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To Agency or Not to Agency in Hanoi

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Hun Ohm
Hun Ohm
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5 out of 5
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To Agency or Not to Agency in Hanoi -- Thoughts

  • March 27, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Hun Ohm from small town, Massachusetts
To Agency or Not to Agency in Hanoi -- Thoughts

One of the virtues of Hanoi is that it serves as a good "central" location from which to do short excursions into the northern regions of the country. The question is: do you do it alone? We varied our exploration methods from HCMC to Hanoi: on our own, through "established" tour companies, and through independent operators, i.e. random locals with motorbikes or cycles. Each form of travel had its merits, and you should sample each if you have the time and opportunity. Nevertheless, if you do not have much time, travel companies can be useful.

Travel companies abound in Hanoi. Such numbers foster stiff competition, and a number of outfits have sprung up offering similar itineraries. However, caveat emptor is a prevailing rule when it comes to travel agencies, as what appears to be the "same" on paper is quite often very different in reality. Do your due diligence before signing on. Guidebooks can point you in the right direction before you arrive in Hanoi. However, we also found speaking with other travelers in Vietnam to be invaluable. Mornings and evenings in the guesthouses are good times to swap stories, tips, etc. Word of mouth goes a long way in Vietnam, especially because many visitors travel the same north-to-south/south-to-north path that runs the length of the country.

It was during one of these random morning lobby conversations in HCMC that we first heard about Handspan. We checked it out when we arrived in Hanoi, and we were very pleased.

Handspan
This highly recommended travel agency lives up to the hype. They helped arrange two overnight trips from Hanoi. One was a 3-day trip to Halong Bay that included a night on their very well-appointed boat, the Dragon Pearl, and another night on Cat Ba Island. The second trip was a 2-day trip to Cuc Phuong National Park and Kehn Ga. They can also arrange tours to Sapa and other locations. Check out their website at www.handspan.com.

The guides on both trips were excellent and spoke good English. They were fun, well informed, and professional. The vans that took us to and from Hanoi were also in good shape, with only moderately aggressive drivers. The Handspan office in the Old Quarter is friendly and welcoming and includes a decent café. You can also store your large bags at the office while you are off on your overnight excursions. The travel agents are quite helpful and don’t give you the hard sell, which is refreshing. You will probably pay a bit more at Handspan than if you used other companies, but the professionalism, quality, and pleasant attitude are worth it. Our groups were relatively small, and the guides went out of the way to make everyone feel comfortable. Handspan can also arrange extended private tours.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a good travel agency to do some of the heavy lifting in the north, go with Handspan.

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