We've had three trips planned by Viet Orchid Travel (Hanoi-Sapa; Danang, Hue, Phong-Nga, Hoi An; Ho... read more
We've had three trips planned by Viet Orchid Travel (Hanoi-Sapa; Danang, Hue, Phong-Nga, Hoi An; Ho... read more
Two couples did a 2 1/2 week tour of Vietnam, south to north. We are photo enthusiasts and arranged... read more
Our second time with this company. We have used the bigger name UK-based tour companies for the rest of SE Asia and South America, but for Vietnam this company is tough to beat.
Viet Orchid know all the best local operators and we found we were going to the same places, same Ha Long Bay cruises, same hotels, same cooking courses as the prestige companies, but for a major saving.
To be honest, that isn't enough to justify the decision since these companies have impressive pools of guides and other benefits too, but what does make the difference is when something goes wrong.
We were in the same hotel as guests with other companies (we have used before) and when the recent (terrible) floods hit central Vietnam no one was calling them. They had to call back to the UK to find out what the back up plan was for their flooded out next hotel.
Instead, I had already received a call in my room from Viet Orchid, assuring us everything was under control and they were monitoring the situation. They ensured the guides were also aware.
We also had the chance to meet one of the owners in Hue. A very easy company to do business with.
We finished off our 2.5 week tour in Hoi An with Hang, one of their best guides.
If you're planning to visit or re-visit Vietnam, drop them an email.
Recommended here through a colleague and not disappointed. Prompt follow-up to my inquiries with a range of choices. I appreciated that they weren't only trying to sell me on high end options. The cool thing was I ended up meeting both owners during my travels which was a surprise. Getting the local knowledge of a place is awesome but having the owner of a company making personally sure the trip was going well was highly appreciated. Thanks!!
Viet Orchid has always been my number 1 go-to travel company when travelling in the region.
I am an experienced traveller, and have lived in South East Asia myself, so I tend to do things independently usually and am often wary of tour companies. The great thing with Viet Orchid is that they will take on board your personal needs and provide options for the product and service that fits you. In my case, that meant getting hold of tickets for cruises in Hoi An, organising overland travel plans, booking hotels and making sure I was looked after every step of the way without trying to sell me something I didn't need.
Warren was an absolute gent in communication and made sure I got a personal response to every enquiry (and i'm sure i bombarded him with a few), and Lan made sure to meet us personally in her home town of Hue. She is a shining star in Vietnam, where you come across a lot of scam artists and aggressive sales tactics, and she made sure we avoided all that. The balance of eastern and western travel knowledge really works.
I've returned time and time again to Viet Orchid simply because they make everything so simple, they don't overcharge and they go out of their way to ensure you get the best service. For big or small travel requirements I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them
Dear nightdancer
Thanks indeed for writing your kind words and we're all looking forward to welcoming you back here again - hopefully soon!