BDods

My husband and I usually travel independently, but it looks like Vietnam may be a bit much for us. Do you know of a tour group that doesn't make travelers feel like part of a herd?

Gpanda

Check with Gregg at Innovasian.com. he can set up an independent tour. We used him for our first trip to Thailand and all our anxieties melted away.

TracyB

You can also try vietnamstay.com

We just used them in January 2007 and they arranged our drivers, hotels, etc. Mr. PHAM TUYEN i think was his name, but very good service...

It is very easy to travel around Vietnam actually...

Eekthecat

Hi BDods

I second vietnamstay.com

We used them last time and everything was as planned.

Their office is in Hanoi and is called Auroua Travel [ I think] and they have a team of girls answering emails for Mr Pham behalf.

Overall very efficient and the guides we had were the same ones that some of the larger more expensive tour groups use.

Safe travels

Eek =)

Lindsey

Here is a third vote for vietnamstay.com. I worked with their HCM office on internal air tickets, hotel bookings and a private (own guide and driver) 2 day trip to the Mekong Delta. They are very efficient and the prices are good. You can select your own hotels and they will get you a better price than you can get yourself.

albaaust

What makes you think Vietnam you cannot do independently and need a tour group? Aside from getting a sinhcafe to book our flights and a couple of day tours the rest we organised ourselves. You can do it!

JerryS

BDods, No need to take a fully escorted group tour in Vietnam. You can arrange a private tour with Vietnamstays or other tour company. You can customize your itinerary, make changes along the way, etc. You will be in control. They will arrange for drivers, guides, hotels, etc. IMO, this will probably cost you less than a fully escorted tour and provide a wonderful experience. You will be "independant" but guided. You will be surprised how inexpensive such a tour will be, even if you choose 4 and 5 star hotels.
Aalbaust, While it is nice to say you did it without help, a private package as can be arranged by a company such as Vietnastay can be less expensive, more productive and, in many way, more fun and interesting, than doing it alone.

twofortheroad

We also used Vietnamstay and were very happy with their service, but we had some problems with terms of payment. In the end everything worked out well. Their web site states no prepayment, but after our hotels and 2 day mekong tour were confirmed, we were asked for credit card information and 50% payment either by credit card with a 3% charge or wire transfer. We can send a wire transfer at no cost, so we decided on that, since a credit card transaction would end up at 6%. After a week of going back and forth with them, they could not give us a corresponding bank number, and we were unable to wiretransfer. Since we were leaving in 2 weeks, we decided (not happily)to charge the deposit. We sent our card information and received a reply that they would not charge the deposit and we would pay the entire amount when we arrived either cash or credit card w/ 3% additional. We then decided to pay 1/2 cash and the other with debit card as we would only have to pay their 3%, not 6%. When we made payment after our arrival, we were then told, they would not charge the 3%. So in the end we did not incur any additional charges, but these changes in payment terms were an unecessary pain.

To avoid this, I would suggest that you state in your first communication, that you intend to pay as their web site states, on arrival & inquire about any additional costs.

To all others who have used Vietnamstay, have you had a similar experience, or was mine unique?

I would use them again as we were happy with their service, but I would settle the payment conditions at the outset.

Lindsey

I never paid anything until arrival in HCM. After our Cu Chi tunnel tour on the second day, we stopped by their office and I gave them a credit card. No surcharge. Very simple and clean. Sorry to hear it was so much more stressful for you. As is so often the case in Asia, I think the deal depends on the day of the week, the color of the sky and the mood of the person with whom you are dealing.

Vietnam84

I recommend tracevietnam or waytovietnam. Their service is very good. You can see their professinal webs, especially tracevietnam.com You just have to deposit of the money for your tour.

TracyB

I never had to pay anything either until we got to Hanoi where we went down to the office and paid by Visa.

The only thing we had to give after i made the booking was a visa number to guarantee the reservation.

All the hotels we choose were really nice, and at times we were upgraded to executive rooms, etc.

The driver's were excellent, and friendly..

For our trip to Halong Bay...We had a driver and a guide included in the price and they were just fantastic..They stopped whenever we wanted to and were just really nice.

Anyhow...i do highly recommend vietnamstay.com!!

SassTraveler

Trailsofindochina.com was fantastic. Loved every minute of it. Personal and professional. Great guides. Great accomodations. Highly recommend biking the Mekong and Halong Bay overnight on a junk. Saigon is a large, somewhat Westernized city, Hanoi makes New York look like it's asleep.

Have fun!