Huyen Nghiem

Our specialist, Huyen, was great to work with. She helped us take different pieces of different tours to come up with our own itinerary, move dates around, and answered all of our questions.

From the moment we landed in Hanoi, we felt well taken care of even if we were unable to communicate with the local drivers. All of the drivers and tour guides were friendly and on-time. When moving from one activity or guide to the next, we were always handed off to someone who would then take care of us.

Ha Long Bay was definitely a highlight of our trip. The views were amazing and we especially enjoyed kayaking between the rock formations. Plus we got to know other travelers on the ship. We were also pleasantly surprised by the large size of the cabin on the Swan Cruise ship.

In Ho Chi Minh City, we really enjoyed our food tour with Phat from Saigon Food Tour. He was fun and enthusiastic, and he took us to a couple places off the beaten path. The food was all delicious and we learned about the culture.

In Hoi An, highlights included a ride in a basket boat, a walking tour of the old town, and a hands on cooking class.

Though we had a couple of obligatory stops at the tourist centers where they try to sell you everything, I'm confident that I would not have been able to plan as successful a trip on my own.

Hotel Reviews

Calista Sai Gon Hotel

Hotel was clean and staff was friendly, but the hotel is in a very loud area and the windows do not block any of the sound.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swan Cruise

This ship was really nice and the staff were very friendly. The rooms were bigger than we expected. Everything was well organized. We really enjoyed the kayaking between the rock formations. Would definitely recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Rose Garden Hotel

Hoi An

Great hotel and friendly staff. We took advantage of the onsite spa.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AMIRA HOTEL HANOI

This hotel was right in the heart of things, but wasn't noisy. Everything was clean and the staff were helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Cooking Class & City Tour

Hanoi

The city tour was OK. Our guide didn't seem to really have a plan so we wandered around aimlessly and he kept pointing out the same items at different stalls. Even after he asked if we were ready for lunch, we wandered around much longer than expected before finding a place to eat. I think it threw him off when we asked for local food and not a touristy restaurant. For the cooking class, the chef was great and we were definitely able to get hands on with making the delicious food. The location was a bit difficult for our driver to find. We weren't expecting a cooking class with just the two of us and we also didn't expect the driver and tour guide to stay with us the entire time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Fly to Danang, Transfer to Hoi An

Vietnam

Driver was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Cooking Class & Cam Thanh Fishing Village:

Hoi An

Excellent excursion. The cooking class was very fun and we enjoyed talking to the other participants. Not only did the chef show how to make the dishes, but there were several assistants to dummy-proof the hands-on part of the class. The food was very tasty. The basket boat ride was one of our highlights. There was clearly a standard agenda. Paddle, visit the professional boaters who could spin their boats very quicky, visiting the fishing man casting his net, visit the karaoke area, do some fishing, and visit the heart sculpture for pictures. Our boatman was super nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day city tour to visit Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An

Troung was a great and very kind tour guide. She showed us all around the old town and gave us the history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saigon By Night Food Tour - Experience Vietnam on Two Wheels (Group tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

Phat was a great food guide. He was fun and enthusiastic, and he took us to places off the beaten path.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

This was an enlightening experience, but might not be worth the long drive to Cu Chi from HCMC. The city tour was good. The lunch was OK. Clearly all of the tour guides take their groups to Nam Du for lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Don't go to Nam Du restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Overnight on boat

Ha Long Bay

Highly recommend! Ha Long Bay is beautiful, the Swan Cruises ship was very nice, and the cabins were much bigger than expected. We really enjoyed kayaking between the rock formations as well as meeting other travelers. The guide on the ship was terrific!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have only positive things to say about our trip to Viet Nam. From the time we landed in Saigon until when we were dropped off at the airport in Dan Ang, we had a fantastic time.

Our "travel consultant", Huyen was SO patient taking our input and making changes to our itinerary until we we satisfied we had what we want. Of all the fun things we did, I have to say the Saigon Food Tour, and the two food classes were the highlights. And maybe the thing that most impressed me was that everything was right on schedule. The only exception was when the typhoon forced us to reschedule one of the food classes, and even that was taken care of with amazing efficiency.

No question, we will use Kimkim to help us arrange our next trip to SE Asia.

On a scale of 1-5, they get a 10!

Hotel Reviews

Riverside Hotel Saigon

(+84) 28 3822 4038

Great location, clean, comfortable rooms, wonderful breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to things in District 1

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

New Livitrans Train

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Betel Garden Villas

This hotel was over the top. The rooms were fine, the grounds were amazingly beautiful, and maybe most importantly, the staff were SOOO accomodating and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hoi An Cooking Class (Join a small group)

Hoi An

Our chef/instructor was lots of fun, every entertaining and SO much energy!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saigon Cooking Class (Hoa Tuc) - With Going to The Market (Join -in a Group Tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saigon By Night Food Tour - Experience Vietnam on Two Wheels (Group tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

Sooooo much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Huyen was great to work with. She listened carefully to my requests and was flexible in her recommendations so that the trip was tailored to our needs. I joined my husband on a trip for work so we did not need help with hotel reservations. Huyen was great at suggesting options for things for us to do when he was not working. She arranged for tours of Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, including an overnight boat cruise on Ha Long Bay. In Thailand we had a half day elephant sanctuary tour that was great as well as a trip to the highest mountain in Thailand and a hike through the mountains by several waterfalls and through terraced rice paddies. Once the trip was underway, Huyen remained in contact and was incredibly helpful when we had problems. When I left my passport on the boat in Ha Long Bay she contacted the cruise company for me and arranged to have the passport delivered to my hotel the next day! The only glitch was when she gave me the wrong time to meet the tour for the Elephant Sanctuary. However, she called the tour and arranged for a private car to pick us up within 10 minutes to bring us to meet the others on the tour. She never missed a beat!

Hotel Review

Athena Cruise

Ha Long Bay

We loved our overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay. The staff was friendly and the food was excellent. Our cabin was comfortable and roomy. We enjoyed sitting on our private balcony as well as making spring rolls with the crew staff.

Authenticity & Character

The cruise ship is clean and comfortable.

Location

this is a cruise on Ha Long Bay!

Staff

very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Hanoi - Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital & Tam Coc Boat Trip - Hanoi

Vietnam

We enjoyed our day in Ninh Binh. Our guide was very informative in the ancient capital and the boat trip was great.

Quality of Experience

OVerall great day

Food

Lunch was good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved our guide, Brian. His English was great and he was very informative and easy to talk to

Transport

we were very comfortable in our private car.

Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Overnight on boat

Ha Long Bay

We loved this trip to Ha Long Bay. We had a comfortable room with a private balcony. The food was very good and the staff was friendly. I loved waking up to do Tai Chi on the deck at dawn.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - half-day free

Bangkok

We were picked up and driven 1.5 hours south to a floating market. We had a boat ride through the canals but it ended at the floating market. There we walked around but would have had to hire a different boat to actually take us through the market. Our guide left us alone in the market and went to have coffee. That was fine for us as we enjoyed the time to browse, but I think some people would have enjoyed having more guidance and an interpreter in the market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was excellent. He drove quickly but safely in heavy traffic.

Transport

Bangkok No guide – Morning flight to Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep Hill (B)

Vietnam

We enjoyed going to the the top of Doi Suthep Hill. However, it rained and was cold. Our guide made the best of it and was very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai – Half day Elephant Sanctuary (Join -in tour) - Evening Foodie tour by Tuktuk (B,L,D)

Chiang Mai

We had a great trip to the Jungle Elephant Sanctuary. We got a late start due to a miscommunication about the start time, but Huyen arranged or a separate car to pick us up and we joined the bus part way. The day itself was great. We enjoyed feeding the elephants, bathing with them and having a mud bath with them! The food was so so but that is not why you take this trip. The elephants are amazing! our evening foodie tour was fun but it was rainy and a bit cold. Our guide was great at finding all different foods for us to try and even at finding a dry spot to sit in despite the rain. I would never have known to try these foods without our guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

lunch was served but was not great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ms Wandee was great at leading us through our foodie tour.

Transport

Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon National Park - Chiang Mai (B)

Chiang Mai

This was a great day despite it being somewhat rainy. Since the top of the mountain is a temperate rain forest, the rain did not matter. We drove up into a cloud and wandered through moss covered trees and temples. Beautiful and eerie! Then we hiked further down the mountain for a about 1.5 hours near several waterfalls and through terraced fields with a local guide. The rain stopped and we were really able to enjoy this!

Quality of Experience

Food

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant in the park which was not included in the fee, but the food was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ms Wandee was informative, friendly and a great guide

Transport

Great driver!

When my partner and I decided we wanted to explore Vietnam but didn’t know where to start, we sent a message to KimKim - we are so glad we did.
After a short quiz and a few clarifying messages back and forth, Huyen perfectly comprised an intinerary that was exactly what we were looking for. She was also highly responsive and very kind.
Travelling, transfers, and all transportation was so simple, and each guide met us at the station with a sign of our names and took us to our accomodation!
Each of our guides was deeply knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. Trung managed to fit Hanoi into one day, and we still felt like we saw so much of the city and everything that was previously recommended to us. He was also fun to talk with and knew so much about Hanoi and Vietnam.
Ly in Sapa took us on the most amazing hikes through the hill villages (Ma Tra & Ta Phin, then Lao Chai and Ta Van). Ly seemed to know everybody and everything in the area - so we not only learned so much about the land and distinct culture of each tribe, but we were put at ease being in an environment so different from our American city life. We had a great balance of popular attractions (Fansipan, etc.) and off-the-beaten path adventures - very hard to do but Huyen and Ly nailed it.
Our final guide Brian met us in Hanoi after the sleeper train from Sapa (actually a fun experience, + managed to get some sleep)! Brian managed to make a 3 hour car ride fun and interesting, as he knew so much about Vietnam and was so hospitable. The 2-day cruise in Ha Long Bay was the perfect way to end our trip with some relaxation.
Huyen stayed incredibly responsive throughout the whole trip and even checked in with us via Whatsapp in each city to make sure we were okay. We felt we had the perfect trip - great accomodations, intineraries, enough free time… KimKim really was the right call for us.
If you’re thinking of exploring Vietnam but aren’t sure what to do or where to start, I recommend at least messaging a specialist to see what they come up with for you - it can’t hurt!!

Two week trip in Vietnam was wonderfully planned! Huyen was helpful in assisting each part of the trip. Family trip of 4 started in Ho Chi Minh City -> Nha Trang -> Hoi An -> Hanoi -> Sapa -> Ha Long Bay -> and ended Hanoi.
Every destination was amazingly greeted with a guide and driver.
- In South Vietnam: Mr. Phạm Phú Minh Thuận (I didnt catch the driver’s name.)
- In Central Vietnam: Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thúy (Driver: Nguyen Duy Nhat)
- In North Vietnam: Mr. Lý Văn Kỳ +98 7597029 (Driver: Kim Anh (I didn't get his last name.))
- In Sapa: Ms Lý Mẩy Phương 0334959967 (I didnt catch the driver’s name.)
Everyone was kind and knowledgable at each location we went to. This tripped involved all sorts of adventures, from trying different foods within each location to biking through the city to going on an overnight cruise. It was family-friendly and is accommodating to older seniors as well. Highly recommend booking through Kimkim (:

One request: On free days, perhaps listing a few place/food recommendations where tourists can travel on their own.

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing an incredible trip to Vietnam with the help of KimKim, and I can't recommend them highly enough! The itinerary was perfectly crafted, thanks to Huyen, blending breathtaking scenic bike rides through lush landscapes with the most delicious local cuisine. Our guides Hein and Mr. binh (our driver) in the North and Ha in the central part were so incredible, trustworthy and informative. Each meal was a delightful exploration of Vietnamese flavors, showcasing vibrant street food and authentic dishes that truly highlighted the region's culinary richness. The team's attention to detail, from selecting charming accommodations to ensuring seamless logistics, made the entire experience unforgettable. If you're looking to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of Vietnam, KimKim is the way to go.

Hotel Review

Mai Chau Villas

The best and most amazing dreamy hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Dreamy, peaceful and lovely

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital - Tam Coc Boat Trip

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ninh Binh - Cuc Phuong National Park - Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bai Tu Long Bay - Hanoi - Night train to Dong Hoi

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dong Hoi - Phong Nha Cave - Paradise Cave

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Dong Hoi - Hien Luong Bridge - Quang Tri Citadel - Hue

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - Thuy Bieu Eco-village, Cooking Class & Imperial Citadel

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Hue Street Food Tour

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Hanoi - Ba Vi Eco Tour - Mai Chau

Vietnam

This was a highlight of our trip. Delicious food with kind host

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Culture & Walking Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

M

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mai Chau - Cycling Through Local Villages

Mai Chau

The best

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay, Explore Bai Tu Long Bay

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport