An Unforgettable Trip to Thailand & Vietnam! 🇹🇭🇻🇳✈️
Destinations: Phuket & Bangkok, Thailand | Da Nang & Hoi An, Vietnam
First, we want to give a HUGE thank you to Minah and Kimkim for helping us create such an incredible vacation experience!
I am normally the person who plans all of our vacations, but this trip was different. There were so many things I wanted us to experience, multiple destinations, and several flights to coordinate. Quite frankly, I just didn't have the time to map everything out myself.
During my research, I came across Kimkim. Of course, I did my homework and dug a little deeper to make sure the company was legitimate. Even though everything checked out, I was still a little skeptical. But I decided to take a leap of faith, and I am SO glad I did!
Minah Was Absolutely Wonderful! ❤️
Now, let me tell you… I asked a MILLION questions! 😂 And because I was still a little skeptical in the beginning, those questions often led to even MORE questions.
Through it all, Minah was patient, responsive, professional, and always willing to provide answers.
I gave her our budget along with a list of experiences that were important to us. She returned with several options, thoughtful recommendations, and suggestions that made our trip even better.
One recommendation in particular really stood out. I had selected a place I wanted to visit, but Minah suggested another location that offered a similar experience in what she felt was a much better setting. Thankfully, I trusted her judgment because the original location I selected actually closed before our trip! And let me tell you, the place she recommended was absolutely GORGEOUS!
She also suggested additional experiences that weren't originally on our list, including a fishing village excursion in Vietnam.
OH MY GOODNESS! That experience was AMAZING! 😍
From the cultural experience to the incredible food, it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. And I'm going to say something that might surprise a few people…
The food we enjoyed during that excursion was even better than some of the Michelin-starred restaurants we visited! 🤯🍽️
And trust me, those Michelin-starred restaurants were TOP TIER! That should tell you just how incredible the food was!
Our Tour Guides & Transportation 🌏
Throughout our trip, we experienced a combination of private tours and small-group excursions.
Our private guides and drivers were consistently punctual, friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. The transportation was beautiful, comfortable, and well maintained, which made traveling between destinations even more enjoyable.
We also want to recognize our wonderful tour guides:
🇹🇭 Phuket, Thailand: Pupae
🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand: Gifty
🇻🇳 Da Nang, Vietnam: Nu
Each of them helped make our experiences memorable, and we truly appreciated their hospitality and knowledge.
Another thing I loved was knowing that help was always available. If I had questions or needed assistance during our travels, I could reach out to Minah or the local contacts provided, and someone would respond quickly.
That level of communication and support gave us peace of mind while traveling internationally.
A Few Things Worth Mentioning for Future Travelers
Although we had an AMAZING experience overall, I do want to share a few things that could have been handled differently. My intention isn't to take away from how wonderful our trip was, but rather to provide constructive feedback that may help improve the experience for future travelers.
1. Phi Phi Islands Small-Group Excursion
We booked what was described as a small-group excursion to the Phi Phi Islands. However, when we arrived, there appeared to be approximately 40–50 people on the catamaran.
Personally, I would not consider that a small group.
When I reached out afterward, I believe I was told the group should have been closer to 30–35 people. Even that number seems fairly large for something advertised as a small-group experience.
It honestly felt as though the excursion provider was trying to fit as many people as possible onto the catamaran.
That said, we still had a GREAT time! The experience itself was wonderful. I would simply recommend that travelers clarify the maximum group size beforehand so expectations are aligned.
2. Vietnam eVisa Issues — An Expensive Lesson Learned
This was probably our biggest hiccup during the entire trip.
When we arrived at the airport in Bangkok to catch our flight to Vietnam, we were informed that there were errors on our eVisas and that we would not be allowed to board our flight.
Imagine being at the airport, ready for the next leg of your vacation, only to be told you can't go! 😩
We immediately reached out to Minah, who connected us with David. He was able to arrange emergency visas for us at a cost of $150 per person, allowing us to fly to Vietnam the following morning.
Thankfully, because our scheduled excursion was a private tour, they were able to adjust the timing to accommodate our delayed arrival. However, we still lost valuable time that we could have spent enjoying Vietnam.
We also had additional unexpected expenses, including another night at a hotel and transportation back to the airport the following morning.
Here is why I'm sharing this particular experience.
While we were at the airport, we were asked whether our travel agency had completed our eVisa applications for us. When we explained that we had completed them ourselves, we were told that travel agencies often assist with this process to help prevent errors.
We were never informed that this might be an option.
Now, I fully understand that we completed the applications ourselves, and I take responsibility for that. However, had we known assistance might be available, we certainly would have asked about it.
My recommendation to future travelers: If your trip requires a visa, ask your travel planner whether they can assist with the application or review it before submission. It could potentially save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.
I also believe this is an area where Kimkim could improve its process by proactively offering guidance or assistance with visa requirements.
3. Our Café Excursion
One of our scheduled excursions was a café day, where we planned to visit multiple beautiful locations.
Unfortunately, when the day arrived, we discovered that one of the cafés on our itinerary was closed on Mondays.
This is something that should have been verified during the planning process, especially since the excursion was scheduled in advance.
Now, here's the funny part…
The second location was SO BEAUTIFUL that we were actually happy to spend more time there! 😂❤️
We ended up not regretting missing the first café at all.
However, I do recognize that another traveler might have been extremely disappointed, especially if that particular location was something they had their heart set on visiting.
It's simply a reminder of how important it is to verify operating days and hours when building an itinerary.
I almost forgot to mention the hotel accommodations! 🏨
Since I had plenty of hotel points to use, I booked our accommodations in Bangkok myself. However, for Phuket and Vietnam, I wanted to experience local hotels, and Minah helped arrange those stays.
🌴 Phuket, Thailand – Orchidacea Resort
Beautiful, clean accommodations with friendly, helpful staff and a decent breakfast! Now, let me warn you about one thing… THE STAIRS! 😂 Be prepared to get your steps in! After the first day, we quickly learned that we could have the staff drive us up to our room, and that's exactly what we did! We still chose to walk down using the road instead of the stairs. But hey, if you love climbing stairs and getting in a good workout, this resort has you covered! 🤣 Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.
🇻🇳 Hoi An, Vietnam – Hoi An Rose Garden
We absolutely loved the location of this hotel! The staff was friendly and helpful, the breakfast was surprisingly good, and the massages were wonderful! The hotel appeared to be a bit older, and while the rooms were fairly basic, everything was clean and well-maintained.
The beds weren't quite as comfortable as we would have liked, but honestly, after our long days of exploring, we were so exhausted that it didn't affect our sleep one bit! 😂
Both hotels gave us the local experience we were hoping for, and we appreciated having accommodations that fit our preferences and travel plans.
Would We Book with Kimkim Again? ABSOLUTELY! ❤️✈️
Even with those few hiccups, we had an absolutely WONDERFUL vacation!
Traveling internationally, especially across multiple countries, comes with the possibility of unexpected challenges. What matters is how those challenges are handled and whether the overall experience delivers what you hoped for.
For us, it absolutely did!
Minah listened to what we wanted, respected our budget, offered recommendations that enhanced our experience, and remained accessible when we needed assistance.
Because of her planning and attention to detail, we were able to enjoy experiences we might not have discovered on our own.
And remember how skeptical I was in the beginning? 😂 Well, I can confidently say that I would absolutely use Kimkim again, and I would specifically request Minah!
Now that I've experienced the process firsthand, I feel much more comfortable trusting them with future travel plans.
To Minah, our amazing tour guides, drivers, and everyone who helped make this journey possible — THANK YOU! ❤️
You helped us create memories that we will cherish for years to come.
Thailand and Vietnam were everything we hoped for and so much more!
Would we do it all over again? In a heartbeat! 🇹🇭🇻🇳❤️
Thank you, Minah and Kimkim, for an unforgettable adventure!
Hotel Reviews
Hoi An Rose Garden Hotel
Hoi An
We absolutely loved the location of this hotel! The staff was friendly and helpful, the breakfast was surprisingly good, and the massages were wonderful! The hotel appeared to be a bit older, and while the rooms were fairly basic, everything was clean and well-maintained.
The beds weren't quite as comfortable as we would have liked, but honestly, after our long days of exploring, we were so exhausted that it didn't affect our sleep one bit! 😂
Authenticity & Character
It provided the character of Hoi An.
Location
We love the location! We could walk to restaurants, cafes, and stores. It provided the local experience we were looking for!!
Staff
Very helpful and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Its an older hotel, but it was clean.
Beautiful, clean accommodations with very friendly, helpful staff and a decent breakfast! Great location! Now, let me warn you about one thing… THE STAIRS! 😂 Be prepared to get your steps in! After the first day, we quickly learned that we could have the staff drive us up to our room, and that's exactly what we did! We still chose to walk down using the road instead of the stairs. But hey, if you love climbing stairs and getting in a good workout, this resort has you covered! 🤣 Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.
Authenticity & Character
It gave me the local vibe I was looking for.
Staff
Very friendly and always helpful and available.
Cleanliness & Comfort
They were cleaning the facility constantly and our rooms daily or as needed.
Activity Reviews
Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya
Thailand
Great experience. My husband loves history and ancient architecture so this was the perfect for him.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ba Na Hills Tour from Hoi An
Hoi An
It was everything we expected and more. It rained during our visit, but for us it added to our experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit Fishing Villages & Hoi An Tour
Hoi An
OH MY GOODNESS! That experience was AMAZING! 😍
From the cultural experience to the incredible food, it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. And I'm going to say something that might surprise a few people…
The food we enjoyed during that excursion was even better than some of the Michelin-starred restaurants we visited! 🤯🍽️
And trust me, those Michelin-starred restaurants were TOP TIER! That should tell you just how incredible the food was! More than expected!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Romantic Dinner on the Manohra River Cruise!
Bangkok
Beautiful cruise, awesome food, friendly staff, nice views! It wasn't crowded which made it more romantic. It was worth the money.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bangkok Countryside & Café Experience (B)
Bangkok
Beautiful location, great food, relaxing environment. Even with all the visitors that came in for photos I still felt calmness and was able to admire the beauty. I didn't feel rushed and the staff was very attentive.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bangkok Floating Market and Temple Tour
Bangkok
Great experience. It was interesting to see how many vendors have stores at the floating market. Although I gave it a 5 my only concern was when we said we didn't want anything from a particular vendor our boat driver would sometimes still stop, not at our request, so they could try and talk us into buying. We did buy a few things but not from those where they purposely stopped. One vendor said she was the sister of they guy driving our boat. Now, if he told us ahead of time his sister was a vendor we probably would have waited and bought some things from her, why not support his family. However we already bought some items and were done by the time we reached her area. The Train Market and temple tour were also great. We visited during a festival and was able to experience the food vendors and dancing. The restaurant was a great choice. We would go back and eat there again.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket
We visited an elephant sanctuary, and what an incredible experience! You could really see the pride they take in caring for these beautiful animals and focusing on their health and healing.
We started with a little education about how the elephants came to the sanctuary, their backgrounds, and how they're cared for. Then it was time to get involved in their daily routines!
Each elephant has its own handler, and the bond between them is something special. Since they're together pretty much all day, every day, the elephants recognize, trust, and respond to their handlers. ❤️
Now, what did WE get to do?
🐘 Fed them watermelon, sugar cane, and a special elephant food mixture (don't ask me what it's called because I have NO idea! 😂).
🐘 Gave them a MUD BATH! Yes, we got down and dirty! 🤣
🐘 Finished things off by washing them up!
Being up close and personal with these gentle giants was definitely an experience to remember! ❤️
Next up… COOKING CLASS! 👩🏽🍳🍜
After getting cleaned up, it was time to put our cooking skills to the test! We learned how to make our own Pad Thai!
Now, let me just say… I'm glad they ALSO provided a delicious lunch with Pad Thai and plenty of other amazing dishes because MY Pad Thai didn't quite turn out the way it was supposed to! 🤣🤣
Hey, you win some, you lose some! At least I tried! 😂
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Explore Phi Phi, Khai Island by Speed Catamaran
Phuket
I only gave it a 4 because I wish it was less people. There were 40-50 people on our catamaran.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The transport to the facility was great. The catamaran was too full and the seats were too close.
Phuket Giant Water Lilies & Temple Tour
Phuket
Amazing atmosphere, food, and staff. Our pictures came out great! We have received so many compliments.
Food
The mango-coco smoothies were unforgettable and the food we ordered was delicious.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pupae was an excellent tour guide. She was very knowledgeable. Our guide and driver were both friendly and accommodating. I would want Pupae again if/when I come back.
Transport
Beautiful and clean.
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