We decided to request Asia Pioneer to plan our travel since we looked up reviews that said getting around in Vietnam is not as easy as in other parts of the world, given the lack of fluent English speakers in the service industry and they were right! The two or three instances when we had to take cabs on our own, or order food, it never was what we expected and a few times, we were in for an unpleasant surprise.

Having said that, go with Indochina, they are simply fabulous! Why did we decide to go with them instead of all the others? Well, we found them to be the most efficient, cost effective and service oriented.

We were coordinating with Ruby for a few months before our travel and she was so efficient and professional, it was almost hard to believe! Her responses to emails were at lightening speed, and her attention to detail really gave us a sense of comfort. She customised the tour to Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay according to our interests and food preferences and left absolutely nothing to chance.

We were travelling with infants, elderly parents and couples, so we really needed every comfort in a foreign country as possible and Ruby ensured that, even while we were on the tour , checking on us everyday to make sure we were well taken care of.

One suggestion is to ask the company to assure you a tour guide who will volunteer information on the history, food, places you are passing and living in, else you may get one who just accompanies you around.