A personal guide to authentic experiences
from a veteran travel journalist
Authentic Luxury Travel
[promoslider id="my_id" category="topbanner" height="200px"]
  • Home
  • About Elizabeth
    • Published Articles
  • Authentic Luxury Travel
  • Book A Trip
  • Contact
  • Get Involved
    • Advertise
    • Contribute a Guest Post
    • Keep in Touch
    • Leave a Comment, Ask a Question
    • Plan a Getaway “Contest”
    • Send a Photo
    • Share a Travel Book or Movie
    • Write a Trip Report
  • Map of Posts by Location
  • Trip Planning
  • Africa
    • Botswana
    • Safaris
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
  • Air Travel
  • Antarctica
  • Asia
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Myanmar
    • Vietnam
  • Australia
    • Great Barrier Reef
    • Sydney
  • Authentic Travel
  • Canada
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver
    • Newfoundland
  • Central America
    • Costa Rica
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
  • Cruises
  • Europe
    • Czech Republic
    • England
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Latvia
    • Poland
    • Scotland
    • Spain
    • The Netherlands
    • Turkey
  • Hotels
  • India
  • Islands
    • Bermuda
    • Caribbean
    • Fiji
    • French Polynesia
    • Hawaii
    • Ibiza, Spain
    • Maldives
    • Palau
    • Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi
  • Middle East
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Dubai
  • New Zealand
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Galapagos
    • Peru
  • Special Interest Trips
    • Ancestry travel
    • Bucket List Travel
    • Classic Car Adventures
    • Destination Weddings & Honeymoons
    • fall colors
    • Family Travel
    • food tours
    • garden visits
    • Golf Vacations
    • Learning Vacations
      • Cooking schools
    • national holidays
    • Performing Arts
      • concerts
      • opera
    • Pet-Friendly Travel
    • Rafting
    • Recipes
    • Romantic Destinations
    • Shopping
    • Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
    • Spa Vacations
    • surfing
    • Walking vacations
    • Wildlife Watching
    • Winter Holidays
    • Women's Travel
  • Staying Healthy
    • Dealing with Illness and Discomfort
    • Eating and Drinking
    • Insects
    • Mind and Spirit
    • Packing
    • Problem Prevention
    • Travelling with Kids
  • Travel Experts
  • U. S. Travel
    • National Parks
    • USA Eastern States
    • USA Midwestern States
    • USA Southern States
    • USA Southwest
    • USA Western States
      • Alaska
      • Central California
      • Montana
      • Northern California
      • Oregon
      • Southern California
      • Utah
      • Washington
  • Vacation Rentals
  • Voluntourism

Vietnam Travel Companies

April 22, 2011 | Updated: October 31, 2014 | By Elizabeth | 3 Replies More

Everywhere we went in Vietnam, we were greeted with smiles

Of all the trips I’ve taken, the one to Vietnam stands out as being the biggest surprise. I expected to meet people who didn’t like Americans – and was greeted by smiling faces. I knew very little about the history, other than the period of the “American War,” but found it all fascinating – and I loved the food. During three weeks in the country, I became nearly obsessed by the local crafts and, even though I’m typically not a shopper, I managed to fit a lot into my suitcase and ship the rest home in a big crate.

The credit for much of the success of our trip goes to the tour company we used: Ann Tours. My husband and I researched and booked our own hotels, but they provided drivers and guides who escorted us through cities and rural areas and even drove us between cities when that was practical. Once home, I wrote about “Finding Peace in Vietnam” for Ranch & Coast, San Diego’s luxury lifestyle magazine.

Today, tourism is flourishing in Vietnam and several good tour companies provide authentic travel experiences for visitors. I hope you will carefully consider the one you choose because it will make all the difference in your trip.

Vietnam Alive Travel was founded by Van Nguyen, a graduate of Ho Chi Minh City University of English and Tourism. His staff is expert at planning customized itineraries for individuals, families, and groups, and they also offer tour packages throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Tony Tien Huynh is the owner of One World Tourism. His company offers private trips and boutique tours for groups of 6 – 14 people. One World’s specialties include Vespa tours and motorbike tours, as well as eco-adventures and community tours. Because of their community interest, One World would be a good choice for travelers interested in voluntourism.

Tan Ngo is the Assistant General Manager of Viet Horizon Travel, a company formed by five young, Engllish-speaking Vietnamese who are experienced tour guides. They cater to budget, mid-price, and luxury travelers and specialize in excursions to Vietnam’s resort islands, such as Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Cham, and Cat Ba. Their small personalized tours also include Laos and Cambodia.

Even though we had a good experience with Ann Tours on our first trip, it’s very tempting to put our plans in the hands of Van Nguyen at Vietnam Alive Travel when we return. They claim to be “the premier private tour operator in Vietnam today,” and I have reason to believe that this is true.

In the meantime, watch this blog. My next post will be on my favorite Vietnam hotels.

Photo credit: ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS.

Tags: Ann Tours, authentic luxury travel, food, guides, hotels, One World Tourism, shopping, tour operators, touring, travel companies, Viet Horizon, Vietnam, Vietnam Alive Travel, Vietnamese, voluntourism

Category: Vietnam

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.

Privacy guaranteed. We never share your info.
Subscribe via RSS Feed Follow Me on Twitter Connect on Facebook Connect on Google Plus Connect on LinkedIn

Comments (3)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

Sites That Link to this Post

  1. Vietnam - Luxury Hotels and Resorts - Authentic Luxury Travel | August 20, 2012
  1. Elizabeth Hansen says:
    November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I forgot to mention in this post that one of the things I really like about Vietnam Alive Travel is that they guarantee to reply to emails within 12 hours.

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth says:
    November 18, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    You will find the RSS for http://www.AuthenticLuxuryTravel.net on the homepage.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

« BYO Travel Food
Guard Your Goodies When You Travel »

Subscribe

Join me and discover the joy of authentic travel experiences. Subscribe here. Watch your inbox for an activation email.

Privacy guaranteed. We never share your info.
[jr_instagram id="2"]
Let our Boutique Hotels inspire you
Discover the ancient and magical culture of  Peru
Discover Vietnams hidden treasures with the help of a private tour guide
Spectaular Italian Villas and homes for rent

Need Help Planning Your Trip?

I enjoy helping travelers plan custom itineraries that wander off the beaten path instead of following the well-worn trail of tourist sites. Elizabeth Hansen
Find out how I can help .

"I truly want to thank you for helping to make our trip a joyous adventure. We will always be grateful to you for enhancing our experiences." —N. Higgins, Black Mountain, NC

Find Authentic Luxury Destinations

Click the map to find articles and travel tips about your favorite destinations.

Subscribe via RSS Feed Follow Me on Twitter Connect on Facebook Connect on Google Plus Connect on LinkedIn
© 2023 Authentic Luxury Travel. All rights reserved. Design & Development by Acorn Interactive.