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I have travelled with Ethnic Travel many times since 2007. They are the best for travel with kind and friendly guides and wonderful knowledge of the country.

Fiona

May 2024 • Solo

I contacted Ethnic Travel because my sister traveled with them last year and recommended them to me. I was a bit exhausted from planning every day of my half-year solo backpacking trip through Southeast Asia and wanted to take a week off just being a passenger. I trusted them with planning my entire itinerary for a week. I did the Ha Giang loop and then Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay straight away without stopping in Hanoi first. They took care of every logistical aspect of the trip and allowed me to store my big backpack in their office while I was away. I wouldn't think twice about contacting them again if I come back to Vietnam.

We were brought on our 5 day northern loop Ha Giang tour by guide Mr Khanh and driver Mr Hoan. We had a wonderful time, Mr Khanh brought us to truly off-beaten paths where we’d walk for miles with wonderful sceneries without seeing anyone else other than locals going about their daily lives. He is also very knowledgeable and clearly cares for the ethnics minorities in his home country :) Driver Mr Hoan doesn’t speak much English but is always so smiley and warm and kind, it was always truly a joy seeing him and his van after a long trek. He also navigated the extremely winding roads so well, we felt so safe under his careful driving. Would highly recommend this tour for travellers who enjoy walking (a lot!) in places untouched by tourism, and getting a glimpse of local life through cosy, humble homestays (with delicious, homely local food) and forest picnics!

Alison

We booked a tour of Ba tu long bay, Ninh Binh and Ha Giang with Ethnic travel. It is such a pleasure to deal with an organisation which makes the whole process seamless, pleasurable and authentic. Please use them without any concerns, you are good hands. However some people may want some more details - so here we go:

- The booking process was very easy, I had a discussion with Mr Khanh and he suggested some itineraries - very worthwhile

- The transfer process and drivers were very polite and genuine
- The homestays were very authentic and the food in homestays was the best we had
- Guides were great - nice, genuine and knowledgeable

One little tip - home made rice wine in sooo good, hope you get to enjoy some of it

Ethnic Travel is one of those rare places where I can only say nice things

Happy travels

May 2024
11 days tour - would recommended 100%

Using Ethnic travel is a great way to explore North Veitnam. Our guide Nghi was awesome, we trekked everyday and these were very challenging walks in the heat and humidty - but Nghi was a great guide who got us through! He taught us lots as bout the different ethnuc minorities in Vietnam and the flora/fauna and culture.

Thu at the office is very knowledgeable and will help you tailor a trip to your requirments.

We stayed in many different homestays which were all perfect for us. The food they provided is good and they were able to cater for me being vegetarian too. Most homestays had A/C, WiFi and private bathrooms so were well equipped! Our favourites were the Ethnic Travel Homestay in Ninh Binh and one in Ha Giang.

Our driver Tuang was excellent at navigating the difficult roads in Ha giang, I felt very safe with him. The trip worked out about 70GBP per person per day which for transport, a driver, a guide, accommodation and all meals is good value.

We travelled as a pair alone with our guide for 8/11 days and on 3 days were with another couple. Amazing that the group sizes were so small.

If I came back to Vietnam I wouldn't hesitate to use Ethnic Travel again. If you are thinking of going to Ha Giang (you must - it is the most beautiful part of Vietnam), Ethnic Travel can help you navigate thr region without renting a motorbike, which is what most other tour companies provide.

Apr 2024 • Couples

Seven incredible days in Ha Giang province.
Professional and warm welcome to Hanoi.
Exceptional journey off the beaten track, accompanied by a pleasant, experienced and friendly driver and guide.
We recommend 100%

May 2024 • Solo

Hello everyone,
I came to Vietnam solo to discover a little adventure,
I highly recommend great welcome, very good advice and Madame Thu speaks French very well and will be able to organize as best as possible according to your wishes and your timing.
Plus it won't cost you more than if you organized it yourself, they have great addresses and everything was very well organized, you can trust it 100%.

Mar 2024 • Family

Family of 5, we warmly recommend Ethnic Travel. We were pleasantly welcomed by Ms. THU who speaks French perfectly ???? Her wise advice allowed us to discover the astonishing and eclectic BAC-HÀ market on the Chinese border and SAPA for a 15 km trek, with immersion in the local population , the Hmong. 2nd getaway 3 days and 2 nights to LAN HÀ bay (Halong) where we had a typical wooden boat for the 5 of us. Ninh Binh (land bay) where the rain did not spoil the organization of the day. Only a small hiccup regarding the reservation of a hotel in Bac Hà, quickly forgotten thanks to Mrs. THU who responded well by offering us a night in a beautiful, superior category hotel. Stays off the beaten track. A change of scenery guaranteed.
THANK YOU ETHNIC TRAVEL and Ms. THU for your competence.

We highly recommend Ethnic Travel for planned tra vels in Vietnam! Ethnic Travel planned our 4 days/5 nights motorbike Tour for the Ha Giang Loop. We were by ourselves with our drivers and were very pleased and always felt safe with them since they are locals. The homestays were very lovely, the food amazing (always with vegetarian options) and the nature is magnificent. PLUS: the Office in Hanoi is also a bookstore :) 10/10!!!

Mar 2024 • Family

We used Ethnic Travel for our 21 days in Vietnam. We started with a 5 day trek in Ha Giang Province and then did the Depth of Vietnam tour taking in all the highlights of Vietnam. The trip was amazing. Ethnic really get you off the beaten track and we explored many beautiful places, staying with local families in home stays. These were high quality, all with en-suite facilities and most with air conditioning. The food provided was exceptional. The guides and drivers were all brilliant as was the organisation and communication. We would definitely recommend Ethnic Travel. They were very responsive and as we had a private tour, we were able to amend it to suit our exact requirements.

Christina W

Amazing 5-day Ha Giang Loop with Ethnic Travel

Mar 2024 • Couples
We did a 5-day Ha Giang loop trip in a minivan at the end of March with Ethnic Travel. The trip was very well organized, with great attention to details and flexibility to accommodate our needs and wishes. Our home stays were super clean and meals/restaurants carefully selected. We were really lucky to have Nick as our guide and Tuan as our driver. They took great care of us and made us feel at ease. Nick took us to some unforgettable hikes/treks- through the rice paddies and foggy mountains with goats to minority people's villages, introducing some unique plants and trees, and telling us about people's life in the mountains. We are grateful to him for sharing his knowledge and love for this area. He went far and beyond to accommodate all our needs and answer all our questions. Our driver kept the car super clean inside and out through the whole trip, and did a great job navigating the windy roads safely. Ethnic Travel made this trip worth every penny and gave us unforgettable experience-Thank you!

Tamara F

Hello Ethnic Travel Team,

We had an amazing trip. We loved our guide Vang and our driver and the families we stayed with. The places we visited were so beautiful and we loved all the activities (kayaking, boating, riding, walking). We have recommended your company with great satisfaction (and many photos) on social media. Many thanks for making our holiday so wonderful. We feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to have visited some special places in your country.

Warm regards
Vanessa and John

I just wrapped up my three day tour with Ethnic Travel Vietnam, and couldn't have been more impressed. When first arriving to Vietnam I was intimidated with getting around as I had never visited this culture before. Khanh at Ethnic Travel facilited our needs professionally, welcoming, and extremely cost-efficiently.

After our trip finished with the company, he still helped in every aspect possible with getting around, and to all our next destinations while ensuring we had the best price and experiences. Our tour guide Lan in Sapa was amazing, we had a wonderful time with her. And our boat crew for Halong Bay couldn't have better. We checked out many travel agencies here in Hanoi, and couldn't have been more impressed with Ethnic Travel. I recommend using their services with the utmost respect and appreciation for how professional and warm they were to us.

Cole Titus, U.S.A.

Feb 2024
I tried to book our first trip to Vietnam in my own and realized that I was in way over my head. My wife ran across Ethnic Travel on some blog, and I contacted them. That was the best decision I made. They provided us with a great itinerary.

After trying to book the hotels and internal flights on our own, I ended up just having them handle the whole trip. Again, a good decision. They set everything up so that we had a seamless experience from the time we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, to Siem Reap, to Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi.

We also went to Lan Ha Bay (a much better alternative to Ha Long Bay; less people and garbage) and to Ninh Binh. At each place, we were met by a driver and guide who were friendly and knowledgeable. We actually became friends with a few of the guides.

As a bonus, all of the restaurants we went, whether as part of the tour or outside of the tour at Erhnic Travels’ recommendations, were great, and some were even spectacular.

Additionally, whenever we had a request (for instance when some of our party fell ill), they quickly made changes so that we could rest before touring again. They were so responsive and accommodating.

We loved our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, and all credit goes to Ethnic Travels for an amazing experience!! I highly recommend them.

Kenneth L

Feb 2024
I went to Hanoi with little idea about what I was doing. I knew I didn't want to be on bus tours or huge groups and that I wanted an experience of real Vietnam. I walked through the door of Ethnic travel and they got me immediately and for a modest price and little notice I was given a great experience of 4 days of trekking in relatively remote villages and countryside, then off for a cruise on Halong bay followed by a 3 day motorcycle tour of Ha Giang. There is no way that I could organise this and all the way it felt like ethnic travel were in touch and making sure it all went to plan. A memorable 10 days.

Feb 2024 • Family
We went to Ninh Bình with the great Duy who was so well informed and nice, he could answer almost any question - thank you for this lovely trip. And then we were so blessed to go the countryside near by Sa Pa to meet and stay with LOVELY Chi. She was amazing, just perfect! Super delicious food, super clever, funny & loving person! And her cute Homestay in the middle of the rice terraces was just amazing. We can’t wait to see her again! THANK YOU Chi, it was lovely meeting you. And thanks to Ethnic Travel for these special memories made with you!

Feb 2024 • Couples
We are traveling Danish couple, that embarked on a ten day trip in Vietnam all arranged by Ethics travel in Hanoi. The very kind mr. Khanh, really understood our desires and needs for the tour. From Hanoi to Ha Giang Loop (motorbike tour with driver) - to hike and experience Sapa - utilizing homestays as accommodation. That was amazing - and allowed us to connect to ourBlack Hmong people guide - and her family. They were amazing ???? Finally we had 3 day in Cat Ba and Viet Hai (excellent recommendation) on a very nice and not over crowded boat.
All trips between the areas/towns were arranged and worked out greatly. Only thing - I had to relax and not get stressed that the some details not were captured in the itinerary…but mr. Khanh was very informative via WhatsApp.

Overall - just great experience, and I can give Ethnics Travel my warmest recommendations.

Henrick

March 2024 • Friends
We went on a private tour with Ethnic travel and we didn’t regretted it a bit. Everything was very well prepared and we were super well looked after. We were demanding travelers as we changed our plans often and that required constant schedule adjustments which our guide took on with patience. Our guide Dong was super informative and communicated excellently with local communities. Our driver Jing was also a great companionship. All the home stays where very well prepared for our stay rooms where clean and every home stay experience was really worth it.

The only flaw I could name would be that even though I asked several times for some summarizing information about our route after the trip was finished I never received it. Another situation you need to be prepared for is that tip is actually expected if not to say required. We were quite straight forward reminded of that by the organizer at the end of our trip and the 10% expectation of a he entire price is high enough to let it be mentioned upfront. We were prepared to pay a tip to our guide and the driver obviously but reminding us about it and expecting to pay fair duty on the entire price felt a little bit like a stretch. I would suggest agreeing on the tip upfront to avoid odd circumstances at the end.

Other than that I would definitely recommend this agency as exceptional in comparison to others in the similar area of expertise.

Jan 2024 • Solo

I did a trek to Sapa with Ethnic travel, leaving from Hanoi over 5 days. Everything went very well, including transport, local connections, being looked after by the guide and the nights in a homestay. There were only 4 of us at the start and I was alone for the last two days. The guide was perfect in offering me a tailor-made programme and I was able to do the Fansipan (3143m). You'll find that the prices of the trips are perhaps a little higher than in other agencies, but you'll be able to afford them because ethnic travel focuses on the quality of the trip (visits to villages, meeting the local population, small groups, tailor-made tourist programmes, walks off the beaten track and away from the hordes of tourists, etc.).

Jean

We took a five day tour called 5 Day Ha Giang Adventure. The ficus is cultural experiences through low impact tourism. Our guide Ms. Hien was exceptional and had a wonderful sensitivity, people responded to her kindness and obvious love of their communities. Our driver Mr. Quyen kept us safe and was a superb driver. We laughed a lot and learned so much about Vietnamese culture. It was the perfect balance of hiking, cycling and boating. We met some incredible trubal people and ste some wonderful food. We literally can’t say enough good about our trip and we travel a lot.

Angela

Dec 2023 • Couples
Ethnic Travel was recommended by friends. What an excellent recommendation it was.
We used them to organise a day excursion to Bi Tu Long Bay. The excursion was pre booked from Australia. Communication was prompt, informative and polite. All of our requests were met.
Pick up from hotel, drive to Cat Ba, ferry and then trip around floating villages, lunch and cruise around the bay before returning to Hanoi. Informative and experienced guide with us all the way.

Dec 2023 • Family
Ethnic travel organised two very memorable trips for us, one day trip to the stunning Bai Tu Long bay, a two day trecking trip from Sapa plus a minibus ride to Ninh Binh. The service was impeccable, everything worked out beautifully and we were very well looked after by the two friendly and knowledgeable guides chosen for us. Both guides spoke impressively good English too! We would highly recommend this family company to anyone going to Vietnam and looking for a genuine experience!

Penny

Jul 2023

Ethnic Travel did a wonderful job of helping plan our travel and make all the arrangements for our customized trip. We had very specific requests and they were able to help us with all of them, including making sure that we had a birthday cake to help celebrate our daughter’s birthday. Everything was on time, drivers were reliable. We had a wonderful guide in Sapa. Ethnic Travel provided everything we requested, but did not oversell us and try to sell us more than we wanted. Ms. Thu was great at communicating both before our trip and during our trip. We hope to use Ethnic Travel again and we highly recommend them! Thank you Ethnic Travel, Ms. Thu, our guides and drivers! – David and Michele

Aug 2023 • Family

We booked a 2-day bay tour from Hanoi for a family of 5. The Ethnic Travel team are very responsive and communicated clearly.

Once we were on board the boat crew was very friendly and flexible, so we could make the most of the scenery, swimming and kayaking. The facilities onboard were clean, the beds comfortable and the food delicious. On the way back we had a tight schedule to make our travel connection, and the Ethnic Travel team made sure we were backing Hanoi well ahead of schedule.

It was a fantastic experience, highly recommended!

Jul 2023 • Family

My sister and I worked twice with Ethnic Travel and we were very satisfied of it.

The owners of the company are very nice and welcoming. You can come and see them in their shop in the Old Quarters of Hanoï. The lady speaks English and French, which was very convenient for us ! You can contact them very easily thanks to Whatsapp, they answer quickly.

We did a day tour of the La Han Bay. Ethnic Travel provided us with cars (from our hotel), tickets for the ferry, lunch, and a small boat just for my sister and I. You don't have to plan anything, they do it for you. The lady who drove the boat did not speak English, unfortunalety, but she was very kind.

Then, we planned with Ethnic Travel a trip of four days in the Ha Giang area. They booked for us the night buses, the hotels, the bikes, a driver and an English guide. The guide (a special thanks to Nu) was great, spoke well English and showed us amazing places. This four-day trip was my favourite part of my entire trip to Vietnam, not only for the breathtaking landscapes, but also for the people.

You can find less expensive compagnies, for sure, but with Ethnic Travel, you're not blocked with a group of tourists. With our private guide, we could adjust the planning, take our time, ask her questions about the Vietnamese culture and people. I highly recommend the Ha Giang experience, especially with motorbikes (it was my first time ever on a bike and it was not scary at all). The price is worth it !

Aug 2023 • Couples

We come back from a one week, unforgettable trip in Hà Giang region with Ethnic Travel. Thanks to Nghi, our excellent guide, and Toan our (safe) driver, we discovered this awesome region, its various landscapes and its inhabitants. And we learned a lot about Vietnam and the life in this country. We'll remember this rich and friendly experience with people always paying attention to details, without being intrusive, so that we enjoyed every minute of our trip.

Jul 2023 • Family

I cannot speak more highly of Ethnic Travel and all their guides, guest house hosts, and drivers!

After travelling Vietnam for 2 weeks, my family and I found ourselves in Hanoi, trying to plan out the next leg of our journey. I wanted to trek through the mountains of Sapa and my husband and kids wanted to visit Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

After doing some research on The Lonely Planet website I read an article on Bai Tu Long Bay that recommended Ethnic Travel as the leading tour company for this area. I was re-directed to their website and was impressed with their tour offerings and the ethos of the company. I reached out and was responded to by Khanh, the founder of the company. He was so helpful and we immediately went to the Ethnic Travel office in Hanoi Old Quarter and met with the team. Khahn helped us prepare a personalised itinerary for 7 days, that covered everything that we wanted to plus more. We were to leave the next day which was impressive.

We started with a 2 night, 3 day cruise of Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island on a stunning traditional Vietnamese boat. The staff were outstanding and the food was incredible. We enjoyed 2 days of walks, kayaking, swimming, day trips on smaller boats, bike riding around Cat Ba Island and visiting floating villages.

The next part of our tour was 2 nights in Nihn Bihn, staying at a lovely homestay with kind and generous hosts. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, the food was amazing, generous and fresh. We had the opportunity to do a cooking demonstration. We went on row boat trips, visited a pagoda and did a bike ride around a local village. We loved this experience and Zoe our guide was kind, knowledge and so patient.

The final leg of our tour was a trek through the Hmong Village in Sapa. We took a limousine bus to Sapa which was about 6.5 hours, then overnighted in a local hotel. The host of the hotel was welcoming and kind. We had an early breakfast and then our guide met us for the trek to the village homestay.

Our guide was knowledgeable and kind, very patient with our teenage daughter who was tired and struggled a bit with the hike. We learnt about the area, the farming and livestock, the cycle and harvest of rice, and about day to day life in the local villages. We arrived at the homestay tired and happy, to be welcomed by Chi, who made us feel so welcome and at home. Our sleeping quarters were comfortable and beautifully maintained.

After relaxing for the afternoon I helped Chi with some dinner preparation and learnt some new cooking techniques and about local vegetables grown in her garden. The next day we trekked with Chi back down the mountain to a local family restaurant for lunch and were picked up by car and transferred back to Sapa to the same hotel for a shower to freshen up, then transferred by limo van again back to Hanoi.

I was so incredibly impressed with the entire Ethnic Travel team, the level of service was second to none. The communication the whole way was fantastic. I am already planning a return trip next year to do another trekking tour with Ethnic Travel. It was an absolutely amazing experience.

Jul 2023 • Solo

I did a 3 days/two night stay in/close to Sa Pa, which was amazing. I was taken by Limousine bus to Sa Pa and there I met my guide - a stunning hmong woman called Chi. With her I hiked to her homestay and she told me all about the nature and agriculture there. The food she prepared was really good and she and her family were very friendly.

We hiked everey day for about three hours or more through the breathtaking scenery. Afterwards I was taken back to the hotel in Sa Pa, where I had left a fiew of my things, could take a shower and was collected by the limousine bus once again to go back to Hanoi.

The second trip I booked was a 2day/one night cruise to ha lan bay. This time we went by bus and ferry to Cat Ba and from there onto the boat which had nice rooms, staff and very delicious food. We went kayaking/swimming twice and were taken back to Cat Ba after lunch on day 2. From there I went to Ninh Binh which I asked for, and was organised by the agency. All in all amazing experiences

Jul 2023 • Family

We just completed a 6 day tour with Ethnic Travel and I can honestly say it was the best experience . We were taken into remote areas off the beaten track with scenery that took your breath away. Our guide Cam spoke perfect English and was there every step of the way to make sure you were totally comfortable . Our driver Mr. kong made us feel as if we were in good hands as he navigated the tricky landscape. We ate the local food and lived in their homes which were simple at times but really gave you that authentic experience. I would highly recommend this company in creating a tailored made tour for your family and well worth getting out of the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.

Maria

Jul 2023 • Family

Really great tour. Good communication throughout. All the staff were really friendly. The trip was very well organised and lots included within the price. The boat was as shown and a really high standard. Felt really looked after. Would thoroughly recommend.

Jun 2023

We stayed in Vietnam for two weeks and we booked our trip with Ethnic Travel. Our first contact withThu was very grateful, she organized our tour so quickly and suited to our preferences. We started in Ho Chi Minh and right after leaving the airport a driver was waiting for us and took us to the hotel. During our Holidays, we have had 4 different tour guides; Long, Thai, Yin and Cam, all of them have shown us the different parts of the country with passion and they have adapted perfectly to the contracted planning and to our needs.

We recommend Ethnic travels because it brings the opportunity to share with local people and know in authentic ways their culture and traditions.

Anna

Jun 2023 • Family

A Hanoi Day Tour is a great way to begin your tour of Vietnam. The three of us learnt so much interesting Vietnamese history and so much about Hanoi food. We ate throughout the day at spots only a local guide would know. Our guide, Mong, was of the highest quality and shared his love for Vietnam with us. The driver of our air conditioned, comfortable mini van maneuvered through the traffic skillfully. Ethnic Travel has many interesting trips that connect tourists with local people in authentic ways.

Jun 2023 • Family

This company organizes a variety of single and multi day tours, incorporating many different activities, and features. We started with a one day tour of Hanoi and the day was completely full of various forms of sightseeing, including dining experiences. We asked for a full day of touring, and they delivered perfectly. There was almost no downtime, and we were exhausted by the end of the day. Our guide, Mong, was patient, very knowledgeable, and adjusted to what he perceived as our preferences. We had a driver, Phuong, with us the whole day as well, and he was always extremely courteous and very professional.

We ended up using Ethnic Tours for a three-day, Halong Bay experience, which combined with a visit to Nimh Binh. Once again, our daily activities were scheduled to completely fill the days, as per our request. We kept very active throughout the trip, which included kayaking, cycling and hiking on Cat Ba Island, food experiences, and a comfortable two-night stay on a small cruise ship.

In Nimh Binh, we were toured through an ancient temple site, a local market, some local rice and peanut farms, and were treated to dinner and an overnight at a wonderful homestay. The homestay family were very welcoming and taught us how to make spring rolls and other local dishes. There were other activities the following day, and then Mong and Phuong and transported us to the airport. Everything was done with utmost courtesy, and consideration to our particular desires, and timelines. Can’t rate this company high enough.

May 2023 • Friends

We booked a 6 day tour with Ethnic Travel and had a great time. All the experiences felt authentic and the places we visited were amazing. Especially going to the national park near Pu Luong was a recommendation made and we are so glad we listened. Little to no tourists, beautiful scenery and very friendly people. Our guide Hien spoke good English and looked after us really well.

Apr 2023

We booked a 12-day tour in North Vietnam with Ethnic tour. Ms. Thu really tailored our trip to our taste as we wanted less driving from one place to another and more trekking, and we enjoyed every single day. Our guide in Sapa Ms. Chi and in Mai Chai and Ninh Binh Mr. Cam were really nice and did everything they could to make our holiday a special one and they succeeded. We went to places that were not touristic and really connected with the local people and nature. Amazing food. It was an unforgettable holiday.

Apr 2023 • Friends

Our guide was amazing, ethnic tours run a fantastic tour company. I recently got back from a 3 day 2 night tour of the sapa mountains with on of their guides. This was a fantastic tour with each night in a new homestay, wonderful people and beautiful views of the rice fields and mountains. The hosts and guides all speak very fluent English and ethnic tours took care of all transport, food and accommodation. I highly recommend this tour company

Apr 2023

We are a mixed family of vietnamese and european origins who traveled to Vietnam after 10 years from our last trip there. Ethnic travel gave us good advices before our travel to choose our trips, notably a 2 day trip to Lan Ha instead of Ha Long to have a peaceful journey far from tourists and a 1 day tour at the Red river (Ninh Binh). Lunch and diners were really tasteful and authentic. The boat in Lan Ha was delightful and the team of the boat was really kind, my children could fish some squids with them by night, which will leave them with great memories of Vietnam.

The guide was really kind with a very good english level and explaining a lot of things on Vietnam culture and lifestyle habits. Ultimately, Thu helped me at the last minute to find a car one day to make a trip one our far from Hanoi to visit the village of our family. The driver helped us to find the location and was very kind. We felt really helped and safe with all the members of Ethnic travel. Thank you!

Apr 2023 • Couples

Our day trip of Lan Ha bay was disorganised, overpriced and inauthentic.

We arrived in the harbour with one other couple and waited around for something to happen. Then someone called our driver to check what tour we were even on and someone went and bought $2 dingy tour tickets.

After that we were tacked onto some other multi day cruise for French people but first we were put on the wrong boat and had to be swapped. The staff on the multi day cruise didn’t speak much English and didn’t know what we were doing. We suspect they were a different cruise company who’d been paid by ethnic tours to take us. They served us very ordinary western food.

This is the opposite to what we expected of ethnic travel which advertised an authentic Vietnamese experience and small groups instead of a French cruise with 30 people.

Apr 2023 • Couples

My husband and I (late 50s) returned from a 10 day tour in northern Vietnam with Ethnic Travel. The first 7 days were the Ha Giang and Ba Be Lake tour, followed by a 3 day, 2 night trip to Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island. First, Ms. Thu helped us select and arrange a tour that fit our needs and schedule. Communication with her was easy and clear.

Our guide Vang and driver Toan were the nicest people; it was very enjoyable to spend 10 days with them. Vang was very knowledgeable about the history, culture, geography, food, and anything else we were interested in knowing about Vietnam. He asked questions and interpreted for us as we came across local people going about their lives.

The hikes were tailored to our ability and interest each day. Vang spoke great English. Driver Toan was very skilled and even though he did not speak English, he was always so helpful, making me a walking stick, pouring our tea, and keeping us laughing. We learned so much on the tour and were able to see and experience rural Vietnam.

Besides hiking, we biked, boated, visited markets and a fish farm, kayaked, swam- there was a good variety of activities. The boat for Lan Ha Bay tour was very nice with only 10 spacious cabins for our one night stay. The visit and overnight homestay at the Viet Ha Village on Cat Ba Island was especially charming. We highly recommend Ethnic Travel.

Mar 2023 • Couples

For our 1st trip to Vietnam we had been looking for a local agency who would support us to discover the country in a true, local, enriching and authentic way. And we found just that !

We had a great experience on the 2 tours Ethnic Travel organised for us in Halong Bay and in the Mekong Delta.

The Mekong Delta tour with our guide Mr Vu was just incredible and beyond our expectations, we visited so many places in just 2 days - a brick, candy, noodles and sleeping mat factories, plus a couple of temples on the road, in addition to the small boat tours on the delta rivers and in the Cai Rang floating market.
It was just amazing!

Also looking back at the Lan Ha Bay Tour in Halong Bay, we found the experience really nice as well, especially kayaking in the bay, and biking and hiking on Cat Ba island.

All in all, we come back rich of many very nice experiences, with local people, and beyond the most popular touristic places, which is exactly what we were looking for. Thank you again, we definitely recommend your agency and your services and caring approach !

Feb 2023 • Solo

I engaged Ethnic travel for a two day trip to the Red River Delta. Not knowing what to expect, was more than delighted with the whole trip. The guide Mr. Ngoc, was not only a delightful guide but, made an effort to take us off the beaten path. After some boating and and walking through a rural area, when it was time for lunch. Instead of going to a restaurant, we were taken to a home, where we were served the most beautiful meal. The overnight was in a home stay. With delightful hosts and, as always in Vietnam, perfect meal. The next day on to other adventures. All in all, very impressed with Ethnic Travel for their constant communication and the delivery of a memorable experience. Thank you

Feb 2023 • Couples

We booked our Sapa tour with Ms. Thu at Ethnic Travel and I couldn't recommend highly enough! Ms. Thu and her husband were so welcoming and friendly giving us lots of information and answering our many questions. Our guide in Sapa - Chi - was fantastic. We had the most amazing time trekking to her homestay just outside of Sapa. The homestay itself was lovely with all the comforts you'd expect and more than if you were staying in a city! Their home cooked food was delicious and we were made to feel so welcome by her whole family in her home so we are so grateful to Ethnic Travel and Chi and her family for making our Sapa tour a truly special one to remember - thank-you!

Feb 2023 • Family

This was our third trip with Ethnic Travels and as with the first two it was a very good experience. On day one we got picked up in Ho Chi Min and although it was quite a lot of driving, we really enjoyed the boat ride and the opportunity to see traditional Vietnamese candy being made. The ecolodge was a great place to stay for the night, the garden and bamboo houses were charming and unique, and the surrounding village was also great to explore by bicycle. Our second day was definitely the highlight of the trip, with a very early start to see the floating market. But the best thing about the trip was our guide Mr Vu! His English was great, he was very knowledgeable, insightful on culture and history and made us feel very welcome and cared for during our trip. A great experience!

We booked a 3day 2night night trip to Halong Bay with Ethnic Travel, 35 Hang Giay Street, Hanoi. Excellent company - such a professional service and it was worth paying that little bit more. There was only 4 in our group, our guide was fun and told us so much about the area, Vietnam in general and the people.

Everything was organised to a tee (from transport to Halong Bay and back to Hanoi) and on time. The food we got was excellent and we got plenty of it! The junk boat we stayed on was very nice and the ngith we stayed with a local family - they brought us off the beaten track, away from other tours and we could tell by the locals they didn't get to see tourists very often!

The host family home was lovely and clean (electricity went at 11pm - 6am) and we were fed a feast and got to help prep the dinner. I would highly recommend this company for people who want a good tour, good service and genuine, local, friendly guides who are full of knowledge. Well worth the trip for us!!

"We recently returned from a 18day tour with Ethnic Travel and absolutely loved them. They wouldn't answer our first email but after a few they got in touch and they have been great ever since. They reviewed our itinerary until we were 100% happy. Very personalised and happy to do change along the way to suit your needs. Careful drivers and very helpful guide (s) who speak English.

Stayed at homestays, pretty basic but excellent experience. Hotels are also reasonable. They stay away from the main tourist trail and if you want the real experience, try them but don't expect luxury. We slept on the floor, had cold showers, walked for 10hrs, ate as the locals. Fantastic trip! If you like this sort of stuff, go with them."

I did a 7D North Vietnam Tour in May 2018 with Guide Henry(Tien) as a Solo Traveller.

Do you ever feel cheated when the tour claims to be an outdoor adventure but you end up only with 1 Hike throughout the entire tour? YEA?

With Ethnic Travel I was Hiking, Cycling, Kayaking, Swimming, Waterfalls almost every single hour of the tour duration. I promise that you will hit the bed at 10pm sharp like a baby after an entire day under the sun.

Do you ever feel frustrated whenever the tour group you join brings you to places of interest along with 1 million other tour groups?

Fret not. Ethnic Travel will customise your tour along to peak tourists timing and whatever your interests are. On my 2nd last day, I was suppose to be on another boat ride. At this point of time I was pretty sick of boat rides and asked if there were any waterfalls or cafes I could hang around in. (CAFES cos millenial 1st world problems. Ofcourse there are no cafes in the ricefields area I was staying at for 2 nights.) They brought me to a waterfall which only the locals go to. It was so nice to soak in the cold waters of the waterfalls in the hot sun.

My review could go on & on about how Ethnic Travel really brings you off the beaten track for young adventurous travellers. Especially millenials who are all about that Gram. Attached is my Instagram for the awesome pictures taken during the tour.

Instagram - nicholas.bay