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Aug 2022
I had a great time with my travel with Ethnic travel.
I wanted to visit the North Vietnam with a tight schedule and they planned everything for me.
I managed to visit :Sapa and the surroundings (3 days 2 nights: amazing landscape if you go in August), Ninh Binh and Ha Long bay (2 days 1 night, fantastic experience).
100% would recommend
I wanted to visit the North Vietnam with a tight schedule and they planned everything for me.
I managed to visit :Sapa and the surroundings (3 days 2 nights: amazing landscape if you go in August), Ninh Binh and Ha Long bay (2 days 1 night, fantastic experience).
100% would recommend
Aug 2022
I have been using Ethnic Travel twice - the latest was a 3 night/4 day guided family trip for 3 generations to Cat Ba Island - Han Viet Eco village + Ninh Binh. We had small children and special requirements for chairs in the car, food, mosquito net etc. Ethnic travel managed overall to meet out requirements and we had a wonderful adventure. The family behind the agency is very passioned and dedicated to what they are doing, and their mindset is focused on giving you an authentic experience, which they do well. Flexibility is essential when traveling with kids (and vietnamese weather!) and our guide managed to change things and enable us to get most out of the time and also used his local knowledge to share some of his secrets in Ninh Binh.
Specially the food should be highlighted. We were sleeping and eating with local families most of the time and the food was excellent.
You can trust the team, and even if not everything is perfect, they listen and change if you just say it. We can only give our best recommendations to this small, idealistic family company and will come back another time if we get the opportunity.
Laura
Specially the food should be highlighted. We were sleeping and eating with local families most of the time and the food was excellent.
You can trust the team, and even if not everything is perfect, they listen and change if you just say it. We can only give our best recommendations to this small, idealistic family company and will come back another time if we get the opportunity.
Aug 2022 • Friends
We had many doubts about which boat to choose, we decided for this one as it appeared on our travel guide and we made a good choice. The agency manager (Ms Thu) was so helpful with us. We chose the 2 days 1 night tour, which means 24h on the boat and the journey from and back to Hanoi (or another place). We enjoyed kayaking through the islets and cycling to the village of Viet Hai, and the peaceful views in the boat were impressive. The food was very nice and the boat crew very helpful.
Laura
Jul 2022 • Couples
Myself and my boyfriend did a 4 day tour to Lanha bay and to Ninh Binh. We had a fantastic time and got to meet local people and try lots of local delicacies. We especially enjoyed staying on the boat in Lanha bay it was such a unique experience. Our tour guide Vang was super and answered all the questions we had and made it a really enjoyable experience for us. We would definitely do another tour with Ethnic travels if we ever find ourselves in Vietnam again.
Jul 2022 • Friends
I loved the experience! Amazing attention! They were very kind. The tours are unique! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
Jun 2022 • Friends
We did a day trip to Ninh Binh and a 2D,1N cruise in Halong/Cat Ba bay with them. It was an absolutely amazing experience. We did a bike ride through Ninh Binh, ate local delicacies went boating through some caves. They showed us the local spots which are not as crowded which was exactly what I wanted.
Maria
Maria
May 2022
In the middle of a several-month South Asian trip alone with my 2 children, i really hesitated in giving in the "luxury" of an organised trip given the higher budget. But eventually, i booked a 12 days trip in North Vietnam and this was FANTASTIC. I managed to rest and enjoy and let go, as everything was perfectly organised and suited our needs and capacities: We trekked, biked, cruised in small and great boat (fantastic Lan Ha Bay!) accompanied by our guide and driver. Even the meals were ordered for us depending on our desires, and it was always very tasty. We very much enjoyed the family homestays, meeting rural people in their daily lives, and supporting them a bit with our stay and local shopping. Kids loved it. I would never have been able to go to those places on our own, as tourist buses dont go there and the language barrier would have been a constraint. The agency was very attentive throughout the trip to adjust the programme if need be. Highly recommended.
May 2022 • Couples
We booked a 5-day tour with Ethnic Travel. This was really great: it included 5 nights (o/w one in night bus) and 5 days.
The guide accompanied us from Hanoi and back which was greatly appreciated. The tour itself was well organized with a number of stops along the way when motor biking to look at the incredible views. A number of hikes were also included where we rarely saw any other tourists. Very nature-driven and a good physical condition was required. The agency offers a lot of options that can fit everyone’s desires.
Guide spoke English well and was able to translate when talking with locals (family and farmers).
The homestays we stayed at were good (though basic) with “private” rooms at each location (some private, some shared bathrooms).
Food provided at each stop was excellent and quantities were more than sufficient.
If you want a well organized tour where the focus is on nature and meeting locals, this is the perfect option!
The agency also took the time to discuss the rest of our trip in Vietnam (where to go, how long to stay, some recommendations of hotels / homestays) without asking for a fee or trying to sell any additional services. Very helpful!
The guide accompanied us from Hanoi and back which was greatly appreciated. The tour itself was well organized with a number of stops along the way when motor biking to look at the incredible views. A number of hikes were also included where we rarely saw any other tourists. Very nature-driven and a good physical condition was required. The agency offers a lot of options that can fit everyone’s desires.
Guide spoke English well and was able to translate when talking with locals (family and farmers).
The homestays we stayed at were good (though basic) with “private” rooms at each location (some private, some shared bathrooms).
Food provided at each stop was excellent and quantities were more than sufficient.
If you want a well organized tour where the focus is on nature and meeting locals, this is the perfect option!
The agency also took the time to discuss the rest of our trip in Vietnam (where to go, how long to stay, some recommendations of hotels / homestays) without asking for a fee or trying to sell any additional services. Very helpful!
May 2022
I had a wonderful experience travelling with Ethnic Travel and recommend them 100%! During my trip to Mai Chau and Pu Luong, the local guide (Nghi) was most caring, friendly and creative to make me discover off-the-beaten-path gorgeous places. The homestays were lovely and the food delicious. If you are looking for a unique experience in rural Vietnam, go for it! :)
Apr 2022 • Family
Our family spent 4 days walking the pristine mountains of Hoang Su Phi, at an elevation of 1800 feet, meeting the Xao people and exploring rice paddies, bamboo forests, tea plantations and countless farms. Every meal and every night we were hosted by a family; we didn’t see one other tourist! It felt as if we’d walked into the pages of a National Geographic magazine from the 1970s. Ms Thu and our guide Mr. Khanh we’re tremendous, serving us in perfect English (and French) and adapting the itinerary to our family’s fitness level. Highly recommended for avid photographers and culture tourists!
Mar 2020
I booked our entire Vietnam trip with Ethnic Travel for my family of four (two adults, kids aged 8 and 4) over six months ahead of time, and I am very glad we worked with them. We started our trip as planned on March 1st despite the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout the trip, as the situation evolved quickly, we really appreciated knowing that someone always had our backs. Being in the country for only two weeks – our first family experience in Asia – we really enjoyed our travels more without the constant need for us to deal with itinerary changes, making decisions, or arranging modes of transportation. Plus, the three guides and five drivers that accompanied us at different times during the trip – including a great guide+driver pair for 7 days! – made us feel welcome and safe at all times. We opted for a private trip so we wouldn’t impose our kids’ occasional crankiness onto other travelers. We found the total rate to be very reasonable, and it included all accommodations, activities, transportation, and most meals, so we never had surprises.
At planning time, there was quite a bit of back and forth with the agency’s Ms. Thu. We finally settled on an itinerary including Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, and Hoi An. We paid a 50% deposit upon booking and the balance immediately upon arrival.
Our accommodations were varied and always good. At Ethnic Travel homestays and on the Ha Long Bay ship, we enjoyed rustic hospitality. The rooms were always clean, with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. The beds were always comfortable, and the hosts welcoming, although they didn’t speak English or seek to engage with us beyond the basics. The guide’s assistance (and Google Translate) were often needed, which is fine. Our other accommodations were hotels and small resorts that (to us) were quite luxurious. (As a rare upside of the coronavirus situation, we were even upgraded to nicer hotels a couple of times!)
Our family is vegan and I made sure to mention this to Ms. Thu (several times…) and to re-discuss it with our guides as when needed. We enjoyed spectacular food on both boats and in Ninh Binh, as well as at a few restaurants. Our Hanoi guide made a point of taking us to a vegan restaurant he knew in his own neighborhood. The options on Quan Lan were a bit limited – but such is life on a remote island! At breakfast, vegan options varied from very basic to plentiful. Overall, we ate quite well – and always too much! (Note to other vegans: I am not hyper-vigilant when traveling. I eat food that does not appear to contain animal products, but I do not necessarily double-check if the vegetable rolls were sealed with eggs. People with allergies or lesser tolerance for non-vegan food may have a different experience than I did.)
Our activities mostly took us to less-touristy venues in touristic areas. Due to the Vietnamese government’s measures to prevent the spread of the virus, we often had places almost all to ourselves. (Those traveling under normal circumstances will have a different experience, but still less crowded than the guide-book hot spots.) Unfortunately, toward the end of the trip, many venues had to close completely – and we understand! That was not within Ethnic Travel’s control, obviously. For the last couple of days, we chose to fall back onto our lovely hotel pool in Hoi An and its private chunk of An Bang Beach. There are worse ways to ride out an unpleasant situation.
Throughout the trip, we appreciated Ms. Thu’s foresight. She made arrangements to circumvent bad weather, flight changes, and attraction closures. We were in communication via WhatsApp messaging throughout the trip and she was always quick to respond to my questions or concerns. Knowing that she was juggling several other clients at the same time, I was impressed by her responsiveness.
In sum, I warmly recommend Ethnic Travel’s services. We would definitely book another vacation through them if we returned to the northern part of Vietnam, where they are most active. (I know they have some coverage of South Vietnam as well, but I do not have first-hand experience of those so cannot comment.) Thank you Ms. Thu and the whole team of guides and drivers! You welcomed us and shared your country’s jewels with our family, and ensured that we were always comfortable and safe through a challenging time. We hope to see you again!
At planning time, there was quite a bit of back and forth with the agency’s Ms. Thu. We finally settled on an itinerary including Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, and Hoi An. We paid a 50% deposit upon booking and the balance immediately upon arrival.
Our accommodations were varied and always good. At Ethnic Travel homestays and on the Ha Long Bay ship, we enjoyed rustic hospitality. The rooms were always clean, with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. The beds were always comfortable, and the hosts welcoming, although they didn’t speak English or seek to engage with us beyond the basics. The guide’s assistance (and Google Translate) were often needed, which is fine. Our other accommodations were hotels and small resorts that (to us) were quite luxurious. (As a rare upside of the coronavirus situation, we were even upgraded to nicer hotels a couple of times!)
Our family is vegan and I made sure to mention this to Ms. Thu (several times…) and to re-discuss it with our guides as when needed. We enjoyed spectacular food on both boats and in Ninh Binh, as well as at a few restaurants. Our Hanoi guide made a point of taking us to a vegan restaurant he knew in his own neighborhood. The options on Quan Lan were a bit limited – but such is life on a remote island! At breakfast, vegan options varied from very basic to plentiful. Overall, we ate quite well – and always too much! (Note to other vegans: I am not hyper-vigilant when traveling. I eat food that does not appear to contain animal products, but I do not necessarily double-check if the vegetable rolls were sealed with eggs. People with allergies or lesser tolerance for non-vegan food may have a different experience than I did.)
Our activities mostly took us to less-touristy venues in touristic areas. Due to the Vietnamese government’s measures to prevent the spread of the virus, we often had places almost all to ourselves. (Those traveling under normal circumstances will have a different experience, but still less crowded than the guide-book hot spots.) Unfortunately, toward the end of the trip, many venues had to close completely – and we understand! That was not within Ethnic Travel’s control, obviously. For the last couple of days, we chose to fall back onto our lovely hotel pool in Hoi An and its private chunk of An Bang Beach. There are worse ways to ride out an unpleasant situation.
Throughout the trip, we appreciated Ms. Thu’s foresight. She made arrangements to circumvent bad weather, flight changes, and attraction closures. We were in communication via WhatsApp messaging throughout the trip and she was always quick to respond to my questions or concerns. Knowing that she was juggling several other clients at the same time, I was impressed by her responsiveness.
In sum, I warmly recommend Ethnic Travel’s services. We would definitely book another vacation through them if we returned to the northern part of Vietnam, where they are most active. (I know they have some coverage of South Vietnam as well, but I do not have first-hand experience of those so cannot comment.) Thank you Ms. Thu and the whole team of guides and drivers! You welcomed us and shared your country’s jewels with our family, and ensured that we were always comfortable and safe through a challenging time. We hope to see you again!
