My friends and I wanted to climb Mt. Fansipan in Sapa (that’s north of Hanoi) during the autumn months while touring the rest of Hanoi during our stay. Context: we wanted to do a do-it-yourself version of the whole trip but found that things are a lot more convenient if we just settled for a combination of tour packages. So there.
We looked around the net and, saw a couple of tour packages that were relatively competitive with each other. However, what got us into Asia Charm tours (ACT) were because of the following reasons:
(a) the price was reasonable (if not very affordable)
(b) their customer service was impeccable
(c) they’re willing to customize your trip according to your preferences
(d) they’ve got sufficient information on their site for you to arrive at a decision
So, to give you a quick background of our trip, ACT stitched and organized the following itinerary for us:
1. 2-day trek to Mt. Fansipan
2. 1-full day of Halong Bay Cruise
3. 1-full day of Ninh Binh & Bai Dinh Tour
4. a bike rental for touring around Hanoi
Logistics
Everything went smoothly. All travel expenses and fees were settled even before we left Manila. That being said, ACT took care of all the transportation (from picking us up at the airport, transferring us to our hotel, to wherever we’re going) and vice-versa. What’s more is that some individuals in my group came to Hanoi at different times, but ACT still managed to pick them up at the airport without fail. So, yeah, plus points for them on this one.
Lodging
Our group decided to stay at one of ACT’s hotels in the Old Quarter. Good thing here is that their office is just downstairs so you wouldn’t really have a problem coordinating with the rest of the crew. However, we stayed at a functional room–and not a luxurious one–since we’re almost always outside. By functional, I mean that we stayed in rooms that had all the basic creature comforts (i.e., a hot shower, airconditioning, wi-fi, a cheap mini-bar filled with bia hoi, soda and mineral water). That sort of thing. It works.
Food
The hotel food was alright. Typical continental fare. Fried eggs, omelettes, jam and toast, the like. I highly suggest that you go out there and explore the vibrant and exotic food around Hanoi’s old quarter. We didn’t take their food tour since we thought we’d just wing it ourselves. They were, however, kind enough to give us suggestions on Hanoi’s must-eat places.
Convenience
Next to logistics, this is one of ACT’s top-selling points. Everything’s already laid out from the moment you’ve stepped out of the airport. No hassles. A definite plus since you can focus more on your vacation. They even allowed us to leave some of our luggage there even though we were already checked out (went out to climb Mt. Fansipan for two days). So, yeah, you don’t have to worry when you’re with these guys.
Cost
Inexpensive and affordable. It’s a backpacker’s dream. It doesn’t cost much to stay at their hotel, plus you get the most bang out of your buck with their tour packages.
