Since 1992, I’ve traveled to Vietnam 7 times. While I could travel there another dozen times and still feel like I’m learning about the country and its people, I definitely have some insight into traveling through the region and love to share my own interest and affinity for this country with others. Because of my frequent visits there (I usually refer to it as my second home), I often get questions about what to do and see and am also asked for recommendations for tour companies in-country.
Woman with basket in Mai Chau, northern Vietnam
So, I’ve decided to pull together some information that I can more easily share with friends and readers alike. This is the first in a series of informative blogs about this amazing country.
Let’s start with tour companies. While you can definitely visit Vietnam as an independent traveler, at some point you’ll want to join a tour group for at least a day trip in order to get off the beaten path and to uncover some of the amazing insight about the country that can only be shared by a knowledgeable guide. For an even deeper experience, consider a tour that will last a few days or longer with a company that can handle all the details for you.
The companies I recommend below are all ones with which I have a personal relationship. I’ve traveled with all of them (going back to the early 90’s) and have maintained a friendship with the owners of each company. That’s the way Vietnam is. You easily make friends for life.
Handspan Tours
With offices in Hanoi and Saigon, Handspan offers small group adventures to remote areas of Vietnam. Whether you’re interested in trekking in Sapa or Mai Chau, sea kayaking in Ha Long Bay or mountain biking in the Mekong Delta region, these folks can make all the arrangements. They’ve also added a tour to Angkor Wat.
Buffalo Tours
Buffalo Tours is a larger company providing a variety of tours throughout Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Buffalo was founded in ’94 by Kien, a doctor who enjoyed travel. He combined his career with his passion and began providing medical care for people in remote areas of Vietnam (a program he continues today). Buffalo Tours also gives thousands of dollars each year to programs that are in need of support (orphanages, hilltribe villages and more).
Kim Cafe Travel (no website)
I met Kim in ’92 when I was teaching English in Saigon. We became fast friends. She taught me how to play guitar, I taught her how to make macaroni and cheese at her small cafe geared towards tourists. Today, she has a thriving business in the Pham Ngu Lao (the Khao San Road of Vietnam) area of Saigon. Her address (if she hasn’t moved by the time you get there) is 272 De Tham Street. Kim is an entrepreneur to the nth degree. She runs a thriving cafe, a tour company and a motorbike rental agency. Sign up for a day long trip to the Cao Dai Temples or have her customize a longer tour to the Mekong. Support her and you’ll be supporting not only a woman-owned business, but a small-businessperson who has made her way through rough times to now supporting her entire extended family and her employees by catering to the backpacker crowd. Tell her I sent ya and send me a photo of her and I’ll come up with a special little gift to send your way 🙂
Happy Travels!
Joe Pankchuck says
Great post. I really enjoy it! looking forward to more.