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Realistic Asia

Founded in 2011, Realistic Asia is a full-service tour operator located in Vietnam and well-known for organizing memorable trips with unique and authentic experiences in South East Asia. We are locals and true experts in our destinations. With our local knowledge, we are proud to provide an excellent service and a wide range of activities: from a one-day trip to long multi-country tours; and from a leisure beach break to trekking adventure in jungles.

First–hand Knowledge
Our team have travelled to every corner of our destinations and tried all the activities we offer. We personally check all the places to visit, all the things to do and all accommodations to stay in. Our specialists are always ready to give you comprehensive travel advice no matter what part of Vietnam or Indochina you want to visit and what type of activities you prefer.

Service
We operate on the customer-centric core and continuously work on improving the service. We carefully select and regularly check all the accommodation, transport and activities we offer to our travellers. We have built a strong partnership with our suppliers to provide you with the best service and price. On top of that, we develop our tours based on deep insight knowledge of the visited destination and the latest travel trends.

Sustainability
Realistic Asia shares the values of sustainable tourism and is committed to implementing this concept for our tours at all destinations we serve. We do care about the places we offer to visit as it is our home and we want them to be the same beautiful for future generations.
We are aiming to preserve the environment and cultural heritage of Indochina and it goes throughout the concept of our company. We use local guides at each destination, who have the best knowledge about the area and how to run the tour in the best way for the environment. We support local businesses: we prefer locally owned accommodations and offer our travellers local cuisine meals. As a big part of our contribution to community development, we have created our exclusive day trip - Ba Vi Eco Tour, which is aimed to support the local community and give the travellers deep knowledge about the daily life of Vietnamese villages.
We aim to share with travellers our national values. All our tours are educational and will bring our travellers deep into the local culture. We always do our best to keep a positive experience for our travellers and for local people as well.

Realistic Asia is part of the following groups: Cambodia Travel Agents, Laos Travel Agents, Thailand Travel Agents

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Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Realistic Asia

Can't Imagine a Better Trip
Vietnam | Nov 4 - Nov 10, 2025

Chandra
Chandra G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 11, 2025
This was such an amazing trip. First of all, Lucy was incredible. Very responsive. Very helpful. She was always happy to answer my questions, even as I was trying to figure out packing. It was possible that with the storms going on we could have had major stress, but Lucy always was calm and informative, making us feel completely comfortable with all of our plans.
I usually plan my trips myself. Due to some stresses at home and work, I just wasn't in the mental space to try to figure out...
Read more

This was such an amazing trip. First of all, Lucy was incredible. Very responsive. Very helpful. She was always happy to answer my questions, even as I was trying to figure out packing. It was possible that with the storms going on we could have had major stress, but Lucy always was calm and informative, making us feel completely comfortable with all of our plans.
I usually plan my trips myself. Due to some stresses at home and work, I just wasn't in the mental space to try to figure out Vietnam. There just were so many options. So I reached out, hoping to get help. And I am so glad I did. I was able to just go with the flow. All of our local guides were super nice and kind. Our drivers were excellent. I learned so much about the history and culture of Vietnam. I definitely want to go back and would work with Lucy again.
My only advice when working with your KimKim guide - trust them. They are on the ground and see exactly what is going on. I could have cancelled and tried to rearrange our trip when there was the typhoon coming to Hoi An the first day we were supposed to be there (plus flooding earlier.) I was in constant contact with Lucy and she was able to give me the updates and we ended up keeping with the plans. And after a bit of high winds and rain the first day, everything cleared up. Trying to change the plan would have been really difficult and expensive, and when Lucy said she thought we'd be okay, we trusted her. And she was talking to Sam, our guide in the Hoi An region, who knew exactly what was going on. And so we kept with the plan and everything was great. Just having Lucy to help us navigate this whole thing was the most valuable part of the service.

Local specialist: Lucy Do
Lucy
Lucy Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Nov 12, 2025
Hi Chandra! Lucy is here. Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear you had such an amazing trip and that I could help make your experience in Vietnam enjoyable and stress-free. It means a lot to me that you felt comfortable and informed throughout the process, especially with the challenges posed by the storms. I completely understand how overwhelming it can be to plan a trip, especially to a place with so many options. I'm glad I could assist you in navigating that and... Read more

Hi Chandra! Lucy is here. Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear you had such an amazing trip and that I could help make your experience in Vietnam enjoyable and stress-free. It means a lot to me that you felt comfortable and informed throughout the process, especially with the challenges posed by the storms.

I completely understand how overwhelming it can be to plan a trip, especially to a place with so many options. I'm glad I could assist you in navigating that and help you go with the flow. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the interactions with our local guides and drivers, and that you gained insight into Vietnam's rich history and culture. Your kind words are a tremendous source of motivation for my team and me to strive for even better service for our clients.

Your advice about trusting the KimKim guides is invaluable, and I appreciate you sharing that experience. It’s always our priority to ensure our clients feel supported, especially in uncertain situations like that. I’m so glad everything turned out well for you!

If you ever decide to return to Vietnam, I would love to assist you again to explore even more of what this beautiful country has to offer. Thank you once again for your trust and feedback! Wishing you and Amine all the best & See you soon!

Vietnam 🇻🇳 Adventure
Vietnam | Oct 21 - Nov 1, 2025

K
Kelli F.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2025

While weather interrupted our travel plans, Hien did a fantastic job to reroute us, set-up new events, and keep us safe along the way. Han and Ha Long Bay were highlights, and we rolled with the changes. Everyone we came in contact along the way (guides, drivers, etc.) was professional, well informed, and a pleasure to work with. TYVM and we will come again! Amazing!

Local specialist: Hien Do

Fantastic Trip with Great People and Unforgettable Moments
Vietnam | Sep 10 - Sep 21, 2025

κατερινα
κατερινα κ.
Turkey | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2025
We booked our trip through kimkim, and everything was handled with great professionalism. Our trip was assigned to the local agency Realistic Asia, and they were fantastic. They were always available, keeping us informed about each day’s details and even giving advice for our free days. On short notice, they also helped us arrange extra activities that weren’t originally in the plan — for example, just a day before, they managed to organize a full day of tours, guides, and transportation... Read more

We booked our trip through kimkim, and everything was handled with great professionalism. Our trip was assigned to the local agency Realistic Asia, and they were fantastic. They were always available, keeping us informed about each day’s details and even giving advice for our free days. On short notice, they also helped us arrange extra activities that weren’t originally in the plan — for example, just a day before, they managed to organize a full day of tours, guides, and transportation exactly as we wanted.

The guided tours added so much to the overall experience. The guides were not only knowledgeable about the sites and history but also warm and friendly, sharing personal stories, Vietnamese customs, and modern life. They happily answered all our questions and showed us places we would never have discovered on our own.

Having everything arranged and knowing someone was always there to help or solve any issue made it easy to fully relax and enjoy the trip. We totally recommend kimkim and Realistic Asia!

One piece of advice for future travelers: take the time to really go through the proposed plan. The itinerary is great as is, but you may want to add extra activities or spend more time in certain places (for example, I wished we had more time in Hoi An and Hue instead of Da Nang). Customizing a bit more can make your trip even more special.

Hotel Reviews
MK Premier Boutique hotel
Hanoi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sin Chai Ecolodge
Authenticity & Character
Location
The location is somewhat far from Sapa center, and the unlit, rough road makes it challenging to return at night.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel was clean, but the room felt humid and carried a damp smell.
La Casta Cruise
Halong
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stella Maris Beach Danang
Da Nang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nesta Saigon Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Nov 10, 2025
Dear κατερινα κ, Wow, thank you! We are absolutely thrilled to read your feedback and hear how fantastic our team, Kim Kim & Realistic Asia, was throughout your trip. It is particularly rewarding to know that our guides added so much to your experience, being not only knowledgeable but also warm, friendly, and generous with their personal stories and insights into Vietnamese life. Knowing that you were able to fully relax because everything was arranged and support was always there is the... Read more

Dear κατερινα κ,

Wow, thank you! We are absolutely thrilled to read your feedback and hear how fantastic our team, Kim Kim & Realistic Asia, was throughout your trip.

It is particularly rewarding to know that our guides added so much to your experience, being not only knowledgeable but also warm, friendly, and generous with their personal stories and insights into Vietnamese life.

Knowing that you were able to fully relax because everything was arranged and support was always there is the highest compliment we can receive. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation!

We look forward to planning your next adventure!

Love,
Ashley

great guide and driver
Vietnam | Oct 25 - Nov 2, 2025

Lisa
Lisa M.
Florence-Graham, CA | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2025
Victor our guide in Bangkok and the driver Mr. Billy were superb! Absoloutely amazing. Read more

Victor our guide in Bangkok and the driver Mr. Billy were superb! Absoloutely amazing.

Hotel Reviews
The Salil Hotel Riverside - Bangkok
Bangkok

Obviously a five star hotel! My only regret is that we didn't have an extra day to enjoy all the amenities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lyra Grandeur Cruise

So much fun!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Oriental Jade Hotel
Hanoi

Perfect location, good breakfast, kind stff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)
VIP Fast Track Service (including visa application)
Vietnam

Well done. We felt well cared for and coddled.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Nov 14, 2025

Dear Lisa and Noelle,

That's fantastic to hear! 🎉

We are delighted that Victor and Mr. Billy made your time in Bangkok so amazing. They are both invaluable members of our team, and we will make sure they receive your wonderful feedback.

Thanking you again for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back on another trip soon!

Take care,
Ashley

Hein was wonderful to work with. Hue was floo...
Vietnam | Oct 21 - Nov 1, 2025

Knut
Knut F.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2025

Hein was wonderful to work with. Hue was flooded & Hoi A was as well. Hein quickly made arrangements for us to go to Denang. She found a a great hotel, guide & Driver.

Local specialist: Hien Do

A great trip (even with a flood!)
Vietnam | Oct 21 - Oct 31, 2025

A
Andrew H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2025
Hien provided a great plan and was willing and able to accommodate our many suggestions and changes to the itinerary. We ended up with a wonderful 10 days in Vietnam, traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay to Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. Our guides at each step of the way were really knowledgeable and able to explain everything in excellent English. Our hotels were all top quality and the transportation was very safe and reliable. The sites we saw were beautiful and very memorable. One unusual... Read more

Hien provided a great plan and was willing and able to accommodate our many suggestions and changes to the itinerary. We ended up with a wonderful 10 days in Vietnam, traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay to Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. Our guides at each step of the way were really knowledgeable and able to explain everything in excellent English. Our hotels were all top quality and the transportation was very safe and reliable. The sites we saw were beautiful and very memorable.

One unusual thing for our trip was that we were stuck in a very significant flood 8n Hue for a few days. This caused us to need to change a lot of our plans, nd to stay extra days in Hue. Hien was a huge help, orchestrating all of these changes and ensuring that we could stay in our beautiful hotel - the Silk Path Grand Hue - for two extra nights. Without Hien we would probably have never been in such a great hotel and wouldn’t have known what do when the rain started. Having the support of Kim Kim was perfect for this situation.

Hotel Reviews
Orchid Premium Cruise

Incredible food, accommodation, and service. The crew and staff were amazing, especially the chef and manager, Bang.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Silk Path Grand Hue

We were stranded here for 4 days in a major flood. The staff were fantastic and kept us feeling safe and secure in spite of a serious situation in Hue. Thank you!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Hotel nd restaurant staff took wonderful care of us under very trying circumstances.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was wonderfully clean and comfortable.
Activity Reviews
VIP Fast Track Service
VIP Fast Track Service
Vietnam

Great to have this assistance after a long flight.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
KC was great and knew the best places for us to go.
Transport
Safe and reliable b
Hanoi Sightseeing Fullday Tour  with Train Track Coffee
Hanoi Sightseeing Fullday Tour with Train Track Coffee
Hanoi
Dinner at Ly Club Restaurant
Dinner at Ly Club Restaurant
Hanoi

Food was fine, but a little dull compared to the other places we ate. 100% of the other patrons were also tourists.

Ha Long Bay Scenic Plane
Ha Long Bay Scenic Plane
Vietnam
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City

Amazing and unique.

Hue Half Day Sightseeing
Hue Half Day Sightseeing
Hue

Interesting but curtailed by bad weather.

Day trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)
Day trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)
Hanoi

It’s a long trip but really fun and interesting.

Onboarding Cruise To Lan Ha Bay (Orchid Cruise)
Onboarding Cruise To Lan Ha Bay (Orchid Cruise)
Ha Long Bay

One of the top activities on our trip. Bang and the staff were awesome.

Food
Some of the best food we had in Vietnam!
Kayaking in Ao Ech Area - Disembark Cruise (Orchid Cruise)
Kayaking in Ao Ech Area - Disembark Cruise (Orchid Cruise)
Ha Long Bay

Fun kayaking experience.

Hue Evening Foodie Cyclo Tour
Hue Evening Foodie Cyclo Tour
Hue
Food
The restaurant was delicious.
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day  City Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Very educational. Phil was a great guide.

A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show with Dinner
A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show with Dinner
Ho Chi Minh City

Fun and interesting albeit a bit touristy.

Local specialist: Hien Do

Kim Kim knows how to plan a trip! Our tour in...
Vietnam | Oct 9 - Oct 15, 2025

Jenny
Jenny M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2025
Kim Kim knows how to plan a trip! Our tour in northern Vietnam was impeccably arranged with seamless pickups and transfers. All the local guides were amazing and knowledgeable. The scenery and activities we experienced were spectacular. Ashley, the KimKim coordinator, stayed in close touch every day by WhatsApp to ensure our trip was going well. Five stars! Read more

Kim Kim knows how to plan a trip! Our tour in northern Vietnam was impeccably arranged with seamless pickups and transfers. All the local guides were amazing and knowledgeable. The scenery and activities we experienced were spectacular. Ashley, the KimKim coordinator, stayed in close touch every day by WhatsApp to ensure our trip was going well. Five stars!

Hotel Reviews
Chalcedony Hotel

Great place centrally located!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Swan Cruise

This overnight cruise was a highlight of the trip! Felt other worldly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Santa Luxury Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Oct 16, 2025

Dear Jenny,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and for the fantastic five-star rating.

We are truly delighted to hear that your tour in Northern Vietnam was impeccably arranged and that the seamless pickups and transfers made your travel stress-free. We take great pride in our network of amazing and knowledgeable local guides, so your praise for them means a lot!

Your kind mention of me really made my day. We loved helping you explore the spectacular scenery and activities of Vietnam.

We hope to plan your next adventure soon!

Safe travels!
Ashley

Two incredible weekw
Vietnam | Sep 17 - Sep 26, 2025

J
Joseph L.
Wonder Lake, IL | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2025
Our visit to Vietnam and the support getting around was absolutely excellent. The initial planning was handled so professionally that any concerns we had were immediately taken care of and then once we were on our vacation any problems we had were instantly corrected. An example of this is on the second night we were on a sleeper bus which was incredibly uncomfortable. We were scheduled to take three more nights of this form of transportation on our itinerary.
We contacted our team and...
Read more

Our visit to Vietnam and the support getting around was absolutely excellent. The initial planning was handled so professionally that any concerns we had were immediately taken care of and then once we were on our vacation any problems we had were instantly corrected. An example of this is on the second night we were on a sleeper bus which was incredibly uncomfortable. We were scheduled to take three more nights of this form of transportation on our itinerary.
We contacted our team and alternate transportation was made immediately to us.

The guides we had for our trip were excellent. Unfortunately I am not very good at names nor writing down their Vietnamese names, needless to say we were delighted with all guides that were provided. Not only were they excellent sources of information but they made sure we were having a good time. The personnel assigned to us were a pleasure to be with. I cannot sa& lucky we were to have this service for this adventure.

Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Oct 10, 2025

Dear Joseph,

Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday trip in Vietnam with your friend and everything went smoothly.

Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services.It was a big pleasure for us to organize your holiday. Thank you again for trusting our company, and we hope to see you again!

From Vietnam with love,
Hien

We loved our trip!
Vietnam | Sep 10 - Sep 21, 2025

Sevi
Sevi Y.
Greece | Reviewed on Oct 02, 2025
We loved our trip!
We would 100% recommend Kimkim and Ashley.
Ashley was in contact with us every step of the way, always providing just the right amount of information, and she was incredibly quick to make adjustments when we decided to add two extra tours. Our tour guide Bao in Sapa was our favorite, though each guide we met was unique and shared not only details about the sights but also insights into the Vietnamese way of life and thinking. The rice fields, Fansipan, and the... Read more

We loved our trip!
We would 100% recommend Kimkim and Ashley.

Ashley was in contact with us every step of the way, always providing just the right amount of information, and she was incredibly quick to make adjustments when we decided to add two extra tours.

Our tour guide Bao in Sapa was our favorite, though each guide we met was unique and shared not only details about the sights but also insights into the Vietnamese way of life and thinking. The rice fields, Fansipan, and the waterfalls were breathtaking. However, the Ecolodge (our hotel in Sapa) was a bit disappointing—there was a lot of humidity and an unpleasant smell in the rooms.

In contrast, the hotel in Hanoi was fantastic! The rooms were wonderful, and the staff were extremely helpful and welcoming. We also loved the Jeep tour—it was such fun! The only thing we would have added was a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The cruise in Ha Long Bay was perfect! The crew made everything fun and easy-going while still being very professional. The rooms were absolutely dreamy.

A special thank you to Ashley for immediately rearranging our bus when we mentioned it wasn’t convenient—she made everything so smooth.

Da Nang wasn’t our favorite stop. While the hotel was excellent and the spa there was amazing, we felt the city itself didn’t have as much to offer. We’d recommend staying two days in Da Nang and adding one more day in Hoi An instead, which was lovely. Our guide in Hoi An did a fantastic job, listened to our needs, and tailored the experience perfectly.

Saigon was a revelation! The Vespa tour was one of the absolute highlights of our trip—the guides there spoke the best English of all and made the experience unforgettable. All the tours and guides in Saigon were excellent.

Overall, every airport transfer was on time and seamless, all the hotels were in great locations, and thanks to Kimkim and Ashley, the only thing we had to worry about was having fun!

Hotel Review
La Casta Cruise
Halong
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Saigon By Night - Street Food Tour By Vespa (Updated)
Saigon By Night - Street Food Tour By Vespa (Updated)
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Oct 11, 2025

Hello Sevi,

Wow! Thank you so much for this incredible and detailed review. I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you loved your trip and would 100% recommend Kimkim and me!

I'm already using your invaluable feedback—from the Sapa Ecolodge to the Da Nang/Hoi An timing—to improve future itineraries.

Thank you again for trusting us with your adventure. I'd love to help you plan your next unforgettable trip whenever you're ready!

Love,
Ashley

Fantastic itinerary
Vietnam | Sep 16 - Sep 22, 2025

Cheryl
Cheryl M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 29, 2025

Our guide, Mai in Hanoi was amazing! She was super knowledgeable about the culture and history of Vietnam. We learned so much from her. She was always prompt with our drivers and kept us on schedule without feeling rushed.
Our guide, Zo Zo in Sapa was also a fabulous guide. We did a six mile trek with her and she was great in giving us the lifestyle of the Vietnamese in the mountains. We also went to the temples on top of indochina. Amazing trip!

Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Sep 30, 2025

Hello Cheryl,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are pleased to hear that you had an amazing trip. Mai in Hanoi and Zo Zo in Sapa are both exceptional guides, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. It sounds like you had a truly memorable experience exploring Vietnam's culture and history, from the bustling city to the peaceful mountains.

Thank you for being very nice. We are so happy to have you with us in Vietnam.

We hope to welcome you back again soon <3

Love,
Ashley