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peter wellsThanking Dat
Hi Dat, Hope biz. is booming. We ve recommended lots of friends here to contact TNK and Guide Dat. We enjoyed our holiday in your lovely country. Be careful on your busy roads - we will never forget our enlightening experience of Vietnam with you. Cheers and thanks from Ozzie mates Heather & Peter Wells
Liz LalorExcellent Service
My husband & I have just returned from a trip to Vietnam & Australia. I came across TNK via the www and booked my internal flights, taxis, and accommodation around Vietnam with this company. I am pleased to say our trip went very well and TNK delivered all it promised. I found the company easy to communicate with and very efficient. I plan to return to Vietnam next year and will use TNK again...thanks!
Henry OsbornThanks very much in advance for your help.
Dear Sir / Madam, I have been attempting to use your online service to reserve a room at the First Hotel Saigon (as featured on your hotel promotions section for USD50 per night), but keep on receiving a "Sorry an error has occurred" notice whenever I enter my details and click on the "send" button. Please could you kindly let me know the availability of deluxe rooms at the First Hotel Saigon from Sept 11 - Sept 15 (four nights) at the advertised USD50/ night promotional rate? If a deluxe room is available I'd like to book in advance by credit card. Thanks very much in advance for your help. Henry Osborn
Kerry MowettViet nam - Southern package tour
Dear Luu Vo
Thankyou for your organisation of our groups visit to Ho Chi Min city.
Everything was organised and went smoothly. The meals were amazing and of a very high standard.
Thankyou for the wonderful tour guides Binh and Lyang who were helpful and informative.
Your drivers and bus assistants were pleasant and patient with our group.
I am now planning another group tour in July 2011 for a group of 40 (39 pax plus Tour Leader).
The tour group will arrive in HCM City on Saturday 2 July and return to Australia on Sunday 10 July 2011
I have looked on your website and like the ideas in Vietnam Highlights tour commencing in Ho Chi Min City and ending in Hanoi.
Accommodation in standard 2 star hotels will be acceptable.
Could you please prepare a suggested tour outline and cost for my consideration.
Thankyou
Kerry Mowett
The Kane familyA wonderful experience with TNK travel (January 2009)
Our family of 4 just came back from first ever trip to Vietnam (18 days). We chose TNK Travel and it was a great trip. I wanted to thank TNK and to share our experience with future prospective travelers.
We started the planning almost a year ago. I must say we were hesitant at first and concerned about choosing a reliable travel agency. I read a lot on the internet (e.g. tripadvisor .com) before identifying a few prospective travel agencies. I then asked for an initial quote from my top 3 choices. TNK was the middle quote but what I liked about them was the level of detail in their initial proposal. I then looked at their guestbook and selected 17 people worldwide who recently travelled with them and emailed each of them to ask about their experience. Every single one of them responded and all were very positive about TNK. This made me comfortable with the idea of having to send money upfront to book a trip in an unknown country where I would have no recourse if dealing with an unethical company. With TNK, everyone assured me that once an itinerary is finalized, the company will do whatever is needed to deliver on its promises and to make it a pleasant experience, and they sure did in our case.
Over the following month, I exchanged several emails with Mr. Dsung Trinh, the Managing Director, to modify the original proposal based on my research about the sites we wanted to see. For example, we removed Sapa from the itinerary because the Northwest is quite cold in January, but added Phu Quoc Island instead. In the end, we agreed on a price for the revised itinerary, and I paid the customary 30% deposit by credit card (with a 3% fee). From that point-on, I dealt with Mr. Dac Dahn in their operations department who always promptly answered my numerous enquiries via email, and sent me hotel vouchers and e-tickets confirmation from air travel within Vietnam, as well as the invitation letter for the Visa. Fast forwarding to the end of the year when our trip began:
We landed roughly on schedule in Hochiminh on Dec. 31st in the evening and had to wait an hour or so (not ideal after a long flight from the U.S.) to get our visa on arrival ($25 per person in cash). Once we exited immigration and customs, our guide (J.J.) and driver were there to greet us with a sign bearing our name. They took us to our hotel. Because of the traffic, we ended up being in the center of the city near the cathedral at midnight, surrounded by thousands of motorcycles ringing their horns when the near year arrived (quite a cultural experience). From there on, the entire trip was very pleasant (I will post details on the hotels on tripadvisor.com). We visited Saigon (and stopped by the TNK office to pay the balance of the trip), the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, PanThiet/Mui Ne, Da Lat and Nha Trang by private van and boats with J.J. (who was excellent, paying attention all the time to what we liked and making sure we would always have it). We almost missed the speedboat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc, because the itinerary was 30 minutes off. As a result, we couldn’t have a scheduled lunch, but TNK compensated us with an excellent previously unplanned dinner in Hue. J.J. ordered a van with more legroom when we returned from Phu Quoc to HCMC (we flew back), arranged for a small canoe to pick-us up and take us to our hotel in Cantho where we were stuck in traffic on the way to the ferry, etc…Then we flew to Danang and were greeted by our new guide Tui (Mr. Dac Dahn had kindly arranged for French speaking guides at the other locations at our request), and from there visited Hoi An, My Son and Hue, Tui was excellent as well, very knowledgeable and helped us solve an issue we had with a tailor-made suit. In Hoi An, the reservation was not a river view room, but after contacting Mr. Dac Dahn generously agreed to pay the difference and we were upgraded accordingly (we had insisted on 2 deluxe rooms with sea/river/lake views everywhere) and I had not noticed it was not the case at that location. We then flew to Hanoi which we visited with our last guide (Mr. Lan, who was OK but not as good as the first 2), and went from there to Halong Bay for a memorable 2-day cruise, then flew back to HCMC, stayed overnight near the airport and had an early morning flight back to the U.S. On returning to HCMC, no driver was there to greet us, we were told after we called the agency that he was stuck in traffic due to an accident. We took a taxi to the nearby hotel, and the driver who picked-us up in the morning for our return flight to the US. reimbursed us more than we had actually paid for the taxi. We didn’t have to pay a departure tax, it was apparently already included in our plane tickets.
Overall, a great trip thanks to the logistics, efficiency and professionalism of the TNK staff and agents. Food was excellent (though too copious for us, we always have festive lunch menus booked by TNK with 6 or 7 courses in nice restaurants (included in the price), nice buffet breakfasts in most hotels. The only problem (which is beyond TNK’s control) was insufficient hot water in many hotels for two people to take showers one after the other), a really bad road with big holes when exiting MuiNe to go to Da Lat and a third guide in the north who took us to a number of expensive stores along the road when we saw much cheaper prices elsewhere (we suspect he had a kick-back from these stores (but to his credit, he advised us to see the anthropology museum in Hanoi instead of a couple of extra pagodas, which we really enjoyed). Other than these minor opportunities for improvement, we had great hotel rooms with very nice views (important to us), good weather, good food, good guides and drivers (who seemed satisfied with the tips we gave them), and we were taken to all the places agreed-to on the itinerary. For those who do not feel adventurous enough to be on their own in Vietnam, we do strongly recommend TNK travel as an ideal, reasonably-priced solution. You can count on them for a memorable and pleasant trip. One final comment, although you can pay everything in Vietnam in US dollars or Euros, prices are cheaper if you pay in Dongs (local currency, FX at 17.3 VND/USD on the average during our trip, calculated at 15 by the stores if you pay in USD). Also a word of caution, Vietnam Airlines only allows 20 kg for a checked suitcase and 7 kg for a carry-on so travel light……
If you are thinking of going and have any question about our experience, don’t hesitate to contact me at dkane@mmm.com.
Our sincere thanks to MM. Trinh, Danh and the entire TNK staff for a wonderful trip. The Kane family (Austin, TX, USA)
Kerry and Mal Morters Mekong Delta Tour to Phnompenh ( Oct 28th 08 )
Dear Ms Nhu Y
My husband and I have now returned to New Zealand from our very memorable holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. TNK booked the Mekong Tour to Phnom Penh for us and our tour guide was JJ. Our Mekong tour was wonderful, mostly due to JJ who looked after us so well in every way. JJ was a very professional, friendly and helpful guide. We would be very grateful if you could forward this email to JJ's manager. We would highly recommend JJ as a tour guide for any foreign visitor to your country. We would like to make one small suggestion about the tour. It would have been helpful to have the correct Cambodia Visa forms prior to our departure on the boat to Phnom Penh. Before our departure from New Zealand, we did download forms from the Cambodian Embassy web site - bu we did download forms from the Cambodian Embassy web site - but on the day, the Cambodian Customs required a different form. The only other comment we would like to offer, and this has nothing to do with the TNK Mekong Tour itself, but we were very concerned about the terrible living condition for the two bears at the Crocodile Park. If you can provide any influence to help these bears, we are sure they would appreciate this. Thank you TNK for a great tour. Kerry and Mal Morters
Susan CookThank you from Canada
Hello Ms. Luu Vo, Our holiday would not have been possible without all your help in organizing our customized tour and by staying in touch via email with myself and my Australian friend with all your prompt details and assistance prior to our trip. Also, for personal and telephone contact during our holiday in Vietnam. You and your co-workers showed us that you are more than qualified to handle any situation that would arise for an international traveller. Thank you Ms. Luu Vo, Ms. Kim Cuong, Mr. Quach Trong Thang, tour guides and drivers for opening the doors to the wonderful people in your beautiful country. I arrived home two days ago with fond memories, lots of photos and a life-changing experience. We would like to acknowledge Mr. Quach Trong Thang as our number one tour guide in Vietnam. His command of the english language together with his thoughtful, personal and insightful little extras made our visit to Saigon, HCMC, Mekong Delta, DaLat and NTrang so pleasurable. He educated us, chased butterflies with our digital camera, treated us to coconut milk, coffee, persimmons, took photos, chose special menus, walked with us into a coffee plantation, showed us where to buy pumpkin seeds, took us to historical and religious sites, introduced us to the culture of the people through the markets and home based businesses, advised where to get a wonderful foot massage, while all the time paying attention to all our needs, including follow-up with long distance calls. I would recommend him without hesitation. At the time of the flood in the central highlands we were so impressed with Ms. Kim Cuong s efficient and expedient assistance in changing flights and hotels. We would not have had this prompt service had we booked our tour from our home countries. Our hats off to you for providing this type of customer service to international travellers. The welcome signs and transfers to and from airports made our travel so much easier. I would like to make mention of two other tour guides that stood above the rest. Mr. Co in Danang, was so patient and understanding and had a wonderful sense of humour. His personality shone. In spite of the flood and the re-arrangements he was totally available and supportive to us and put us at ease. Another guide, Mr. Do Xuan Hoa in Hanoi was also well spoken and an experienced tour guide. He took us to Halong Bay and tried to find a shower for us in the wee hours of the morning, bought us some fresh bread, took us kayaking and introduced us to many aspects of northern Vietnam with ease, grace and understanding. He is certainly the one to lead anyone on a trek or camping trip into Sapa with his years of experience with the northern tribes in the mountains. The driver from Dalat to NTrang was very skilled and adept at handling the mountainous, muddy route with ease and professionalism. His name escapes me. The other drivers are to be credited for handling the many weather changes and surrounding bikes. The three-star hotels you booked throughout the country were all better than expected except for the one in Sapa which I would suggest you remove from your list. It would hardly measure a zero star. You may wish to check out a new one named Chapas which we viewed. We understood the need for the hotel in Danang with the floods. The staff at that hotel were exceptional with their help. However, their hotel would not be in the same three-star category as all of the others. Most of the staff at all of the hotels were welcoming, helpful and accommodating. To all of you, I would like to thank you for the wonderful customer service which you provided on our first visit to Vietnam. It is the biggest asset to your company. I will happily recommend you and your staff and the above mentioned tour guides to any Canadian who plans to visit your country. Kind regards and hugs, Susan Cook Box 127 Wynndel, British Columbia Canada V0B 2N0
Else Marie and Poul christenseGreetings to mr. Thang
Dear mr. Dzung Trinh We are now back in Denmark after our vacation in Vietnam and we have had 14 exciting and lovely days where our wishes was complied and we were pick up as agreement every time, - so Thank you very much for your assistance. Next time we are visiting Vietnam We will certainly contact you again. Greetings to mr. Thang best regards Else Marie and Poul christense
SelinaTHANK YOU
Special Thanks to Mr Le Hung Kiet from your Dalat Office Words cannot express our heartful THANKS to him Mr Le was very responsible and helpful. Thank you for your Excellence Service I would certainly recommend our friends in Singapore to use TNK Travel if they are going to Vietnam
Mr. Barry GannonADAA Reunion and trip to Ha NoiDanhJust a short note to say thank you for your very professional services provided to the Australian Air Dispatch Association (ADAA) reunion in Saigon and the tours you arranged for us during the two weeks we were in Vietnam. The guides were very good and spoke good english which assisted us very much, they were very knowledgeable about the country and its people. Your charges for the services provided were very modest and much better than those offered by companies based here in Australia. Should you require I am happy to post you a letter from the ADAA recommending your services to anyone who may be interested. Again our thanks for your services they were excellent. Barry Gannon
The Paloma is a brand new Chinese wooden junk crewed by a professional, loyal and dedicated team. Spread over 4 decks she has 16 en-suite fully equipped luxury cabins, a bar with soft seating and plasma TV, gourmet restaurant, outside dining area, sundeck and luxury spa.
Come onboard The Paloma. Be charmed by her exquisite luxury, intimate setting and unrivalled home from home service. An unforgettable way to witness the serene, calm setting of Halong Bay’s exceptional natural beauty.
The Paloma is your home while you are in Halong Bay. Good service is key. Our crew consists of 20 dynamic, passionate and enthusiastic individuals who are committed to making your stay with us special and unforgettable.
Paloma Halong Cruise
Facts about The Paloma:
The Cabins:
A selection of superior and deluxe cabins, honeymoon and family suites mixing the modern with traditional elements. All ensuite and fully equipped with air conditioning, in house phone and bathroom amenities, allowing you to relax in peace and luxury.
Supperior Room
Deluxe Room
Family Suite
Paloma Suite
Bar & Dining Room:
Relax and unwind in the bar which adjoins the restaurant. Enjoy pre-dinner or after-dinner drinks, relax in the soft seating area, browse our selection of books and magazines or watch a DVD on the plasma TV. The bar is fully stocked with fine wines, spirits, alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
On board you will be delighted with our top notch service and fine dining experience. Our menu is an innovative blend of European cuisine with an Asian twist. In Vietnam food preparation and presentation is an art form. A healthy and refined cuisine with exotic flavours features Vietnamese herbs, spices and other well-known traditional specialties.
Non-meat eaters will be able to sample some of the best vegetarian food in Vietnam.
Restaurant
Sundeck:
The sundeck, situated on the 4th deck, is the perfect spot to view the lime scale peaks, lagoons, grottos and emerald sea. Relax on our cosy sun lounges and enjoy the cool sea breeze.
Activities:
During your stay on the Paloma, you won’t be short of things to do. Our expert guide will lead kayaking tours of the bay, enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters or pamper yourself in our luxury spa. Join our staff in some late night cuttle fishing and we run cooking demonstrations for those interested in learning the art of Vietnamese cooking. Take part in early morning Tai Chi on the sundeck which is the perfect way to welcome the new day.
Water sport facilities and activities
Amenities:
With perfect attention to detail, all aspects of your stay on board have been meticulously planned. All cabins are ensuite with hot showers and full bathroom amenities, towels and luxury linens. The junk is fully air conditioned throughout, plenty of storage space, luxury spa, gourmet restaurant and fully stocked bar. Equipped with all the luxury and comforts you desire, the Paloma is your home from home while you cruise the Bay.
Better Care Than Cure:
To ensure your safety and peace of mind, The Paloma is fully equipped with all the necessary equipment to meet today's safety standards. Onboard there are 60 life vests, 40 life buoys and 4 lifeboats. In case of fire, the boat is equipped with 4 firefighter water hoses and 14 public fire extinguishers. We are also equipped with a GPS system, VHF radio, and an automated alarm system with speakers throughout the cruise.