clients' reviews

Hello Lien,
Here is our feedback from our fantastic trip to Vietnam.

1.    Central services and booking.

The booking process was very good and smooth. The communication, especially with you, has been very good and efficient. Always adapting to our needs and requests with a high service level. 
Documentation and payments have been easy.

2.    Transport. 

The driver and car from Halong to Hanoi airport was correct and ok. Arrived on time and got us to the destination.

Domestic flights worked good, just a bit unlucky with the delay from Saigon to Hanoi. But that is not your fault. 

The driver in Saigon to Ben Tre the same, ok and on time even though we have some traffic jams.

Our last driver, Tang, was fantastic. Very nice car for the route we did and Tang did an outstanding job. Gave all the extra service you can imagine and helped our tour guide in very many situations were you could tell the guide was a bit lost. Always looked after us, made sure we had everything we needed. All our credits and recommendations to Tang.

3.    Tour guides

The guide in Saigon for our day in Ben Tre was very average, felt uninterested and lost. Missing directions and where the different places where.

Andrew, is new and unexperienced, but does as good as he can. He will learn with time and experience. Tang helped him out in a very good way. I would only give him one advice, you should not ask clients for a tip if you are happy with the service. That will come automatically. He did twice. 

4.    Activities

Vintage Jeep tour in Hanoi was a great experience with a very nice guide. We visited several interesting sites topped with an invitation to a local old ladies house for a chat. The food was different and very tasty.

After dark Vespa tour in Saigon another fantastic night with a very professional guide. She did everything she could to make us feel good, and did the extra small things.

Boat trip and biking in Ben Tre. The guide was very average, and I would not recommend the activity. A total of over 7 hours(round trip) in a car to experience a 200 meter canoe ride, a 20 minutes bike ride on old and average bikes and then a boat trip with a stop at a very touristic coconut bar. The boat trip was boring and felt long.

The lunch with the elephant ear fish was good, but the rest of the day felt as a bit of waste of time. Would rather had spent the day in another way.

I would recommend to spend 2-4 days in Saigon, we really enjoyed it.

Mai Hich and homestay.

Even if it’s a long drive, it is worth it. Very good driver and a nice car makes it easy and comfortable. We stopped by the road and a had a nice and local Pho. The homestay was a nice experience and the bike ride was very nice.

Eo Ken and the walk down the rice fields was just spectacular, a very nice experience. And then Tang topped it with picking us up down in the village so we did not have to walk up. Thanks.

Interesting to see the bamboo water wheels, but we could have dropped the bamboo rafting. 

Staying at Pu Luong Natura was great, a beautiful “hotel” with stunning views. And it was nice to be able to invite Tang and Andrew for a dinner with us at the hotel. Getting to know a little bit more about them personally. 

Trekking in Thai ethnic villages was another nice day of walks in the jungle. We really enjoyed these days in the bush. A longer afternoon and night relaxing at Pu Luong was a good choice.

Ninh Binh

We did Trang An first witch was a very good choice, not to busy and crowded. When we finished it was packed. So that was a good choice from Tang. The boat trip was beautiful and interesting.

Bai Dinh Pagoda was ok, but maybe not what we would do again.

We had a very nice dinner again that night with Tang and Andrew, thank you very much for the invitation.

Le Clos du Fil Hotel was very nice and with a good location in the city.

The last day we did the 500 steps up to the Buddha witch was a nice way to end our trip.
5.    Meals

In general we have had many nice meals included, but we would have liked to be able to choose more from the menus instead of having the guide doing set menus with every meal.
The lunch at Trang An was not good, so you should look at other options for lunch there.

In general we have had a fantastic trip and would recommend you and Authentik highly to any going to Vietnam. Even if we never met personally you have been very helpful and “close” to us during the whole time, so thank you very much. It makes us feel secure and taken care of. Would like to highlight Tang, an excellent person to have on your team. He definitely goes the extra mile for the client.

Happy to fill in more information and feedback if you need.
 

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My visit to Hoi An with Authentik Vietnam was truly captivating. The lantern-lit streets, ancient architecture, and delicious Vietnamese cuisine made my journey extraordinary. The guides were knowledgeable and welcoming, turning my holiday into memories I will cherish forever. Highly recommended!

From trekking through the karst peaks of Dong Van to sharing tea with a Red Dao family, every moment felt genuine. The itinerary was flexible and well-balanced, with plenty of time for photography and reflection. Our guide, Quan, had deep knowledge of local traditions and always made us feel welcomed. I returned home not only with stunning memories, but with a true appreciation for Vietnam’s northern highlands.

The landscapes were breathtaking — especially in Dong Van and around Ban Gioc Waterfall — but it was the people and stories that stayed with me. I spent three nights with a Tay family, learning to cook over a wood fire and listening to folk songs. My local guide, Mai, brought everything to life with grace and patience. This trip wasn’t about rushing from site to site; it was about presence. I left Vietnam filled with gratitude and a deep connection to its land and people.

This wasn’t just a trip, it was a revelation. From historical Hanoi to the lantern-lit evenings in Hoi An, and the quiet majesty of Non Nuoc Pagoda, everything was planned with care and sensitivity. I had private guides who were not just knowledgeable, but also genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their culture. I loved how the itinerary included both famous sites and hidden gems — small mountain villages, local workshops, and even a Buddhist ceremony at dawn. It was emotional, educational, and beautifully personal. I’d recommend Authentik Vietnam to any thoughtful traveler.

From sipping egg coffee in a hidden Hanoi café to cooking fish in banana leaves with a family in the Mekong Delta, every day brought a new flavour and story. The itinerary was well-paced, mixing vibrant cities like Hue and Hoi An with quiet, off-the-beaten-path villages. The guides were incredible — always ready to share insights and small details that brought everything to life. I returned home not only full of memories, but with a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s rich heritage. I’ll be back, for sure!

From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the tranquil villages of the Mekong Delta, the itinerary was perfectly crafted. Every guide I met was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. What made it so special was the personal touch—small surprises, local meals, and genuine encounters with Vietnamese families. The cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay was a highlight: peaceful, uncrowded, simply breathtaking. Authentik Vietnam made my dream trip a reality. Highly recommended!

My family and I recently returned from a three-week tour of Vietnam organized by Authentik Vietnam, and overall it was a fantastic adventure. The agency designed a trip that perfectly fit our interests, allowing us to explore Vietnam from south to north without stress. The tour took us through the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the lush Mekong Delta. We then traveled to Central Vietnam – exploring the imperial city of Hue and the charming town of Hoi An – and finally to the north, with Hanoi and a magical overnight cruise on Halong Bay.

Throughout our journey, the guides in each region were knowledgeable and friendly. Our kids especially loved our Mekong Delta guide, who taught them how to make coconut candy during a village visit! The accommodations ranged from comfortable city hotels to a unique overnight stay on a Halong Bay boat. The hotel in Hoi An even had a lovely swimming pool, which our children enjoyed every evening after a day of touring.

We encountered only a couple of minor issues during the trip. For example, our luggage was delayed on arrival in Saigon, but our guide helped track it down and we got it back the next day. Also, some days were quite full with activities – in hindsight, a bit more downtime in the middle of the itinerary would have been nice, especially for the kids to rest. Despite these small hiccups, we had an unforgettable experience and felt well taken care of throughout. I would highly recommend Authentik Vietnam to other families looking to explore this beautiful country in a convenient and enriching way.

I stumbled upon Authentik Vietnam while looking for a local travel agency. What impressed me wasn’t that everything went perfectly — because it didn’t — but rather how the team handled the bumps along the way: fast, professional, friendly, and always with a backup plan.

Our bus broke down just outside Hué. Within an hour, another vehicle was dispatched, and Bao — my English-speaking guide — turned what could’ve been a frustrating delay into a chance to share stories about the region’s history over roadside tea.

Behind the scenes, Lin, my remote advisor, was always there. Every morning, she sent a short message to check if everything was going smoothly — never intrusive, always on time. That kind of dedication is rare.

I’ll be coming back to Vietnam for sure — and it will be with Authentik. I’ll recommend them to all my fellow Kiwi travelers who want authenticity with support they can rely on