Great trip to Vietnam and Thailand tailored to my requests.
Vietnam | Oct 27 - Nov 9, 2024

Barbara
Barbara E.
Kensington, NY | Reviewed on Nov 12, 2024

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
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
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 - 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 - 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!
Local specialist: Huyen Nghiem