We're planning an August trip with stops in Siem Reap and Hanoi. We'd like to hire a private English speaking guide (with an airconditioned car) for touring in both places. Any suggestions and contact information would be appreciated. Also, we'll be staying at the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. Does it make sense to hire a private guide or should we plan to take excursions offered by the hotel? Thanks.

The guide in Diesm Reap who comes highly recommended on this forum (and who we are using in July) in Ponheary Li. She gets booked up fast, so I would recommend contacting her soon. Her contact info is [email protected].

If Ponheary is not available she can help you with another guide. You might also be interested in reading about the foundation set up by a Fodorite which was inspired by Poheary: www.theplf.org

Do you need a guide in Hanoi? Is there something specific you want to do that would require a guide? Hanoi is easy to get around on your own. You need a good guidebook and a plan for what you want to see/do.

Likewise, what are you planning to do in the Chiang Mai area? It's true that you'll need a car and driver if you want to shop or sightsee, but there are few things for which you need a guide (a trek to visit hilltribes not on the tourist track, etc).

Oh, if you do excursions through the hotel, you'll pay many times the usual price. If you want a car and driver, arrange it on your own. Also, don't use your hotel for jewelry store recommendations. A recent traveler did, and paid US prices for jewelry she should have gotten for 5-75% less. If you want to buy jewelry in SE Asia, do so in Bangkok, and I'll be glad to give you the name of my jeweler.

I had a guide for two days in the Hanoi area; one for the city itself ( I agree with Kathie.. you do not need a guide within the city) and one for a private car trip to Tam Coc and Hoa Lu.

He speaks English quite well:

[email protected]

..forgot to say that I highly recommend trip to Tam Coc/Hoa Lu. And that I also used this guide for the drive to and from the boat dock for a Halong Bay cruise. He works on his own and also for Exotissimo, a well-respected Vietnam agency.

There are many good guides in Siem Reap and the following are just a few that have been well thought of and whom speak good english.

Veasna (pronounced Vesnu) - Charning guide. He can be contacted at [email protected] or
[email protected]


John Teng is excellent,. His web site is http://www.angkorservice.com/

Kim Rieng at [email protected]

Sokun Men - [email protected]

Saron Soeun can be reached at [email protected] and he has a good website at www.sarontours.com

Thank you for all your responses. I'll be contacting guides immediately since I understand that the good guides go quickly.
Ekscunchy, we are interested in taking a day trip from Hanoi and would love to hear more about your experience in Tam Coc and Hoa Luc. Also, what were the logistics of your Halong Bay excursion? We'll be traveling in August, so I'm not sure whether we should plan on visiting Halong Bay in light of weather concerns.

M: I will write a trip report, but for now, I did an overnight on the Emeraude in Halong Bay and would recommend it. The weather in January was cloudy with some rain so not ideal, but you will have a very different experience in August..you can swim and kayak and hopefully see the sun!

I liked the day at Tam Coc very much. I would caution an early start and trying to schedule your day to avoid the tourist crush..leave Hanoi early and do the boat ride; then have lunch, perhaps, and visit Hoa Lu before the groups descend. The drive is about 2.5 hours on Highway One, with quite a bit of traffic and not much good scenery. There are local places to eat along the way but most people (me included) get taken to one of the touristy places in Tam Coc where they have set meals.

The scenery in Tam Coc is fabulous, but if you have very limited time in Hanoi and are also planning to visit Halong Bay I suppose you could give it a miss. I lliked Hoa Lu very much..lots of atmosphere. Again, make sure to schedule your visit around the tourist crush..a guide will know how to do that...

Please ask away if there is anything else I can offer until I write that report!