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Long Dao

Hi, my name is Long. I am a young and passionate travel specialist from Vietnam. I was in love with travel since I was a child and always wanted it to be a part of my life.
My idea about travelling is creating life-long memories and bringing inspiration. I love to explore different parts of my country and Indochina, meet new people and learn something new, and I am happy to share my expertise and experience with others to create an unforgettable trip.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I have the expertise to organise any kind of trip to any part of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. We have great ideas for a romantic getaway, foodie tour or cultural exploration, we know all the best beaches in Indochina, as well as the trekking and cycling routes.
Moreover, following our concept of authentic experience our tours always have a variety of hands-on experiences for deeper immersion into local life and culture. It could be cooking lesson, learnign local crafts, farming, fishing and more. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"My parents often took me on trips to the mountains in Northern Vietnam. For me, it was like getting into another world when the narrow and cosy streets of Hanoi were transforming into emerald rice fields and the hills covered by jungles. I was visiting rural villages with friendly people who always give me a smile and live a completely different life from me. Sometimes I imagined that I am a pilgrim from the adventure books I liked to read.
Since that time it was my dream to make travel a part of my life. This is why I have chosen to study tourism at university, and since I graduated in 2014 I have been working as a travel specialist. The dream came true, I am doing what I love, I am travelling a lot and now have an opportunity to show the charm of my country to others and help them to create beautiful memories from the journey. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My most memorable trip was not long to central Vietnam. I was travelling solo and took a train to Hue, where I would have a short stay, and from where I planned to rent a motorbike to ride to Hoi An via the famous Hai Van Pass.
Because of the rain, I had to stay in Hue for a bit longer and met a few motorbike taxi drivers, who used to be the travel guides before, but because of the pandemic, they had to become taxi drivers as a part-time job to be able to wait when the travel will be back. We went to the local coffee shop to wait until the rain is over and talked a lot about travelling and our jobs. All of them went through a difficult time but still are very optimistic and happy, and already making plans for the time tourism will be recovered. It did really inspire me to see that people who are passionate about their jobs like me do not give up and are so optimistic. And somehow they have shared with me their optimism and gave me more energy to continue what I am doing. "

Long is part of the following groups: Thailand Travel Agents, Vietnam Travel Agents
Sample the best of Vietnam's cuisine on this food-focused tour
South to North Food Tour of Vietnam - 8 Days

Besides its natural beauty and thousands of years of history, Vietnam ranks as one of the globe's great food destinations. You'll experience all the culture and cuisine you can handle as you make your way from Ho Chi Minh City up the central coast to the capital of Hanoi. Throughout, you'll mix street food tours with fun activities like basket boat rides and a cruise on Ha Long Bay.

Discover the pagoda of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in the evening
Thailand North & South: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket - 12 Days

Experience the best of Thailand's varied landscapes, from mountains to islands to dense metropolises, on this 12-day itinerary. Explore Bangkok, travel by Skytrain, and visit teeming markets set alongside train tracks and within ancient canals. Then, tour the elaborate, architecturally stunning temples in Chiang Mai, wrapping up your stay relaxing, swimming, and snorkeling in Phuket.

Discover the all-wood Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya
Wonders of Thailand: Bangkok, Pattaya & Koh Samui - 9 Days

Experience Thailand's best sights on this nine-day tour, from ancient temples and Buddha statues to endless island beaches. Begin in the bustling capital to visit its most famous sites, like Wat Traimit and the Temple of Dawn, and tuck into its delicious street food. Head to Pattaya for the experience of a lifetime at a heart-warming elephant sanctuary, then hop over to the island of Koh Samui and cruise around the tranquil Ang Thong National Marine Park by boat.

Kids will love Hoi An in Vietnam
Family Trip to Vietnam & Thailand: From Hanoi to Phuket - 14 Days

Having trouble choosing between Vietnam and Thailand for your family trip to Southeast Asia? This exciting two-week itinerary includes highlights from both countries. The tour starts in Hanoi and spends time in Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City before flying to Thailand, where you'll get busy in Bangkok and Ayutthaya before taking things down a few notches in Phuket. Kids and parents will love this trip's combination of culture, active adventures, and relaxation.

Marvel at the bright lights of lively Bangkok
Explore Thailand From City to Sea: Bangkok & Phuket- 6 Days

From temples galore in Bangkok to island hopping off the coast of Phuket, you'll get two different perspectives of Thailand on this exciting six-day trip. Start in the capital to see the city's most historic and spectacular temples, then grab your bathing suit and head to the beaches of Phuket, Thailand's largest island. Here you'll zoom around the islands of Ko Phi Phi by speedboat and discover secluded beaches, caves, and coves for the ultimate island escape.

Refresh with a dip in the Pa Dok Siew Waterfall, Chiang Mai
Highlights of Thailand - 8 Days

Experience the best of Bangkok and Chiang Mai on this eight-day getaway. Visit floating markets and temples in Bangkok, cycle through Thailand's old capital, Thonburi, and float down the river on a long-tail boat. Learn traditional cooking methods as the house guest of a Thai family in Chiang Mai, and witness the sacred mountainous temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The adventure culminates with a day out in the spectacular Doi Inthanon National park.

Recent trip reviews for Long

Short Vietnam visit with sites that were culturally interesting and stays that were super comfortable
Vietnam | Feb 17 - Feb 25, 2023

TRACY
TRACY M.
Wakefield, MA | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

This vacation was great! Long planned interesting cultural site visits and respected our choice to have some free time. Our guides were all knowledgable, spoke great English, and made everything convenient for us. Meeting the guides and drivers were so helpful and took a load off our shoulders!

We loved Vietnam. What a beautiful and very friendly country. We didn't get a chance to see it all and hope to return to revisit Hoi An (our favorite stop with the BEST hotel - the La Siesta)... read more

This vacation was great! Long planned interesting cultural site visits and respected our choice to have some free time. Our guides were all knowledgable, spoke great English, and made everything convenient for us. Meeting the guides and drivers were so helpful and took a load off our shoulders!

We loved Vietnam. What a beautiful and very friendly country. We didn't get a chance to see it all and hope to return to revisit Hoi An (our favorite stop with the BEST hotel - the La Siesta) and then get down to Ho Chi Minh city, which we had no time to visit.

Kimkim.com made the trip so much easier even though I did do the initial planning of WHERE to go for our limited time. Once that was decided, all the plans were put in place by Long. He provided excellent communication during planning and while we were in country. Super grateful for his immediate responses if we had any issues. Would definitely plan another trip with Kimkim.com

Hotel Reviews
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
Quảng Nam

We loved the La Siesta in Hoi An. What an AMAZING resort. We all said we should have stayed there longer than we did. Since we hadn't had time to visit Ho Chi Minh City -we hope we can return to Hoi An and the hotel and then visit the rest of Vietnam. Beautiful grounds, terrific pools and amenities, great food and comfortable rooms. We can't rave about it enough!

Authenticity & Character
We loved it and perhaps it was a bit more modern than surroundings, it was a terrific stay
Location
a little far from the old city - but doable
Staff
Service was great. Everyone was friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Love the accommodations of a twin room for the kids and separate room for us!
Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
Hà Nội

Loved the amenities, service, restaurant, and room. However, being in the middle of a busy area made it a bit loud.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just a little loud. Unfortunately we didn't get out to explore much because of our tight schedule. Just the immediate area was "scary" due to the many, many scooters
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
just a little loud - loved the separation of the rooms from the kids
Orchid Trendy Cruise

Terrific cruise. Good rooms for our family. Friendly staff and great excursions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liberty Central Nha Trang
Nha Trang

The rooms were nice and having 2 rooms for our family was more than accommodating. Rooms were hot and floor/hallways were a bit smelly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Love accessibility to beach and restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
hallways smelled
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

Dear Tracy,
Thanks so much for your review and your kind words! We’re really glad to know that you enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam and liked our country. I agree about Hoi An, it is one of my favorite places too. 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.
Long

Two Weeks in Vietnam for Two Female Americans
Vietnam | Feb 11 - Feb 25, 2023

Lynn
Lynn A.
Chanhassen, MN | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2023

First, I want to compliment Long on his incredible planning. Every detail was thoughtfully offered to me in the planning stage. We went through four iterations of the trip until it was exactly what I wanted and Long helped me add some details to match other plans as I wanted to meet up with my husband and friend at the end of the trip also. I was so delighted with each and every daily adventure! I had no idea how special each decision Long offered was until I experienced them. The... read more

First, I want to compliment Long on his incredible planning. Every detail was thoughtfully offered to me in the planning stage. We went through four iterations of the trip until it was exactly what I wanted and Long helped me add some details to match other plans as I wanted to meet up with my husband and friend at the end of the trip also. I was so delighted with each and every daily adventure! I had no idea how special each decision Long offered was until I experienced them. The attention to the details of the experiences provided the best possible stays, the best possible guides, and the best possible experience of the trip. He even managed to help us with a missing item mid-way through the trip and oversaw its return without issue. Amazing customer service! I will recommend Long, KimKim, and Realistic Asia to all my friends and family that want to travel in the SE Asia area.

Our Hanoi guide, Tony, was great! He walked with my friend and I around Hanoi, explaining culture, food, local museums, and many sights. It was a great introduction to our Vietnam trip and was very fun. Nothing like having a great kick off to a trip that helps you understand and build your appreciation of a new place like a fun, knowledgeable guide.

We went on to Sa Pa and our guide was Mei. She is a local Hmong woman who really shared her country with us. It was a long hike through the valley that might have been a Top 5 experience. Lots is changing in Sa Pa - I'm so glad we were able to experience it while it still has its ethnic origins to display and admire. Mei was so kind and very helpful. She spoke in great detail about her culture and answered all of our questions. We were happy to know her and enjoyed her time with us immensely.

Que took us on our adventure to Ninh Binh. He was fun, explained a lot about family culture in Vietnam, and took us through the Ninh Binh area on boat and bicycle. This might be my favorite part of the trip as everything was awe-inspiringly beautiful and still has a small town feel.

We took the 2 day, 3 night cruise through Ha Long Bay. Do the 2 night trip!! The second day we got to go farther and see privately bays the day trip boats cannot. We kayaked, swam, and took well over 100 photos because the scenery was amazing. Athena Cruises were amazing and even accommodated our request for a second beach visit.

Trinh was our guide in Hoi An, after a great flight down to Da Nang from Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines. She was very thoughtful and managed many of the details of the last days of our trip throughout Hoi An and Da Nang. Trinh introduced us to all things culinary in Central Vietnam. Hours of tasting, learning about the farming of vegetables and herbs, and more tasting! We really appreciated Trinh's love of her country and her enthusiasm for the local cuisine. We tried so many different dishes and she even sent us recipes! My travel companion is hosting a dinner this weekend to try and recreate some of the wonderful flavors we were introduced to. It will be a pleasure to continue to exchange food stories with her over the next several months!

We spent the last two days on our own. It's here that I want to share that the choice of hotels at each and every stop of our trip was fantastic. Long chose places in the heart of the areas we wanted to visit without losing any luxury or service. We were able to sleep deeply, comfortably each night and had breakfast each day as part of our stay. We were able to do laundry along the way with fast, great service. The choices were perfect - thanks Long!

The bottom line is the service we received in planning and executing the trip was fantastic! Hard to imagine that anything could be better. Well done Long, Tony, Mei, Que, Trinh and all the others we met!

Hotel Reviews
MK Premier Boutique

The hotel was the perfect location for our trip to Hanoi. Clean, quiet at the back of the building, great breakfast, and tea/coffee cafe up front. Very near Beer Street in Old Quarter - walking distance to many popular places. Food nearby highly recommended. English speaking sports bar nearby - saw Super Bowl at 6:30am Monday! Front desk was very helpful with baggage storage.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to Beer Street and other Popular Sights
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amazing Sapa
Sa Pa

Beautiful vista from indoor pool area. Night skyline was spectacular. Very delicious breakfast, especially the banana crepes with dark chocolate sauce. Deck area for drinks at sunset. Laundry service was super fast! The staff overall was very attentive and made every request possible during our stay. Business gala was held so no karaoke was attempted, but plenty of walkable area places to eat and drink at night. Farther from SunWorld Plaza and main traffic areas, so it was quiet in the evening. A huge plus for us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hidden Charm Ninh Binh
Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

Lovely hotel. Lots of luxury to be found in this hotel. Brief one night stay was restful and the breakfast was very good. Little time to enjoy the outdoor bar area or pool, but it looked fabulous!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Belle Maison Hadana Hotel
Hoi An

We fully enjoyed our stay at this fine hotel. The breakfasts were very good. The room was clean, and the beds were very comfortable. You are a walkable distance from the tourist area, but there are also many electric cars, bicycle rides, and Grab scooters to get you back to your room. We sat by the pool and enjoyed the sunny, warm weather. The town is awoken with announcements over loudspeaker (sometimes with drums) at 5 am. There's no escaping that. It adds to the experience for us Americans.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very near vegetable gardens. Great for biking.
Staff
Very helpful, courteous staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The 5 am loudspeakers are probably not something the hotel can change but it is a bummer to be awoken so early.
Athena Luxury Cruise
Hà Nội

We took the 3D,2N version. It's really half a day, a whole day, and another half day but it is HIGHLY worth the extra day. the second day you get to go further out to a more secluded bay to kayak and enjoy the sights. The meals served are several courses of delicious food that is custom fit to your dietary needs. Go soon - it was not crowded as the weather was cooler than most think of in Vietnam. As upper Midwest Americans, it was plenty warm for us in February. Tim, our Cruise Director, was fantastic. We were even accommodated for a second beach visit without issue.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Belle Maison Parosand Da Nang Hotel
Son Tra, Da Nang

This hotel is the best location for beach, restaurants, and it has a great nightclub on the roof with a spectacular view that was unexpected of Da Nang and the ocean. The breakfast was very good and the restaurant is one floor below the nightclub in case you don't enjoy loud music. The spa was very nice with a facial that was moderately gentle. The front desk was very helpful with transportation arrangements and luggage storage needs. The chairs by the infinity pool were a great place to hang out by day or evening!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Explore the History and Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing
Hanoi

Tony, our guide, took us through the streets, helping us to orient ourselves to the city. We tried local foods and experienced the big tourist areas. our favorite was the Museum of Ethnology which really helped explain the 56 ethnic groups and prepped us for our visit to Sa Pa. Tony explained a lot about the different groups and took us to a fabulous lunch. We saw a wonderful sunny day at the lakes and in the temple area and enjoyed the School of Literature.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2023

Dear Lynn,
Thank you so much for your very detailed feedback. We are extremely thrilled to hear that you and Julie enjoyed your holiday in Vietnam.
Thanks again for your kind words about Tony, Mei, Que, Trinh, and me. They and I all remember you and send you warm regards.
We’re very grateful for customers like you and Julie and hope to see both of you again!
Best wishes,
Long

FABULOUS FAMILY HOLIDAY
Vietnam | Jan 4 - Jan 19, 2023

D
Dianne M.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2023

We recently completed a holiday in South and central Vietnam. After partially organising the holiday from Australia, I realised I needed some assistance from someone with local knowledge. I was travelling with my husband and my 3 older children. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Kim Kim but after reading the reviews I thought I'd give them a go. I cannot express how fantastic they were. Throughout the planning stage I dealt regularly with Long. He was so helpful and provided so much advice... read more

We recently completed a holiday in South and central Vietnam. After partially organising the holiday from Australia, I realised I needed some assistance from someone with local knowledge. I was travelling with my husband and my 3 older children. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Kim Kim but after reading the reviews I thought I'd give them a go. I cannot express how fantastic they were. Throughout the planning stage I dealt regularly with Long. He was so helpful and provided so much advice and assistance in planning the trip. He responded promptly to all of my enquiries and replanned the holiday four times due to my changes of mind. Long made suggestions and recommendations and took into consideration everything I put to him. The trip plan Kim Kim provide is comprehensive and detailed. Little details that I may have missed were raised by Long and I cannot thank him or recommend him highly enough. When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City we were contacted by Dat who became our Vietnamese contact person. He gave us his contact number and we conversed via whatsapp. Dat was in regular contact, confirming pickups, tours and transfer details. He was wonderful. When my daughter became unwell he gave us recommendations for assistance and kept in regular contact enquiring how she was progressing. We did a number of tours throughout our holiday and the tour guides Kim Kim use are just wonderful. They are punctual, patient and knowledgable and made our tours not only interesting but fun. Tuyen, Tuyn and our other guides are fabulous. Tuyen kept in contact with me via whatsapp and sent recommendations for restaurants and activities in our next destination which was so kind and very much appreciated. All of our drivers were great too, they drove safely and assisted us with luggage and stops. On Long's advice I really feel that we spent the right amount of time in each destination. The tours we did were a full day tour of Hue and then a 1/2 day bike ride through a village out of Hue. Both of these trips were excellent, despite the weather being awful. Tuyen our guide was fabulous and the sights we visited were really interesting. The trip to Bana Hills from Danang is one that I cannot recommend. This is definitely not Kim Kim's fault as I asked to go there. Please do not waste your time and money. If you want to go up, simply do the cable car up and back but don't waste a day there. The cable car ride was lovely, until the mist set in and we couldn't see anything. Our guide for the day Tuyn however was fabulous. We also visited the Mekong Delta and stayed on the Mekong Eyes houseboat. Whilst the experience was good, there is not a lot to see at the Mekong Delta, so I wouldn't go back. We also did a cooking class at Ms Vi's cooking school in Hoi An, what fun. This is a definite tour to do and the quantity and quality of the food is unbelievable. Our 1/2 day bike ride through the countryside and to the fishing village out of Hoi Ann was also lots of fun, although the fishing village is certainly not what we expected. Our guide on this trip (I'm so sorry, I've forgotten her name) was just lovely and made the trip really enjoyable.
So, would I recommend Kim Kim? 100% most definitely. Would I use them again? 100% most definitely. Thank you to Long, Dat, Tuyen and all of our guides and drivers. You helped to make our holiday unforgettable.

Hotel Review
Mekong Eyes Cruise

Whilst the trip was fun and the houseboat was interesting I was a little disappointed with the trip content. I thought we would see the floating markets that the Mekong Delta is famous for and found the village tour not very interesting. The staff on the boat were wonderful and spending time with other travellers was fun it is a long drive down and back for what you get.

Authenticity & Character
The houseboat is amazing.
Location
The tours lacked.
Staff
Very nice, very accomodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfy beds, nice deck, authentic eating areas
Activity Reviews
Half Day Biking Around Hue Countryside (15km)
Hue

Loved the bike ride despite the bad weather. Really enjoyed visiting the artist in his home and watching him paint and the incense making was fun. Was great to be out in an authentic village riding bikes.

Quality of Experience
Everything
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fabulous
Transport
Bikes were good van transport clean and comfortable
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (N)
Hue

This is a really interesting tour and is full of history and landmarks

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tuyen is fabulous
Transport
Clean and comfortable
Day trip to Bana Hills
Vietnam

Bana Hills is awful. It is a pretend Disneyland without the atmosphere or rides. Some parts like the gardens and the cable car ride are great. It so out of keeping with Vietnam. It may be better in peak season (although I doubt it), but in Winter most things are closed. The food is AWFUL. It was a punish being there.

Quality of Experience
It is just awful
Food
The WORST food we ate in Vietnam
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved our guide, Tuyn
Transport
Leisure Time In Da Nang
Da Nang

Danang is just lovely. There's lots to see and it is clean. the beaches and beach bars are great, the night markets are fun and Marble Mountains are a must. they a fabulous.

Quality of Experience
Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Taste Vietnam street food tour, cooking class and lunch (N)
Hoi An

This was one of favourite things we did on our holiday. It was so interesting and fun. Our guide was fabulous. there is SO much food to eat and it is all delicious. We ended up taking our left over food with us and eating it over the next couple of days.

Quality of Experience
It was all great.
Food
Everything!!!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lovely, lovely guide
Transport
Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride
Hoi An

What a fun 1/2 day. Loved the bike ride through the countryside. The fishing village is 'interesting', we did have fun, whilst it's not that authentic it was still interesting a funny to see the men competing in a battle of the huge speakers on the water singing Gangnam Style. Otherwise the ride in the coconut boats was interesting and fishing for crabs fun. It is pretty there. Lunch was excellent but again way too much food.

Quality of Experience
It was a fun day. Favourite part was bike riding there and back
Food
Everything
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide (i'm sorry I've forgotten her name) was lovely.
Transport
Bikes were comfy and easy to ride
Cantho - Cai Be (Mekong Eyes) (N)
Can Tho

Can Tho was quite interesting from the river and on shore. The sweet and popcorn making place was good

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Can Tho on cruise (Mekong Eyes) (N)
Can Tho

The houseboat is great and the staff are lovely, but the trip lacked content. I think it's a long way to go for not a lot to do and see. We didn't see any floating markets which was why we wanted to go, however the people on our cruise who did do the 2 night version said there were very few sellers at the markets, which is not what you imagine when you see the images.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023

Dear Dianne,
Thank you so much for your kind review! I am delighted to hear that you and your family have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam. Your feedback will give us more detail to improve our service in the future. I hope to see you again on your next holiday in South-East Asia!
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Long

2 Weeks in Vietnam
Vietnam | Jan 7 - Jan 18, 2023

D
Danielle D.
Borough Park, NY | Reviewed on Jan 24, 2023

I cannot write enough good things about our service provided by Long and KimKim. From the very beginning stages to the last day of our trip, Long was especially helpful and reliable. I had so many thoughts and plans and he made it possible to include nearly everything we wanted to do in Vietnam within our time restraint.

Long checked in with us during the planning stages of the trip and throughout the entirety of the trip. All of our rides and transportation were taken care of and we were... read more

I cannot write enough good things about our service provided by Long and KimKim. From the very beginning stages to the last day of our trip, Long was especially helpful and reliable. I had so many thoughts and plans and he made it possible to include nearly everything we wanted to do in Vietnam within our time restraint.

Long checked in with us during the planning stages of the trip and throughout the entirety of the trip. All of our rides and transportation were taken care of and we were given the driver information, emergency contact numbers and any further assistance we needed to feel at ease and safe during our travels in Vietnam.

Booking through KimKim definitely helped make our trip more organized, which then allowed more time for exploring. I would definitely use this service again when traveling to other countries.

Hotel Reviews
Hanoi Allure Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Oasis Bay Party Cruise Halong Bay
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monarque Hotel Danang
Danang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Allegro Hoian
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
InterContinental Nha Trang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Vespa Food Tour
Hanoi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Oasis Bay Party Cruise - Halong Bay - Hanoi
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An Cooking Class
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mekong Delta Group Tour (My Tho) - Joint in tour
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cu Chi Tunnels tour by luxury speedboat
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ha Long - Lan Ha Bay - Oasis Bay Party Cruise
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2023

Dear Danielle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my team your great experiences in Vietnam. I am very glad that you enjoyed this holiday. It was a pleasure for us to be a part of your trip.
Thank you again for choosing Realistic Asia and hope to see you again in other Indochina countries in future.
Best wishes!
Long

Great Thailand Vacation
Thailand | Dec 21 - Dec 29, 2022

Chrissie
Chrissie B.
Ballenger Creek, MD | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2023

KimKim worked with me to build the perfect family vacation to Thailand. We refined based on our interests and needs, and ultimately, KimKim built a trip with amazing cultural experiences. Our specialist checked on us throughout the trip and was able to help schedule a new flight as needed. If you’re traveling somewhere you are unfamiliar with or you just want to hit the “easy” button, don’t hesitate to use KimKim. read more

KimKim worked with me to build the perfect family vacation to Thailand. We refined based on our interests and needs, and ultimately, KimKim built a trip with amazing cultural experiences. Our specialist checked on us throughout the trip and was able to help schedule a new flight as needed. If you’re traveling somewhere you are unfamiliar with or you just want to hit the “easy” button, don’t hesitate to use KimKim.

Activity Review
Chiang Mai – Half day Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (L)
Chiang Mai

A must add to any northern Thailand vacation

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2023

Hi Chrissie,
Thank you so much for the feedback and your kind words! It was a great pleasure for us to organize this family trip for you that you enjoyed it. Thanks again for choosing our services, and we hope to see you again!
Long

Tailored Vietnam Trip for 5 days, great service provided!
Vietnam | Dec 21 - Dec 26, 2022

Tina
Tina B.
Spring Valley, NV | Reviewed on Dec 27, 2022

I worked with Long to coordinate my trip through Kim Kim and he was persistently providing me excellent customer care in adjusting the itinerary to fit my needs and checked in on me throughout the trip. It can be stressful taking an international trip but he made himself available and was responsive in a reasonable amount of time. My tour guide Ngọc Sáu was also amazing in the sense that he was knowledgeable, adaptable to my groups needs, and was the friendliest tour guide. You could tell he... read more

I worked with Long to coordinate my trip through Kim Kim and he was persistently providing me excellent customer care in adjusting the itinerary to fit my needs and checked in on me throughout the trip. It can be stressful taking an international trip but he made himself available and was responsive in a reasonable amount of time. My tour guide Ngọc Sáu was also amazing in the sense that he was knowledgeable, adaptable to my groups needs, and was the friendliest tour guide. You could tell he was sincere to looking out for us because he treated us like family. Having memorable agents and service really enhances the trip I would recommend these individuals and company to everyone and would use their services again! 10/10

Hotel Reviews
Silkotel Hoi An

We loved the layout of the room. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Would recommend this to many friends. The hotel is located right outside the main walking market

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monarque Hotel Danang
Danang

Amazing breakfast buffet, hotel is clean, and centrally located. We enjoyed our stay here!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel

Centrally located in the heart of Ho Chi Min. Great rooftop views and a short distance from the major market in town. Would recommend this to anyone visiting and I would stay here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit Ben Thanh Market and Buu Long Pagoda
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Y
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Danang Half day
Da Nang

Excellent guide, interesting attraction. Worth visiting

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An Lantern Workshop
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show
Ho Chi Minh City

Amazing performance! We really enjoyed this!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset on river - The Deck Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City

Would like the cocktail bar to be somewhere that we can see the sunset..it was an Ok ambiance, but would have rather stayed on the boat. The ride in general was excellent

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Enjoy Hoi An Memories Show
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Holiday Master Class - Joint in tour
Hoi An

It was good but way TOO long. I wanted a 2 hour cooking class. We were there from 8:30am-12:30pm and it still was not done. The experience was good though

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Danang - Bana Hills - Hoi An
Da Nang
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Dec 28, 2022

Dear Tina,
Thanks so much for your review! I am very thrilled to hear your kind words about the holiday. It was a great pleasure for me and our team to organize this trip, and we are very happy to know that you enjoyed it.
Your feedback is highly appreciated, as it enables us to further develop our services and organize memorable holidays for our future clients.
Thanks again for the review and for being such a great customer.
Long

A first trip to VietNam, made amazing by KimKim
Vietnam | Nov 6 - Nov 11, 2022

joyce
joyce h.
Norwood, OH | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2022

We enjoyed our hotels and guides very much. Every guide and driver was timely, which can be a real worry when you are traveling in a country where you don't speak the language. The hotels were nicer than we anticipated, particularly the Myst in Ho Chi Minh. The cruise in HaLong was alot of fun and worth the time it took (we only had 4 days in VietNam). The only part of our trip I wouldn't recommend was the Mekong delta trip. We felt it was took too long to reach the starting destination and lasted too long.
Otherwise, would use KimKim again to plan future trips.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Nov 19, 2022

Dear Joyce,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review. We are so happy to hear that you have enjoyed your trip. Thank s again for your choosing us for this trip to Vietnam! I hope to see you on the next holiday to South-East Asia.

Best regards,
Long

10 Day Vietnam Tour with Realistic Asia (booked thru KimKim)
Vietnam | Oct 21 - Oct 30, 2022

Amy
Amy L.
Quincy, MA | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2022

We booked a 10 day tour with Realistic Asia thru KimKim. We are two travelers from the US and neither of us had been to Vietnam before. Long was our local specialist and after a little back and forth we landed on an itinerary that fit our travel needs perfectly. We wanted some guided tours but also plenty of free time to explore on our own. We wanted the comfort of knowing we had in-country transportation assistance, guides to ask questions of, and all the logistics planned for us.... read more

We booked a 10 day tour with Realistic Asia thru KimKim. We are two travelers from the US and neither of us had been to Vietnam before. Long was our local specialist and after a little back and forth we landed on an itinerary that fit our travel needs perfectly. We wanted some guided tours but also plenty of free time to explore on our own. We wanted the comfort of knowing we had in-country transportation assistance, guides to ask questions of, and all the logistics planned for us. Everything worked out very smoothly, no hiccups!

Our local guides and drivers, Quyen in Hanoi and Tony in Hoi An, were excellent! They were so dependable, knowledgeable, and fun to spend time with. We would never have learned so much about the country had we not traveled around with the local guides.

Some highlights were the Ba Vi Eco Tour, our 2-day Ha Long Bay cruise, bike riding in Hoi An, and the Vespa city tour with Navi from Female Vespa City Tours in Ho Chi Minh City. We also enjoyed all of the street food and bia (beer) we sampled! A truly memorable trip.

I wasn't sure how booking thru KimKim would go. We are so happy with our experience with KimKim, Realistic Asia and the support from Long, and all the guides and people of Vietnam we met along the way.

Hotel Reviews
La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa

Great location near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Easy to walk to many coffee shops and street food vendors. The rooftop bar at the hotel is also a great spot for a drink with a view.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Era Cruises
Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

The cabins were very grand - we had a terrace double suite. The staff on board were incredibly kind and accommodating (despite some very difficult guests on board). The food was delicious, and views couldn't be beat!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We loved Lee (the cruise director) and some of the other more junior staff. They were eager to learn about what brought us to Vietnam and tell us a little bit about themselves and the area.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa

The hotel was very nice, I just wish it was slightly closer to downtown. There were not many other guests staying when we were, so it seemed like we had the place to ourselves!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cochin Zen Hotel

Very good location downtown. Room was quite small, but that is ok since we didn't spend much time at the hotel. The rooftop bar was lovely!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half-Day Vespa Tour of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City

Navi our guide was excellent! So fun to end the trip with a motorbike tour since we had been surrounded by them for days! We enjoyed getting to see a residential neighborhood and got to walk around a typical apartment building. Also enjoyed our coffee stop and lunch. Navi shared so much information with us about the city and Vietnam and it was great to talk with her.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class
Hanoi

This tour was a great way to get into the countryside and see how Vietnamese in more rural areas live. I will never think about soy milk and tofu production or conical hat making without thinking of the women we met in the village. Some of the stops could have been eliminated or shortened, but all in all it was a great day.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Cruise Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay

Once in a lifetime experience! I had read some negative reviews about other cruise lines so didn't know what to expect but Era was wonderful! Truely amazing views - don't miss the kayaking or cave tour. The staff on board couldn't have been more gracious and friendly.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Nov 02, 2022

Dear Amy,
Thank you so much for such a detailed review. We are so happy to know that you enjoyed your trip to our beautiful country. Thank you so much for choosing us for this trip to Vietnam!
Once again, thank you for your feedback. Our team really appreciates it.
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Long

Great team.....thank you
Vietnam | Sep 24 - Sep 30, 2022

Anand
Anand U.
India | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2022

Thank you Ashley, Bobby and Tony for your help during our vietnam trip. Ashley was quick in making alternate plans when our Danang / Hoi An plan was foiled due to bad weather. Our son got sick and both Tony and Ashley showed they really care by helping us out both in tending to him as well as in making alternate plans and food arrangements. Not our ideal vacation but this team ensured it was not a bad one despite adversities. Thank you Bobby for the warm greeting at Hanoi and being so... read more

Thank you Ashley, Bobby and Tony for your help during our vietnam trip. Ashley was quick in making alternate plans when our Danang / Hoi An plan was foiled due to bad weather. Our son got sick and both Tony and Ashley showed they really care by helping us out both in tending to him as well as in making alternate plans and food arrangements. Not our ideal vacation but this team ensured it was not a bad one despite adversities. Thank you Bobby for the warm greeting at Hanoi and being so friendly with our kids.

What would have helped is transparency on the pricing. Since our plans changed so much and we did not cover Hoi An, Ba Na Hills etc, there would have been cost savings which uou could have passed on. I do agree there were changes made to the plan and there is a cost to that but transparency always helps. We understand the value you offer and are ready to pay for it but breakdown would help. Hope you can take this feedback.

Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2022

Dear Anand,
Thank you so much for leaving us a detailed review that helps us continue providing a great experience for future travelers.
I really regret that unfortunately your trip to Danang and Hoi An was unpredictably affected by the storm so we had to change the itinerary at the last minute. As I explained when we met, we made our best efforts to change to alternatives such as rebooking the flights and hotels for what we spent all funds we received after the cancellation of services in Da... read more

Dear Anand,
Thank you so much for leaving us a detailed review that helps us continue providing a great experience for future travelers.
I really regret that unfortunately your trip to Danang and Hoi An was unpredictably affected by the storm so we had to change the itinerary at the last minute. As I explained when we met, we made our best efforts to change to alternatives such as rebooking the flights and hotels for what we spent all funds we received after the cancellation of services in Da Nang and Hoi An. In fact, we spent more than what we received after cancellation. Our company also covered the extra hours for the guide to have him with you when you needed further assistance. I understood your family’s feelings as all of you were excited to visit Danang and Hoi An but needed to cancel due to the natural disaster. It was completely out of our control, and I hope you can sympathize with us.
To show our thanks for your cooperation, we would like to offer a 5% discount for your future trip to Vietnam or Indochina with us.
Thank you again for your feedback. Our team appreciates it a lot.
We wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Long

Amazing trip to Vietnam!
Vietnam | Sep 8 - Sep 16, 2022

Christine
Christine B.
Alhambra, AZ | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2022

We had an amazing trip to Vietnam! Long was an incredible help with planning our trip - he listened to our feedback, made adjustments quickly, and checked in on us regularly during the trip to make sure everything went smoothly and we were enjoying ourselves. Most notably, when we had an issue with one of our visas, he stepped in to help us expedite the process and quite literally saved the whole vacation!

Some of the highlights included a vespa tour in Hanoi, a food tasting tour in Hoi... read more

We had an amazing trip to Vietnam! Long was an incredible help with planning our trip - he listened to our feedback, made adjustments quickly, and checked in on us regularly during the trip to make sure everything went smoothly and we were enjoying ourselves. Most notably, when we had an issue with one of our visas, he stepped in to help us expedite the process and quite literally saved the whole vacation!

Some of the highlights included a vespa tour in Hanoi, a food tasting tour in Hoi An, and the cruise in Halong Bay. Most of our guides were fantastic - going above and beyond to give us an experience we wouldn't forget.

Overall, we highly recommend KimKim, Long, and Vietnam for your next trip! Make sure to leave time to spend in Hoi An, as this was one of our favorite places.

Hotel Reviews
Phu Thinh Boutique Hotel & Spa

This was a lovely hotel in a really nice location. The room was spacious and had a really nice bathroom. It was clean and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very helpful. Helped make my friend's birthday special. Also helped arrange a massage at a local spa.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Journey Halong Cruise

The bay cruises are very touristy, but it was still unbelievably beautiful to be in this location. The room was sufficient and we had a small balcony that was nice. LOTS of food at meals and all very tasty. The only complaint is that most of the staff didn't speak English, so it made asking for an extra towel/asking for a drink difficult.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hanoi Boutique Hotel
Hanoi

This hotel was totally adequate for the two nights we spent here. The room was small, but clean. The breakfast was nice and the staff very friendly. Totally fine for a quick stop!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Prague Hotel

This hotel was nice, but in a noisy part of town. The glass between the bathroom and the bedroom was not frosted, so there was no privacy when using the toilet or shower - a little awkward with it being my friend and I sharing the room and not a married couple. The location was close to a lot of nightlife, though, and the breakfast was the best we had experienced. The pool was nothing to write home about.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Noisy - some people want to be so central to the bars, but we were not really those kind of people.
Staff
Many staff didn't speak English at all. It seemed like there was one or two people on staff that spoke any - even at the front desk.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean, but the door to the bathroom needs to be frosted glass for privacy!
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Vespa Tour
Hanoi

This was one of our favorite things we did on our trip. It was a perfect way to see the city and a little thrilling with all the traffic. Our guide was amazing, and we had some incredible food. Overall 10/10!

Quality of Experience
Food
The Bun Cha was amazing.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Cruise Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay

This place was naturally just an incredibly beautiful place. The activities were definitely very touristy, but it was not something we would ever want to remove from the trip. We enjoyed the views the most, but kayaking and the cave were also fun. The beach was not much to write home about, but it was still nice to have time to cool off in the water.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Cam Thanh Village
Hoi An

We really enjoyed the bike ride into the village to see the local farms, get a coffee, and see the rice fields. Our guide was amazing - great English, super knowledgeable, and knew all the best places for photos. She was truly a gem. It was a great way to see the city and get a cool breeze while doing it. The lunch was delicious and the boat ride was also very fun.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was so nice! Loved her!
Transport
Hoi An City And Food Tour
Hoi An

Our guide was the same who provided the biking tour on the first day. She was so nice. We tried a ton of food. We didn't have breakfast at the hotel because we had a miscommunication about whether it was included, but are glad we didn't, because she brought us to a restaurant that had some of the best food on our trip. We tried so much on the tour, but my only issue was that we became quite full, but felt the pressure to finish our plates so as to not offend the cooks. I assumed all the food was safe to eat, but I did get sick the day after this tour (though who knows what it was that actually made me sick- it could have been anything). Overall, I would still do it again - we loved every minute!

Quality of Experience
Food
Mi Bo at Mi92- So good! Also the white rose dumplings.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide really went above and beyond for us. Even offered to come back to have dinner with us since we were too full to try all the food from the tour during the day.
Transport
Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

This tour was fine, but not at the same level as our tour in Hanoi and Hoi An. The guide was less personable and chatty. He showed us things at the market, but didn't let us try anything. There wasn't a lot of information before we went places as to what we were doing - i.e. do we need an umbrella, do we need a mask, are we going to be inside or out, are we eating here? We had landed at the airport and immediately went on this tour so we were hungry. We stopped someplace to eat at the market, and ended up paying for his food too. It just seemed unprofessional. We also sat there in silence while we ate - the guide didn't talk to us much. It was fine, but just not a super great experience. The guide honestly seemed bored.

Quality of Experience
Let us experience and taste more. If we are in a market, can we try some things? Or can we touch anything? Tell us what to expect from the tour before we begin it.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He was nice enough, but seemed bored. Just such a stark contract to our other guides!
Transport
Mekong Delta Group Tour (My Tho) - Joint in tour
Ho Chi Minh City

This was fun, but we can confirmed that we would see the floating markets, but were told at the outset of the trip that we were not seeing them. This was highly disappointing, as it was the main reason we wanted to go to the Mekong Delta. Other tour companies seem to do a 1 day tour to the markets, so I would try to book one of those. The tour we did have was fine - touristy, but fine. We had nice guides, had a nice lunch, and had fun on the short paddle down the delta in the reeds.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2022

Hi Christine!
Thank you so much for your great review. We are so happy to know that you enjoyed your trip to our beautiful country.
Wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Long

Vietnam Trip
Vietnam | Sep 8 - Sep 12, 2022

Karla
Karla G.
Luxembourg | Reviewed on Sep 14, 2022

Best for people who are looking for customized services, but dont want to search through endless booking portals.
(But of course you pay for that. I had the feeling that most the trips could´ve been arranged by yourself through tripadvisor, but that might be just my case, as I booked only 10 days ahead and its impressive what they put together in that small amount of time.) You still will have plenty of time to do some exploring yourself, which was great. Regarding the Vietnam: the pictures... read more

Best for people who are looking for customized services, but dont want to search through endless booking portals.
(But of course you pay for that. I had the feeling that most the trips could´ve been arranged by yourself through tripadvisor, but that might be just my case, as I booked only 10 days ahead and its impressive what they put together in that small amount of time.) You still will have plenty of time to do some exploring yourself, which was great. Regarding the Vietnam: the pictures and offers may vary from the reality as it includes many extern partners, but I had a great time.

Hotel Reviews
Hanoi Boutique Hotel
Hanoi

Loved the overall vibe. Had some minor hiccups (light was damaged in the first room). Bathroom leaked in the second room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very friendly!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Halong Le Journey
Authenticity & Character
Activity Reviews
Hanoi Street food walking tour (N)
Hanoi

Linh and her partner were amazing. You see places you would probably not find as a toruist!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc - Joint in tour
Hanoi

I am not sure that our trip lastes 10.5 hours. But because of the rain we couldnt go on a hike or biking either. But Ninh Binh is certainly beautiful and worth a visit! The boat trip was nice, even if it meant sitting in the rain for 1.5 hr. Hoa Lu was also impressive. Only for stars for me, as I would not recommend the included restaurant. Kinda cold food and very touristy. Would recommend looking around for lunch.

Hanoi Sightseeing - Join in tour
Hanoi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Cruise Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay

You will be fine, if you know beforehand that it is very touristy! You will have quite the schedule.

Quality of Experience
Food
Really amazing food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dont sit in the back seats. Its not made for people with long legs.
Halong Bay Cruise Day 2
Ha Long Bay

There was no Tai Chi as promised. Also be prepared to check out the room at 10 am (kind of a shame, if you ask me.) Would have loved to stay a little longer to simply relax.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Same bus issue.
Local specialist: Long Dao
Long
Long Dao
Local specialist in Vietnam | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2022

Dear Karla,
Thank you so much for leaving us such a detailed review. We are so happy to hear that you have enjoyed your trip. We work hard on delivering excellent service and memorable experiences for our travelers. Thank you so much for choosing us for this trip to Vietnam! I hope to see you on the next vacation to south-east Asia in the future
Long