Profile photo for Hien Do
8448 messages
active 34 mins ago

Hien Do

I was born and grown in Vietnam and deeply love my country. I traveled a lot around My country is full of beautiful places and friendly people. And this inspired me to start my travel company. It started as a small family business and now it has grown and offers more destinations in Indochina.
Even after 11 years of working, I am still inspired to design the trips for our travelers offering them authentic experiences and not a standard way of exploring the country. I believe that traveling is not limited to sightseeing and always offer hands-on experience to our clients, could it be visiting the workshop and trying to make a traditional handicraft, meeting with the artist, or trying to cook a local meal. Just let me know what you like to do and I will find the perfect way to explore the country through the things you love.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We offer a wide range of trips from relaxing beach outbreaks to trekking in the jungles throughout the Indochina region. Our tour types include, but are not limited to:
Classic and culture tours
Family vacations
Honeymoon trips
Adventure tours
Foodie tours
Wellness
Day trips and excursions
MICE"

How did you get involved in travel?

"This idea has always been in my mind. Every trip I was making since I was a student inspired me to share this experience with others. Firstly it began as a hobby when I was advising my friends and colleagues where to go and helping them to organise their trips. And at some point, I realised that it is the business I always want to do and have established my company. It began as a small family business offering trips in Vietnam and now has grown to the well-established company organising trips throughout Indochina. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Travelling is always the experience and learning something new. And my unique experience is not some special place, but about inspiration and relationships with others. During a pandemic, when the country closed its borders and all our team had a hard period of life I organised the trip to northern Vietnam for us. Thankfully the situation in Vietnam was safe and travel has been permitted inside the country. Apart from seeing breathtaking landscapes during our trekking, all our team got even more united. We had adventures, spent lovely nights talking about our lives, and we met many interesting and hospitable people. All this has inspired us to continue what we are doing whatever challenges we get. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Hien

10 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia
Vietnam | Jul 26 - Aug 5, 2024

Aruna
Aruna K.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 09, 2024

We visited Vietnam and Cambodia. We had such an educational and eye opening experience with appropriate and relevant activities as planned with Hien.
Our tour guides, Cuong, Johnny and Neang were so informative, knowledgeable and caring along with our drivers. Comfortable hotels and transport vehicles.

Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Aug 10, 2024

Hi Aruna,

Thank you so much for taking your time to share with us your expriences !

I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the trip so much. Your satisfaction made my job truly fulfilling .
I will pass your compliments to the driver and tour guides. They will be happy to know they helped make your trip incredible.

I wish you and your family a lifetime of happiness and more amazing trips ahead.

Thank you once again for choosing us and hope to see you again!

With my warm regards from Vietnam!
Hien

3 Weeks in Vietnam and Thailand
Vietnam | Jun 17 - Jul 6, 2024

Stephanie
Stephanie T.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 15, 2024
We knew that planning a 3-week Southeast Asia vacation for my family would be too difficult and overwhelming by ourselves. I'm so happy we went with Hien to help us plan our vacation itineraries for Vietnam and Thailand! I gave her some ideas of places we wanted to visit, as well as some experiences we wanted to have and she ran with it and came up with an amazing itinerary of cultural experiences, historical tours, foodie tours, eco-tours, etc. We've been back home for a week now and have... Read more

We knew that planning a 3-week Southeast Asia vacation for my family would be too difficult and overwhelming by ourselves. I'm so happy we went with Hien to help us plan our vacation itineraries for Vietnam and Thailand! I gave her some ideas of places we wanted to visit, as well as some experiences we wanted to have and she ran with it and came up with an amazing itinerary of cultural experiences, historical tours, foodie tours, eco-tours, etc. We've been back home for a week now and have had time to reflect on our whole trip. The trip was absolutely AMAZING. Everything was planned out perfectly. We always knew we would have a guide greeting us at the airport. We knew we would have a guide/driver to our tours and other scheduled events. The lunches and dinners that were set up especially for us were top-notch. We always knew once we had a new guide, we would have their number and they would be available to answer questions we had or help us out when needed. They were also great picture-takers and we got some wonderful family pictures of our trip! Thank you so much for planning such a wonderful and not-soon-forgotten vacation for our family! We were able to get a taste of what true Vietnam and Thailand are, aside from the usual tourist-trap type locations. The local families we spent time with were so welcoming and the kids really appreciated the local life and customs we partook in. Biking through the villages and rice paddies was an amazing experience that we all are still talking about. The elephant sanctuary in Thailand was also a hit among all family members. What a once-in-a-lifetime experience it was! I want to give accolades to our guide, Cuong, who we had in Hanoi and Ninh Binh. He was an amazing guide and an absolute life-saver when we had to find medical care for our son, as he helped us find what we needed and acted as an interpreter. He truly is top notch among guides and we are very thankful we had him! He was so knowledgeable about everywhere we went and even changed up our schedule in Ninh Binh to better suit what we were looking for in a local experience, to make it that much more meaningful to us.

Hotel Reviews
Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa
Hanoi

Nice accommodations and great location right in the center of the Old Quarter. Hotel staff were extremely nice and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
In the center of it all. Lots of shops and restaurants close by.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hidden Charm Ninh Binh
Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

Lovely accommodations and close to everything. Amazing views!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Aqua of The Seas Cruise

Room was spacious and clean. Not much to do on board in the evening. There was a very loud and obnoxious large group that ravaged the buffet the first day until the second day when everyone was given plated meals. Their children were also loud and uncontrollable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location - Halong Bay
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Silverland May Hotel

Very nice hotel. Very clean with impeccable service and helpful and friendly staff. Large breakfast selection.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
True Siam Rangnam Hotel
Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
De Charme Hotel
Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

Hotel looks nice from the outside but the rooms are dated. The shower and bathroom could use a good scrubbing. The bed was rock hard. We had no hot water the first day. They did fix the hot water the second day and brought a mattress topper, which helped a lot. Staff were not very friendly either. They did allow us a late check out the last day, which was appreciated with a later flight.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Plenty of restaurants in walking distance
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chanalai Garden Resort
Phuket

Lovely hotel, well decorated, friendly staff in the restaurant. Close to beach, pool was very nice. Rooms were clean. We had booked a twin room for our kids but they did not have one available upon check-in, so we had to wait until the next day for one to be available and then move all their belongings. They didn’t allow us late checkout on our last day, but they did store our luggage for us and allow us use of the facilities until our later flight that evening, which was much appreciated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi  - Lan Ha Bay - Onboarding Aqua of The Seas cruise
Hanoi - Lan Ha Bay - Onboarding Aqua of The Seas cruise
Vietnam

The caves were cool and the scenery of Halong Bay was beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bangkok City Tour Full Day (RA)
Bangkok City Tour Full Day (RA)
Bangkok

The temples and the Grand Palace were beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi

Cuong was an amazing guide for this street food tour. We got to experience some of the best eats in Hanoi. It was so much fun and the egg coffee was top notch!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hanoi fullday city tour  with Jade Temple
Hanoi fullday city tour with Jade Temple
Hanoi

Another great day with our guide, Cuong. We had a full day with a visit to the Hang Be market, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, Jade Temple, and finished with a water puppet show.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ninh Binh - Biking trip to Tho Ha village, Nho Quan
Ninh Binh - Biking trip to Tho Ha village, Nho Quan
Ninh Binh

We loved biking through the village and rice fields. We enjoyed our cooking class and going through the Galaxy Grotto caves.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
Vietnam

We actually changed up our itinerary this day and went to Tam Coc instead of Trang An. We went through many caves and had a beautiful scenic view at the Kh Gioi Ravine. Visited the Bich Dong Pagoda and Chus Ha Ha Pagoda. Went motor biking in the evening, which was an absolute blast.

Quality of Experience
Awww
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trung Trang Cave - Tuan Chau - Disembarking Aqua of The Seas Cruise
Trung Trang Cave - Tuan Chau - Disembarking Aqua of The Seas Cruise
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ho Chi Minh City Full Day Sightseeing with Temples
Ho Chi Minh City Full Day Sightseeing with Temples
Ho Chi Minh City

We visited Cho Lin market, Thien Hau pagoda, Ong Bon temple, Independence Palace, Central Post Office, Book Street, and Jade pagoda.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day  City Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bangkok Evening Food & Tuk Tuk Tour
Bangkok Evening Food & Tuk Tuk Tour
Bangkok

The tuk tuks were a lot of fun and the food sampling we did was really cool and delicious!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak floating market  - Half-day
Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak floating market - Half-day
Bangkok
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chiang Mai Half Day city tour - Monk Chatting
Chiang Mai Half Day city tour - Monk Chatting
Chiang Mai
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Doi Inthanon National Park (N)
Doi Inthanon National Park (N)
Chiang Mai

Hiking through the jungle and seeing the rice paddies and wildlife was an experience! The waterfalls were beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour
Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour
Chiang Mai

The highlight of our time in Thailand! Such an amazing experience to be all hands on with these beautiful creatures!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Phuket Hanuman World Zipline Adventure 32 Platform ( private transfer )
Phuket Hanuman World Zipline Adventure 32 Platform ( private transfer )
Phuket
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Jul 17, 2024

Dear Stephanie,

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.

Your satisfaction makes my job truly fulfilling!

I will pass on your compliments to our tour guide - Cuong . He will be happy to know he helped make your trip incredible.

Thank you again for choosing our company and we hope to see you again!

From Vietnam with love,
Hien

This was our 2nd trip booked through KimKim w...
Vietnam | Jun 3 - Jun 23, 2024

Jacqui
Jacqui O.
Australia | Reviewed on Jun 25, 2024
This was our 2nd trip booked through KimKim who engaged Hien from REALISTIC ASIA to plan, book / take care of every aspect of our adventure.
From the 4to5 months before our trip, whilst on the trip and after the trip, Hieńs service was EXCEPTIONAL… our absolute enjoyment seeming to be her main priority every day. She is just lovely and had great attention to detail and we had the peace of mind that at every airport there would be a guide / driver awaiting us, that every day planned our...
Read more

This was our 2nd trip booked through KimKim who engaged Hien from REALISTIC ASIA to plan, book / take care of every aspect of our adventure.
From the 4to5 months before our trip, whilst on the trip and after the trip, Hieńs service was EXCEPTIONAL… our absolute enjoyment seeming to be her main priority every day. She is just lovely and had great attention to detail and we had the peace of mind that at every airport there would be a guide / driver awaiting us, that every day planned our driver would be ready and our guide waiting with all the info we needed and prepared with a fun plan of activities for the day … and offered us every flexibility, if we changed our minded or saw something else we'd prefer to do we could do it as there were just the two of us on this private tour. Our itinerary was a perfect blend of elements from countryside, villages, towns, cities to rivers, mountains, oceans and lagoons.
We love the responsible travel aspect to KimKim - Realistic Asia, each trip having an element of giving to the community and visiting those off the beaten track places we could never find ourselves where we can enjoy authentic local experiences with locals living their day to day lives … it was awesome. We could never have planned or even thought of all the adventures we had by ourselves. And it made everything so easy in a country we hadn’t been to before, where we didnt speak the language or know the customs etc … it was all taken care of for us, without worry. AND we were treated to the most amazing food , food that we would never have thought of trying if by ourselves …. And it was all so delicious.
To Hien, you were amazing, thank you, To our GUIDES, Cuong, Truong, Mr Huey / Channak ‘ thank you soooo very much for your knowledge, care / fun.
I would not hesitaste to use Hieńs services again and highly recommend her and her team.

Hotel Reviews
Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa
Hanoi

Very professional and friendly service in a city centre ‘ old town ‘ hotel. Ideal location for seeing the real old Hanoi.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pu Luong Valley Home
Thanh Hoa

STUNNING hotel set in the rice terraces of Pu Luong. AMAZING room with beautiful view over the terraces to the mountains. We were the only guests at the hotel so had exclusive access to the infinity pool, bar, restaurant. Everything was just wonderful and I highly recommend this hotel and that you visits Pu Luong.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stunning room
Borei Angkor Resort & Spa
Siem Reap

SIMPLY WONDERFUL from start to finish.

Authenticity & Character
Super luxe. Amazing wooden detail, waterfalls, fish ponds, artwork, Felt authentic and opulent.
Location
Very close to where everything is in SIem Reap but far enough away not to be noisy. Set back off the road for ease / comfort. A magnificent en trance.
Staff
Every attention to detail was given. We were treated like royalty.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Impeccable ‘ every detail.
Tam Coc Lion Kings Hotel & Resort
Authenticity & Character
Not much character
Location
A bit out of town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A pretty basic room and standard
Dragon Legend Cruise
Hon Gai

SUPERB from start to finish. EXCEPTIONAL. AMAZING CABINS!!! WONDERFUL STAFF.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel
Hue

Very helpful, friendly staff and nice hotel with sufficient amenities in the centre of old Hue.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cozy An Boutique Hotel Hoian
Hoi An

A MUST VISIT hotel, a short walk from down town Hoi An, which is good as you are out of the way of the noise and hustle. The service from this hotel from start to finish was EXCEPTIONAL. It is a beautiful boutique hotel with a lovely pool area and bar. The staff were just sensational and our room was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Acnos Hotel

The busiest and least personable of the hotels we visited.

Authenticity & Character
No facilities, little character, very plain rooms and bathroom.
Location
Just a short stroll from the Mara let’s and walking street but in a very hectic area
Staff
They were just ok.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ants in our room, dirty floor and. Shard mattress with lumpy old pillow.
Santa Luxury Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi city sightseeing full day - with SOS Children Village
Hanoi city sightseeing full day - with SOS Children Village
Hanoi

Cuong was a BRILLIANT guide and Realistic Asia is very lucky to have him. H ensured we had the best time in Hanoi, saw all the most important sites and had lots of fun ‘ at our pace. He is very kind and caring.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cuong and Mr Dong were fabulous
Transport
Loved the big car
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi

Cuong made this lots of fun! We loved the food and the adventure and this was a great start to our trip.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Trekking to Don Village
Trekking to Don Village
Pu Luong Nature Reserve

We just loved this activity. Simple, basic, raw and authentic. Stunning scenery.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Halong Harbor - Bai Tu Long Bay - Thien Can Son Cave (Dragon Legend cruise)
Halong Harbor - Bai Tu Long Bay - Thien Can Son Cave (Dragon Legend cruise)
Ha Long Bay

Outstanding service and team on the Dragon Legend. Felt like royalty!

Trekking In Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Trekking In Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Pu Luong Nature Reserve

We loved this activity even with the rain. Felt like locals and the scenery was stunning and Cuong was very good company.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hoa Lu - Tam Coc (Half Day)
Hoa Lu - Tam Coc (Half Day)
Vietnam

Loved Tam Coc, one of our favourite places and cycling the town then going down the river was one of our highlight experiences.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Cuc Phuong National Park
Day Trip to Cuc Phuong National Park
Ninh Binh

We didnt do this as there had been torrential rain the day and night before and we didnt fancy the leeches or walking in the mud, so Cuong organised an alternate activity for us which we thoroughly enjoyed

Vung Vieng Fishing Village - Halong Harbor (Indochina Junk)
Vung Vieng Fishing Village - Halong Harbor (Indochina Junk)
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring Tam Giang Lagoon
Exploring Tam Giang Lagoon
Hue

One of the highlights of our trip. This felt very special / authentic. Everything about this was terrific.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day  City Tour
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

We definitely felt rushed on this trip by the guide. It was quite a long drive for a short experience. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable but we just felt rushed.

Quality of Experience
Food
Not the best lunch we had although it was nice.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hue Sightseeing Half Day Tour
Hue Sightseeing Half Day Tour
Hue
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Ba Na Hills
Day Trip to Ba Na Hills
Vietnam

Had a super fun day but did not realise it was a theme park. Felt a bit rushed. The lunch buffet was out of this world and the cable car a big adventure.

Quality of Experience
Food
I have never seen a buffet like this before ‘ truly amazing.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide appeared distracted and rushed.
Transport
Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit
Vietnam

Simply LOVED this experience and the guide was EXCELLENT. Everything about this morning was brilliant. LOVED IT

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
On bikes!
Cooking Class by Vy's Market - Holiday Master Class
Cooking Class by Vy's Market - Holiday Master Class
Hoi An

The cooking demonstrator was excellent an d super friendly and lots of fun and I loved what I cooked. The trip around the markets was great too and the cafe where we had tea. Highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Ho Chi Minh City

We had a great day. It was a long drive. Interesting visit to brick making and coconut candy making etc. The Mekong River boat trip was wonderful and the food at the home stay was delicious. A very special experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
This guide was super friendly and chatty but we felt he rushed us ‘ just a little
Transport
Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple
Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple
Siem Reap

A must do while in Cambodia experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Banteay Srei - Floating Village - City tour
Banteay Srei - Floating Village - City tour
Siem Reap

We did some temples, Tomb Raider for one, today as because it was a public holiday we switched activity days. We were glad to see Tomb Raider separately from the other temples so we could really appreciate it and it was our favourite. Lunch was great. The floating village experience was excellent although it was hard to see the conditions in which people live along the river and in the villages. A very raw experience. Channel, our guide was excellent and is a truly lovely genuine man.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Jun 26, 2024

Dear Jacqui,
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!
Best wishes to you!
From Vietnam with love <3
Hien

Fantastic Trip
Vietnam | May 3 - May 16, 2024

Nadia
Nadia G.
Australia | Reviewed on May 20, 2024
We had an increadible trip in Vietnam thanks to Hien and Realistic Asia. The planning and recommendations were excellent, and Hien went out of her way to adjust our itinerary until it was perfect. When were were travelling she checked in with us and helped us coordinate and change last minute details, it was so helpful to have a local contact who was so responsive and supportive. All the tour guides were amazing, and the hotels and cruises/ events booked were of a really high standard. Thank... Read more

We had an increadible trip in Vietnam thanks to Hien and Realistic Asia. The planning and recommendations were excellent, and Hien went out of her way to adjust our itinerary until it was perfect. When were were travelling she checked in with us and helped us coordinate and change last minute details, it was so helpful to have a local contact who was so responsive and supportive. All the tour guides were amazing, and the hotels and cruises/ events booked were of a really high standard. Thank you Hien for a memorable and enjoyable anniversary trip to Vietnam. Would not hesitate to recommend you and your team.

Hotel Reviews
Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Classic Ma May
Hanoi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Silk Path Grand Hue
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Quảng Nam
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Holiday Master Class - Joint in tour
Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Holiday Master Class - Joint in tour
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on May 21, 2024

Dear Nadia,
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!
From Hanoi with love,
Hien

Excellent multi-generation family trip to Vietnam
Vietnam | Mar 29 - Apr 7, 2024

Jessica
Jessica F.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024
We had a wonderful family vacation to Vietnam. Our group was three generations and included some family members born in Vietnam, returning to the homeland for the first time! Hien was incredible! She created an itinerary for us that took into account our various needs. She included activities that the kids loved, and also made accommodations for my mother-in-law who has limited mobility.
Every time I contacted Hien with questions or changes, she was quick to reply, accommodating and...
Read more

We had a wonderful family vacation to Vietnam. Our group was three generations and included some family members born in Vietnam, returning to the homeland for the first time! Hien was incredible! She created an itinerary for us that took into account our various needs. She included activities that the kids loved, and also made accommodations for my mother-in-law who has limited mobility.
Every time I contacted Hien with questions or changes, she was quick to reply, accommodating and helpful! She was so informative. She also responded right away with a couple confusing things that happened in the country.
Our guides were great! We particularly enjoyed our day with Susan in Bana Hills, and our time with Coung in Hanoi. Both were friendly, easygoing, accommodating, pleasant and fun!
The hotels were great and Hien chose rooms that were perfect for our family unit, always selecting adjoining or combined rooms for us and our young children. The hotels were also very posh, much nicer than anything we could afford at home. We felt like celebrities.
The cruise Hien chose for our family in Halong Bay was also great, and the kids really enjoyed the activities.
Overall, I would highly recommend Hien and Realistic Asia. We will certainly choose them again if we have another chance to do so!

Hotel Reviews
Somerset Chancellor Court Ho Chi Minh City

The hotel had everything we needed for our stay in Ho Chi Minh City. I particularly appreciated the large fresh water container they put in our room so that we could refill our water bottles. It was conveniently located and had a very nice pool that was heated. We swam in the pool every day that we were there! The breakfast was also great, and included several options to order as well as a small buffet. The service was polite and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Sands Oceanfront Danang Hotel
Da Nang

This might be the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. It was so beautiful and luxurious. The staff were polite and warm! The staff at the front door walked us across the street from the door of the hotel to the beach so that we didn't have to brave the traffic patterns alone, and they noticed us trying to get back and came to rescue us from the other side of the road when we needed to return! This was above and beyond any expectations that I have of service. Additionally, the rooftop bar and pool were extremely luxurious and posh. We didn't get a chance to swim because we had already been to the beach, but the view was spectacular. The breakfast was probably the best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel. It was an extensive buffet and every single thing was delicious. It was aided by the fact that you could see the entire 180 degree view of the beach including the giant Buddha statue from the restaurant. We also had dinner in the restaurant and it was a delicious and fabulous meal. All in all, I will remember this hotel forever!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Classic Ma May
Hanoi

This hotel had a beautiful colonial feel to it. The decor was beautiful, service was great, and room was excellent. The rooftop bar is like a nightclub and has fabulous wrought iron work that makes it look like a bridge. It was fun to have drinks up there and look at the city view. Our room was a suite, with two bedrooms, which worked great for us and the kids. The only down side was the lack of a pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right in old town Hanoi.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Halong Capella Cruise
Halong

We had a one night cruise in Halong Bay with Capella. Our cruise director was Tom, Cruise director, which was cute! This cruise was very elegant. The decor and rooms all had that old world charm and were spotless and modern. We had three kids with us age 9, 11, and 14, and this was a great choice for our family. The activities the first day included kayaking, swimming, going down a giant slide into the ocean, and a cooking demonstration with participation from the audience. My kids took advantage of all the activities and had a great time. The second day we went on a short row boat ride through a cave. This was a good activity for the one elder in our party and we all enjoyed it. I think this cruise is a good choice for families with kids and most of the families on the cruise had kids in late elementary school through teen years. The accommodations were top notch and the activities were very fun.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tirant Hotel
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Excellent hotel with beautiful decor. We liked the breakfast a lot and the pool was nice. Great location in the middle of old Hanoi.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laluna Hoi An Riverside Hotel & Spa

Beautiful hotel on the banks of the river. Breakfast was lovely, the pool was lovely and the rooms were decorated in a very luxurious way.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Dark & Bright Cave - Lan Ha Bay - Tuan Chau (Capella)
Dark & Bright Cave - Lan Ha Bay - Tuan Chau (Capella)
Ha Long Bay

Out of all the activities that we did, this one was not particularly memorable. The cave was tiny. Halong bay in general was amazing and the boat driver was great, but the actual activity didn't add much to our experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Immerse yourself in the Beauty of Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave)
Immerse yourself in the Beauty of Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave)
Vietnam

We had a very memorable and fantastic day visiting Ninh Binh. Our guide, Cuong, was friendly, warm and informative. We enjoyed our time with him. We all enjoyed climbing the 550 steps to the top of the lookout, and my son and husband actually went up both peaks. We have some great pictures. The boat ride was also very memorable. It was so interesting how the boat drivers rowed with their feet. Our boats stopped and we walked up another 87 steps for a view of the rice fields. This was amazing and beautiful. Definitely recommend this excursion!

Quality of Experience
Food
The included lunch was fabulous! We all enjoyed the regional food and drinks.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Halong - Lan Ha Bay - Frog Lagoon Area (Capella)
Halong - Lan Ha Bay - Frog Lagoon Area (Capella)
Ha Long Bay

We had a great time in Frog Lagoon. Our ship was fabulous, and we parked in Frog Lagoon for kayaking, swimming and using a giant inflatable slide. These were great activities for our family, which includes three kids between the ages of 9-14. They all loved the activities and the location. I highly recommend this excursion.

Quality of Experience
Day trip to Bana Hills
Day trip to Bana Hills
Vietnam

We had a lovely day trip with Susan, our guide. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and enjoyable to be around. She picked us up in Hoian and dropped us at Danang in the late afternoon. During the day, she took us up to Bana Hills and guided us to the Golden Hands Bridge, the gardens and on a couple rides at the amusement park. We were pretty exhausted after that and opted to return to Danang to take advantage of the beach, which was fabulous. Thanks Susan for your help and flexibility in accommodating the needs of our family!

Quality of Experience
Food
We ate at a buffet at Bana Hills that was German themed, but mostly included Vietnamese food. Everything was very tasty!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An Half-Day  Sightseeing
Hoi An Half-Day Sightseeing
Hoi An

James was our guide for our half day in Hoi An. Hoi An is beautiful and the old town is so quaint. First, we stopped for Bunmi, and really enjoyed the sandwiches. Then we toured around the old quarter, which has so much charm! James was very knowledgeable and is a local, so he knew many shopkeepers and sellers. He was flexible to meet the needs of our family and deposited us at our hotel. I didn't get enough of the old town, so I went back out to shop at the cute stores while my husband and kids went swimming at the hotel. I felt very safe and comfortable in this area, even as a foreign woman walking around by myself. I wish I had had a little more time in this area, it was great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 11, 2024

Dear Jessica,
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 with your family!
Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable trips for our future clients. I will pass your kind word to the whole team that you met in the trip.
It’s such a great honor to be a small part in your trip to the homeland. You are such a great customer , thank you again for choosing our company and we hope to see you again!
From Vietnam with love,
Hien

Wonderful 9 day tour of Vietnam
Vietnam | Mar 22 - Mar 30, 2024

J
John S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024
My family group of 4 booked a 9 day tour of Vietnam through Hien at KimKim. Hien was responsive and professional. She put together a wonderful tour schedule based on our requests. The guides and drivers were timely, polite and very informative. We started in Hanoi, proceeded to Ha Long Bay, then Hue before finishing in Go Chi Minh City. Our itinerary at each stop was a mixture of city tours, museums, food tours, historical points of interest, and a two day/one night cruise on Ha Long... Read more

My family group of 4 booked a 9 day tour of Vietnam through Hien at KimKim. Hien was responsive and professional. She put together a wonderful tour schedule based on our requests. The guides and drivers were timely, polite and very informative. We started in Hanoi, proceeded to Ha Long Bay, then Hue before finishing in Go Chi Minh City. Our itinerary at each stop was a mixture of city tours, museums, food tours, historical points of interest, and a two day/one night cruise on Ha Long Bay. Hotels and food met our requested levels. We couldn’t have asked for more for our first trip through Vietnam.

Hotel Reviews
La Sinfonía Majesty Hotel and Spa

Stayed 3 nights as part of a Vietnam tour. Staff was friendly and helpful. Breakfast was included in our stay and was delicious. Hotel was clean and centrally located in the historic district close to restaurants and the local street scene.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Elite of the Seas

Rooms were spacious, crew was very attentive, and food was awesome. We had a two day , one night cruise which was a bit rushed but fit our schedule.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Silk Path Grand Hue

Stayed here two nights in Hue as part of a 9 day Vietnam tour. Hotel was beautiful, centrally located, and clean. Staff was very helpful and buffet breakfast was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Caravelle Saigon

Stayed here two nights. Located in district 1, the hotel is right in the middle of downtown and close to restaurants and many historical attractions. Rooms were clean and comfortable and staff was very attentive and helpful. Breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore the History and Beauty of Hanoi city tour and Water Puppet show
Explore the History and Beauty of Hanoi city tour and Water Puppet show
Hanoi

Our tour guide was very informative. Loved the cultural museum. The water puppet show was unique but hard to follow the story.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City

Tour was about 90 minute drive from downtown hotel. Guide was very knowledgable. Tour was very informative about the history of the VC tunnels.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)
Hanoi

This was a walking tour leaving from our hotel in the historic district. Some of the stops were better than others. Loved the rice noodle dishes. We stopped at a food stall in a dark alley that served fried fish in broth. While we are very comfortable with street food, this stop on the tour was a little uncomfortable even for us in terms of cleanliness and quality. Bahn Mi stop was also a little disappointing as it was a vegetable sandwich instead of pate or other protein.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring Hue Citadel City Tour Full Day
Exploring Hue Citadel City Tour Full Day
Hue

Loved the historical aspects of the Hue tour. Our guide was very informative. Visited two emperor burial sites which were very different but both very impressive. Had a great set menu lunch inside the citadel. The tour of the imperial palace was great. The food market tour is underwhelming.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring Ho Chi Minh city  Half Day Tour
Exploring Ho Chi Minh city Half Day Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

We enjoyed our half day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Loved the history of the old post office, the Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh memorial. Our guide brought all the historical sights to life with his detailed descriptions and ability to answer all questions.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Onboarding Elite of the Seas Cruise (2D1N)
Onboarding Elite of the Seas Cruise (2D1N)
Ha Long Bay

This cruise was top notch. Ships rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable. Staff was friendly and helpful. Food was delicious.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show with Dinner
A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show with Dinner
Ho Chi Minh City

We loved this show. We didn’t know what to expect. It was more like a culturally based acrobatic show. Very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting Dark and Bright Cave - Disembarking Elite of the Seas (2D1N)
Visiting Dark and Bright Cave - Disembarking Elite of the Seas (2D1N)
Ha Long Bay

Uniting from the cruise ship. A small boat took us from the cruise ship to a platform where we got on a 6 person raft with a local lady rowing the boat to the caves. Relaxing ride with beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Dear John,

Thanks so much for your review! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam with your family.
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.

With my best regards,
Hien

Hien was our trip organizer and she is very p...
Vietnam | Mar 10 - Mar 25, 2024

Brian
Brian C.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024
Hien was our trip organizer and she is very patient and accommodating. During the planning stages of the trip she amended our itinerary many times until we were completely satisfied. She also checked in with us several times during our trip to make sure everything was going well.
The selected accommodations were better than expected, the drivers were polite, professional and reliable and our guides were friendly, informative and very passionate about Vietnam.
All in all a great experience!...
Read more

Hien was our trip organizer and she is very patient and accommodating. During the planning stages of the trip she amended our itinerary many times until we were completely satisfied. She also checked in with us several times during our trip to make sure everything was going well.
The selected accommodations were better than expected, the drivers were polite, professional and reliable and our guides were friendly, informative and very passionate about Vietnam.
All in all a great experience! We will definitely use Realistic Asia for our future travel plans.
Brian

Hotel Reviews
Au Lac Charner Hotel

Great value! Perfect location, friendly staff and wonderful buffet breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very convenient location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laluna Hoi An Riverside Hotel & Spa

Great location, comfortable, clean and very pleasant staff. Our room faced the river and this had many positives but one major negative. The negative was that the room was adjacent to the lobby and elevators so it could be noisy at times.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness was immaculate, however our room was too close to the lobby and could be noisy at times.
Eldora Hue
Hue

This is a truly authentic and stylish hotel. Great ambiance! The indoor pool area is wonderful with steam bath and sauna rooms close by. One caution is that the hot water taps in the room can be very hot!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Very nice hotel in an excellent location in the heart of the old city. There are a total of three sister hotels in the immediate area however the La Siesta Classic Hang Thung is the only one with a pool. We stayed a total of three nights and would have stayed for a fourth, but instead we were upgraded to the La Siesta Premium in a Penthouse Suite! What a treat! Wonderful hotels and amazing staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Such nice friendly staff!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh

A unique boutique hotel in a great location. Wonderful staff! A very nice embroidery shop in the hotel with well priced selection of products.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nostalgia Cruises Ha Long

A truly wonderful experience. We booked the King suite and it was roomy with a large private balcony. This vessel is not as large as some of the others but that means a smaller group of guests. Excellent, friendly staff attend to all your needs. A good selection of activities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 05, 2024

Dear Brian,
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!
With my very best regards,
Hien

Trip to Vietnam and Cambodia
Vietnam | Feb 15 - Mar 9, 2024

Jackie
Jackie M.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 23, 2024
Guides: The guides on our trip were all good, but our favourites were Victor Tran (Hanoi, Pu Luong, and Ninh Binh) and Wibol (Siem Reap). Victor was very accommodating to our interests and took many photos for us, took care of all payments during our tours and we felt generally very well taken care of. He had a cup of ginger honey lemon tea made for my husband one morning when he was feeling unwell.
Chanh Cao - accompanied us from Hue to Hoi An via Danang - he gave us so much information...
Read more

Guides: The guides on our trip were all good, but our favourites were Victor Tran (Hanoi, Pu Luong, and Ninh Binh) and Wibol (Siem Reap). Victor was very accommodating to our interests and took many photos for us, took care of all payments during our tours and we felt generally very well taken care of. He had a cup of ginger honey lemon tea made for my husband one morning when he was feeling unwell.
Chanh Cao - accompanied us from Hue to Hoi An via Danang - he gave us so much information and was an excellent guide, albeit for a short time

Hotels: I will rank each hotel below:
Hanoi - San Boutique hotel - 3.5* - a quaint hotel with very nice staff; the room was small and bathroom was okay, but shower was a bit dirty as there was a blind in the shower; hotel was feeling a bit dated; breakfast buffet and service were excellent and the rooftop breakfast area was lovely.

Pu Luong - Pu Luong Eco Garden - 4.5* - I would give it 5* except for the first night in room 101. The room had a strong moldy smell throughout and the bathroom tiles smelled of urine. The room was very ‘wet’ in the morning, as the windows were completely covered in moisture. There was mold on some of the wood furniture legs. We were moved to a villa for our next two nights which was lovely. Again, an issue with moisture in the bathroom, but otherwise it was great. The restaurant was very nice and the breakfast was good. The main desk staff and manager, Mr. ?… I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel for its beautiful setting and lovely villas.

Ninh Binh - Le CLos Du Fil - 4.5* - absolutely lovely hotel; great attention to detail; rooms were a good size, bed and bedding very comfortable; lovely robes, slippers and linen touches throughout the room. Blow dryer not attached to the wall was a bonus. Very nice breakfast buffet and dining area. Staff were professional and excellent location. Spa was a bit disorganized and think they recruited people who work in the massage parlours on the street to come for our appointments. Massage was fine. Bikes may need to be updated as some were in disrepair. I would recommend this hotel, however better maintenance is required to keep the hotel in good condition.

Stellar of the Seas - 4.5* our room was on second floor and was very nice. Very clean and lovely amenities, such as robes and a nice tub, shower combo. The boat was very nice and we enjoyed the small size with only 40 people plus staff. Food was excellent and breakfast buffet was also very nice. BBQ one night on the deck was a lot of fun and food very good.

Hue - Rosaleen Boutique Hotel - 2* - this was the worst hotel of our trip. The room was dirty , especially the bathroom area. There was a moldy smell - our friends’ room didn’t have this odor. Hien was good about communicating with the hotel, but aside from adding a room freshener and ‘cleaning’ it more thoroughly, it was still not a nice stay. The photos on the website are deceiving. I would NOT recommend this hotel. The breakfast in the adjacent building was very nice in a nice setting. I will send photos separately.

Hoi An - Cozy A Boutique Hotel - 5* - this was by far the best hotel we stayed at. Every detail was very high quality and the staff were exceptional. The room was well appointed with robes and slippers, a blow dryer that wasn’t attached to the wall. The breakfast and dining area was bright and clean and the food was excellent. The pool area was inviting and there were lots of areas to sit and relax. The bicycles were in new condition and easy to obtain for use. The location was perfect, a nice walk to the busy area, but a bit outside of the area so quieter. I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City - Blue Diamond Luxury Hotel - 3* - Our first room was dark and dreary and the furniture and walls banged up; an update is needed; the second ‘upgraded’ room was on a higher floor, but was tiny with a smaller bed (not King sized) and the bathroom was terrible - a big tub, but a tiny shower with a huge shower head and no room to move, the area shared with the toilet. The bathroom was difficult to use with two people. There was no hot water in the shower. It was generally cleaner than Rosaleen. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

Siem Reap - Royal Crown Hotel - 4* - originally we were put in a double deluxe room, and were supposed to be upgraded. We checked and they hadn’t upgraded us (they did upgrade our friends, and we checked in together, so not sure why they got this wrong). The room in the old part of the hotel faced another wall and was dark and a big depressing. The new upgraded room was great, and was in the NEW part of the hotel, overlooking the pool and facing the street. The room was very spacious as was the bathroom. There were robes.

Phnom Penh - LCS Hotel - 3.5* - thankfully we were in an ‘upgraded’ room. The bathroom had an awkward design and the shower flooded the entire tub surround and floor area; we didn’t have enough towels to dry it all up. The room was very comfortable and spacious and clean. The decor in the hotel was dated and some updating had likely happened. The rooftop pool was very nice and the breakfast buffet was fine - excellent coffee. I probably wouldn’t return to this hotel.

Tours:
Hanoi - everything was great. The only thing I would omit was the visit to the art gallery, as we felt like we had to purchase something, and feel that we overpaid for what we got as we say examples of it for the remainder of the trip.
Pu Luong - absolutely loved this part of Vietnam. We loved the rural nature of the area, the rice paddies, hikes and visit to a local school
Ninh Binh - enjoyed the boat tour through the caves and Victor suggested we see Trang An at the time of year that we were visiting, rather than Tam Loc, which is better to view in the autumn. Victor helped us to have a nice experience in this area.
Stellar of the Seas - a nice break in our busy itinerary. We were sad to see the garbage in Halong Bay. Our butler Eric was excellent. The staff was great. Cat Ba Island was our main tour and it was interesting to visit. This was a tour with a larger group.
Hue - enjoyed the architecture of the citadel and the mausoleums; while it was interesting to see how incense is made, we purchased some and it just smells like smoke unfortunately. Not sure how much of this is influenced by the hotel we stayed in, but if I were eliminating a city, it would be Hue.
Hoi An - loved Hoi An - it was nice to have some unstructured time. Visiting the silk factory was interesting. We loved wandering the streets, shopping for custom clothing and local wares. Dining and rooftop patios were great. A very busy city, so glad we had a hotel a little outside of the main area. Riding bikes on a couple of occasions was a lot of fun, especially to An Bang beach. We went to a performance of Teh Dar at the Lune Theatre which was spectacular and I would highly recommend.
Ho Chi Minh City - loved our Vespa food tour - very professional staff and we felt very safe - guide Jason was really good and he made us small souvenir photo books as well as taking and sharing many photos from our night.
Mekong Delta - we were a bit disappointed by how touristy this part of our tour was. The bicycles available were in ill repair, so only two of us could ride.
Siem Reap - Angkor Wat and other temples - great tours - Wibol took lots of fun videos of our experiences.
Ate in an excellent restaurant one night called Haven which is committed to helping local youth to become trained in the hospitality industry - a story I recommend you become familiar with.
Kulen Mountain - enjoyed the rural nature of this tour. Visiting a school in Chan Sa was a highlight. Our local tour guide for this part of the day was excellent. We did need to tip throughout the day, and fortunately we had enough money in the correct amounts to be able to do so. Perhaps let people know to bring money for tipping. On other tours, our guides took care of all of this for us. Could have omitted the ox cart ride.
Tonle Sap Lake - very interesting - shocking to see so much garbage
Phnom Penh - very emotional and moving experience seeing S-21 and Choeung Ed Genocide Centre/Killing Fields - a must see
Overall, an amazing trip!! So memorable. Thank you Hien and the Kim Kim (Realistic Asia) team

Hotel Reviews
San Boutique Hotel Hanoi

A small boutique hotel. Room was comfortable and clean with a small terrace. Breakfast area was lovely with a big balcony. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to everything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pu Luong Eco Garden

We stayed in a villa which was lovely and spacious. The bed and linens were comfortable and clean. The bathroom was huge and worked very well for two people. Unfortunately for our first night, we had originally been put in a first floor room that had a strong smell of mold and was very damp. The bathroom also had a very off-putting odor. The staff was great at accommodating our request to move the next day, with the help of our guide. The breakfast was lovely and the dining room had an outdoor terrace which was great for taking in the beautiful view and sounds of the morning. Excellent staff and management team.

Authenticity & Character
Lush and green setting with breathtaking view
Location
Remote but such a nice break from the busy city - gorgeous views and close to hiking, caves and rice paddies
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh

Such a quaint and beautiful hotel. The room was very clean and the linens and decor were all high quality. The linen and embroidered touches everywhere were very special, from the hair dryer bag, to the pillows and wall art. The bathroom was small, but functional. Even the hallways were lovely and inviting! The breakfast area was very nice as it was adjacent to the pool. The small embroidery shop had the most beautiful linen pieces, art and smocked and embroidered girls’ dresses, I had to buy one, even though I don’t have grandchildren yet! They also had beautiful pillow cover and pyjamas. The staff was professional and very friendly and helpful. Loved the quiet location, but walking distance to everything. Perhaps some of the bicycles could be upgraded or replaced. Highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Every detail was perfect
Location
Quiet, close to the main square
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stellar of the Seas
quảng ninh

Lovely room on second(top) floor. Quite spacious for a small ship. The bathroom was spacious and worked well for two people. We liked the size of the boat as it only had 20 rooms, so a nice break from all the tourist spots we had been visiting. The amenities on the ship were a bit tired. The putting area was a fun activity and was very good; however the workout equipment was in rough shape. Perhaps investing in some new fitness equipment would be good; although most people only stay on the ship for one night, for those who want a light workout, it would be nice to have better equipment. The staff was outstanding!! For those who want to go on Ha Long Bay tour, I would definitely recommend Stellar or its sister ship Elite of the Sea (a much larger boat), because some of the other ships we say looked quite tired and in need of some updating and repair.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Ha Long Bay was beautiful; however we were quite surprised by the amount of garbage in the bay. Also a lot of other boats.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel
Hue

Unfortunately I would not recommend this hotel, at least not the room that we stayed in. Our room had a moldy smell and was dirty and needed a deep cleaning. The bathroom was very dirty and in disrepair. Fortunately we were only there two nights, as they were unable to move us to a different room. In fairness, our friends’ room was better, no smell, although they also said the bathroom wasn’t very clean. They were on the opposite side of the hotel, so maybe that made a difference. The hotel staff did an extra cleaning of the room and added an air freshener which helped with the smell. They also gave us vouchers for free coffees at the coffee shop next door. I don’t remember the room number, but this room needs some attention. Otherwise the hotel was good. The breakfast area in the adjacent building was a lovely and bright and the food was very good. The location was excellent and close to the action. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I would rate the room as a 2.5 and the hotel as a 3.5, overall as they did what they could to help us with the problem with our room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathroom needs a very deep cleaning or a renovation. Walls need to be cleaned or painted. Mold smell needs to be addressed. Overall improvements needed.
Cozy An Boutique Hotel Hoian
Hoi An

Absolutely LOVED this hotel. Everything about it was perfect. It is a new hotel and a lot of attention was paid to the details in the design and management. The room was beautiful and spacious, and very cozy as the name implies. The bathroom was a very good design and layout with a lovely bathtub, although we didn’t use it. The main areas of the hotel were inviting and there were lots of places to sit and relax in the bar area and pool side. The staff was excellent - professional and helpful. The location was great as it was off the beaten track, but within walking distance to the market and restaurants. We had easy access to very nice bicycles and we could safely ride around the area and to the beach. I will highly recommend this hotel to friends who visit Hoi An.

Authenticity & Character
The decor reflected the city - lantern decor, silky robes, local artisan art in the dining area.
Location
Staff
Very helpful when arranging tuktuk’s or setting up bikes
Cleanliness & Comfort
High quality linens and comfortable bed. Clean throughout - bathroom very clean, and shower well designed with a door, unlike many hotels on our tour
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 27, 2024

Dear Jackie,
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed experience in Vietnam and Cambodia 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!
From Vietnam with love
Hien

A special shoutout must be made to Hien, our ...
Vietnam | Feb 28 - Mar 16, 2024

Susan
Susan R.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024
A special shoutout must be made to Hien, our agent. We cannot say enough about her! She organized a beautiful trip for us in Vietnam with drivers and guides starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Min City. Various activities were organized in every destination which really gave us the feel of local culture and customs such as cooking activities, bicycle riding and meeting local people. It added immeasurably to the experience. Everything worked like clockwork. The hotels were 5 star all the... Read more

A special shoutout must be made to Hien, our agent. We cannot say enough about her! She organized a beautiful trip for us in Vietnam with drivers and guides starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Min City. Various activities were organized in every destination which really gave us the feel of local culture and customs such as cooking activities, bicycle riding and meeting local people. It added immeasurably to the experience. Everything worked like clockwork. The hotels were 5 star all the way. Hien was available at all times to answer all our questions. When we had to leave early due to a family emergency she changed all the flights immediately and made the process very smooth. We cannot say enough about her excellent planning, efficiency and personal attention. She made our trip a memorable one in every way! Thank you Hien!

Hotel Reviews
Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa
Lao Cai

Absolutely glorious hotel! 10 star!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Beautiful modern hotel in old Hanoi. Nguyen Ha at the front desk was extremely helpful which was much appreciated. Christina, a waitress in the restaurant, was charming and sweet, and the staff in general were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tam Coc Garden Resort
Ninh Binh

Wow, what to say about this place? Fabulous location in a gorgeous garden setting with bungalows set in the property. Everything was 5 star including the wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Everyone was friendly and welcoming. The women who did the massages were outstanding!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Elite of the Seas
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pilgrimage Village Hue
Hue

Gorgeous hotel in a fabulous garden setting. Excellent services, wonderful staff, particularly Nguyen Thanh, one of the managers, and Claudia the Maître D’hôtel. A big commendation to them for their warmth and kindness during a family emergency.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 24, 2024

Dear Susan & Peter,
Thank you for your kind words and thorough feedback! It warms my heart to that you had a great and memorable trip to my homeland with our team.
We’re very grateful for travelers like you and hope to see you and Peter again.
Best wishes!
Hien

Loved everything about our Vietnam/Cambodia trip
Vietnam | Feb 15 - Mar 9, 2024

Mary
Mary F.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024
We have never booked a trip like this with a travel agency before and I have to say it was an amazing experience. We were thrilled to find out KIMKIM operates in other places around the world. The attention to detail and quick responses by our travel agent Hien before and during the trip made us feel totally at ease. All our guides were so knowledgable, had a good command of English and were eager to have us get the most out of each excursion. However Victor in Vietnam and Wibol in Siem Reap... Read more

We have never booked a trip like this with a travel agency before and I have to say it was an amazing experience. We were thrilled to find out KIMKIM operates in other places around the world. The attention to detail and quick responses by our travel agent Hien before and during the trip made us feel totally at ease. All our guides were so knowledgable, had a good command of English and were eager to have us get the most out of each excursion. However Victor in Vietnam and Wibol in Siem Reap went the "extra mile" for us. Although it is hard to pick our favourite excursions the top three would be our time in Pu Long Nature Reserve, Tam Coc river tour and the Vespa Food tour in Ho Chi Min City.

Hotel Reviews
San Boutique Hotel Hanoi

The San Boutique was a wonderful location. So great to be able to walk to the lake in the morning and see all the women doing Tai Chi. The breakfast was delicious and offered lots of options. What really stood out was the staff, they were all so helpful and kind.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pu Luong Eco Garden

This was magical place partially based on the sheer location. The view of the valley was specular in the morning and evening. If you are staying in the main building I would suggest staying on the second floor. Having a pool was a fun option.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Clos Du Fil Hotel
Ninh Binh

This was one of our favourite hotels on many levels. The atmosphere and the embroidery theme was really lovely. The gift shop had so many options of items to buy. I didn't purchase I piece of art that I am so excited to hang in my home. There was a pool that we didn't use, but it looked great. We used the spa and had massages that were very theraputic. The room was spacious and very clean. The breakfast room and options available was extensive. Also there were bikes for our use. If you are staying in Ninh Binh you can't go wrong here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stellar of the Seas
quảng ninh

What a treat from the moment you go on board until you leave. Our room was great although the shower/ bathing situation made no sense and water went everywhere. The activities and tours that were an option were all fun and we are really glad we took advantage., from kayaking off the boat, to a morning cave tour and a trip to Cat Ba Island. What made the entire trip was the crew and staff. Eric was fabulous and so was the fellow who coordinated and ran the excursions. I just can't recall his name. Well worth the splurge!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel
Hue

The location of this hotel is excellent. The lobby was wonderful. However the room was really disappointing. The room felt dirty, but it was really just a mold situation. The shower curtain needs to be replaced. Of all the hotels this was our least favourite.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
I think they need someone on the front desk who speaks more English for when there are issues.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cozy An Boutique Hotel Hoian
Hoi An

Hands down favourite hotel of the whole trip! The staff was wonderful and were very helpful with so many things. The rooms and the decor in general was just excellent. The hotel had bikes we could use. There was a beautiful pool which we sat beside while having morning coffee. The restaurant for lunch (one day) and breakfast everyday was fantastic. Although the location is a little bit far away from the old town, it was well worth the effort and easy to get a tuk tuk.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Blue Diamond Luxury Hotel

I think if you are staying in Ho Chi Minh you could do better staying somewhere else. The hotel is dated and tired. the location of the shower in the bathroom with regards to the toilet and tub is really strange and water ended going everywhere. The design is strange. The room was really small and there was no place for luggage. On our return we had a better room but the bathroom remained an issue in terms of water. The breakfast offerings were just okay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
I felt that the staff in breakfast room were very short staffed and frustrated with the situation.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Royal Crown Hotel & Spa

Wonderful hotel in a great location with an extensive breakfast room with so much food variety. There are two pools for swimming in with an adjacent bar. There is a fantastic spa on site that offered so many services. There was a roof top bar with food as well. I would defiantly recommend this hotel in Siem Reap.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
LCS Hotel

This hotel is a little tired, looking however our rooms which had been upgraded were both spacious and clean. The issue with this hotel was the location. It is the only place I didn't really feel safe walking around at night. There was a breakfast room on the roof and also a small pool up there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It is too far away from places one might want to see.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Mar 20, 2024

Dear Mary,
We are very thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam & Cambodia.
Thanks for your kind words about me and our guides. I'll pass the review on to the team and I'm sure they will really appreciate it too!
Thank you again for trusting our company and kimkim, and hope you will visit us again for Thailand trip for example ;)
My very best from Hanoi <3
Hien