Calisense

Oceania N. is good to be able to dock right at Nha Rong Dragon House port, five minutes to downtown Saigon. It's the largest cruise ship docking there. Under 26,000 tons weight and height lower than Phu My bridge's are conditions or cruise ships have to dock at Phu My port.

Just an example... I can almost guarantee that the same ships that are docking far out by Saigon are probably doing Bangkok on the itinerary as well. In both cases, there are other cruises who do utilize these ports and it is so convenient and wonderful to have the cities right there. Makes it for a far more enjoyable experience.

Has anyone used him lately for your tour in Siagon?

As we were planning for my partner's shore excursions we received mail from sb. called Zoom but soon we found him "fake". Be aware of fake Zoom.

Real Zoom is nick of Nguyen Tri Dung with eml add. dungzoom@gmail.com and http://www.saigonprivatetour.com

You can search on forums of Celebrity Millenium, HAL Volendam or Diamond Princess to find someone who just toured with Zoom in Saigon.

His email = dungzoom at gmail dot com

The period from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6, 2017 is lunar new year festival in Vietnam, TET. Tour cost in this period is higher than normal. Car rental fee up by 30% and guiding fee by 100%.

Flower road on Nguyen Hue blvd. is compensation for high price you have to pay. It will open on Jan. 25. A 600 m-long walk on the flower road should be with a round of coffee on Rex htl's fifth floor Rooftop cafe where you view the boulevard in flower presentation in a distance.

I got this experience from Zoom and sharing it with you as lunar year of the Rooster is coming, Jan. 28, 2017. Certainly you'll find the icon of the year, Rooster, in many samples on the flower road.

Hi,

My wife and I did HCMC from Phu My port with David Nguyen from Vietnam-shoreexcursions.com. The tour was excellent. We also did the tours in Chan May and Ha Long. All services were amazing. Highly recommend this company. It is recommended on TripAdvisor too. You can contact with David Nguyen at info@vietnam-shoreexcursions.com.

Good luck!

Vietnamese tour guides mostly work to make you laugh not to make you comfortable. Language is a problem with at least half of them. Knowledge is unupdated from most.

My personal pleasure is about guiding service from Nguyen Tri Dung by nick Zoom at http://www.saigonprivatetour.com

The best way is use the guide in his/ her best fields. Best from Zoom is an image with accurate details on Vietnam's history esp. Vietnam's war & social life. Touring photos and his humor sense add values.n

Does anyone have any recommendations for private tours in Ho Chi Minh City?

 

Thank you so much

Zoom at http://www.saigonprivatetour.com is the right person.

Does anyone know the fares and reliability of taxi services from Phu My to Ho Chi Minh city?

We did not take Taxi but our guide's company service. Car for up to 5 people or minivan for up to 13 people.

The driver drives you to Saigon ( HCMC ) then drops you at places of interest in the city tour itinerary. Everything done, he drives you back to ship at one hour prior to requested time.

Car is 180 US dollars. Minivan is 210 US dollars to hire.

We have already been to Ho C M city before. What else is there to do out of Phu My. Is it worth going to Vung Tau? What about Baria? We would like to do some touring, but leave time for shopping too. HELP!!

We would appreciate any info.

On our second visit to Saigon our tour guide Zoom changed the itinerary showing diffferent places like the 49th floor of highest tower, Thu Thiem bridge seeing Sai Gon's high-rises, French quarters with villas formerly belonging to Gen. Westmoreland, Henry Cabot Lodge, Saigon Saigon bar and Majestic Cafe,...

A great day in Saigon ( HCM ) should be with a coffee stop. Options are Rex Rooftop bar and Caravelle Saigon Saigon bar. For the latter, happy hours are from 4 to 7 pm. For now and next 3 years view from Rex is not perfect due to subway terminal construction site. Option 2 should be considered.

Majestic hotel fìth-floor cafe also serves good views of Saigon river. Few steps up a panoramic view of the city open with two spikes of Notre Dame de Saigon standing in the skyline.

Mrs Ha wants a deposit made by wire transfer. We ceased discussion with her at that time and hired someone else.

Many guides in Vietnam need deposit up to 50-60% of tour cost. Some others understand better and need 30% deposit only.

My guide we used in Saigon even look over this matter if clients have difficulties in sending money thru Paypal.

Money should not be an obstacle cutting client-guide contact. Once we select him/ her the guide should be qualified and in my eyes, a competent guide should be a person grown up from that locality; Saigon, for instance, at age from 40 or up, experienced in times changes in VN whose recent history quite complicated.

I prefer to prebook tours after researching online.

I also used Zoom in Saigon and highly recommend his professional service.

In Brunei I used and recommend Intrepid tours http://www.bruneibay.net/bruneicruiseships/index.html/.

I've found that with both these tour operators, tours can be customised to your preferences.

Just on recent history and on VN war history Zoom can tell you every year's events and months, dates of the events.

I will use Zoom for my friends this August. Good first impression is he replies promtly, just after 2 minutes, giving me sense of safety, and all details come right in the day.

His website and facebook have lots of photos on places of interest and daily life in Vietnam. For Xmas and Tet lunar new year in VN he posted hundreds of photos in which those on flowers I really appreciate.

Hello guys: We are scheduled to be on the Sapphire Princess for a cruise out of Singapore 2/24/16. Can you get private tours from local operators at the docks for Brunei, HCMC, Nha Trang and Sihanoukville? We prefer private and want to tailor it our selves.

Thank you. Larry

We used Zoom for Saigon. Very pleased. Just want to say he is very strong in providing info. especially on VN war and politics or society whose some parts you will find in a contrast with what you hear from guides in North VN. He always says, you are not here in VN everyday; so, listen to me, to them in the War Remnants museum and then, back home, draw out your conclusion.

Any recommendations for a cruise in Asia? We want to go to Angkor Wat and at least 4 countries on a ship with at least 600 passengers. Regent Seven Seas & Crystal - are they worth it? I've read several poor reviews about Regent Seven Seas - is it that bad? How about a 20-day Oceania Nautica or Insignia cruise? Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you.

Ocean Nautica is well seasoned in our memory. In VN it can dock right at Saigon port, saving a long long drive from Phu My port. Big but suited and thus, you have two day stop at this city.

Thanks the two I have gotten quotes from ( both very well known on CC and TA) want a much higher deposit.

Kathy

My guide I mentioned above just needed a deposit equal to 30% of tour cost or even waived should you have difficulties in sending money.

I could not find his email, does anyone have it?

His website is http://www.saigonprivatetour.com

Hi all CC's

 

I will be stopping in Vietnam at Phu my/ho chi min city, chan may/Da Nang and Halong Bay/hanoi.

 

Can anyone reccommend any DIY or private tours at these ports, and what there involved and cost. Also any contacts you can recommend.

 

much appreciated

 

 

Thanks

On a visit to VN ports you need to have an expert guide to explain the complicated history of Vietnam ( after 1802 till now ) with the French, Japanese, American, nationalists, communists.

We had a terrific guide for many times and wish all of you who besides interests in sights, culture,...have a need in finding answers to many questions related to history of this land could have even a short talk over a cup of coffee with him in Saigon.

I mentioned his name earlier in some quotes. Look for him and you will be pleased with his knowledge on history.

A great day in Saigon ( HCM ) should be with a coffee stop. Options are Rex Rooftop bar and Caravelle Saigon Saigon bar. For the latter, happy hours are from 4 to 7 pm. For now and next 3 years view from Rex is not perfect due to subway terminal construction site. Option 2 should be considered.

I could not find his email, does anyone have it?

Zoom's email is dungzoom@gmail.com

Hope you have a good tour with him.

Your Hanoi experience would be most appreciated!!!

 

We are on a Costa Cruise which stops for a night at Halong Bay. We have 2 options for tours at this port stop:

 

(1) Land and boat tours right in the Halong Bay area; or

 

(2) Land tours into Hanoi City which is 3.5+ hours away by bus or car.

 

Is the 4-hour trek (in both directions) to Hanoi worth doing? Or, is it better to stay & tour in Halong Bay???

 

Any insight on your Hanoi touring experience?

 

Regards,

 

Zeke and Barbara

You'd better take a two-day tour to Hanoi from Halong.

A day tour in Halong bay is second option, not a day tour to Hanoi.

Dung Zoom provides tours of Ho Chi Minh City, Cuchi Tunnels, Cuchi – Tay Ninh, My Tho, and other areas. We had a full day tour of Ho Chi Minh City with Zoom on March 29, 2015. The cost was very reasonable, $132 per couple for 4 couples. Zoom was waiting for us when we got off the cruise ship, and the ride into the city was very comfortable in an A/C mini-van. Zoom provided interesting information, and paced our stops so that we were able to see all the places on our itinerary. He is very active on social media, posting pictures of our group on FB throughout the day. Everyone in our group was impressed with Zoom, and if we are ever back in Vietnam, we will definitely hire him again. You can find him on FB under Dung Zoom. There is also information at http://saigonprivatetour.com.

Before touring with him you get his writing to read about VN and Saigon. After touring with him you get photos emailed or posted on FB or sent to your home.

That is better part from Zoom besides his qualification as a professional guide.

( I assume you are pleased with photos he sent as we did ).

We just returned from a fantastic cruise to Asia. All of the guides and drivers that we had prebooked were excellent, and I would like to recommend them to others.

 

Bali - Wayan Juli - bebalinesetour@yahoo.com

 

Komodo Island - Hendrik (GoToKomodo) - hendrickenglishtourguide@gmail.com

 

Sandakan - Arnold Sanchez - arnoldvsanchez@gmail.com

 

Manila - Jessie Ureta - jureta83@gmail.com (speaks English and Japanese)

 

Hualien, Taiwan - CJ Chen - cjtwn@yahoo.com.tw

 

Kyoto - Satoko Kuroda - cappucinnodayon@yahoo.co.jp

For Saigon, Vietnam or Hochiminh, Vietnam Zoom is reliable. He is quick in replying your mails, giving me a thought he never sleeps. His prices are reasonable and plus the added values after tour, unexpected.

His English is kind of excellent. He reviews the history especially on VN war and many aspects of life. In one-day city tour from ship we learnt more than other tours at other ports.

Zoom also asks if you are pleased to have touring photos to be posted in his FB and your family, friends can see them.

Before tour, he will send his clients some 60 pieces of his English writing on Vietnam and Saigon, each from 1 to 3 A4 pages.

Zoom has a very long term in travel services. He was tour guide for Chelsea Clinton in Saigon on his visit to Vietnam in 2000. Family of US Senator Percy on their return to VN in 2009 found their father's destiny village under Zoom's accurate guiding.

You can find his email in some other threads.

We quite enjoyed our time with him.

He always asks for our willingness before posting photos to Facebook.

Thank you for reminding the matter of privacy.

After a long day tour you are home reviewing your activities. For all the times our tour guide in HCM, Vietnam has a good way.

He posted the photos he took with us to his Facebook. Once or twice we stayed overnite and he made a disc of touring photos.

He also emailed us 60 pieces of English writings on VN and the Vietnamese.

Such good things added to our satisfaction a great deal.

Yesterday Sunday May 18 I mailed Zoom but did not get his reply till end of the day. Visiting his Facebook I saw so many clips about people's demonstration in the street voicing support for national sovereignty in a conflict with a neighboring country. Later in the day Zoom confirmed my thoughts by saying he was on Facebook fighting in citizen's duty for national unity thru pictures, clips, texts...highlighting nation's appeals.

Asked about your case he said he was so sorry for using not good guides and that he has changed, never use affiliate guides again. He also said he never refused to make refund.

I suppose a man voluntarily fighting for his country from his position is a good man. Misunderstanding could be the reason. You should mail him again for refund.

Connection between a peace lover and a true guide of conscience I never thought of but I suppose it's true.

A tour guide is above all, a citizen. It happened to me I was told our guide that we often use is now a fighter for his nation on Facebook. Instead of posting selfies or own pleasure postings he posted texts, pictures, VDO clips explaining the political situation highlighting national supreme interests, building in the long run solidarity.

A guide should be judged thru many qualifications. Love for nation in my experiences is a supporting matter as I have for several times known all others qualifications of his and with this, have trust in his hearted service. Without heart put in work one could work for something else rather than clientele's profits. Perhaps, as first-time client you might ask one or two questions for your possible guide to book about his perceptions towards one matter his country is facing. I believe a man with burning desire to serve his nation is a worthy man to work with.