From: chascolson@att.net   

To: nhung@tonkintravel.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:49 AM

Subject: Thanks, plus a request from a friend

Dear Nhung,

I am sorry for taking so long, but I have been very busy since returning home (water line repairs on the house, a computer that would not work, and 4 weeks teaching in other cities).

Norah and I want to thank you for all your work in arranging our wonderful vacation in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.  Everything worked perfectly.

Thank you for all the special arrangements you made for us, and for your willingness to work with my many special requests.  And again, thank you for getting us onto the early flight from LP to Vientiane, Laos; and a special thanks for your research in getting our checked baggage through from SiemReap onto our ANA flight in HCMC.  To my amazement, the ticket agent at the SiemReap airport was able to get his computer to print a single baggage tag for the entire itinerary -- SiemReap-SGN-NAR-ORD.

Some information that may be useful to you with your other clients:

In SAIGON, allow at least 45 minutes to get from a DongKoi-area hotel to TonSonNat airport (1 hour would be better)

In HOI AN -- The Ha An hotel is absolutely lovely, in a good location (8 minutes walk from the center), and has an excellent breakfast and restaurant. 

Our HoiAn - Hue driver, Kiet, was excellent -- always on time, and a safe driver.  Our guide for the trip to MY SON, Anh, was a good guide and had good knowledge of the ruins.

In HUE -- Our hotel (Orchid Hotel, I think) was an excellent hotel, with a very welcoming and capable staff.

In HAN OI:  The lady who was our guide on our afternoon tour was excellent (even though we had to discontinue the tour after visiting the Temple of Literature because we were tired from the long day -- remember that we began the day the Bhaya Cruise, in Halong, and  then our HanOi driver was late, and then our guide had to go on an errand, so we did not actually begin our tour of Hanoi until 15:20 or so).  By the way:  the OVERNIGHT CRUISE ON HALONG BAY was Norah's favorite part of the entire trip.

In LUANG PRABANG, there is NO PLACE in town that is more than 15 minutes from the airport -- you do not need to allow 45 minutes.

Likewise, in VIENTIANE, our "30 minute drive to our hotel" was only 6 minutes -- there is no place in Vientiane's hotel or embassy districts that is more than 8 minutes from the airport.

In SIEM REAP, the TARA ANGKOR Hotel/Resort is beautiful.  They have a fine staff and an excellent restaurant.  Also, they upgraded us to a huge suite for no special reason.  We loved it.

Our guide for the Angkor temple complex -- Nat (or possibly Nath) -- was excellent -- he spoke good English, and he knew when to talk and when to be silent and to wait for questions, which he was always able to answer.  You may have great confidence in him.

And finally,  after our enthusiastic reports, a friend told me that she has long wanted to visit Vietnam.  Are you and Tonkin Travel able to arrange tours such as ours that include air travel to an from the U.S. (probably Los Angeles)?  Please let me know, and I will forward the information to her.

Again, thank you, and I just wanted to tell you what a pleasure it has been working with you over these many months.

With my very best regards,

Charles ("Chips") Colson