Travel Reviews | Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos Tours

Travel to Vietnam – Top 10 Things to do

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:03:00 +0000

1.Take a tour around the legendary Halong Bay

Paddle around Halong Bay in Quang Ninh which is similar to the islands found along the , this is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful areas, Halong Bay has fascinating limestone formations, coves for night-time excursions, sheer cliffs, grottoes, arches and scores of small islets. There are plenty of activities such as Kayaking that are well worth taking time out for as this is one way to really appreciate the beauty of the area as well as a good way to see the fauna and flora without disturbing the nature around one.

2. Get your shirts and suits tailor-made at Hoian

Visit Hoian. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoian was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came to trade primarily for the high-grade silk, which is still produced in the area, and ceramics. The area is now one of four world heritage listed sites in Vietnam and there are lots of interesting things to see and do in the area.

3. Visit Hanoi for an insight of Vietnamese’s past and present

Hanoi has lots to offer the tourist but if you are in the city you can’t afford to miss the History Museum that includes artifacts from Vietnam’s prehistory: proto-Vietnamese civilisations (1st and 2nd millennia BC), the Dong Son civilisation (7th century BC to 3rd century AD), the Oc-Eo (Funan) culture of the Mekong Delta (1st to 6th century AD); the Indianised kingdom of Champa (1st to 15th century), the Khmer kingdoms, various Vietnamese dynasties and their resistance to Chinese attempts at domination, the struggle against the French, and the history of the Communist Party. It gives the visitor an excellent understanding of Vietnam’s past and a better understanding of the present.

4. Shop at Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City

This large market is close to the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao in Ho Chi Minh city. The market was formally established by the French colonial powers after taking over the Gia Dinh citadel in 1859. This market was destroyed by fire in 1870 and rebuilt to become Saigon’s largest market. In 1912 the market was moved to a new building and called the New Ben Thanh Market to distinguish over its predecessor.

5. Explore the Imperial City of Hue

Hue is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Vietnam. Straddling the Perfume River, this mysterious, somber city is a historian’s dream come true, with numerous 19th century ruins, royal tombs and an excellent museum.

6. Join the hiking and trekking tour up in Sapa

A perfect Sapa tour will give you a fun experience with combination of trek and journeys away from the crowds. More interesting if you have time with staying at traditional Dao home with local people. Learn and participate in village life and truly feel the warmth and hospitality of these incredible people, or visit the most colorful tribal market in Sapa

7. Enjoy a hillside retreat at Dalat

Dalat is the place to be if you want to visit interesting tribal villages. Although most are located further out of town, you can visit the villages of some of the hill tribes, such as Lat Village and the Chicken Village (with a huge statue of a chicken) close to Dalat itself. Don’t forget your camera as the photo opportunities are endless!

8. Relax by the premier beach resort in Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s beach resort town. A major face-lift in 1995-96, and the opening of two upscale hotels later in 1996, vaulted Nha Trang onto the playing field with places like Phuket, Thailand, and Cancun, Mexico. Today, it’s a popular destination for both foreign and domestic tourists. In addition to sun bathing, popular attractions include boat trips to the nearby islands and tours of Nha Trang’s historic sites. If you like typical beach resort towns, then Nha Trang is for you.

9.Cruise in Mekong Delta:

Meander along the Mekong on one of the many boat trips that are available taking you across the water or through the local canals on many interesting sightseeing excursions that definitely require a camera. Larger boats venture up the Mekong River and this is a definite MUST DO if you are in the area of Cantho or one of the other cities or villages that rely on this massive sourse of water for both transport and food. Climb Sam Mountain near Chau Doc if you want to see dozens of temples, pagodas and the like as it is well worth visiting. Located about 6 km from the city, temples abound and the trek to the top of the mountain is also popular…though one can go by motorised vehicle if you so desire.

10. Experience the historic Cu Chi tunnels

Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels This extensive network of nearly 500 km of Viet Cong tunnels used in the French Indochina and American wars. The tunnels have complete facilities, from kitchens to printing presses and even street signs, all of which were used to aid the NLF (National Liberation Front) military. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze. Located in Tay Ninh a suburb it is 39km northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City.

“A memorable first visit to Viet Nam”

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:20:00 +0000

As their name suggests, ATA is at their best doing active travel; take advantage of it to get away from the crowds and experience Vietnam in a more direct and authentic way.

We arranged a private, two week, multi-tour package in Vietnam with ActiveTravel Asia (ATA) in October 2011. ATA staff, especially Sunny, worked with us to put together a customized itinerary that met our needs and interests. The result was a remarkable and challenging vacation of dramatic landscapes, intense cultural exposure, physical activity, great food, and beautiful people. Our trip had three major components: a 5D/4N sea kayaking tour of Ha Long Bay (including Cat Ba Island), a 3D/2N trek with homestays in the Sa Pa area, and a 2D/1N bicycling tour with homestay in the Mekong Delta
. Between tours we spent time exploring Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and took day trips to Trang An (ATA) and Cu Chi (not ATA). ATA provided different guides (with the appropriate knowledge and skills) for each area we visited, skilled drivers, all accommodations (junk, hotels, homestays, bamboo hut), train travel between Hanoi and Lao Cai, and air travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. While the trip did not precisely follow all details of the 6 page itinerary, ATA delivered on what was promised. Our experience was well worth the cost of the trip. We would recommend ATA to friends and would use them again.

Ha Long Bay richly deserves its reputation for natural beauty, but we wanted to see it by kayak and away from hordes of tourists on big tour boats. We initially selected ATA because they could give us full day kayaking, with guide and support boat, rather than the hour paddling among the tour junks that most other operators seemed to be offering. We did see Ha Long Bay from the deck of a junk, shared with only two other couples. (The seafood prepared on board was delightful.) But we also were able to spend most of two days kayaking among the karsts and through the sea caves with few, if any, other visitors in sight. We also spent a day hiking through the jungle over the rocky spine(s) of Cat Ba Island. When we had some down time on our final day on Cat Ba, our guide Hue arranged for a last minute motor bike tour of the island, including the Hospital Cave, a hospital built into a cave during the American War. Out guide Hue was with us for the entire Hanoi/Ha Long Bay portion of the tour and was excellent. Also deserving our praise were Hiam, the local guide who joined us on Cat Ba, our most excellent driver who navigated the chaotic streets and highways of Hanoi and the Red River Delta, and the crews of the junk “Jewel of the Bay” and our kayaking support boats.

Our experience of Sapa differed, in a good way I think, from that of other travelers we spoke with. We chose to spend two nights in the hill country instead of only one, and, when Sunny asked us how many hours of backpacking we were up for in a day, we told her 6 to 8. As a result, we did a lot of hill walking, saw almost no other tourists outside Sa Pa town, and were not pestered by street sellers once we left Sa Pa town. The local people we met were going about their own lives in the misty green hills. The homestays were remarkable, especially watching the guides and residents preparing delicious, multi-course meals over an open, bamboo fueled fire, with a single pan. At one homestay we pampered ourselves with a soak in a Red Zao herbal bath in a wooden soaking tub with greenery freshly gathered from the surrounding forest and steeped in a large cauldron over an open fire. Then there were the after-dinner toasts of home distilled-rice liquor (“happy water”) shared with guides and host. In addition to our young and enthusiastic guide, Huy, we were accompanied by a trainee guide and a cook/porter, Pho. Pho was a local from the Black Hmong community and the picture of calm serenity, leading the way over muddy hillsides in cheap plastic sandals while we slipped and skidded about in our hiking boots.

The Mekong Delta is ideal for bicycling as it is largely flat and interlaced with paths just wide enough to meet and pass a bicycle or motor bike. ATA provided solid Trek bikes, a driver and van to and from Saigon, boat transit between biking legs of the route, and a homestay in the delta. The route was well chosen. The food, whether cooked and served on a river boat or at an open air riverside restaurant, was excellent. Our guide, Ahn, was a delight – knowledgeable and helpful without pushing or hovering.

If you go, be prepared to rough it, especially in the hill country. (The plumbing there, where there is plumbing, is fascinating, but not what Westerners are accustomed to). Unless you travel very light (one modest backpack) clarify what you will need to carry yourself for each leg of your tour and how you can stow the remainder. ATA can accommodate you but you have to ask.

ATA is a Vietnamese company; that is one of its strengths, but unless you speak Vietnamese expect the occasional language/cultural confusion. Just roll with it and remain flexible and polite. The ATA folks we worked with were extremely conscientious and reliable.

Visited October 2011

Recommended tour:

Sapa Trekking & Homestay

Getting lost in Hanoi's Old Quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:26:00 +0000

A CNNGo editor gets intentionally lost with his camera walking in the Old Quarter of Vietnam's Hanoi

By Chris Anderson

Hectic, noisy, chaotic, adjective, adjective. Describing Hanoi's oldest district is somewhat of a waste of breath. No need to ramble on about where exactly to go in the Old Quarter either, as the weaving and winding streets are best explored by aimless wandering. No destination. No pre-planned route. Just left, right, or straight ahead.

There is no road "less travelled" in this part of town. They're all loaded with scooters, cars, bikes and people so the main bit of advice we'd give is to watch your step but be assertive when crossing the road. Don't second guess your moves, look both ways, and enjoy the fact that yes, you are standing in the middle of the road with dozens of scooters whizzing by on both sides.

Hanoi is hot in the summer time. We're talking 30 to 35 degrees Celsius at a very, very high humidity, so for a walking tour take lots of water and expect to sweat. The sweating is worth it, as the view of street life you get by covering the district on foot is fantastic. The neighborhood has over 1,000 years of history coursing through its meandering street veins, pumping with life representing both the past and present.

For those able to stand the heat, one full day exploring should do it. For those with less heat tolerance, taking two days at around four hours each day is recommended. Or simply visit during the cooler Fall or Spring months.

Electrical wires string along many streets in hap-hazard fashion. Much of the infrastructure looks like it is being held together by duct tape.

Old buildings line Hang Dao road, just north of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Rush hour in Hanoi's Old Quarter is an experience. You must be on your toes at all times as the streets fill with scooters, bikes, cars, and people. The rules of the road are "pay attention and whoever flinches first loses the right of way."

The sidewalks can be just as chaotic as the middle of the street. Locals stake out their spots with small plastic stools and the wares of whatever trade they're plying. The ever-present scooters are parked at all angles. Small dogs skitter about. People bargain and negotiate for goods and food, and fans sprout from everywhere.

A family sits and chats in the hot Hanoi summer heat in front of their tombstone business.

The Hoam Kiem lake park is a green, shady spot locals like to use to escape Hanoi's seemingly ever-present frenetic energy. The northern tip of the small lake borders the Old Quarter on P Dinh Tien Hoang road.

One of the Old Quarter's street markets.

A woman relaxes in the market. Expending as little energy as possible is a common strategy for fighting the heat.

Vendors in the market are mainly women.

A woman barbecues on the sidewalk in 32 degree Celsius heat. Hanoi has a rich street food culture, worthy of a book let alone another article.

Crabs and sea snails ready to be bought.

Locals eating a quick noodle meal.

Various animals roam freely in some parts of the Old Quarter. This scrawny little chicken looked too sad for even a bowl of soup.

An old stuffed deer sneering in a rictus death grimace from a shop window. A sight only seen by walking the streets for hours. Similar random sightings can be expected when least expected.

The Old Quarter has many streets dedicated to specific trades. This was the toy street. Others to be found included streets dedicated to shoes, clothing, tombstones, antiques, and scooter repairs.

These tourists opted for a more comfortable whirl around the Old Quarter. Though it is good to be wary as these rides are often overpriced

My Ha Long Bay Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:04:00 +0000

May 7, 2012

Before I moved to Vietnam, one of the things that most impressed me about the country were pictures I had seen of Ha Long Bay. The beautiful pictures showed romantic views of limestone islands sitting in gorgeous blue water, and I knew this would be a place that I would have to visit!

Much to my surprise, when I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City I realized that this magical place was pretty far away. Unfortunately, after a year of working in, and traveling around, this impressive country I had yet to accomplish my goal of visiting the bay. Recently, while on a business trip to Hanoi, I took a few extra days and finally got to Ha Long Bay.

I booked a tour with a local Hanoi travel agent recommended by a friend.
I knew that I didn’t want to go for a cheap, low budget tour on my first visit to the bay so I decided to go for one of the nicer, but still affordable, options. When I had everything booked I could barely sleep because I was so excited.

A bus picked me up in Hanoi in the morning and we made the long drive to the boats. I was surprised how long the drive took as I originally thought that Ha Long Bay was closer to the city. Still, the ride was comfortable and we made it to the water with few complaints. Plus, while we drove along, we got the chance to introduce ourselves to the other travelers who would be joining us on our adventure.

We boarded a small boat at the somewhat chaotic and crowded marina and rode out to the larger boat we would be spending the night on. The boat was beautiful with a rustic, wooden exterior that fit perfectly with the timeless location that surrounded us. Although the boat looked like a more traditional vessel, inside it was equipped with all the modern amenities that you would expect in a modern hotel room. The beds were comfortable and the rooms were surprisingly large for being on a boat.

Slowly, the boat moved into the area of the towering islands. Although I had seen many pictures I was unprepared for how truly impressive the rock formations are in real life! They were truly amazing to look at and compared to nothing else I had ever seen.

Eventually, the boat came to a stop where the rocks formed a kind of natural harbor. Here we exited and got the opportunity to check out a large cave toward the top of one of the large islands. The inside of the cave was massive, bigger than any other cave I had been to and I was surprised that it was in as good of shape as it was, considering the amount of tourists that pass through it daily. While I thought the cave was nice, the best part was the view it afforded from its high location. The boats resting on the calm water next to the islands were truly a sight to see, it reminded me of something you would see in a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie!

After exploring the cave, we had a couple of hours to kayak around in the clear, blue water. I had really been looking forward to the kayaking and it didn’t disappoint. Although the outside temperature was cooler than in HCM city I was surprised by how warm the water was as I paddled along.

Once we were finished it was time for dinner on the boat. We ate some delicious seafood as the sun sat around us and the rocks were bathed in an orange light. Once night fell I retired to my room where I peacefully went to sleep. I rested peacefully as the water was gentle and there was barely a sound outside.

In the morning we watched the sun rise over the landscape, had a simple breakfast and cruised out of the bay. Overnight, clouds had crept into the area and we got the chance to see a more mystical, foggy side of the bay. This was charming in its own way and I felt like an early explorer discovering a new land.

Finally we made it back to the mainland, boarded a bus and returned to the city. I didn’t want to leave such a magical place but I knew this would be the first of many trips as I don’t think I could ever spend enough time in this picturesque land that is truly a natural wonder.

Angela Schonberg

Source: Tuoi tre news

Destination: Vientiane, Laos

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:28:00 +0000

SITUATED on the banks of the mighty Mekong River, sleepy Vientiane is one of the world’s smallest capital cities. To say Vientiane is relaxed is something of an understatement. This is a city that rises late, sleeps early and is lethargic in between.

Monks in Vientiane, Laos.

However, this is the charm of the Laos capital. Known for its shady streets and crumbling French architecture, people still cook with charcoal and you’ll rarely see a multi-storey building breaking the horizon.

Vientiane has long been a popular stop-off on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail. It also has its fair share of expats who have succumbed to its charms, as well as many expats from neighboring Thailand who travel there to renew their Thai visas. Another large contingent of westerners you’ll see in Vientiane will be NGO or embassy workers.

A Day in the Life

Morning –Early morning Vientiane is, on the face of it, just what you’d expect – sleepy. It’s a great time to wander the streets before the heat of the day sets in and sit back and enjoy a quiet, relaxing coffee. However, if you want to see the other side of Vientiane in the morning visit one of the large, open air, wet markets in town, which are a hive of activity.

Afternoon – Many of Vientiane’s best sights and attractions are all within walking distance of the tourist quarter. The area is dotted with beautiful temples, while the palace and the national museum are also worth a look.

Evening – Watch the sun go down while sitting on the banks of the Mekong with a bottle of the surprisingly good local brew – Beer Lao. Many lazy hours can be happily whiled away ‘Mekong watching’, but it’s worth making that extra effort to sample some of the many excellent eateries around town.

Best of the Rest

Patuxai, or ‘Victory Gate’, is Vientiane’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe, and the highest point in the city. The monument honors the people who died during the fight for independence from France. Patuxai was built in the ‘60s using funds donated by the US to build an airport. Laos used the cash to build the monument instead.

Arguably the pick of the temples in Vientiane is Tat Luang. This is regarded as the most important temple in the country and is the national symbol of Laos. It’s located about a mile north of the city centre.

Hidden Gem - Take in the beautiful countryside surrounding Vientiane with a trip to Buddha Park. This unique spectacle is full of stone statues and offers some great views across the river of neighboring Thailand.

Accommodation - Rooms for the night can be scarce by the early evening so it’s best to get there early or make a reservation. Prices for budget accommodation, like much of the region, are modest. Fifteen or 20 dollars will get you a passable mid-range room, for 40 can get you something a little more luxurious. Most hotels and guesthouses will accept US dollars and Thai baht, as well as the Laos kip.

Vientiane at Night

Dining - Lao food can be a goal well worth pursuing and not as easily obtained as one might think. The food sold in the English language restaurants is often an imitation, dumbed down for the western pallet even in those restaurants professing to specialize in Lao food. For the real thing, go to street vendors and sawdust-on-the-floor type establishments. It’s much cheaper too. If Western food is more your thing, Vientiane has become much more cosmopolitan in recent years and you will have plenty of international food options.

Nightlife – Vientiane is sleepy by day and sleepy by night. By law most bars shut down very early – 11.30pm. There are places to go out and have a drink, maybe even listen to music, but compared to the likes of Thailand, it’s fairly dead at night.

A young Lao girl takes a ride in a vegetable cart in one of Vientiane's many morning markets

Retail Therapy - The most famous market in Vientiane, Dalat Sao, or Morning Market in English, is slowly succumbing to the wrecking ball and the plate glass, air conditioned shopping mall, so it’s well worth a look before it’s gone. Downstairs are row after row of small shops selling traditional Lao silk weaving and some very good handicrafts. Upstairs are the gold stores and cheap clothing. Morning is a misnomer in this case as the market doesn’t even really open up until after 8am and shuts down at 4pm.

Across the street to the south (next door to the central post office) is the Ethnic Handicrafts Cooperative. Mostly Hmong owned and orientated towards the visiting overseas Hmong, it has the largest selection of hill-tribe handicrafts of all ethnicities for sale in Laos. Don’t expect colorful displays or friendly English speaking sales people. It is not tourist-oriented, but that only adds to the fun.

Transport

Getting there & away – There are regular flights into Vientiane from many of the major cities in the region and the rise of the budget airline has made these a whole lot cheaper. If you are traveling by land, there are regular services to and from cities in China, Vietnam and northern Thailand.

Getting around - To get around most people use tuktuks. They tend to overcharge and bargaining isn’t as important as knowing the going rate in the first. Probably the best option is to rent a motorcycle ,though beware; the rules of the road are not enforced with any real gusto. In truth, the town is so small many people simply walk to wherever they are going.

Lucila Parmigiani * 2 pax | Halong Bay | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:42:00 +0000

Itinerary: Kayaking Halong Bay
Date: Apr 18 - Apr 19, 2012
Nationality: Argentinian

We did the 2 day tour to Halong Bay with ATA and be couldn't be happier with the result! Everything was perfectly organized, well informed, incredibly punctual. The cabins on the junk were great, the food on board was superb and it allowed us to try a great variety of local dishes. The excursions were well planned and there was always someone around to guide you if you needed it.

The place is amazing and the staff accompanies the outing, so we totally recommend it!

Visit Apr 2012

Martina Kristofcakova * 2 pax | Sapa | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Itinerary: Sapa trek & Topas Eco Lodge
Date: Mar 9 - Mar 15, 2012
Nationality: French

Great agency, from the very beginning till the end! We spent 5 days in the north in March, the guide was excellent, the home stay families very nice, trek awesome. We stayed last two nights at the hotel and we regretted not t stay with the local families longer!!! Everything was just perfect! We did really appreciate, I can only highly recommend!

Visit March, 2012
Martina & Eric, France

DAVID QUISTAD * 2 pax | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Itinerary: Tailor made tour in Vietnam

Date: Jan 27 - Feb 14, 2012

Nationality: American

Good Morning Ms. Candy,

We are now home and remembering our wonderful visit to Vietnam and Cambodia. The experience was so large that it will take months for us to fully understand and appreciate it all. Our guides and drivers were each unique and individual in their own way. All were professional and made us feel well cared for. Excellent choices! All of your lodging choices were comforting and offered great variety. The restaurant choices for lunch and some dinners was truly a work of art. Beautiful foods, beautiful presentations, excellent service and always different in style. The tour itineraries for the most part were complete, well thought out and well presented by our guides. In all cases, the guides remained flexible to our interests and went out of their way to make our visit special. We appreciated the very active days . . . not for lazy people! It was a very nice touch for you to remain in contact with us throughout the early parts of the trip. It establishes an elevated sense of trust between the client and agency.

Regarding recommendations, you are already doing a great job. For first time visitors like us, there is much unknown so keep trying to provide as much information as possible. Also, your major strength is the quality and thoroughness of your services. keep stressing that as well as the fact that your tours are "Tailor Made" and private . . . just you, a private guide and private driver/private boat. Individual attention is a real plus. The value in your agency is your ability to help one get the most out of their visit "worry and hassle free" at a fair price. Congratulations!

Our very best regards, David and Kathy

JIM CHOWS * 2 pax | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:15:00 +0000

Itinerary: Tailor made tour in Vietnam
Date: Oct 7 - Oct 29, 2011
Nationality: American

We all really enjoyed the trip immensely.

The itinerary you put together for us was excellent and fantastic. The Trek was an incredible experience - the scenery, the ethnic minority villages, the homestays, the food (the porters Tonny had were incredible cooks!!!).

In between the Trek and the Halong Bay excursion we had more than enough time to walk through all nooks and crannies of the old quarters of Hanoi which was by itself a very enjoyable thing to do.

With regards to our assigned tour guides - Tonny for our Trekking adventure, and Hai for our Hanoi and Halong Bay tours - they were both very good. In fact, I'd like to find out from you if you have Tonny's email address as we'd like to thank him directly as well. I have Hai's email address and have kept in touch with him. It's always a good sign when tourists decide to stay in touch with their guides - it says "job well done"!

I will definitely be recommending your company to people who express any interest in a trip to Vietnam.

Review ActiveTravel Asia

NOWELL UPHAM * 2 pax | Northern | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Itinerary: Northern Highlights
Date: Oct 16 - Oct 22, 2011
Nationality: American

I travel a lot. As does my brother. We usually do all the planning ourselves, go somewhere adventurous, and cram a ton into what amounts to 7 days on the ground. And we always go on a budget, with an intent to book last minute land arrangements, and splurge when we see a high-end value. For our recent trip to Vietnam, we did only about half the homework we typically, do, and we left the rest, and our fate, in the hands of Miss Jessie at Active Travel Asia. All my communications with her were by email. We outlined everything we found on the Web that we were interested in, and what we thought a fair price was (based on our research) and she did all the rest. She arranged our transportation (we asked for a private car everywhere), train rides, tour guides (private again), motorbikes, sail boat, as well as our hotel stays. And get this, when we cancelled our private driver for the second to last day, she actually insisted on coming to our hotel and returning $65 in USD to me, as a credit. We spent two nights in Hanoi, two nights in Sapa, and a night in Hulong Bay. Plus a couple nights on an over night train to Sapa. In Sapa, we had a terrific guide (Hi-eep is how we pronounced it) be sure to ask them for him if you go, he's the guy you want to show you around. He young, and his english is great, and he's funny, and very attentive your every need. Enjoy.

Visited October 2011
Source: Tripadvisor

Review ActiveTravel Asia

Przemek Tetyk * 12 pax | Halong Bay | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:03:00 +0000

Itinerary: Kayaking Halong Bay 3 days
Date: Oct 17 - Oct 19, 2011
Nationality: Polish

I had 3 days/ 2 nights kayaking tour in Halong Bay with my business partners (12 persons).

We had wonderful private boat with 7 cabins Huong Hai Junk.
It was great time, amazing landscapes, delicious food, funny guide, exciting kayaking...

Thanks to Active Travel Asia, especially to Jessie.

Visited October 2011

Source: Tripadvisor

Review ActiveTravel Asia

Raelene Merrin Kwong * 4 pax | Son Doong Cave | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:43:00 +0000

Itinerary: Son Doong Cave Discovery
Date: Sept 28 - Oct 02, 2011
Nationality: Australian

The team at ATA were awesome - I can't recommend them highly enough. The food was plentiful and nourishing. The guides were experienced, professional and always smiling.

Thank you ATA for making our journey a real experience we will never forget!

Visited September 2011
Source: Tripadvisor

Review ActiveTravel Asia

Eric Dean McCammond * 2 pax | Mai Chau | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Active Travel Asia) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Itinerary: Trekking Mai Chau 4 days
Date: Sept 12 - Sep 15, 2011
Nationality: American

Mr. Hai was wonderful. He is an entertaining, knowledgeable guide. We were constantly engaged in entertaining dialogue, exploring everything from local customs to Vietnam history and politics. I can't imagine a better English-speaking guide in Vietnam.

Thanh was unbelievable. She led us down slippery trails and through river crossings wearing only her flipflops. Each day, following the day's hike, she would cook the most amazing meals over a wood fire. She was the first one awake, greeting us each day with a delicious breakfast.

Mai Chau is unspoiled. Not once was I approached to provide change or to buy something. The people all seemed pleasantly indifferent to us. Smiles and greetings were exchanged, but I never felt any pressure common in similar tourist situations. The people of Mai Chau seemed to be proud, friendly, and respectful.

Planning the trip was easily done via email. Ms Sunny helped me up until she took leave to deliver a baby. After that, Ms Candy ensured we were taken care of.

I don't know what else I can add. It was simply wonderful!

Review ActiveTravel Asia

Surina Suhaimi * 2 pax | Mai Chau | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:35:00 +0000

Itinerary: Trekking Mai Chau 3 days
Date: June 09 – June 11, 2011
Nationality: Malaysian

Hi Sunny,

Everything was good, and we had a jolly good time...Hai the guide was pleasant company and very informative. Hien, the local guide, was also a good cook for us. Loved the vegetables!

The weather was very warm but we managed through it all. We found the accommodation very manageable and clean.

Thank you so much for a good time and great itinerary!

Regards,
Surina

Review ActiveTravel Asia

Wang Theng Ang * 2 pax | Sapa & Halong Bay | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:22:00 +0000

Itinerary: Tailor made tour in Vietnam
Date: March 14 - March 22, 2011
Nationality: Singapore

Just want to let you know that I had a wonderful experience with ActiveTravel for my Sapa+Fansipan trekking adventure. You have done a great job and have been very responsive in answering all my queries on the trip. The trip transfers were excellently planned out and the guides, in particular, Mr Nghiep was instrumental in ensuring that we get the most out of the trip but of course with safety as the utmost priority.

Vietnam and the memories that I had gotten from the trip will be with me forever. Thank you very much. I will certainly recommend ActiveTravel to my friends! J

Take care and best regards!

Jean Salins * 2 pax | Halong Bay | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 03:55:00 +0000

Itinerary: Kayaking Halong Bay
Date: April 2 - April 5, 2011
Nationality: French

Dear Ms Sunny,

We have come back at home, very delighted with our Vietnam trip, and particularly with the ATA Halong Bay kayaking tour.

The services on junk's board was very good, and the kayaking tour introduced us too amazing and very quiet landscapes, with an excellent tour guide listening to us.

Moreover the weather was fine! We are very glad to have chosen the 4 days tour with 2 kayaking days : it's better to discover the bay.

We would like to come back if we have the opportunity.

Thanks for your kind assistance,

Sincères greetings,
Odile et Jean Salins

Christella Mylordi * 6 pax | Halong Bay, Cat Ba National Park | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:56:00 +0000

Itinerary: Kayaking Halong Bay & Trekking Cat Ba National Park
Date: Jan 14 – Jan 18, 2011
Nationality: Australian

We are grateful to our guide, Cuong, for the direction, general knowledge and explanations of the Vietnamese culture and vast experience in kayaking.

Janet Noll Naumer | Angkor Wat | Cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Itinerary: Angkor Wat Insight Tour
Date: Jan 6 – Jan 10, 2011
Nationality: American

Mr. Rany, my tour guide, is excellent- knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Cambodia. Because of him, this has been a special, memorable visit. He went way beyond what most tour guide do. Promote him. Not only is he an excellent representative of Cambodia, but also of your company, Active Travel.

Sue McGregor * 5pax | Sapa | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:06:00 +0000

Itinerary: Conquer Mount Fansipan - Sin Chai route
Date: Dec 20 - Dec 25, 2010
Nationality: Australian

Dear Ms Sunny,

Thank you for all of your efficient organising of our recent trip.

We did have a great time. You accommodated our needs very well and we had a great day hiking in the valley.

Thank you and Happy New Year.

Steve * 5pax | Mekong Delta & Cu Chi Tunnel | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Itinerary: Mekong Explorer and Half day Cu Chi Tunnel
Date: Dec 24 - Dec 28, 2010
Nationality: American

Hi Sunny!

Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Ours was very good and we enjoyed our time together in Vietnam biking together on a family trip.

We did enjoy our trip and stay in Vietnam. We thought the trip was well organized, Phuc our guide was very good and easy to work with and the driver Chong was also fine and very friendly. We enjoyed the ride in the late afternoon the best. It was on quiet roads and canals and we could see the daily life. The homestay was interesting and unique. Our guide was flexible and had nice trails to ride on.

We saw lots of nice countryside areas along the Mekong - very interesting and informative. The driver was always there as planned with some nice fruit snacks and cold water during the day.

Everything worked out well - Thanks for your help to pick good guides and drivers and organize everything.

Michelle, Tony and Karen | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:33:00 +0000

Itinerary : Tailor made tour in Vietnam
Date: November 13 - November 27, 2010
Nationality: Australian

We just spent 2 weeks on a tour organised for 3 people by Active Asia Travel and would not choose anyone else to travel with throughout Vietnam. We had drivers and guides at every point to meet us (and all early), our every need was catered for.

We started in Hanoi where we were picked up at airport and met our wonderful guide who would take us onto Halong Bay where we kayaked and cruised for 2-3 days - absolutely breathtaking. Caught a night train to Lao Cai where we trekked from beautiful Sapa and had two wonderful home stays, our guide was so much fun and we had a fantastic experience. Onto Hue, Hoi An where we had shorter day tours of these lovely places then finished bike riding through the Mekong Delta for 4 days with yet another fantastic guide.

All our transfers were taken care of, all accommodation organised and almost all our meals were catered for. The guides were all so much fun and extremely knowledgable of the areas they took us. The kayaking, treks and bike riding where all well planned and able to be adjusted if it got too difficult - the guides were great at determining just the right amount of activity to be challenging yet moreso enjoyable. Our travel agent Jessie should be commended, she done a fabulous job and we will definately be back to Vietnam, and would not travel with anyone else.

Thank you Active Travel for an absolutely wonderful trip !

Source : http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d1469397-r89463066-ActiveTravel_Asia-Hanoi.html

Jodie Cummings | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:20:00 +0000

Itinerary : Tailor made tour in Vietnam
Date: October 20 - November 3, 2010
Nationality: British

I really enjoyed my trip. Thank you for all my planning. The homestays were the best.

I think if i was to do the trip again, I would have continued riding up from Than Uyen to Sapa, instead of going back to Hanoi and doing the night trains.... then spend a few nights in Sapa and Bac Ha, doing mountain biking and hiking. Then head back down to hanoi on the motorbike stopping again at Thac Ba reservoir (that was the best homestay). And from there end my trip after the Halong bay tour....

In all honesty - it was still a lovely trip. Long was by far the best of the 3 tour guides.
He was the most sociable and outgoing, and therefore I felt comfortable and safe the whole time.

My hightlights to the trip were:

- Motorbiking!
- Halong bay - was just stunning - and i'm so glad i did 2 nights!! 1 is definately not enough - the first day is very rushed!
- Sapa - the beautiful colours....

Hope that gives you enough feedback.

Thank you again for your help !

Jenny Ho * 3 | PhnomPenh | Cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:40:00 +0000

Itinerary : 4Days tour in PhnomPenh
Date : November 10 - November 13, 2010
Nationality: Singapore

My friends and I enjoyed the trip, our guide Mr Rith is good.
He know PhnomPenh's history well.

We took many pictures. You can go to my facebook under Jenny Ho Singapore. You can see them there.

PhnomPenh, Cambodia

Franciska & Frank | Mai Chau , Ninh Binh | Viet Nam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Itinerary : Biking Mai Chau & Ninh Binh
Date : Sep 28 - Oct 1, 2010
Nationality : German

Mai Chau was The Best active Holiday for The last 3 Years for me and certainly for Franciska.

Beside being Lucky with wheather conditions and Tour Guide we got Most Beautiful Nature discovered on The Bike on and offroad, Best Local made Food and Great Inside views of Vietnam documented by many Pictures.

Thanks for your Great contribution to these remarkable days. :)

Harriet & Anneka | Sapa | Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Nguyen ATM) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Itinerary : Sapa Trekking & Homestay
Date: October 19 - October 23, 2010
Nationality: British

We had a fantastic time in Sapa, and thank you ever so much for organising everything so smoothly. We will definitely look to Active Vietnam again in the future.

We were extremely lucky with the weather and have some beautiful photographs of the region.