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Northern Vietnam - great trip!
Vietnam | Aug 14 - Aug 18, 2023

Kathleen
Kathleen E.
Raleigh, NC | Reviewed on Aug 24, 2023

Ashley did a great job helping us to plan this trip and was very organized and responsive. Our guide Mr. Tu was very good! I would highly recommend the Soleil Hotel and Boutique - it is a very nice hotel and the spa there is great. Tina does an amazing massage.

Hotel Reviews
Soleil Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Very clean and room was well appointed. The front desk staff was super helpful and the spa is top notch. Breakfast was included and the food was quite good with a lot of variety. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right in the heart of the old section with many places to eat and shop.
Staff
All of the front desk staff was great and Tina from the spa was amazing
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were good and room was nice and very clean. Only downside was that there was not much room for luggage for two.
La Pandora Cruises
Hai Phong

The rooms were very nice and well appointed. Unfortunately our reeked of sewer gas and we had to be moved.

Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was clean and very spacious with a private deck. The top deck did not have a place to get out of the sun which was a negative on a hot August day.
Activity Reviews
Day Trip to Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Trang An)
Day Trip to Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Trang An)
Hanoi

Temples were amazing and boat ride was very nice (although a bit long on a hot August day).

Quality of Experience
Food
Food tour was great! Be prepared though to sit on very tiny stools and being very close to the street with motor scooters whizzing by.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, friendly and prompt.
Transport
Very comfortable
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)
Vietnam

The bay is indeed very beautiful and it was fun doing a cruise. I think that we were lucky to be able to go out far enough to get away from the crowds. A day trip might not be good. I loved swimming in the South China Sea and going to the caves.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The two guys that were the tour operators were just great. They gave up their bedroom for us as it was the only room that we could move to. I felt sorry that they had to sleep with the sewer gas odor. They were friendly, organized and kept things moving. I appreciated there good service. Food wait staff were very pleasant.
Transport
Drivers to and from Ha Long Bay were very prompt and careful drivers!
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Aug 25, 2023

Dear Kathleen,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I truly appreciate it. I am honestly thrilled that you and John had a great trip to my homeland Vietnam. I'll pass the review on to the team and I'm sure they will really appreciate it too! I am sorry about the small hiccup in your room on La Pandora cruise but I am pleased that it was swiftly resolved for you.
Vietnam would love to have you back :) Hope to see you and John again in the near future!
My very best <3
Ashley

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