Company Logo for Realistic Asia
Specialists
Reviews for Realistic Asia
Traveler Photos

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, Singapore Travel Agents

Featured trips & expertise

Shop for ingredients and learn how to cook Vietnamese food from local chefs
Vietnam Culinary Tour - 13 Days

Vietnam is world-famous for its delicious cuisine, and you'll sample the best of it on this 13-day foodie adventure. Eat your way throughout the country, starting at the ice cream shops and street-food vendors in Hanoi and finishing at themed restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way, you'll take cooking classes and sightseeing tours, and explore the beautiful scenery in Ha Long Bay and the Mekong Delta.

Phuket's pristine beaches are some of the best in the world
Thailand City, Mountain & Beach Escape - 8 Days

Check off cities, mountains, and beaches on this epic eight-day adventure showcasing some of the best of Thailand. After touching down in vibrant Bangkok, you'll explore the city's narrow canals, waterfront temples, and delicious cuisine. Then it's on to verdant Chiang Mai for hot springs, ancient temples, and shopping for artisanal wares. Spend a day with elephants in a sanctuary before hopping over to the beaches of Phuket and sailing and snorkeling around the Phi Phi Islands.

Meet the locals as you travel the length of Vietnam from north to south
Authentic Vietnam: Hanoi to Vinh Long - 11 Days

Experience authentic Vietnam on this 11-day tour of its cultural hotspots. Travel from Hanoi down the coast to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping to visit gems like UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay and Hoi An. You'll join locals for street food tours and countryside biking adventures and learn about Vietnamese war history with a visit to the notorious Cu Chi Tunnels. Highlights include afternoon tea with a Hanoian, a cooking class with Mrs. Chin, and spending the evening with a rural family in the Mekong Delta.

Visit ancient temples on this Thailand family tour
Family Discovery of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket - 10 Days

This 10-day family tour of Thailand starts in Bangkok, where you'll visit vibrant Chinatown for delicious street food and see the city's famous floating markets. Then, it's off to the mountains of Chiang Mai for tours of an elephant sanctuary and mud baths with the elephants! Swim in the crystalline waters of Phuket, feed endangered gibbons at a jungle sanctuary, and tour the glorious white-sand beaches of the Phi Phi Islands.

Vietnam's Cao Bang province
Northern Vietnam Adventure - 9 Days

See the awe-inspiring natural wonders and incredible landmarks Vietnam is famous for, with a special focus on the north. After arriving in Hanoi, you'll travel to the highlands for mountain hikes and riverboat excursions. Then, enjoy some fun road trips on your way south down to the coast, where you'll finish the adventure in style with a cruise along the jade waters of the legendary Ha Long Bay.

Discover underground wonders in Vietnam
Vietnam Trekking & Caving Adventure - 15 Days

Get ready for 15 days of nature adventures and cultural excursions throughout Vietnam. In the north, you'll go off the beaten track in Hanoi, hike along terraced rice fields, cruise the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, and explore the spectacular Phong Nha Cave. Finish the trip in Ho Chi Minh City where one last adventure awaits: a trip to the famous Mekong Delta.

Recent Trip Reviews for Realistic Asia

A memorable trip across Vietnam
Vietnam | Mar 5 - Mar 19, 2023

Luca
Luca P.
San Mateo, CA | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2023

A memorable trip across Vietnam from the North to the South. Mr Thien (or “T” as he prefers to goes by) was our guide and he made this great trip even better for his knowledge, his dedication to his job and his sense of humor.

Or guide in Hue was Sammy (“Tam”) and she was also fantastic giving us a very unique perspective and a taste of salted coffee, a specialty from Hue.

The food and the people of Vietnam are truly special and we spent two amazing weeks. We wish we could have stayed... read more

A memorable trip across Vietnam from the North to the South. Mr Thien (or “T” as he prefers to goes by) was our guide and he made this great trip even better for his knowledge, his dedication to his job and his sense of humor.

Or guide in Hue was Sammy (“Tam”) and she was also fantastic giving us a very unique perspective and a taste of salted coffee, a specialty from Hue.

The food and the people of Vietnam are truly special and we spent two amazing weeks. We wish we could have stayed longer.

Hotel Reviews
Hanoi Allure Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pu Luong Retreat
Thanh Hoa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Renea Cruise Halong
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Alba Wellness Resort
Hue
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liberty Central Saigon Riverside
ho chi minh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Massage Session
Hanoi
Hanoi City Sightseeing & Street Food Tour
Hanoi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class
Hanoi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hiking and rafting in Pu Luong
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pu Luong to Ninh Binh
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat trip to Thien Ha Cave & Thung Nham Bird Garden (Ninh Binh)
Ninh Binh
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ninh Binh to Halong Bay & Cruise
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hue Sightseeing
Hue
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ho Chi Minh City Highlights
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao

Cambodia and Vietnam Trip
Cambodia | Mar 4 - Mar 14, 2023

Ganesh
Ganesh N.
Australia | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2023

Except for few glitches which were due to small non communication all other arrangements were great and we enjoyed our trip. read more

Except for few glitches which were due to small non communication all other arrangements were great and we enjoyed our trip.

Hotel Reviews
LCS Hotel

Very centrally located with excellent views. Great facilities. We enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Angkor Holiday Hotel
Siem Reap

Very nice hotel located right in the centre of Siem Reap. Bit old building and facilities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Chi Boutique Hotel

Located in Old Quarter. Rooms were spacious. Located in a narrow road and bit congested apartment block.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amazing Sapa
Sa Pa

Located at very centre of Sapa. Very nice hotel with good facilities. Good views from the rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Pandora Cruises
Hai Phong

Nice cruise ship.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2023

Dear Ganesh,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are so glad to know that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam and Cambodia and that everything went smoothly. 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!

Best regards,
Ha

local is best
Vietnam | Mar 4 - Mar 9, 2023

Kathleen
Kathleen W.
Anchorage, AK | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023

So great having local assistance in trip planning with Long and Realistic Asia! Most enjoyable was the day in BaVi Countryside; local market, bike ride , rice wine making/tasting, cooking class and lunch, tofu making, and tea leaf harvesting! Coung was delightful. The trip to Ha Long Bay was lovely although the stops at Pearl Shops both on the way there and on our return were frustrating. Lodging was excellent and we were pleased with our six night stay in Ha Noi and the surrounding areas. We... read more

So great having local assistance in trip planning with Long and Realistic Asia! Most enjoyable was the day in BaVi Countryside; local market, bike ride , rice wine making/tasting, cooking class and lunch, tofu making, and tea leaf harvesting! Coung was delightful. The trip to Ha Long Bay was lovely although the stops at Pearl Shops both on the way there and on our return were frustrating. Lodging was excellent and we were pleased with our six night stay in Ha Noi and the surrounding areas. We would definitely use Long and realistic Asia again when traveling Vietnam. We will also use KimKim next time we travel.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023

Dear Kathy,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are so glad to know that all of you have enjoyed your trip to Northern Vietnam and that everything went smoothly. 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!
Warm regards,
Long

An unforgettable holiday
Vietnam | Feb 19 - Mar 11, 2023

John
John P.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2023

Ashley was wonderfully responsive and helpful throughout, from the planning stage to the last day of the holiday. She would respond to messages and questions quickly and helpfully and would send us reminders of meeting times and the names of our drivers for each new destination. The organisation was flawless and seamless. At each destination in a complex itinerary we would be met with guides who were impressively knowledgeable as well as friendly and helpful. I guess Johnny stood out as... read more

Ashley was wonderfully responsive and helpful throughout, from the planning stage to the last day of the holiday. She would respond to messages and questions quickly and helpfully and would send us reminders of meeting times and the names of our drivers for each new destination. The organisation was flawless and seamless. At each destination in a complex itinerary we would be met with guides who were impressively knowledgeable as well as friendly and helpful. I guess Johnny stood out as exceptional; he showed us the Cu Chi tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. He fleshed out our understanding of the Vietnam war (locally known as the ‘American war’) with many human stories of how individuals lived through it. Also, he was such good company! Funny, warm hearted and erudite. But actually every guide was great. Even Ms Huong who only spent a few hours with us, picking us up from the airport on the last day, took the trouble to find out our plans and gave us much useful advice about where to do the shopping we planned. It was actually a privilege to get to know these guides as their stories really gave us an insight into the life and culture of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Hotel Reviews
Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island

This was very nice. It was on the beech. There was never a problem about enough chairs, the Vietnamese food in particular was really good and the staff were attentive and friendly.

Authenticity & Character
It was lovely, the Vietnamese food was amazing, but it could have been in Thailand. Did it need a Pizza and Indian restaurant?
Location
On the beech, lovely palms, well kept and clean.
Staff
So warm and friendly. They couldn’t do enough for you.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Indochine Palace

This felt so spacious and luxurious. Everything was perfect. This was actually my favourite hotel of the trip.

Authenticity & Character
It captured something of the French Indochine feeling of Vietnam.
Location
Near the the citadel.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Adora Art Hotel

Very well located in Zone one of Ho Chi Minh City. But actually a bit tired in some respects. The rooftop bar and pool (small) were nice, but the ‘gym’ was one running machine and one bike. It felt like a three star hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to the central market.
Staff
Very inflexible. Not able to offer even half an hour extension on check out. We’ve never experienced this before. Apart from the door staff not particularly warm or welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Victoria Can Tho Resort

This was very comfortable. Lovely pool, lovely environment. We wish we could have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palm Garden Resort Hoi An
Authenticity & Character
Location
On the beech
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Ho Chi Minh City Vespa Food Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

This was really great. The two young men who were our drivers spoke good English, were very safe as drivers, and took us to some very interesting places. I would definitely recommend this. The Vespas were actual Vespas and were authentic from the sixties.

Quality of Experience
This was a real close up of Ho Chi Minh City, seeing many aspects you would not normally see. Really colourful. We saw the flower market and saw how people lived in that part of town. It also included a visit to an old Viet Kong weapons store and hide out in the heart of the city.
Food
Visiting various street market food venues. Making up our own soup! Being shown how to make a proper serving of Vietnamese coffee.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lam was very knowledgeable about Vietnam history. Also friendly and fun to be with.
Transport
Old Vespas! The real deal.
Ho Chi Minh City Half-Day Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Really nice introduction to the city, covering the main sites. Well managed by the guide.

Quality of Experience
Food
Lunch was really good. Hoa Tuc restaurant is in what used to be an opium factory. The food was outstanding. We went back later when we came back to Saigon.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was so well informed. He also managed the tour very well so we saw a lot but were not tired by the end.
Transport
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City

Anyone who has an interest in the Vietnam war really needs to see these tunnels. It is really worthwhile to have a well informed guide for this visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre and Can Tho)
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (N)
Hue

This was fun. The guide gave a a great insight into the imperial way of life before the arrival of the French. The summer residence (and burial place) of one of the emperors was very beautiful. all the stories about the imperial dynasty (kindly provided by our entertaining and knowledgeable guide) weee fascinating.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ms Thao was well informed and organised and relaxed and pleasant company.
Transport
Very courteous and attentive driver. Also very safe.
Banteay Srei - Angkor Wat - Apsara Dance Show
Siem Reap

Angkor wat is astonishing. The dance show was a bit so so, bothe for quality of food and music. The hotel we stayed at did it better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Angkor Thom with temples
Siem Reap

I think we scheduled too many temples in this trip. It was a long and hot day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Always helpful and courteous.
Cooking With Local In Hoi An (N)
Hoi An

This was really good fun and I came away with at least one delicious dish that I could do in Wales.

Quality of Experience
The mango salad!
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Chansar village & Wat Thmey (Killing Field)
Siem Reap

The exhibition at Wat Thmey is relatively small but still devastating in its impact. Visiting the village was just lovely. They gave us the best lunch, cooked by someone who was also the village hairdresser. Seeing the village and understanding something about their way of life was very memorable. The welcome was so warm.

Quality of Experience
Food
The lunch was served and cooked in a shelter in the forest surrounding the village. It was without a doubt the best food we had in Cambodia. The wile experience was really charming.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting the Floating Villages of Tonlé Sap Lake
Siem Reap

This was really fun and interesting. The floating schools and villages and a way of life built around a lake that floods the surrounding country for miles every year. The crocodiles were also fun to see. Who knew that they do not have a tongue and that the inside of their mouth is bright yellow?

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023

Dear John,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re over the moon to hear that you and Jenny are happy about your holiday! Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable trips for our future clients.
Trust me, you’ve made our day immensely better by sharing your experience.
Thanks again for the review and for being such a great guest.
Best wishes!
Ashley

Vietnam was a wonder experience
Vietnam | Feb 14 - Mar 1, 2023

A
Amadeus C.
Malta | Reviewed on Mar 08, 2023

Vietnam was a wonder experience thanks to the organization provided by Ha. read more

Vietnam was a wonder experience thanks to the organization provided by Ha.

Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Mar 08, 2023

Dear Amadeus,

Thank you so much for your feedback. We are very thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam.
Thanks for your compliment <3
We’re very grateful for customers like you and hope to see you again!

Best regards,
Ha

Great help in having a stress-free vacation
Vietnam | Feb 14 - Mar 1, 2023

Carl
Carl B.
Malta | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

Vietnam is such an amazing country; it has so much to offer both in terms of nature, culture, and history. Halong Bay, Ham Rong Mountain in Sa Pa, Ninh Binh and Tam Coc are definite highlights, but equally powerful in different ways were the Cu Chi Tunnels, Hoi An, and Hue’s Imperial City.

We had the luck of having great guides, in particular Sau in Hoi An and Hue, and Vin in Ho Chi Minh City. And Ha was amazing throughout in ensuring all went well, including by adjusting our itinerary on... read more

Vietnam is such an amazing country; it has so much to offer both in terms of nature, culture, and history. Halong Bay, Ham Rong Mountain in Sa Pa, Ninh Binh and Tam Coc are definite highlights, but equally powerful in different ways were the Cu Chi Tunnels, Hoi An, and Hue’s Imperial City.

We had the luck of having great guides, in particular Sau in Hoi An and Hue, and Vin in Ho Chi Minh City. And Ha was amazing throughout in ensuring all went well, including by adjusting our itinerary on the fly when we wanted to visit Marble Mountain and Monkey Mountain close to Danang on short notice!

Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Mar 04, 2023

Dear Carl,
Thanks so much for your review! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam. Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services. Trust us, you’ve made our day immensely better by sharing your experience.
Thanks again for the review and for being such a great customer.

Warm regards,
Ha

The trip that was organised by Ha at Realisti...
Vietnam | Feb 14 - Mar 1, 2023

M
Mark Anthony D.
Malta | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

The trip that was organised by Ha at Realistic Asia was phenomenal and planned out exceptionally. Ha and our guides were also accommodating when we requested a last minute adjustment to our plan when we were in Vietnam, just a day in advance! All that we needed to provide Ha with were our arrival and departure dates, the level of the accommodation that we would like to stay at, the places that we wished to visit and the activities that we were looking for, and she took care of everything,... read more

The trip that was organised by Ha at Realistic Asia was phenomenal and planned out exceptionally. Ha and our guides were also accommodating when we requested a last minute adjustment to our plan when we were in Vietnam, just a day in advance! All that we needed to provide Ha with were our arrival and departure dates, the level of the accommodation that we would like to stay at, the places that we wished to visit and the activities that we were looking for, and she took care of everything, including our transportation and internal flights. Ha was incredibly and efficiently responsive throughout our entire booking process and developed a customised itinerary for us , and made sure to check up on us to ensure that everything was going according to plan during our trip too. Our guides Phuoc, Sau, Linh and Vinh and our drivers took great care of us during our stay. In particular, Mr. Sau went out of his way and above and beyond his duties as our guide during our time with him.

We would definitely recommend Realistic Asia & Ha for anyone who may be looking forward to spending some time in Vietnam! Thank you for bringing our dream vacation to life!

Hotel Reviews
Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
Hà Nội
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amazing Sapa
Sa Pa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our only critique would be that visitors in adjacent rooms could be heard and we could hear the noise from the dining area during breakfast time
Hidden Charm Ninh Binh
Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stellar of the Seas
quảng ninh

We had an excellent experience aboard the Stellar of the Seas. The level of care and professionalism was astounding.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eldora Hue
Hue
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Quảng Nam

The La Siesta resort in Hoi An was beautiful and the level of service and quality was exceptional!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Au Lac Charner Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Some of our rooms had a shower that was located in an outside terrace / balcony
Activity Reviews
Half day Taphin red Dao hill tribe village
Sapa
Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing
Sapa
Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
Vietnam
Discovery Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay (Stellar)
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Halong Bay - Hanoi (Stellar)
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hue Sightseeing
Hue
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An Sightseeing (N)
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day trip to Bana Hills
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

Dear Mark,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re over the moon to hear that you’re happy about your holiday! Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable trips for our future clients.
Thank you again for choosing our company and we hope to see you again!

Warmest regards,
Ha

Short Vietnam visit with sites that were culturally interesting and stays that were super comfortable
Vietnam | Feb 17 - Feb 25, 2023

TRACY
TRACY M.
Wakefield, MA | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

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)... read more

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

Hotel Reviews
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Quảng Nam

We loved the La Siesta in Hoi An. What an AMAZING resort. We all said we should have stayed there longer than we did. Since we hadn't had time to visit Ho Chi Minh City -we hope we can return to Hoi An and the hotel and then visit the rest of Vietnam. Beautiful grounds, terrific pools and amenities, great food and comfortable rooms. We can't rave about it enough!

Authenticity & Character
We loved it and perhaps it was a bit more modern than surroundings, it was a terrific stay
Location
a little far from the old city - but doable
Staff
Service was great. Everyone was friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Love the accommodations of a twin room for the kids and separate room for us!
Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
Hà Nội

Loved the amenities, service, restaurant, and room. However, being in the middle of a busy area made it a bit loud.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just a little loud. Unfortunately we didn't get out to explore much because of our tight schedule. Just the immediate area was "scary" due to the many, many scooters
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
just a little loud - loved the separation of the rooms from the kids
Orchid Trendy Cruise

Terrific cruise. Good rooms for our family. Friendly staff and great excursions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liberty Central Nha Trang
Nha Trang

The rooms were nice and having 2 rooms for our family was more than accommodating. Rooms were hot and floor/hallways were a bit smelly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Love accessibility to beach and restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
hallways smelled
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

Dear Tracy,
Thanks so much for your review and your kind words! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam and liked our country. I agree about Hoi An, it is one of my favorite places too. Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services. Trust us, you’ve made our day immensely better by sharing your experience.
Thanks again for the review and for being such a great customer.
Long

Two Weeks in Vietnam for Two Female Americans
Vietnam | Feb 11 - Feb 25, 2023

Lynn
Lynn A.
Chanhassen, MN | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2023

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... read more

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
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
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
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
Belle Maison Hadana Hotel
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.
Athena Luxury Cruise
Hà Nội

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
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
Activity Review
Explore the History and 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
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

Dear Lynn,
Thank you so much for your very detailed feedback. We are extremely thrilled to hear that you and Julie enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam.
Thanks again for your kind words about Tony, Mei, Que, Trinh, and me. They and I all remember you and send you warm regards.
We’re very grateful for customers like you and Julie and hope to see both of you again!
Best wishes,
Long

Highly recommend Lucy from Realistic Asia
Vietnam | Feb 11 - Feb 23, 2023

M
Mitch L.
Australia | Reviewed on Feb 26, 2023

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.

Local specialist: Lucy Do
Lucy
Lucy Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Feb 27, 2023

Dear Mitch,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are so glad to know that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam and that everything went smoothly. It was a big pleasure for us to accompany you and Kirsty on this trip. Thank you again for trusting our company, and we hope to see you again in other Indochina countries!
Best wishes!
Lucy

My adventure in Vietnam was excellent!!!
Vietnam | Feb 12 - Feb 17, 2023

Diana
Diana M.
Mexico | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2023

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. read more

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
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
Hanoi Boutique Hotel
Hanoi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to all main atractions in the Old Quarter!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Evening 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
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
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
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora Cruise)
Vietnam

A MUST in Vietnam! Worth every minute

Quality of Experience
Food
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
Hanoi Half Day City Tour (N)
Hanoi

Great Experience to get to know more about Vietnam Culture!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Alex Nguyen
Alex
Alex Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023

Dear Diana,
We would like to thank you for taking the time to write this review of your holiday. It warms our hearts to hear such amazing feedback!
We’re very grateful for customers like you and hope to see you in Vietnam again.
Thank you!
Alex

We had an amazing trip
Vietnam | Feb 12 - Feb 18, 2023

Elizabeth
Elizabeth H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Feb 19, 2023

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.

Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2023

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us!

We’re over the moon to hear that you’re happy about your holiday! Especially, Huan is very glad to know you enjoyed the trip. Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable trips for our future clients. Thank you again for choosing our company and we hope to see you again in your near future trip to South East Asian countries.

Best regards,
Hien

Unforgettable beautiful memory of the north of Vietnam
Vietnam | Feb 11 - Feb 17, 2023

K
Katarina S.
the United Arab Emirates | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2023

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. read more

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.

Hotel Reviews
Somerset Grand Hanoi

Great hotel located close to best parts of Hanoi

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Halong Aquamarine Cruise
Ha Long
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything but outdated boat
Local specialist: Dat Nguyen
Dat
Dat Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2023

Dear Katarina,
We would like to thank you for taking the time to write this review of your holiday. It warms our hearts to hear such amazing feedback!
We’re very grateful for customers like you and hope to see you in Vietnam again.
Thank you!
Dat

I’m 100% thrilled with my trip!
Vietnam | Jan 16 - Feb 2, 2023

Justin
Justin E.
Sandy, UT | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2023

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.

Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2023

Dear my beloved partner,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re over the moon to hear that you’re happy about your holiday! Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable trips for our future clients. Thank you again for choosing our company and we hope to see you again!

Warmest regards,
Hien

I hope that on my next trip (wherever in the ...
Cambodia | Jan 17 - Jan 29, 2023

Scott
Scott B.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023

I hope that on my next trip (wherever in the world that might be), I have another guide like Chu and his team at Absolute Tours in Siem Reap. He was energetic (most sprightly!) and fun and absolutely made the city and Cambodia come alive for us while taking us on rarely traveled back-roads and single-track mountain bike trails. We were amazed by his knowledge and his passion for sharing and teaching. While many guides seem to tick the box, Chu was ready to take us beyond the well-worn tourist... read more

I hope that on my next trip (wherever in the world that might be), I have another guide like Chu and his team at Absolute Tours in Siem Reap. He was energetic (most sprightly!) and fun and absolutely made the city and Cambodia come alive for us while taking us on rarely traveled back-roads and single-track mountain bike trails. We were amazed by his knowledge and his passion for sharing and teaching. While many guides seem to tick the box, Chu was ready to take us beyond the well-worn tourist trails Instagram spots and to show us the rarely visited temples and vistas. For these kinds of experiences, we were deeply grateful. Touring Southeast Asian countries during the lunar holidays can certainly provided some challenges, but none so great that I couldn't recommend going at this time of year. So while there were some hiccups with communication along the way, our two week trip ultimately will be remembered for the stunning views and the amazing experiences and the lovely people we met in these two very unique countries.

Hotel Reviews
Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
Hà Nội

You cannot beat this location! However, in being walking distance to nearly everything, you also end up with lots of noise. Some of this is city noise and some of it is from the hotel, but regardless, if you're a very light sleeper, there might be a better option. The breakfast was superb and the wifi was strong through out the property. There was a small gym, but it was dated. What really sets this place apart though is it's location. While not affiliated with the hotel, the Blue Butterfly restaurant across the street was also delicious and offered generous servings.

Authenticity & Character
La Siesta provides a very western feel without the chain atmosphere. The lobby and restaurant were warm and welcoming, but parts of the building felt dated but not quite historic.
Location
Located on a safe and quieter street, you cannot find a hotel better situated than this. A ten minute walk from the front door got you just about everywhere in the old city. We also felt very safe walking around from the hotel at night.
Staff
The front desk went above and beyond in helping us with maps, recommendations, and reservations. The changed money for us and even mailed postcards for me. Top-tier service.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean, but decorations and styling were dated. The mattresses in our rooms were firm, but had evidence of use in the middle. There were usb outlets beside the beds which was nice. The real difference between La Siesta and a five-star hotel is the noise. Doors opening and closing, people talking in the hallways passing by your room made me wonder if I had left the door ajar. City noise from outside the window isn't something the hotel can control, but the car horns and music from passing traffic was also noticeable while trying to fall asleep.
Hidden Charm Ninh Binh
Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

This is a nice place to stay for a night, but it really leaves you feeling uninspired and isn't remarkable for either very good or very bad reason. While clean and safe, Hidden Charm ultimately lacks any real character. By trying not to offend, it's decor and atmosphere feel very sterile and impersonal. On the contrary the staff were all wonderful and incredibly accommodating even going to far as to provide us another room at a discounted rate. The breakfast was varied and had something for everyone. The walk into town was short and easy and also felt safe. Hidden Charm had neither extreme highs nor extreme lows, and sometimes that exactly what you want in a travel hotel.

Authenticity & Character
If you want to remember everything about your trip to Ninh Binh, this isn't the hotel for you. We had difficulty recalling what it exactly looked like, which could be good thing ultimately as the hotel should not be the highlight of the trip.
Location
Easy and safe walk in to town.
Staff
Like all the hotels we stayed at in Vietnam, the service was five-star. Very grateful to the front desk for not only accommodating us with another room, but also not taking advantage of our request.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The grout and tiles in the bathrooms could be cleaned or reapplied, but otherwise this was a clean and modern hotel.
Hôtel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba

Parts of this hotel reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. The Hotel Perle is a gorgeous hotel at the end of a long road from town with stunning views, a hidden path to another beach, and a lobby and bar right out of the 1920's. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was inviting and warm, and the amenities like the spa and gym are top-notch. The two private beaches are just that, private. They are clean and sunlit and perfect for all types of travelers. Wish we could have stayed longer. We will certainly be back. Highest recommendation.

Authenticity & Character
This places oozes with charm and prestige.
Location
It's a half mile walk to town on a very safe and picturesque road. However some guests might not feel comfortable walking that far at night. We had no problems at all and actually enjoyed the stroll on both nights we were there.
Staff
The front desk staff was friendly and inviting and made us feel right at home. The hotel was short staffed because of the Lunar New Year, but we never knew it because the service was seamless.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms felt new and are immaculately maintained.
Era Cruises
Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

While the boat staff was friendly and welcoming, the cruise itself lacked any real personality or excitement. Guests are left mostly to take in the views of the stunning bay (although floating debris and trash is a real detraction). The activities offered feel half hearted and mostly done so the boat can say the offered them. There is a real lack of earnestness in this. The fishing for squid is a great example. It was not squid season, nor were we in a spot where you'd normally catch squid, but they gave us the poles and told us to try anyway. While this type of cruise might appeal to some, it wasn't for us and so I can't recommend it.

Authenticity & Character
It felt like the boat was going through the motions of another cruise. It felt very uninspired.
Location
The views are commanding and unique to this part of the world. Unfortunately the presence of debris and garbage in the water is such that it can't be ignored.
Staff
Mr. Lee brought tons of energy and was very friendly and likable. He carried the cruise by himself.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, but older and well-used interiors. You don't go on a cruise to watch television, but I found it interesting that none of the movies played all the way through. I have no idea if there were or not, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were pirated (no pun intended).
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Quảng Nam

A serene and luxurious place to stay. The staff was amazing, the rooms were immaculate, and the food was delicious. Would love to stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
This isn't a hotel, it's a resort, and it's a very good one at that.
Location
A bit far from the main area of town, but that's also what gives it its peace and quiet. Not a far walk, but far enough if the sun is out.
Staff
The staff were amazing. They allowed us an early check-in and a late check-out. The front desk learned our names and greeted us warmly every time we were in the lobby.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our rooms were spotless and plush. The wifi was strong and fast and the hot water lasted even after the longest of showers after epic bike rides in the cold rain. I can't say enough good about how comfortable this place was to stay.
Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

After having such incredible experiences at our other hotels on this trip, this was a major let down. The rooms and beds were old and well worn. My room on the fourth floor had an ant infestation that I was only aware of after having a cup of tea in my room. The doors didn't latch properly and needed slamming which created it's own kind of disturbance as well. The location is central and walking to some parts of town is easy, but rides are required for any place really worth going. The staff was friendly but distant. Kind, but not really caring. The breakfast was also far weaker than any other place we stayed. Cold food that was supposed to be hot, dry tasteless breads and weak tea and coffee (you could buy a stronger brewed cup) made this feel more like a motel than a hotel. The pool was nice, but it wasn't anything special. While we felt both safe here and could endure the minor physical problems and blemishes this is not a hotel (and definitely not a resort) that I can recommend or would travel to again.

Authenticity & Character
I don't think the hotel was really trying to be authentic unless heavily worn and dated is an authentic look. Lots of stains on floors and walls, mismatched paint, loose woodwork, and basic furniture in the bedrooms told the story of a hotel where no one really cared about maintenance or appearance.
Location
The location was probably the best part about this place. Easy to bike from here around the city and to the temples. Easy walk to restaurants and Pub Street. I'm not entirely sure it was 100% safe to walk from there late at night, but it was only about 800m.
Staff
The mainly kept to themselves behind the desk in the lobby. No doormen, bellhops, or concierge offering assistance of any kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
I think the hotel covers the basics like changing sheets and towels, but there was little evidence of much else. Years of dirt and grime build up certainly point to the contrary.
Activity Reviews
Ninh Binh - Trang An - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
Ninh Binh

After cycling for a couple hours, we stopped for a late lunch at a tourist dive. It was fine. Nothing special. It might have been authentic, but it was mass produce for tour buses. We walked around town on our own and found a great little hostel by the river which had bonfires set up and bar. That was the coziest part of our stay here. The next day we took a 45 minute boat ride first thing which was peaceful and uncrowded. It was nice until the boat operator stopped us in the middle of the river and tried to sell us the goods in her bag. We floated there for five minutes and kindly and politely said "no thank you" until she gave up and started rowing again. It was a major turnoff and we felt pressured to buy since her rowing was the only way for us to get to dry land. The ride through the cave and the peacefulness of the morning wasn't ruined, but it did spoil the moment prematurely.

Quality of Experience
Food
There has to be more options than the two places we ate. The first stop for lunch was strictly a tourist stop. The second spot for lunch on day three was an old bus stop. Neither seemed like a place they took the idea of food very seriously.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fouck was our guide and he was personable and friendly. I could tell he really wanted to help us enjoy ourselves, but both he and our driver were smoking a lot and for two athletes, that's hard for us to want to be around. Also with the Lunar New Year on the horizon, I could tell they both wanted to get home, so we finished our riding day four hours early which I think they appreciated, but still left us feeling underwhelmed. I think asking clients if they mind smoking is a great first step rather than assuming they don't. Getting into the van after a ride and having our bags and clothes smell like smoke definitely was off-putting.
Transport
The van was spacious and comfortable and our driver was safe and courteous. The bikes were too small for our size (1.88m and 1.9m) and they had several mechanical problems along the way. We were able to compensate, but it wasn't a fun of an experience as I thought it might otherwise be because of the small and unreliable nature of the bikes.
Cat Ba National Park Trekking
Vietnam

This was a fantastic hike in a beautiful part of the island. Not too easy and not too difficult. A good stop along the tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cat Ba free day
Cát Bà

I wish we had more time here. What a fantastic little town with stunning beaches. We sat and read and wrote and went for run. The LNY celebrations were loud and festive. We will definitely be back next year.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Start exploring Lan Ha Bay (Era Cruise)
Ha Long Bay

Our driver from the hotel to the pier left us on the dock with no instructions. Two hours passed before a boat came to pick us up. We asked several other boat skippers if they were our ride and they made calls to the Era on our behalf. Finally I called Alex who was able to get in touch with the boat. Mr. Lee called me and said 20 minutes. 30 minutes later he called again and said 20 minutes. We were very lucky the day was overcast and hot and sunny or raining as there was no shelter on the pier.

Quality of Experience
It was relaxing and peaceful. They should focus on that strength and not try to offer activities only to offer them. If you're going to give guests a chance to fish, they should actually be fishing, not just waving a pole in the water hoping to hook something other than trash.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mr. Lee was doing the best he could and I appreciate his sincere and straightforward nature. He brought as much energy as he could, it didn't go unnoticed.
Transport
Being left waiting on the pier is not a great start. If the boat is to pick us up at 11:30, and we leave our hotel and are on time, there shouldn't be a two hour delay in getting picked up. I felt bad for the other guests too as lunch wasn't served until we had arrived.
Dark & Bright Cave - Halong Bay - Hanoi (Era)
Ha Long Bay

It was nice to get off the large boat and into a smaller one to explore the coastline more closely. The sun was coming up and we saw moneys in the trees and birds starting to stir. It was a peaceful time and nice excursion.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An cycling in the countryside village - boat trip on the Thu Bon River, interaction with the locals
Hoi An

Exploring the old town and riding up the coast was a nice change to the tourist areas we had been seeing. Stopping by the inlaid wood artisans was nice although they pressured us to buy their art, we politely declined. The boat ride would have been nicer but the weather didn't cooperate which wasn't anyone's fault, just bad luck. However the highlight of this day was definitely the cooking class with Hu. The family owned restaurant was exactly the type of experience we were looking for. Hu was funny and quick and a great teacher. I would definitely recommend going to see him and his family if you want something of a more authentic interaction where no one tries to sell you tourist bobbles.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling Hoi An to Marble Mountain
Hoi An

Good roads and an easy bike ride as long as the weather cooperates. Decent views from the top and lots of caves and history to learn about while visiting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An Sightseeing (N)
Hoi An

Walking around the old town is great for people watching and picking up more authentic souvenirs from local artists. There are a fair share of stalls and eateries and places to get cold drinks while looking at the different historic architectural styles. We enjoyed getting off the bikes and doing the walking tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our local guide Qulk was very good. He was safe on the roads while cycling and very knowledgeable about the area and sights he took us to.
Transport
Cycling to visit Angkor Wat and Banteay Kdey
Siem Reap

Chu was a fantastic guide and gave us exactly the experience we were looking for. He was quick and agile and kept the tour from getting bogged down behind lines of tourists. He knew the shortcuts and bike trails which took us off the main roads and to the lesser known temples and ruins. His knowledge was excellent and his energy was contagious which helps when you leave the hotel at 5AM for the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Chu was by far the strongest cyclist and more fit than our other guides which allowed us to see and do more than a traditional van or bus tour.

Quality of Experience
A long day from sunrise to sunset, but it was outstanding from start to finish.
Food
The restaurant we stopped at for lunch provided generous serving sizes of delicious food. Contrary to the experiences we had in Vietnam, we felt like the food portions were made for us, not for the masses. I'd eat here again.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Next time we go to Angkor Wat, we will be calling Chu. He was fantastic.
Transport
Bikes are absolutely the best way to see these sights.
Siem Reap by night for adventure tour
Siem Reap

A chance to try street food! My travel partner ate a fried tarantula and kind of enjoyed it! It was great to get away from the tourist lines and experience the city that the locals know.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
On bikes is the only way to go.
Cycling to Banteay Srei - Kbal Spean - Landmine Museum of Mr. Akira
Siem Reap

The Landmine Museum is a MUST DO! To understand history, you must look at the parts that aren't as easy to digest and the museum does just that. Mr. Akira is a fantastic storyteller and we spent close to an hour with him learning about his life and mission.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2023

Dear Scott,

Thanks so much for your review! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. Thanks for your kind words about Chu and our Absolure Teams in Cambodia, he is very happy to know that you enjoyed your trip and sends his warm regards. Your honest feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services. Thanks again for the review and for being such a great customer.

Best regards,
Ha

We had a fantastic trip!!! From start to end ...
Vietnam | Jan 17 - Jan 26, 2023

Susanne
Susanne O.
Norway | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023

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 :)

Local specialist: Alex Nguyen
Alex
Alex Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2023

Dear Susanne O,

Thank you so much for your kind review! I am delighted to hear that you and your family have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam. Your feedback will give us a big movtivation to deliver the better services to our customers in the future. I hope to see you again on your next holiday in South-East Asia!
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Alex

FABULOUS FAMILY HOLIDAY
Vietnam | Jan 4 - Jan 19, 2023

D
Dianne M.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2023

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... read more

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
Half Day Biking Around Hue Countryside (15km)
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
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (N)
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
Day trip to Bana Hills
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
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
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
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
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
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
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023

Dear Dianne,
Thank you so much for your kind review! I am delighted to hear that you and your family have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam. Your feedback will give us more detail to improve our service in the future. I hope to see you again on your next holiday in South-East Asia!
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Long

2 Weeks in Vietnam
Vietnam | Jan 7 - Jan 18, 2023

D
Danielle D.
Borough Park, NY | Reviewed on Jan 24, 2023

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... read more

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
Hanoi Allure Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Oasis Bay Party Cruise Halong Bay
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monarque Hotel Danang
Danang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Allegro Hoian
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
InterContinental Nha Trang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Vespa Food Tour
Hanoi
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
Hoi An Cooking Class
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mekong Delta Group Tour (My Tho) - Joint in tour
Ho Chi Minh City
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
Ha Long - Lan Ha Bay - Oasis Bay Party Cruise
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2023

Dear Danielle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my team your great experiences in Vietnam. I am very glad that you enjoyed this holiday. It was a pleasure for us to be a part of your trip.
Thank you again for choosing Realistic Asia and hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future.
Best wishes!
Long

Amazing concierge service
Vietnam | Dec 28 - Jan 14, 2023

M
Minh H.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2023

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. read more

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.

Hotel Reviews
Aurora Premium Hotel & Spa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hidden Charm Ninh Binh
Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Era Cruises
Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

Huge room with spacious bathroom and bathtub with a view of Halong Bay. I took one star off because the room is a bit dated, directly below the dining room, so we hear all the walking from the dining room and have a sewage smell coming up from the drainage. The staff was amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Indochine Palace
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa

Good and clean room. The location is a bit outside of the old town. The taxi wouldn't take us because it's not far enough for them to drive, and it's a good 30 minutes walk. The breakfast choice wasn't that great compared to other hotels on our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

This hotel was rated as 4 stars, but it should be 3 stars. It's very old, and there was no plug by our bedsides. The bathroom was not bright enough and water was constantly leaked out to the floor from the shower.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Green Bay Resort Phu Quoc

We had an upgrade to a garden-view bungalow, and we loved it. By far, it's the best hotel on the entire Vietnam trip. The staff was very helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 28, 2023

Dear Minh,

Thank you so much for your good reviews!

We are very thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services. Trust us, you’ve made our day immensely better by sharing your experience. We’re very grateful for customers like you and hope to see you again!

Warmest regards,
Hien

HIGHLY recommend Hien!
Vietnam | Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2023

Hae Jun
Hae Jun J.
Jollyville, TX | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023

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.

read more

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
My Son Sanctuary Luxury Tour - Joint in tour
Hoi An
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora Cruise)
Vietnam
Dark and Bright Cave - Ha Long Bay (La Pandora)
Vietnam
Hoi An Sightseeing & Food Tour - Joint in tour
Hoi An
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 28, 2023

Dear my beloved partner!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

We are so glad to know that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam and that everything went smoothly. Thanks for your kind words as well. 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!

Best regards,
Hien

Fantastic 'Grand tour' of Vietnam
Vietnam | Dec 28 - Jan 12, 2023

Jason
Jason P.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023

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... read more

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

Hotel Review
Renea Cruises Halong
Hon Gai, Ha Long

Super hospitality and fantastic food, well done!

Authenticity & Character
Charming boat
Location
The scenery
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023

Dear Jason,
Thank you so much for your feedback and your kind words! It was a great pleasure for me and Realistic Asia team to accompany you on the trip.
Thank you again for choosing our services. Wishing you all the best and hope to see you on the next vacation to Southeast Asia in the future!
Best wishes!
Ashley

amazing trip! 10/10 Dream trip
Thailand | Dec 27 - Jan 8, 2023

sarah
sarah p.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2023

amazing trip! 10/10
Our guides Lee and Tar were fantastic! They were both very knowledgeable. When our flights were changed Ashley are travel agent made the necessary changes quickly. Ashley checked on regularly via whatsapp to make sure our trip was smooth. Our guides would remind us of what was appropriate clothing to wear the next day, and when possible gave is your options. This trip was tailored to is perfectly, I only wish we could have stayed longer. read more

amazing trip! 10/10
Our guides Lee and Tar were fantastic! They were both very knowledgeable. When our flights were changed Ashley are travel agent made the necessary changes quickly. Ashley checked on regularly via whatsapp to make sure our trip was smooth. Our guides would remind us of what was appropriate clothing to wear the next day, and when possible gave is your options. This trip was tailored to is perfectly, I only wish we could have stayed longer.

Hotel Reviews
De Charme Hotel
Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

This was a great hotel. Very close to attractions and very walkable. The staff was very helpful and made fantastic dinner recommendations. The breakfast was good every morning, the pool really was spectacular and I enjoyed sitting in the library just to unwind.

Authenticity & Character
Felt very Colonial with the pool and library
Location
walkability to Watts and Gates
Staff
great restaurant recommendations, arranged cab rides
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great room, always clean and a turn down cookie on New Years Eve
True Siam Rangnam Hotel
Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province

Great little botique hotel in the heart of bangkok. Good breakfast, excellent staff but does require cash deposit for incidentals.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Had a minor mechanical issue with our room, staff handled it quickly and professionally
Activity Reviews
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Half Day Tour
Bangkok

We were able to add in the train market (based on timing) which was fantastic, Loved the floating market, we did some shopping via boat and land. Our guide (Tar) made suggestions as to what was a good price for goods.

Quality of Experience
Food
everywhere we went the food was amazing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
everyone was very helpful and worked with our mobility issues
Transport
clean well kept vans everyday
Half day cooking class at Sompong - Joint in tour (N)
Bangkok

This was a great class. We made 4 dishes that were excellent. They also made sure there were no issues with the shellfish allergy our party has. Ashley had communicated it to the in advance and there we no problems. Loved the tiny recipe book to take home.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 18, 2023

Dear Sarah,
Thanks so much for your review! I am so pleased to hear you had an incredible trip! It gives me a happy heart knowing that you now have great memories you will cherish for a life time <3
Looking forward to serving you in future trip to Thailand or other Indochina countries.
Best wishes!
Ashley

Our recent trip to Vietnam was AMAZING and wo...
Vietnam | Dec 23 - Jan 8, 2023

An
An P.
Mountain View, CA | Reviewed on Jan 15, 2023

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... read more

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Cruise 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
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
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 16, 2023

Hi An,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my team your experiences in Vietnam. I am very glad that you came home with great memories. It was a pleasure for us to be a part of your trip.
Thank you again for choosing Realistic Asia and hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future.
Best wishes!
Hien

Thailand Honeymoon!
Thailand | Dec 18 - Dec 28, 2022

Kelsey
Kelsey S.
Lindenwold, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 12, 2023

Thailand was absolutely the highlight of our multi-country honeymoon experience. Every single day was unforgettable. The elephant sanctuary in Krabi is something I relive every day and need to go back to someday!! Railay Beach is absolutely breathtaking. It was such a cool experience riding up on the longtail boat! The Phi Phi Islands live up their expectation. And Patong was so much fun. Bangkok was a great way to end it! Seriously, best trip ever!!! read more

Thailand was absolutely the highlight of our multi-country honeymoon experience. Every single day was unforgettable. The elephant sanctuary in Krabi is something I relive every day and need to go back to someday!! Railay Beach is absolutely breathtaking. It was such a cool experience riding up on the longtail boat! The Phi Phi Islands live up their expectation. And Patong was so much fun. Bangkok was a great way to end it! Seriously, best trip ever!!!

Hotel Reviews
Twin Lotus Resort and Spa
Ko Lanta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Novotel Phuket Resort
Patong
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Century Park Hotel
Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bhu Nga Thani Resort
Krabi

This hotel was everything. At first, after you ride up on the long tail boat, you don't know what to expect. But once you spend time on Railay, it exceeds expectations. It was a highlight of my trip. The surrounding areas and beaches are just incredible.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour
Bangkok

Great way to see parts of the city you would have never otherwise explored! And the boat rides were an added bonus!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Speedboat Day Trip to the Phi Phi Islands
Phuket
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Phuket - Phang Nga Bay round trip with Jame Bond Island
Phuket
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Island Hopping Tour
Thailand
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour
Thailand

I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. The elephants are so warm and friendly. I just wanted to play with them all day. The mud bath is so fun! I cannot believe we got to bathe them. Best day ever!!!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour
Bangkok

Our guide, Tanny, was the best!!!! We loved her. She is so knowledgeable, fun, and the best person. She made the tour!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2023

Hi Kelsey,
Thank you so much for the lovely review! I am so pleased to hear you had an incredible honeymoon! It gives me a happy heart knowing that you now have great memories you will cherish for a life time <3
Wish you all the best!
Hien

Visit to Vietnam
Vietnam | Dec 31 - Jan 10, 2023

Nani
Nani L.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 12, 2023

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... read more

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
Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa
Hanoi

Good breakfast And friendly staffs

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
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
ÊMM Hotel Hue
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 Saigon
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mekong Lodge
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore the History and 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
Hanoi - Halong Bay (Aquamarine 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.
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (N)
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
Hoi An Walking Tour
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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.
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
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
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
Local specialist: Dat Nguyen
Dat
Dat Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023

Dear Nani,
Thank you so much for such a detailed review! I am delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam. Your feedback will give us more detail to improve our service in the future. I hope to see you again on your next holiday in South-East Asia!
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Dat

One of a kind excellent trip to Thailand.
Thailand | Dec 27 - Jan 8, 2023

S
Susan E.
Thailand | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

The planning of the trip with Ashley was superb and very easy. Ashley was responsive to all of our questions. Our local guides (Lee in Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai area) and Tar (in and around Bangkok) were excellent. The guides were very knowledgeable of Thai history and very solicitous to our needs. They reacted well to slight changes we made in our itineraries (less shopping and more museum/sites). The boat ride on the Mekong River at the Golden Triangle, Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok, and... read more

The planning of the trip with Ashley was superb and very easy. Ashley was responsive to all of our questions. Our local guides (Lee in Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai area) and Tar (in and around Bangkok) were excellent. The guides were very knowledgeable of Thai history and very solicitous to our needs. They reacted well to slight changes we made in our itineraries (less shopping and more museum/sites). The boat ride on the Mekong River at the Golden Triangle, Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok, and the Floating Market (near Bangkok) were the highlights of the trip for me.

Hotel Reviews
De Charme Hotel
Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

The DeCharme Hotel is a downtown Chiang Mai hotel close to everything! It was very clean and the employees were very service oriented. The breakfast buffet was good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
True Siam Rangnam Hotel
Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province

The True Siam Hotel is located in central Bangkok in a safe neighborhood with many restaurants nearby. It is a traditional, wooden structure that is very beautiful throughout. While traditional, the hotel offers many modern amenities. However their wifi was merely adequate. Hopefully this will improve soon.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my team your lovely experiences in Thailand. I am very glad that you came home with great memories. It was a pleasure for us to be a part of your trip.
Thank you again for choosing Realistic Asia and hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future.
Best wishes!
Ashley

Quick to solve problems!
Cambodia | Dec 27 - Jan 7, 2023

R
Razane J.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2023

I had a big issue this trip that could have ruined my whole holiday. But Dat offered me comfort, support and was able to solve it in the fastest way possible insuring that I had a great trip. Thank you to the whole Kim Kim trip for the great care! read more

I had a big issue this trip that could have ruined my whole holiday. But Dat offered me comfort, support and was able to solve it in the fastest way possible insuring that I had a great trip. Thank you to the whole Kim Kim trip for the great care!

Activity Reviews
Local Market - Basket Boat - Fishing & Cooking Experience (N)
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Banteay Srei sightseeing tour - Tonle Sap River (N)
Siem Reap
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Dat Nguyen
Dat
Dat Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

Dear Razane,
Thank you so much for such a great review! It is our great pleasure to assist you on this trip. We are so happy to hear that you have had a great vacation in Vietnam and Cambodia. I hope to see you again on your next holiday in South-East Asia.
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Dat

Discovering Vietnam and Cambodia wasn’t on th...
Cambodia | Dec 27 - Jan 7, 2023

S
Sara Y.
the United Arab Emirates | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2023

Discovering Vietnam and Cambodia wasn’t on the top of my priority list, however when my sister suggested it I went with it. Dat our travel advisor put together a beautiful itinerary for us to discover Vietnam (Saigon, Hoi An) and Cambodia (Siem Reap, Pnom Pen - excuse the spelling) in a way where you get a taste of everything like a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant. In the preparation for the trip he was extremely helpful in explaining what each activity brought to the trip and... read more

Discovering Vietnam and Cambodia wasn’t on the top of my priority list, however when my sister suggested it I went with it. Dat our travel advisor put together a beautiful itinerary for us to discover Vietnam (Saigon, Hoi An) and Cambodia (Siem Reap, Pnom Pen - excuse the spelling) in a way where you get a taste of everything like a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant. In the preparation for the trip he was extremely helpful in explaining what each activity brought to the trip and organized everything (tours, internal flights and meals), he also made sure we had some free time so that we could further explore things we wanted. Dat was very patient with us because we took time to confirm everything and on top of this there were no hiccups on the way, the guides and drivers were always there when they needed to be and really took good care of us! Honestly Dat was amazing!

Activity Reviews
Ho Chi Minh City Vespa Food Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Best way to explore Saigon

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Mekong Delta
Vietnam
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Market - Basket Boat - Fishing & Cooking Experience (N)
Vietnam

So charming! Must do!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Dat Nguyen
Dat
Dat Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

Dear Sara and Karine,
Thank you so much for your kind review! We are so happy to hear that you have enjoyed your trip. It was a great pleasure for me and our team to host you on this holiday. Thank you so much for choosing us for this trip to Vietnam and Cambodia! I hope to see you on your next vacation to Southeast Asia in the future.
Wish you have a great day!
Dat

Northern Vietnam Bliss
Vietnam | Dec 27 - Jan 3, 2023

Dana
Dana C.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2023

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... read more

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
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
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
Silk Path Grand 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.
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
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Evening 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.
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
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.
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
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
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
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 06, 2023

Dear my beloved guest,
Thank you so much for devoting some time to leave us such a great review. It really means a lot to us that you had a great experience with our company.
Looking forward to serving you in future trip to our country Vietnam and other Indochina countries.
Best wishes!
Ashley

Great Thailand Vacation
Thailand | Dec 21 - Dec 29, 2022

Chrissie
Chrissie B.
Ballenger Creek, MD | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2023

KimKim worked with me to build the perfect family vacation to Thailand. We refined based on our interests and needs, and ultimately, KimKim built a trip with amazing cultural experiences. Our specialist checked on us throughout the trip and was able to help schedule a new flight as needed. If you’re traveling somewhere you are unfamiliar with or you just want to hit the “easy” button, don’t hesitate to use KimKim. read more

KimKim worked with me to build the perfect family vacation to Thailand. We refined based on our interests and needs, and ultimately, KimKim built a trip with amazing cultural experiences. Our specialist checked on us throughout the trip and was able to help schedule a new flight as needed. If you’re traveling somewhere you are unfamiliar with or you just want to hit the “easy” button, don’t hesitate to use KimKim.

Activity Review
Chiang Mai – Half day Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (L)
Chiang Mai

A must add to any northern Thailand vacation

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2023

Hi Chrissie,
Thank you so much for the feedback and your kind words! It was a great pleasure for us to organize this family trip for you that you enjoyed it. Thanks again for choosing our services, and we hope to see you again!
Long

vietnam north to south
Vietnam | Dec 18 - Jan 1, 2023

J
Jessie C.
Dixon, CA | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2023

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... read more

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
Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Somerset Grand Hanoi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Era Cruises
Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Indochine Palace
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa
Authenticity & Character
Location
not in the downtown area
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Somerset Ho Chi Minh Hotel
Ho Chi Minh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

needs to update the interior

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
Local specialist: Ha Dinh
Ha
Ha Dinh
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2023

Dear Jessie,

Thanks so much for your review! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services. Trust us, you’ve made our day immensely better by sharing your experience. Thanks again for the review and for being such a great customer.

Hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future!

Best regards,
Ha

Our first time using a travel agency while visiting a country
Thailand | Dec 23 - Jan 1, 2023

S
Siva B.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2023

This is our first time using kimkim for our travel. We were a little hesitant to go with travel agencies but wanted try it out on this trip since we could not find any local specialists for our Thailand visit. Kimkim and our local specialist Dat came through and made this trip a memorable one. We enjoyed the trip and Dat was just a WhatsApp call away through our entire trip. We were able to reach him any time of the day and he was ready to help us right away. Thanks Dat for that. It made us... read more

This is our first time using kimkim for our travel. We were a little hesitant to go with travel agencies but wanted try it out on this trip since we could not find any local specialists for our Thailand visit. Kimkim and our local specialist Dat came through and made this trip a memorable one. We enjoyed the trip and Dat was just a WhatsApp call away through our entire trip. We were able to reach him any time of the day and he was ready to help us right away. Thanks Dat for that. It made us feel safe and secure while traveling without having to worry about where to go, who to meet and what our next destination would be.
We were in Bangkok for 2 days, Chiang Mai for 2 days and Koh Yao Yai for 3 days. The itinerary was just right. Not too full and not too empty. We all enjoyed the visit to the Doi Inthanon National park and the elephant sanctuary the most. The local guides in Bangkok and Chiang Mai were very knowledgeable and were able to guide us to all places and explain the history and provide context. If only we were able to secure our overnight train tickets to Chaing Mai from Bangkok, it would have been a perfect visit for us.
After Bangkok and Chiang Mai, our expectations were raised for the relaxing visit to Koh Yao Yai but was a little underwhelmed. We shared our thoughts on this to Dat and he immediately contacted the resort and did his best to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Thanks again for your prompt action on this Dat. Much appreciated.
Overall we enjoyed this trip to Thailand and we will be recommending Kimkim and Dat to our friends and families.
Some recommendations for future travelers to Thailand:
1. It would be good to have some input before the travel on what type of dress to pack. Especially if we are visiting temples, we need to get long pants for women.
2. Bangkok traffic is notorious. We felt that we spent a lot of time in traffic going to various places.
3. Flying between destinations takes away nearly half day in each airport visit. Overnight trains preferable where possible.

Hotel Reviews
Century Park Hotel
Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
White Boutique Hotel and Spa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Baan Taranya Resort, Koh Yao Yai
Authenticity & Character
Location
There were boats moored at the beaches. The beaches had low tide every single day of our visit making playing the beach for kids next to impossible.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour (join-in) - Doi Suthep Hill (N)
Chiang Mai

It's a family experience not to be missed. The elephants were super friendly and the staff were very knowledgeable and accommodative.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day trip to Ayutthaya (N)
Bangkok

The guide was very knowledgeable and patiently explained the history behind the palace, ruins and temple in Ayutthaya. The trip back to and from Bangkok was very long. We felt that we spent more time on the road than actually visiting places in Ayutthaya.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Damnern Saduak Floating Market - City tour (N)
Bangkok

The long tail boat ride to this market was fun. The market itself was very vibrant and one of a kind.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day trip to Doi Inthanon Hill (N)
Chiang Mai

The hike in the national forest was a highlight of this trip. We all enjoyed it the most. The weather was also perfect. Visit to the waterfall and the temple was also very good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Dat Nguyen
Dat
Dat Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

Dear Siva,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your trip. Your reviews will help us to improve our service to become better!
Once again, thank you so much for choosing us for this trip to Thailand! I hope to see you on your next vacation to Southeast Asia in the future.
Wish you have a wonderful day!
Dat

If you're considering a trip to Vietnam, choo...
Vietnam | Dec 18 - Dec 29, 2022

Jacqueline
Jacqueline S.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Jan 01, 2023

If you're considering a trip to Vietnam, choose Realistic Asia! We were so so pleased with them! This is the first time using KimKim, and we were a little bit concerned that they would create a mainstream trip plan for us, but WOW, it surpassed our expectations!!

Hien was responsive from the beginning stages of planning to the end of the trip, switching a thing or two in the itinerary as we wished, adjusting pick up times as our flight was delayed, and promptly replying to our inquiries.... read more

If you're considering a trip to Vietnam, choose Realistic Asia! We were so so pleased with them! This is the first time using KimKim, and we were a little bit concerned that they would create a mainstream trip plan for us, but WOW, it surpassed our expectations!!

Hien was responsive from the beginning stages of planning to the end of the trip, switching a thing or two in the itinerary as we wished, adjusting pick up times as our flight was delayed, and promptly replying to our inquiries. We are a family of four (parents and teenagers) wanting to focus on Vietnam's culture, (street) food, outdoors and farming traditions. We were impressed by the way she planned the attractions because they didn't feel repetitive, nor overwhelming. There was a good flow from one day to another. We went to Hanoi/outskirts, Halong Bay, Hoi An/outskirts and HCMC/Mekong.

Some of her local guide/operators were worth mentioning: Mr. Quang, in Hanoi had just the right balance of good humor, information and respect; Mrs. Ann in Hoi An was kind and a patient translator as I had many questions to the farmers at the Thanh Dong organic farm, and Nana, from Vietnam Vintage Vespa, who was gentle, fun and very personable, and provided the most memorable food tour through the alley's of HCMC (your teenagers will love this!)

The hotels all offered a wonderful breakfast spread in the morning. Del Vostro in Hanoi was our favorite, as far as quality and customer service, but I can't forget to mention that we really enjoyed the rooftop bar/sauna/amenities at the Cochin Zen, in HCMC.

I feel like this review could go on and on because this trip really crossed all the "ts" for us, but I'll list a few more highlights without giving too much away:

- Food tour with Mr. Quang in Hanoi, including a surprising need-to-know-basis home that serves as a family restaurant, where we ate at a table in someone's bedroom. We also enjoyed that he included a stop at the Vietnamese Women's Museum (yes!) in between restaurants and pagodas.
- A day trip to the Ba Vi eco village, where we visited small producers of all sorts of things. We rode bikes from one house to the next, entering their homes, seeing their crops and animals, learning about the work they do, then having a cooking class and being treated with a truly delicious lunch. Amazing!!
-Kayaking in Ha Long Bay - absolutely gorgeous!
-Hoi An Ancient City - we had no idea of how picturesque and lantern-enchanting this little gem of a city is. What a great surprise! Make sure you have space in your camera roll!
- The night Vespa food tour in HCMC (or Saigon, if you're in the South) - again, it really gave us a much better sense of the city as we moved from one district to the next quite easily.

Hotel Reviews
Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa
Hanoi

Beautiful boutique hotel in an older building. They did a good job creating charm from the entrance to the bedrooms. I confess I was hoping for more in terms of their spa area/massages but this didn't impact my rating. The cleaningness, style and functioning of the facility, the comfort of our bed (the best mattress,) the breakfast, the attention from the staff (concierge Tony was super and articulate) and the location all contributed to my rating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Renea Cruises Halong
Hon Gai, Ha Long

We had an enjoyable stay at the Renea cruise. The staff was attentive and the boat was comfortable enough. We were overjoyed by the surrounding Ha Long Bay and the amazing kayak trip/cave tour. The boat is a bit dated, but charming. The food was plenty but not the best and we found hair in it a couple of times. The guide was very sweet and eager, if not a bit too enthusiastic. It's taking a 3-star because it was decent, but a bit old.

Le Pavillon Hoi An Paradise Hotel & Spa
Hoi An

Very good hotel, spacious, clean, offering an excellent breakfast spread, a (non-heated) pool, and courteous staff. The rooms are nicely decorated, but I'm not giving them 5 stars because our bedroom had a bit of a smell. We think it came from the (beautiful spa-like) bathroom because the set up didn't exactly drain the water very well. I mean, it was a gorgeous bathroom with sliding doors, perfect wall tiling, awesome looking bathtub but a shower without doors and the water splattered everywhere. They should probably consider making it a bit more functional.

Cochin Zen Hotel

A serene boutique hotel in the busy District 1 Saigon. The moment you come into the hotel, you feel comfortable and safe - the decor, the lighting, the service (they bring you a refreshing tea.) The breakfast is excellent. The bedrooms were clean and comfortable. I wasn't impressed by the bathroom, in particular the bathtub/shower. The tub was way too high to get in, and the shower would splash water on the floor. The water pressure is fabulous, but they should consider it when designing a half-enclosed shower because it'll splash on the floor and make a mess. This hotel offered a top floor bar on a deck with a small (non-heated) pool and a nice view. A great place to relax, have a drink or dinner. I used their steam room and my family used their small efficient gym. We liked it.

Activity Review
Ho Chi Minh City Vespa Food Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

This tour was simply the highlight of Saigon for us. If you have teenagers, they will love it. Nana started the tour by assuring that we were all safe, and the four drivers were not speeding. Given that traffic in Vietnam is quite intense and...crazy for western standards, I caught myself thinking that I was being the most irresponsible and the coolest mom at the same time! Nana made us feel extremely comfortable. She is so enthusiastic and personable. "Let me tell you about my city," she started by sharing a bit of history of HCMC and about her family past generations, that was a nice touch. She created a real authentic food tour through streets and alleys of Saigon, as she likes to call it. "This is how locals eat." She took us to have some traditional food, seafood, dessert, and to have a drink at a pub and watch some live music. That was so unexpected! Oh, look forward to "happy water" in your tour! Overall excellent service. This was A++ to my kids. I felt like I was in the original Blade Runner movie, totally immersed in various streets and alleys of Saigon.

Quality of Experience
Personality, enthusiasm, eagerness to help and make us feel comfortable. She took many pictures of our family so we didn't have to spend time taking photos, but hanging out instead.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Competent drivers, courteous, excellent service.
Transport
Brand new vespas! They did a whole tutorial of how to mount/dismount the Vespas.
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023

Dear my beloved traveler,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review that motivates our team a lot (will pass it to them) and helps us further develop our services as well. We are so happy that your family completely enjoyed the trip. We have worked hard on delivering excellent service and memorable experiences for our travelers and are extremely happy that we successfully did that for your trip.
Thank you again for choosing us for this family trip to Vietnam! I hope to see you... read more

Dear my beloved traveler,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review that motivates our team a lot (will pass it to them) and helps us further develop our services as well. We are so happy that your family completely enjoyed the trip. We have worked hard on delivering excellent service and memorable experiences for our travelers and are extremely happy that we successfully did that for your trip.
Thank you again for choosing us for this family trip to Vietnam! I hope to see you on the next vacation to South-east Asia in the future.
Wish your family a happy and successful new year!
Hien

Amazing trip to Vietnam
Vietnam | Dec 26 - Dec 28, 2022

M
Melissa J.
Santa Clara, CA | Reviewed on Jan 01, 2023

We had a fantastic trip to Vietnam and really appreciated all the assistance provided by Ashley! She was very accommodating and patient as we requested a few modifications to our itinerary as we became more educated on the options.

She was extremely responsive and informative, and I would highly recommend both Ashley and Kimkim! read more

We had a fantastic trip to Vietnam and really appreciated all the assistance provided by Ashley! She was very accommodating and patient as we requested a few modifications to our itinerary as we became more educated on the options.

She was extremely responsive and informative, and I would highly recommend both Ashley and Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews
La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa

Great hotel in a great location. Restaurant and service throughout were top-notch!

Authenticity & Character
Top notch service. Aesthetically pleasing rooms
Location
Central to main points of interest
Staff
Excellent service on all fronts
Cleanliness & Comfort
Would not recommend a room on top floor
Orchid Classic Cruise
Hai Phong

Had a lovely experience in magical Halong Bay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2023

Dear my beloved client,
Thanks so much for your review! I am very thrilled that your family enjoyed the trip. It was a great pleasure for me and our team to host you on this holiday. Your feedback is highly appreciated, it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable holidays for future clients.
Hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future.
Happy holidays to your family!
Ashley

Amazing Thailand trip with Realistic Asia and kimkim
Thailand | Dec 18 - Dec 28, 2022

Jon
Jon P.
Cherry Hill, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2022

The collaboration between the Realistic Asia group and kimkim was perfect for our honeymoon in Thailand! We especially enjoyed all the guides we had for our adventures, especially Tanny in Bangkok! All the honeymoon surprises made our trip special and were much appreciated. All the hotels were perfect for our preferences. Pick-ups were timely. I would highly recommend utilizing Realistic Asia for anyone considering a trip to Thailand! read more

The collaboration between the Realistic Asia group and kimkim was perfect for our honeymoon in Thailand! We especially enjoyed all the guides we had for our adventures, especially Tanny in Bangkok! All the honeymoon surprises made our trip special and were much appreciated. All the hotels were perfect for our preferences. Pick-ups were timely. I would highly recommend utilizing Realistic Asia for anyone considering a trip to Thailand!

Hotel Reviews
Novotel Phuket Resort
Patong

This is a great hotel with perfect views of Patong!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bhu Nga Thani Resort
Krabi

This stay was one of many highlights for our Thailand trip! Great services, location, and staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour
Thailand

We loved this visit with the elephants! My wife would like to go back for another trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour
Bangkok

This is one of many highlights from our trip to Thailand. The bike tour allowed us to see an area of Bangkok we would not have explored.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour
Bangkok

Tanny is an amazing guide and one of the best I have ever had on a trip! This itinerary is perfect for a day around Bangkok.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2022

Hi Jon,
Thank you so much for the feedback and your kind words! It was a great pleasure for us to organize this honeymoon trip for you and Kelsey and we are very happy (especially Tanny) that you enjoyed it. Thanks again for choosing our services, and we hope to see you again!
Wish you and Kelsey a happy new year!
Hien

Most wonderful vacation in Vietnam!
Vietnam | Dec 18 - Dec 26, 2022

A
Agnes S.
the United Arab Emirates | Reviewed on Dec 28, 2022

On our first trip to Vietnam, we wanted to have a nice balance of nature and city trips, learn about culture and explore the cuisine - so we worked with Ashley to build a custom-made itinerary, which turned out to be an unforgettable trip. She has been most helpful to accommodate all our needs, quickly turned around every request and also supported when we had some emergencies due to a forgotten luggage while in Vietnam, always checking in to ensure we enjoy it all. Mr Tu, our tour guide... read more

On our first trip to Vietnam, we wanted to have a nice balance of nature and city trips, learn about culture and explore the cuisine - so we worked with Ashley to build a custom-made itinerary, which turned out to be an unforgettable trip. She has been most helpful to accommodate all our needs, quickly turned around every request and also supported when we had some emergencies due to a forgotten luggage while in Vietnam, always checking in to ensure we enjoy it all. Mr Tu, our tour guide took us to wonderful places and helped us experience the life of the local people in very unique ways. It was real fun travelling with Tu, he explained all we wanted to know about history and culture, and was extremely flexible when we had special requests to explore & try things outside the itinerary - all to ensure we get the most out of our trip! Highlights of our trip: Pu Loung trekking and village tour, boat rides, Hoi An trip, cooking class with Madam Ai. We highly recommend it all!

Hotel Reviews
Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Villa
Hoi An
Authenticity & Character
Really nicely done design, lovely garden and pools
Location
By the most beautiful beach, close to town
Staff
Super nice & helpful staff - we left a luggage behind and they immediately sent someone with a bike to catch us at the airport, we are most grateful for their kindness!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pu Luong Retreat
Thanh Hoa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful design
Location
Right at the city center, but still very peaceful
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
PVT Culinary Experience With Chef
Hanoi

We started with a small tour to the local market, which was really great to learn about all the ingredients. Then Madam Ei gave us an incredible class making super yummy dishes in her own kitchen - most wonderful chef and amazing person, we are very lucky to learn from her.

Quality of Experience
Amazing menu and unforgettable cooking experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Madam Ei is the most wonderful chef
Transport
Trekking to Kho Muong and Uoi Villages
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Quality of Experience
Just the perfect length of walking in the jungle and amongst the village, also went to a cave which was truly beautiful.
Food
We had lunch in a remote village, was so yummy and collected our own oranges from a garden
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The local guide accompanied us on the trip
Transport
Local specialist: Ashley Tran
Ashley
Ashley Tran
Local specialist in Hanoi | Reviewed on Dec 28, 2022

Dear Agnes,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review that motivates our team a lot. We are so happy to hear that you have enjoyed your trip. We work hard on delivering excellent service and memorable experiences for our travelers. Thank you so much for choosing us for this trip to Vietnam! I hope to see you on the next vacation to South-east Asia in the future.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Ashley

Tailored Vietnam Trip for 5 days, great service provided!
Vietnam | Dec 21 - Dec 26, 2022

Tina
Tina B.
Spring Valley, NV | Reviewed on Dec 27, 2022

I worked with Long to coordinate my trip through Kim Kim and he was persistently providing me excellent customer care in adjusting the itinerary to fit my needs and checked in on me throughout the trip. It can be stressful taking an international trip but he made himself available and was responsive in a reasonable amount of time. My tour guide Ngọc Sáu was also amazing in the sense that he was knowledgeable, adaptable to my groups needs, and was the friendliest tour guide. You could tell he... read more

I worked with Long to coordinate my trip through Kim Kim and he was persistently providing me excellent customer care in adjusting the itinerary to fit my needs and checked in on me throughout the trip. It can be stressful taking an international trip but he made himself available and was responsive in a reasonable amount of time. My tour guide Ngọc Sáu was also amazing in the sense that he was knowledgeable, adaptable to my groups needs, and was the friendliest tour guide. You could tell he was sincere to looking out for us because he treated us like family. Having memorable agents and service really enhances the trip I would recommend these individuals and company to everyone and would use their services again! 10/10

Hotel Reviews
Silkotel Hoi An

We loved the layout of the room. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Would recommend this to many friends. The hotel is located right outside the main walking market

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monarque Hotel Danang
Danang

Amazing breakfast buffet, hotel is clean, and centrally located. We enjoyed our stay here!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel

Centrally located in the heart of Ho Chi Min. Great rooftop views and a short distance from the major market in town. Would recommend this to anyone visiting and I would stay here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff