was a child and always wanted it to be a part of my life.
My idea about travelling is creating life-long memories and bringing inspiration. I love to explore different parts of my country and Indochina, meet new people and learn something new, and I am happy to share my expertise and experience with others to create an unforgettable trip.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I have the expertise to organise any kind of trip to any part of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. We have great ideas for a romantic getaway, foodie tour or cultural exploration, we know all the best beaches in Indochina, as well as the trekking and cycling routes.
Moreover, following our concept of authentic experience our tours always have a variety of hands-on experiences for deeper immersion into local life and culture. It could be cooking lesson, learnign local crafts, farming, fishing and more. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"My parents often took me on trips to the mountains in Northern Vietnam. For me, it was like getting into another world when the narrow and cosy streets of Hanoi were transforming into emerald rice fields and the hills covered by jungles. I was visiting rural villages with friendly people who always give me a smile and live a completely different life from me. Sometimes I imagined that I am a pilgrim from the adventure books I liked to read.
Since that time it was my dream to make travel a part of my life. This is why I have chosen to study tourism at university, and since I graduated in 2014 I have been working as a travel specialist. The dream came true, I am doing what I love, I am travelling a lot and now have an opportunity to show the charm of my country to others and help them to create beautiful memories from the journey. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My most memorable trip was not long to central Vietnam. I was travelling solo and took a train to Hue, where I would have a short stay, and from where I planned to rent a motorbike to ride to Hoi An via the famous Hai Van Pass.
Because of the rain, I had to stay in Hue for a bit longer and met a few motorbike taxi drivers, who used to be the travel guides before, but because of the pandemic, they had to become taxi drivers as a part-time job to be able to wait when the travel will be back. We went to the local coffee shop to wait until the rain is over and talked a lot about travelling and our jobs. All of them went through a difficult time but still are very optimistic and happy, and already making plans for the time tourism will be recovered. It did really inspire me to see that people who are passionate about their jobs like me do not give up and are so optimistic. And somehow they have shared with me their optimism and gave me more energy to continue what I am doing. "

Long is part of the following groups: Thailand Travel Agents, Cambodia Travel Agents, Vietnam Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
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Luxury itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Long

Mom & Daughter Adventure
Cambodia | Mar 21 - Apr 4, 2026

Mo
Mo M.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Apr 11, 2026
Stephen Long was an excellent tour advisor for our two-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. He put together a wonderful itinerary tailored to our preferences — food, art, history, and nature — and truly paid attention to what we wanted. When I asked him to build in a relaxation day mid-trip, he planned for us to be in beautiful Hoi An, where our hotel had a pool and the beach was just a short trip away.
Stephen did an amazing job staying in contact with us via WhatsApp throughout the entire...
Read more

Stephen Long was an excellent tour advisor for our two-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. He put together a wonderful itinerary tailored to our preferences — food, art, history, and nature — and truly paid attention to what we wanted. When I asked him to build in a relaxation day mid-trip, he planned for us to be in beautiful Hoi An, where our hotel had a pool and the beach was just a short trip away.
Stephen did an amazing job staying in contact with us via WhatsApp throughout the entire trip. All of our transportation, hotels, inter-trip flights, and activities were booked for us, and communication about where and when we needed to be was always clear. We were also able to make slight adjustments to the itinerary as needed, which we really appreciated. The local tour guides Stephen arranged in each city were excellent as well.
We had an incredible time visiting Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap. We highly recommend Stephen for planning your next trip to Vietnam and Cambodia!

Hotel Reviews
O'Gallery Premier Hotel & Spa

Service is excellent. The hotel workers got to know us so well over the few days that we stayed here. Location is very central and walkable within the Old Quarter. The hotel itself is older, but the rooms were comfortable and had AC. Depending on your room, it could be loud since it is on a busy street. Breakfast had both Western and Vietnamese options.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Treeline Urban Resort
Siem Reap

Such a calm and relaxing vibe at this hotel in Siem Reap. The food and coffee were both excellent! I especially enjoyed the plant-based food options, and it seems like the chef specializes in them based on the variety and uniqueness of plant-based items on the menu. The pool was beautiful and relaxing, and never too crowded (although could get very hot in the direct sun outside of late afternoon hours). The service was so friendly, and we loved interacting with everyone at the hotel. The design of the hotel itself was also done by an artist, and every detail was meticulously thought through. We loved the sculptures and paintings, which made us feel like we were in a museum (in a good way).

Authenticity & Character
Location
quiet and calm along the river, but close enough to restaurants and shopping to walk there.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 13, 2026
Dear Mo, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your effort in sharing your experience with my team and me. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, as it helps us better understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. We’re especially grateful for your specific comments, they give us great insight to continue enhancing our products and services. We’re glad to have had the opportunity to serve you, and we hope to... Read more

Dear Mo,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your effort in sharing your experience with my team and me.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable, as it helps us better understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. We’re especially grateful for your specific comments, they give us great insight to continue enhancing our products and services.

We’re glad to have had the opportunity to serve you, and we hope to provide you with even better experiences in the future. If there’s anything else we can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you all the best!

Best regards,
Long

Well-organized and fun-filled trip to Vietnam
Vietnam | Mar 26 - Apr 4, 2026

Kevin
Kevin F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 06, 2026
We just got back from 10 days in Vietnam and kimkim did an amazing job in planning the whole trip - soup to nuts, they handled hotels, transfers, an internal flight from Hanoi to Danang, local guides, activities and transportation. Both before the trip and at all points during the journey, we were also in constant contact with our Vietnam specialist, Long. He reached out every day to make sure that we knew the schedule for the next day and to make sure that everything was going smoothly. ... Read more

We just got back from 10 days in Vietnam and kimkim did an amazing job in planning the whole trip - soup to nuts, they handled hotels, transfers, an internal flight from Hanoi to Danang, local guides, activities and transportation. Both before the trip and at all points during the journey, we were also in constant contact with our Vietnam specialist, Long. He reached out every day to make sure that we knew the schedule for the next day and to make sure that everything was going smoothly. Special shout-out to Vinh, our local guide in Hoi An and for a day trip to the Golden Bridge and Bana Hills - he was super friendly, informative and über-patient with our near-constant requests to pause here and there to check out local shops and interesting points. Kimkim helped us navigate our first trip to Vietnam and struck the right balance of assistance and free exploration time -- would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews
Capella Cruise
Halong

Capella runs one and two-night cruises. Like most of the guests we came across, we did the single night cruise, and it was a highlight of our trip to Vietnam. Everything is very well organized, from the transfer to the ship, to meals and activities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Halong Bay is crowded by ships, but it felt like the Capella found a route that wasn't overcrowded - we never felt like we were on top of the other ships around.
Staff
Everyone was excellent - friendly and helpful!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Having taken cruises on much larger ships, the size of our room, bathroom (it had an actual tub!) and balcony were amazing to me.
Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi

Bespoke Trendy may have a goofy name, but they have a great location in the heart of the old quarter in Hanoi, just a block away from a good "train street" viewing location. Rooms are nice, the restaurant is good, and all of the staff are helpful and friendly. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Can't beat the one block from the train street - prime old quarter location!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Hoi An

Lovely and sprawling hotel in Hoi An -- more like a resort with four swimming pools, two restaurants (Vietnamese and Italian) and a sprawling grounds where you can spend some time. The rooms were nice and the facility is perfect for families, especially with three of the pools being available to children.

Authenticity & Character
The lobby and grounds are lovely.
Location
Location is a bit outside of Hoi An but there is a shuttle to (and from) the old town from the hotel, and you can easily get a Grab into the city.
Staff
Everyone was super friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Sands Oceanfront Danang Hotel
Da Nang

Nice, family-friendly hotel in Danang with a good view of the beach on one side and a good city-scape on the other. Breakfast buffet was very good and there is a nice rooftop pool with a bar that makes good coffees and cocktails. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. There are some other hotels clustered further down the beach, where swimming seems permitted - not sure if it's permanent, but at the time we went, there were "no swimming" signs posted along the strip of beach directly in front of the hotel, so that was a bit of a minus as we had been looking forward to a swim.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
VIP Fast Track Service
VIP Fast Track Service
Vietnam

This is a must-do. It was super-helpful to skip the long immigration lines in Hanoi, especially after the long flight from the U.S. - you are met and essentially waved directly to a person to review passports/visas, as applicable.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 06, 2026
Dear Kevin, Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and special review. I truly appreciate your kind words. It makes both me and my team very happy to know that you and your family enjoyed your trip. Your feedback means a lot to our team and encourages us to continue delivering memorable experiences to our guests. During the trip, there are small drop points because of the hotel location in Hoi An and Da Nang. I hope you will understand and forgive this part to... Read more

Dear Kevin,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and special review. I truly appreciate your kind words.

It makes both me and my team very happy to know that you and your family enjoyed your trip. Your feedback means a lot to our team and encourages us to continue delivering memorable experiences to our guests.

During the trip, there are small drop points because of the hotel location in Hoi An and Da Nang. I hope you will understand and forgive this part to let this trip still be memorable and enjoyable.

We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the near future.

Warm regards,
Long

Great trip to Laos and Vietnam
Vietnam | Mar 2 - Mar 23, 2026

Steve
Steve W.
Phoenix, AZ | Reviewed on Mar 24, 2026
Just a wonderful trip from beginning to end. The activities provided a variety of sightseeing, cultural awareness, and outdoor activities. In each city, we had local experts as guides who were able to show us all of the fun things to see. The handoff’s at airports were excellent and especially the entry into Vietnam was unbelievably easy. We will definitely consider using KimKim for adventures in the future. Read more

Just a wonderful trip from beginning to end. The activities provided a variety of sightseeing, cultural awareness, and outdoor activities. In each city, we had local experts as guides who were able to show us all of the fun things to see. The handoff’s at airports were excellent and especially the entry into Vietnam was unbelievably easy. We will definitely consider using KimKim for adventures in the future.

Activity Review
VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)
VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)
Vietnam

One of the most amazing parts of the trip. We didn’t even stop walking as we went through the Hanoi airport and passport control. Our guide took our passports, took care of the entry stamps while we went straight to baggage claim and picked up our bags. We were out of the airport before many of our fellow passengers even cleared passport control.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 30, 2026

Dear Steve,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and special review. I truly appreciate your kind words.

It makes both me and my team very happy to know that you and Heidi enjoyed your trip. Your feedback means a lot to our team and encourages us to continue delivering memorable experiences to our guests.

We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the near future.

Warm regards,
Long

Memorable 2 week Tour of Vietnam
Vietnam | Feb 23 - Mar 8, 2026

steve
steve S.
Federal Way, WA | Reviewed on Mar 18, 2026
We have returned from an amazing 2 weeks in beautiful Vietnam. Our tour operator, long Hoang Long, delivered on every detail of the trip - and there were many! HIs responsiveness and attention to detail were incredible. There are so many ; connections / Rendez-vous's / Guides / Car connections, etc. required on a trip like this . Everything worked out perfectly. Sometimes -- you don't know how good a tour operator is until something goes wrong. The ability to recover quickly and right... Read more

We have returned from an amazing 2 weeks in beautiful Vietnam. Our tour operator, long Hoang Long, delivered on every detail of the trip - and there were many! HIs responsiveness and attention to detail were incredible. There are so many ; connections / Rendez-vous's / Guides / Car connections, etc. required on a trip like this . Everything worked out perfectly.

Sometimes -- you don't know how good a tour operator is until something goes wrong. The ability to recover quickly and right the ship is the true mark of the quality of the service. When we had minor missed connections on this trip - Long was VERY responsive and navigated the recovery quickly.

We enjoyed the day spent in Hoi An best . Seeing the craft villages by bicycle , attending an unexpected festival, and interacting with all of the very enthusiastic school kids was quite memorable. It was great having English speaking guides who could answer our myriad questions on Vietnamese ; culture, economics, tourism, politics and lifestyles.

Hotel Review
Lynnaya Urban River Resort
Siem Reap

This hotel delivers a great, calming vibe right in the heart of the city. Walking or short tuk tuk to everywhere you might want to go.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Hoa Lo Prison - Huu Tiep Lake - Vietnam Military History Museum - Ho Chi Minh Complex (S)
Hoa Lo Prison - Huu Tiep Lake - Vietnam Military History Museum - Ho Chi Minh Complex (S)
Hanoi

OUr guide needed a audio device and the guests headphones to effectively tour this crowded sight. This was not provided. He did not bring any extra insights and expected us to simply read all the panels, etc. No editorial was offered!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
More insights.
Transport
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day  City Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Driver was great. The Guide spoke very good English and was able to answer very specific questions on; Economics and Vietnamese customs. However, he has given the Tunnels tour one too many times and is bored with the experience. Kind of rushed us through with no real conversation or insights.
Transport
Island Hoping & Snorkeling  Trip by Speed Boat
Island Hoping & Snorkeling Trip by Speed Boat
Phu Quoc

The snorkeling experience is quite disappointing. In fact -- I would suggest you stop selling this as a snorkelling experience, - there are very few fish to see. Only small fish and some nice coral. I think this area is over fished by the locals. [ See all the fishing boats at night! ] The island is kind of over touristed , - too many tourists, for the size of the beach. Kind of a hectic wave of tourists getting off boats and sharing a very tiny beach.

Quality of Experience
Food
A lot of food , but not well cooked or presented. Restaurant is fairly primitive.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring Handicraft - Tra Nhieu Village
Exploring Handicraft - Tra Nhieu Village
Hoi An

This was my favorite day and activity. Riding bikes got us closer to the people and daily lifestyles. Was great that it was not very crowded with tourists.

Quality of Experience
Food
Really enjoyed the restaurant in the rice field .
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great guide
Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple
Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple
Siem Reap
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
VIP Fast Track Service
VIP Fast Track Service
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 19, 2026
Dear Steve, First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your recent trip with us. I truly regret to hear that certain aspects of your experience, particularly in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc, did not fully meet your expectations. Your honest and thoughtful feedback is extremely valuable to us, and it helps us better understand where we need to improve. Please rest assured that my team and I greatly appreciate your... Read more

Dear Steve,

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your recent trip with us.

I truly regret to hear that certain aspects of your experience, particularly in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc, did not fully meet your expectations. Your honest and thoughtful feedback is extremely valuable to us, and it helps us better understand where we need to improve.

Please rest assured that my team and I greatly appreciate your comments and will continue striving to enhance the quality of our services moving forward.

We sincerely hope that, overall, you still had a memorable and meaningful journey.

Wishing you all the best in your future travels and endeavors.

Best regards,
Long

Exploring Vietnam and Thailand
Vietnam | Mar 1 - Mar 13, 2026

N
Nancy B.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026
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... Read more

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
Bespoke Boutique Hotel
Hanoi

The location was centrally located and the staff were the friendliest and most helpful!!

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
Pu Luong Eco Garden

Beautiful location and gorgeous rooms!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Saga Hotel Hoi An
Hoi An
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ao Nang Villa Resort
Krabi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Montien Riverside Hotel

Beautiful views of the river!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
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
Pu Luong Explore Village Life  Water Wheels & Rafting (Excursions) Updated
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
Explore Pu Luong Iconic Rice Terrace & Local Brocade (Excursions) Updated
Explore Pu Luong Iconic Rice Terrace & Local Brocade (Excursions) Updated
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
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
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 16, 2026

Hi Nancy,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and special review. I truly appreciate your kind words.

It makes both me and my team very happy to know that you enjoyed every moment of your trip. Your feedback means a lot to our team and encourages us to continue delivering memorable experiences to our guests.

We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the near future.

Warm regards,
Long

Vietnam trip
Vietnam | Mar 1 - Mar 12, 2026

E
Elissa A.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026
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... Read more

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
VIP Fast Track Service
VIP Fast Track Service
Vietnam
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hanoi City in A Day
Hanoi City in A Day
Hanoi

Great guiding. I just found Hanoi not as enjoyable as the rest of the tour

Exploring Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave
Exploring Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave
Vietnam

Very pretty and interesting

Hanoi – Tuan Chau Island – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay (Nostalgia cruise)
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

Imperial City Tour of Hue Half-Day Exploration
Imperial City Tour of Hue Half-Day Exploration
Hue

Excellent guide

Lan Ha Bay - Halong Bay - Disembark the cruise (Nostalgia cruise)
Lan Ha Bay - Halong Bay - Disembark the cruise (Nostalgia cruise)
Ha Long Bay
Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner
Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner
Hue

Wonderful expert and great way to learn the culture

Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
Vietnam

Fun ride and loved the market

Evening Street Food Tour With Vespa Wanderers
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

Exploring Ho Chi Minh city  Half Day Tour
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

Ho Chi Minh Departure Transfer
Vietnam
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 17, 2026
Dear Elissa, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your review with us. We truly appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear about your journey. We hope you had a wonderful and memorable experience in Vietnam. Alongside the many great moments, we also sincerely value your comments regarding the services in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Please be assured that our team and I will carefully review your feedback and work on improving these aspects to enhance our overall service... Read more

Dear Elissa,

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your review with us. We truly appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear about your journey. We hope you had a wonderful and memorable experience in Vietnam.

Alongside the many great moments, we also sincerely value your comments regarding the services in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Please be assured that our team and I will carefully review your feedback and work on improving these aspects to enhance our overall service quality.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Vietnam in the future and providing you with an even better experience.

Best regards,
Long

Excellent Custom Vietnam
Vietnam | Feb 23 - Mar 6, 2026

Tara
Tara M.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2026
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 14, 2026
Dear Tara, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your review and thoughts after your recent 11-day trip. I'm really happy that you had a great experience overall. Although your time in Vietnam was not very long and there are still many wonderful places waiting to be explored, I believe that you and your beloved partner had a memorable journey and gained a deeper understanding of the people, culture, and cuisine of Vietnam. It was a pleasure assisting you with your trip, and I... Read more

Dear Tara,

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your review and thoughts after your recent 11-day trip. I'm really happy that you had a great experience overall.

Although your time in Vietnam was not very long and there are still many wonderful places waiting to be explored, I believe that you and your beloved partner had a memorable journey and gained a deeper understanding of the people, culture, and cuisine of Vietnam.

It was a pleasure assisting you with your trip, and I sincerely hope Realistic Asia will have the opportunity to welcome you back again in the near future.

Warm regards,
Long

Vietnam immersion tour.
Vietnam | Feb 17 - Feb 27, 2026

Brit
Brit E.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 04, 2026
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...
Read more

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
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
Activity Reviews
VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)
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.

Water Wheels walk and Bamboo Rafting
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.
Trekking to Kho Muong  and Uoi Villages
Trekking to Kho Muong and Uoi Villages
Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Our longest walk of the trip (14 km) and it was lovely.

Visit Hoang A Tuong’s Palace - “Pho” village of Flower H’Mong People
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!
Bac Ha Market - Xin Man
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.
Xin Man  travel to Ha Giang via Hoang Su Phi
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.

Boating And Trekking in Ba Be
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.

Cycling Around the National park
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.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 05, 2026
Dear Brit, Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and for sharing your thoughtful feedback about your recent trip. We truly appreciate the effort you made to let us know about your experience. I sincerely hope you had a wonderful and memorable time exploring North Vietnam. It means a lot to us to know that you trusted us with your journey. At the same time, we acknowledge that there were still some issues during the trip, particularly regarding the driver... Read more

Dear Brit,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and for sharing your thoughtful feedback about your recent trip. We truly appreciate the effort you made to let us know about your experience.

I sincerely hope you had a wonderful and memorable time exploring North Vietnam. It means a lot to us to know that you trusted us with your journey.

At the same time, we acknowledge that there were still some issues during the trip, particularly regarding the driver and one of the accommodation properties, which definitely need improvement. Please be assured that your comments have been carefully noted and shared with the relevant teams so we can enhance our service quality moving forward.

Hope to see you in Vietnam again in the near future! Wish you all the best.

Warm regards,
Long

The trip was absolutely incredible. it was pl...
Vietnam | Feb 11 - Mar 2, 2026

Valentina
Valentina M.
Germany | Reviewed on Mar 04, 2026

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.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 17, 2026

Dear Valentina,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review. I truly appreciate your kind words and hope you had a wonderful and memorable experience during your time in Vietnam.

I would also like to sincerely thank you for your trust and for always thinking of me. Your generosity and kindness mean a great deal, and I am very grateful.

It was a pleasure assisting you, and I hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back again in the future.

Warm regards,
Long

Vietnam January 2026
Vietnam | Jan 24 - Jan 30, 2026

Janet
Janet N.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2026
Absolutely wonderful experience! Stephen and his team at Realistic Travel were all outstanding (Special shout out to Dung and Son - they were great guides for our day trips)! They communicated every step with us and delivered perfectly. We were met right at the airport and delivered to our hotel. Typically that is a stressful time, but they made everything very easy for us. The pacing of our trip was perfect. We had a nice combination of scheduled activities and free time. Everything... Read more

Absolutely wonderful experience! Stephen and his team at Realistic Travel were all outstanding (Special shout out to Dung and Son - they were great guides for our day trips)! They communicated every step with us and delivered perfectly. We were met right at the airport and delivered to our hotel. Typically that is a stressful time, but they made everything very easy for us. The pacing of our trip was perfect. We had a nice combination of scheduled activities and free time. Everything made our trip perfect - we leave Vietnam with wonderful memories and will recommend this group to our friends!
Highly suggest that Kimkim provides guidance for tipping in various countries - We talked to several other tourists about this issue. We all wanted to make sure our guides knew how much we appreciated them and their efforts. It would be nice to have some basic guidance on this.

Hotel Reviews
Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel & Spa
Hanoi

Very nice place to stay in the Old Quarter. Convenient location. The staff were awesome! They were so helpful and kind.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh

Very nice hotel. Quiet location and unique experience. I wish we would have had more time here to explore. They had a beautiful store with handiwork. The embroidery was beautiful. Our room was very comfortable and the food was excellent. The staff were all very responsive and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dora Cruise

Wonderful experience. All the staff were very responsive and helpful. We had a very nice time on this cruise. The room was beautiful. We did the one night trip - I wish we had scheduled the 2 night trip. Sara did a wonderful job of coordinating all the events and our server Dian seemed to anticipate our needs and was very helpful. It was a great time. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Feb 09, 2026

Dear Janet,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and heartfelt review. My team and I are truly happy to know that we were able to help create a wonderful journey filled with beautiful memories throughout your trip.

If there is a chance, we would be delighted to welcome you back to Vietnam again in the future. We will certainly do our very best to make your next experience even better.

Wish you and your family all the best and many great adventures ahead!

Best regards,
Long