Testimonials

My Vietnam experience far exceeded expectations – and that was largely due to the skill of our trip organiser Lam Duong of Asia Pioneer.
I travelled with a group of eight who’d been involved in a Habitat for Humanity “build” programme in the Mekong Delta area.
Our guide’s ability to connect with people visiting to his country, sharing its character and traditions, craftsmanship and culinary skills along with its disturbing history created a tapestry of unforgettable experiences. Add fascinating excursions and you have a maelstrom to reflect on!
There were laughs galore and lots of mutual sharing of family and traditions.
Our guide was flexible and interested in everyone. His amazing capacity to assimilate information is an attribute he shared
Pioneer Indochina: generously with us all.
Our group had most fascinating experiences: – becoming acquainted with Vietnamese history, the influence of Confucius on society’s attitudes (still clearly evident), of their royal lineage assisted by the astuteness of the mandarins, legacies from the French colonial era, Ho Chi Min and his extraordinary leadership and unique style of communism which profoundly altered Vietnam – and to the country’s rapid progress since opening up to private enterprise in the last few decades.
We travelled to amazing places – mostly by air conditioned coach, but distances were closed by flights. Then there were cyclo rides, boat and train trips and tramps among the mountain home of the hill-tribe people of the north, always interspersed with
Pioneer Indochina: interesting stops – and for food!
Vietnamese food is devine! We dined in delightful cafe’s and restaurants, in temples and street cafes, also in the style of royalty!

I absolutely loved their use of herbs, vegetables and sauces – exquisite subtle flavours, blended with seafood, chicken, pork and rice.
Beautiful platters of fruit frequently complete a meal. I saw very little junk food here!
Then there’s the shopping! Whether for jewellery, tailor-made garments, shoes, glasses – you name it – they’ll make it!
The skill and craftsmanship of the Vietnamese people is amazing – and their efficiency and price structure is so very different from ours!
Pioneer Indochina: Family members had asked me to do some buying for them. I was really thrilled with the results – and of the guidance and recommendations made.
Vietnam is a fascinating country to experience.
The people are delightful – courteous, intelligent, resourceful, generous and positive.
As a holiday destination Vietnam simply blew my mind!
I wholeheartedly recommend Asia Pioneer as an excellent company to work through if considering a holiday to Vietnam – for an experience of a lifetime!

Our tour guide (Lam) did everything possible to make our trip enjoyable. He thought of everything. Nothing was too much trouble for him. There was 30 in our group, and he took great care of us allI. I will definitely recommend him as a guide to my friends .

Thankyou Lam..xxxxx

Last month we took a customised tour with Asia Pioneer – 2 days in Siem Reap and 3 weeks in Vietnam. We have two kids aged almost 11 and 13 and traveled with Grandad too – a small tour of 5. From the moment I first made contact with Quyen, I was made to feel like we were truly special. All the accommodation chosen was excellent – especially since they were 3 star ratings. We had a good mix of things to keep the history buffs busy and even some things to keep the kids happy too occasionally. The tour guides and drivers were very good and knowledgeable about their regions. If you are looking for a tour company to tour this region, look no further than Asia Pioneer. The value for money was excellent.

My wife and I just got back from a tour of Hanoi, Sapa, and a visit to the Bear Rescue Center in Tam Dao National Park. After reading several reviews here on Trip Advisor, we decided to use Asia Pioneer to book our hotels, arrange local transportation and provide a guide. The cost was substantially less than the quote from a US based International Tour operator. We are really glad we did, as we received excellent service from ICP and had a great time.

Mr. Lam organized and managed our tour, giving good advice, checking in with us throughout the trip, and setting us up in great hotels in each location. Before launching ICP with his partner, Mr. Sy Quyen, he worked 10 years as a tour leader for an Australian company. His Aussie accented English is excellent, and he was both easy and fun to work with as we ironed out the details of our custom tour. The included meals were all in very good to excellent restaurants. Our guide “Tommy” was with us the entire trip to inform and orient, but gave us free time to explore on our own at our own pace. Tommy’s English was also very good, and we really enjoyed our time with him. His love and enthusiasm for his country, especially the beautiful area of Sapa was infectious. Our car transportation was all in new, clean SUV’s with safe and courteous drivers.

Victoria Sapa Hotel Spa massage followed by hot spiced apple tea in front of the open fire was one of several high points. As was meeting the local ethnic minorities in the village homestay, where my wife, a textile artist, made good friends with a local weaver and indigo dye artist. Chancing upon a cultural exhibition and poetry festival (read in both Vietnamese and English) at the Temple of Literature was also very cool. We finished our tour by visiting the playful and touching Moon Bear Rescue Center…. for you animal lovers, check out Animals Asia website…. www.animalsasia.org.

When I first began to work with Mr. Lam I felt he was very flexible and client satisfaction oriented. As our tour progressed, and I saw the attention to detail of our interests and special requests, I felt as though I was ICP’s only client. As our tour ended, I felt that Lam and Tommy were treating my wife and I as friends, with primary concern for our health, safety, happiness, and the making of good memories.

I recommend ICP highly, and hope to see them again, when I have the good fortune to visit this corner of the world again. You can also see our video review on the ICP website.

Just back to Ireland after 2 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia. This was my fourth time in Vietnam and second in Cambodia but the first time I had booked direct with a local tour operator. I had previously booked through European travel companies. This trip was the best of those – commencing from the initial contact with Mr lam in Hanoi office where the trip was organised speedily and with great efficiency. On arrival in Saigon we were met by our Vietnamese guide, Mr Tam, and his excellent knowledge, fluency in English and willingness to ensure guests were well looked after made the trip so enjoyable. Cambodia trip was to a high standard. All in all a very enjoyable experience and I can highly recommend this company. jmcv

We decided to honeymoon in Vietnam and wanted to do something other than just laze about in resort pools or beach. So we found Asia Pioneer. Mr Lam was extremely helpful right from the start and in the months leading up to the trip we knew everything to expect and had a comprehensive program itinerary PDF. We travelled from sth to nth and had a guide and driver for each town / city. These guides are extremely helpful and professional and the drivers also. Mr Lam called us each few days to see how things were going and we really felt like we were very important customers. Some of the many highlights were home stay in the Mekong Delta; Marble Mountain in Danang; shopping in Hoi An; Forbidden City in Hoe; relaxing on the boat and beaches in Nha Trang; and of course Halong Bay, WOW.
Asia Pioneer is the way to go and we will be back to see more of the region. Thanks again Lam!! Matt&Tam