Hanoi

Our enthusiastic tour guide, Son, contacted us the day before. Because of traffic restrictions in the old town that prevented large vehicles from entering, Son specially came to pick us up from the hotel and explained today's itinerary in detail. He also spoke some Chinese that my parents could understand in a very friendly manner. Today's experience was fantastic and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

I was a bit worried because most blog reviews described trains as uncomfortable and only romantic, but it wasn't uncomfortable at all; in fact, it was more comfortable than a sleeping bus. Those sensitive to noise might find it a bit uncomfortable, but perhaps because we were so exhausted, we slept practically like we passed out haha. We waited in the VIP waiting room after having our tickets checked, and when it was time, a staff member carried all our luggage to the carriage. It was also fun waving and greeting people as we passed the tracks. It's worth trying at least once. I recommend it 👍👍

Because we had a one-year-old child with us, we received quick responses from customer service. We also managed to buy a parking space for the baby for only VND 300,000. If you need to buy a parking space for a child who is eligible for free, please contact customer service in advance! Our tour guide, Robin, was very attentive to us. He helped us choose suitable bicycles for children (with child seats in the back) and even helped me lift my child onto the back seat. He really enjoyed the cycling activity and even received a beautiful bicycle photo (about VND 30,000). The boat ride from Chang'an was quite long (about an hour and a half), and the sun was very strong, so be sure to wear sunscreen. The shop provides one boat and two umbrellas. The stairs to climb Mua Cave were also very steep; we only climbed about two-thirds of the way, but we still saw some beautiful scenery. This weather really tested our heat tolerance and stamina. Although we were tired, we felt a great sense of accomplishment afterward, and the camaraderie among the group members improved. I really enjoyed this tour with the internationally-speaking members. We were a little reluctant to leave when it was time to get off the bus! The tour bus was very clean and comfortable, and the driver drove very smoothly. The lunch buffet was quite delicious, and drinks were extra, but the prices were reasonable. I recommend everyone to join!

I was honestly a little worried, but after exiting the gate and walking a short distance, I was able to meet smoothly. Then, I was directed to a separate entrance nearby, where some rather intimidating-looking airport police officers were keeping a watchful eye, and I was able to join a short immigration queue. It was a satisfactory service. However, even then, I waited for about 30 minutes (which felt like about half the time of the regular lane), so if you're really pressed for time for your connecting flight and in a hurry, I recommend the premium plan. That lane was almost always empty, so it should be stress-free. However, even with that, a 2-hour layover in Ho Chi Minh City seems quite tight. We had a 2-hour layover and arrived almost on time, but we were inexplicably made to wait 30 minutes before disembarking, and then had to take a bus. Even with the truck service, considering that you pass through immigration around the time of your domestic flight boarding, then pick up your baggage, and move to another terminal, even with a smooth disembarkation and the premium plan, it feels like it would be a very tight squeeze. This time, more than 20 people, including ourselves, went through the transfer procedure! However, with Vietnam Airlines, flights to places like Da Nang are frequent, so the rebooking process was smooth! So, the fast track service worked as expected and there were no problems, but it was still disappointing that I missed my original flight and it was all for nothing!

The luxury sedan provided a safe and comfortable journey from Noi Bai International Airport to Sapa, with onboard internet access making the long trip easy and enjoyable.

The merging was smooth, and the driving was careful. He made a great effort to communicate with me using the little Japanese he spoke. He was a quiet person, but his conversation conveyed sincerity. Thank you very much.