Overall the planning and tour were excellent....
Thailand | Jul 11 - Jul 23, 2024

Giocasta
Giocasta C.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024

Overall the planning and tour were excellent. Kelly did a great job of modifying the tour several times before the actual booking. Communication with Heidi at Odinovotours was easy and responsive. Our guides in Bangkok (Tao), Siem Reap (Mr.T) , Saigon (Victor) and Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (Binh) and all the drivers were great! Very knowledgeable, descriptive, on time, and courteous. They always had cold water and cold washcloths for us. They even helped us check-in at the airports. It was wonderful to have guides everywhere who we were able to communicate with by WhatsApp.
The sites visited were amazing. The only thing we would have chosen differently were the hotels in Bangkok and Saigon. We wouldn’t stay there again, and possibly more time to rest in between all the touring. We are all in our 70’s and were very tired!
One more thing, while in Hanoi, it was my husband’s birthday. Without us mentioning anything, Odynovotours sent us a cake and the hotel sent us fruit and a dessert! A nice surprise!
Thank you Kelly Liu, kimkim, and Odynovotours for a great experience!

Hotel Reviews
Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18
Bankok

This hotel is in need of updating. The room we had didn’t even have a place to connect a cellphone by the bed. The bathroom was so old it didn’t look clean. It was humid in the room. The fan for the A/C never stopped, but it did not make the room more comfortable. The restaurant and breakfast buffet compared to the other hotels was subpar. Very small and the servers did not speak or understand ANY English at all. The location was good, though.

Authenticity & Character
Needs updating and other things. See review
Location
Easy to walk to several restaurants and a mall.
Staff
Cleanliness and restaurant
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
Tara Angkor Hotel
Siem Reap

This hotel was beautiful and well kept. The rooms were nice although almost every hotel we visited on this trip had issues with the shower, water coming out and flooding most of the bathroom. The service, restaurant, and food were excellent. The pool and surrounding area was beautiful and well kept. Very pleased with this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Beauty, comfortable rooms, service and restaurant. Beautiful pool.
Staff
So friendly, courteous, good communication
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
Harmony Hotel & Spa
Ho Chi Minh City

We definitely would not stay there again! So old and not updated at all. First was given a room without a shower (it was missing) was then moved at 11:00pm after a late tour to another room (had to re-pack our belongings) that had no water pressure, so the shower hit the wrong place and flooded the bathroom which was very small. All the bathtubs were so high it was extremely difficult to get in and out! Finally, the last night after complaining, we were allowed to use the bathroom next door which was a suite with a separate shower. Heidi at Odynovotours was responsive about this problem.

Authenticity & Character
Everything
Location
We didn’t leave the hotel except with guides and a food tour. Seemed like a good location.
Staff
Staff responsiveness without intervention
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
The Lapis Hotel

We only stayed 2 nights there, separated by the Ha Long Cruise. The staff was great, the first night the room was really nice except for the bathroom which was very small. It was modern and clean. And well kept. The 2nd stay we we’re upgraded to a suite. Everything was perfect there. We would stay here again (request a suite) Breakfast was really good.

Authenticity & Character
More Vietnamese touches
Location
Location did not really affect us because we had a guide and driver.
Staff
All staff were great, they even sent us fruit and a large crème brûlée for my husband’s birthday. Quite a nice surprise. The bar had some fruit we bought washed and sliced for us. Excellent service!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was very clean and comfortable. The first stay bathroom could have been a bit larger.
Athena Cruise
Ha Long Bay

This was a cruise of Ha Long Bay. It was amazing although too short, cut short by upcoming weather. Cabins were huge, comfortable, food very good. Service was great. We did not take the shore excursions offered free, we stayed on the ship and enjoyed the rest, peace and quiet, and the spa pool. Staff was so friendly! The views were amazing. We had a great time although short.

Authenticity & Character
Food and decor was authentivy
Location
Not applicable. 2 1/2 hours from Hanoi, roads perfect, nice stops at the cultured pearl factory and another stop for shopping and restrooms.
Staff
Great communication, friendly and clear
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very large, clean and comfortable cabin
Activity Reviews
Full Day Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho)
Full Day Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho)
Ho Chi Minh City

This was a pleasant tour, saw the lush Mekong Delta by boat. Took a small boat trip on the very big river to a small island where we had a delicious lunch by the river. Also stopped at an outdoor market where we bought local fruit.

Quality of Experience
Food
The lunch at the restaurant by the river
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Victor and driver always had the air conditioned van waiting with water and cold rags.
Athena Royal Cruise - Day 1
Athena Royal Cruise - Day 1
Thailand

The first day on this cruise was nice. The cabin was very large and comfortable, also the bathroom. We were tired from a long trip, 23 days, so we basically enjoyed the amazing views of Ha Long Bay. Most passengers went on the 2 shore excursions, but we stayed on the ship and took advantage of the jacuzzi the size of a very small swimming pool but refreshing just the same. The food was acceptable, but they charged extra for everything, even water and coffee. The drinks were not good, but anyway the bar didn’t open until 5:00pm so no drinks for people who stayed on the ship., not even soft drinks. The sunset and view were breathtaking that night. It would have been nice to have some music, but they had none. We paid for some massages which were relaxing. The staff were very pleasant and nice, friendly

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Please see the review
Transport
The drive to Ha Long Bay was pleasant because the roads were good, the band was air-conditioned and we stopped to shop at a cultured pearl factory. They showed us how they make cultured pearls and we did purchase some nice jewelry
Athena Royal  Cruise-Day 2
Athena Royal Cruise-Day 2
Ha Long Bay

There was a weather issue, so basically there was no second day, we had breakfast and had to leave the ship. Nothing to review of this day.

Quality of Experience
Just know that the second day could be affected by weather, which was not their fault
Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Siem Reap

Too tiring the day after Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Would skip this tour

Quality of Experience
Need day of restHistory
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A/C van before and after, water and cold rags
Transport
Air conditioning, water, cold rags
Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok
Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok
Thailand

This place was beautiful and interesting. Long ride but worth it in our opinion. History explained by Tao unique. Many ruins of temples nearby, amazing and sad to see the destruction due to wars.

Quality of Experience
French influence, beauty of buildings and grounds
Food
Stop at hotel restaurant
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, our guide Tao and driver
Transport
Half Day Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Half Day Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Siem Reap

This tour was the first thing we saw in Siem Reap. If you want to see authenticity and how the floating villages and people live, go ahead and take this tour. It was not for us. The poverty and situation if these people broke our hearts. The lake is filthy (again, authentic reality). They live in unsanitary conditions. On our little boat was the 3 year old daughter and wife of the captain, hiding in the back, heartbreaking, dressed in rags, and we were told they live and sleep in that little boat.

Quality of Experience
Not taking it
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Apart from what we saw, the guide (Mr. T) and driver explained it all.
Transport
The van was fine but the boat was not. Again, authentic if you like that kind of thing.
Half Day Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
Half Day Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
Bangkok

Gorgeous palace with rich history. Our guide Tao explained all the history and details. Overall it was wonderful although it was very hot and tons of walking. Our guide had water and cold rags upon returning to the air conditioned van.

Quality of Experience
The Grand Palace, beauty and history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Tao was great
Transport
Van, air conditioning, cold water and wrapped cold rags, driver
Private Night Food Tour by Tuk-tuk
Private Night Food Tour by Tuk-tuk
Bangkok

Great experience, locations and amazing sights and the food, delicious . Spicy but we loved it. Authentic stops. Prepare to be FULL!

Quality of Experience
Quite a different, authentic, and delicious experience.
Food
Everything! So much food!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tao explained all the food and origin. Asked what level of spiciness we were ok with. Provided water.
Transport
Air conditioning in van and authenticity of tuk tuk ride. Fun.
Explore  Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Explore Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Siem Reap

Amazing sights and history. Well worth it.

Quality of Experience
History, the temple itself
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, helpful
Transport
A/C in van, water and cold rags
Private Street Food Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Private Street Food Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City

We cannot say enough good things about this motorbike food tour. The four guides were fantastic and drove those motorbikes like experts, keeping us safe in spite of the hundreds of motorbikes and cars all around us. The stops and BOUNTYFULL foods were absolutely delicious and authentic! We had a blast! These guides had the best personalities, we laughed so much! https://goo.gl/maps/9DwQgsXZ8jYoRBV4A Thao Vy, Tanya, Harry, and Destiny Thank you so much for everything!

Quality of Experience
The guised and food
Food
Everything!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Everything
Transport
Motorbikes were fun. I tend to be scared to do things like this but I was perfectly fine, felt safe
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Ba Den Battlefield Tour
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Ba Den Battlefield Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Even though we lived during the Vietnam War, actually seeing where it took place and understanding the reasons why the US had to pull out was enlightening. Everything we saw was disturbing to say the least. It was well worth the drive to learn first hand what actually happened.

Quality of Experience
Only realizing the true history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Knew the history and explained everything in detail
Transport
Long trip but sir conditioned van with good guide and driver
Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Dear Giocasta,

Hope you have a great day and thank you for your detailed feedback and for choosing kimkim for your trip. We are delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with our guides and drivers, and it is our great pleasure to do something for your husband's birthday.
We apologize for the issues with the hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City and will take your feedback into consideration for future bookings.
We are so delighted that you have so many wonderful memories from your time in Southeast Asia. Thank you again for your kind words.

Best regards,
Kelly