Nov 22, 2024
Great experience that should not be missed! - We did the CuChi tunnels and village tour. Thien was very accommodating as our arrival changed and she and the driver easily accommodated us. She was a pleasure to be with and learn so much from. She has a great perspective and I felt we had a very special tour . She was extremely knowledgeable and knew how to avoid the crowds and keep things interesting. She even made time for my son to shoot the AK 47. All in all it was a great day and I was very happy we choose Thien.
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Oct 28, 2024
Cu Chi tunnels with Thien - This was our second personal tour with Thien after spending a fantastic day with her yesterday at Mekong Delta.
Today Thien started the day with a trip to the oldest local coffee shop, even though this was not part of the tour where we enjoyed the best coffee and were shown how they make it in clay pots over a wood burner stove. Again it was clear that Thien is highly regarded by the locals who happily open up their homes and businesses willingly to give us the tourist a beautiful experience.
The drive out to the tunnels was so engaging with Thien sharing many stories about her town, it’s obvious she loves it and she was super willing to answer all our questions.
Thien took us to a less touristy part of the Cu Chi tunnels, it was a bit further to drive but well worth it to avoid the big crowds.
Cannot recommend this tour highly enough and you MUST go with Thien, she’s amazing
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Aug 5, 2024
A truly private tour with a knowledgeable guide - We had an amazing day out at the Chu Chi tunnels with Thien. She is zany and enthusiastic - and hugely knowledgeable about Vietnam and its history. She presented a personal and balanced view of the political landscape, both past and present and was fascinating to talk to in her utterly fluent English. The private tour was exactly that - from pickup at a time to suit us in a spotless car with a careful driver - to the time spent exploring the ‘authentic’ tunnels. These are away from the major tourist trail with only a handful of other visitors. Thien ensured we were always on our own and able to explore the tunnels and exhibits without others in the way. This tour represented great value for money and we would thoroughly recommend anyone who was wondering whether this was worth it, to book. Once the tour was confirmed, Thien was happy to WhatsApp and provide helpful advice before we had even left home. We would thoroughly recommend a day at the Chu Chi tunnels with Thien!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 6, 2024
Must do with Thien - I wasn’t sure what to expect but what attracted me to this tour was the “less touristy”. We weren’t interested in a large bus tour group and what we received was fantastic. Not only did I feel that this was less touristy but was extremely informative of how it was before and during the war with the replicated village. This helped me understand the meaning behind the tunnels, and it was fascinating to go through them (not for those who are claustrophobic!). A tasty lunch was included.
We booked Thien for this tour, as we had her booked the day before for the hidden gems tour. I highly recommend this Cu Chi tunnel tour with Thien. She is knowledgeable and flexible. For our other travel needs, she found a local place to do our laundry.
Also I recommend setting aside a full day for this Cu Chi tour. Initially I was going to do half day here and half day for Mekong Delta but I am extremely happy that we dedicated a day with Thien and WithLocals.
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May 15, 2024
Superb Cụ Chỉ Tunnel experience - Our trip with Thien to Cu Chị tunnels was superb. From the moment she met us at our hotel we knew we were in capable and experienced hands. Thien’s English is simply fantastic and she is a warm and welcoming person who is happy to share her personal experiences, which made the trip come alive. She seems to have a lovely relationship with everyone at the authentic tunnels and they obviously care about her too, which ensures that her tour party is well taken care of.
The “authentic tunnels” were the highlight of our trip to Vietnam so far. Far fewer “western” tour groups, which meant we felt we got a much richer experience and could gain a better understanding of the Vietnamese culture. Furthermore, we would highly recommend the village museum where you got a deeper understanding of how life was before, during and after the extension of the tunnel network. Thien has obviously worked hard to plan a well constructed tour.
Thien organised tastings of local foods for us, which meant no lunch purchases were necessary.
The tunnels themselves were made even better by a super friendly local guide who also accompanied us!
Thank you Thien!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 8, 2024
Fantastic tour to Chi Chu Tunnels - Huyen and our driver met us at the Port gate in Hi Chi Minh City where our ship docked. Huyen is an amazing tour guide, funny, interesting, knowledgeable and we had a fantastic day with her. We visited the Chi Chu Tunnels.....the ones the locals visit, which was awesome! We would certainly recommend Huyen whilst visiting Ho Chi Minh City, she is a genuine and very warm person. Can't wait to do another tour with her next time we are in Vietnam.
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May 3, 2024
The only Cu Chi Tunnels experience you MUST do! - We knew Cu Chi Tunnels were going to be one of the highlights of our time in Saigon. We looked at many different tours and companies offering day trips to the tunnel, but they didn't feel immersive and authentic enough.
The experience, education and learning was very important for us, aside from acutually experiencing the tunnels. We wanted to visit the tunnels to understand their history, their role in the war, impressions and insights of the Vietnamese people on their own history, the before and after of the war - in short, a living, breathing and immersive day trip into the history of Vietnam through the backdrop of the tunnels.
This, and so much more, is what we got on this trip with Thien.
What an incredible experience we had with her. Thien has so many personal stories to tell about the history, but also very contextual and relevant to the Vietnam we see today.
Fun fact: There are two tunnels for visitors. If you're a tourist, you go to the tourist tunnels in a group. If you're a traveller / explorer / wisdom hunter, you go to the authentic tunnels on a private tour with Thien.
We also did another tour around Saigon with Thien and unfortunately, we were short on time to do any more.
If you want to do Cu Chi Tunnels, you MUST do it with Thien. From start to finish, it will be an entertaining, educational, informative, and immersive experience.
Thank you Thien for making our time in Saigon so memorable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 15, 2024
Cu Chi Tunnels private tour - With Locals - I could not imagine anyone better to do this tour with than Thien. She arrived on time to collect us from the hotel with a driver, and we chatted away for the drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. She has so much knowledge, and it was so interesting for us to learn new things and perspectives.
Thien ensures that at the tunnels, you are kept away from other tourists and we had tunnels completely to ourselves. We felt so comfortable with Thien, like she was an old friend. We enjoyed a delicious freshly made local lunch at the tunnels and tried local treats. Thien clearly loves her job and she is definitely the perfect person for it. This tour is a must do and Thien is the best guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 11, 2024
Perfect tour from a perfect guide - What you really want when you go on a tour is a uniquely local experience from a uniquely local guide. Which is why our tour with Thien was perfect. We should apologise to her, for asking her questions about everything Vietnam from the moment we got in the car to the moment we were dropped off. It was an incredible learning experience for us and the kids. To top it off Thien gave us other sightseeing and food recommendations, which already a day on we have capitalised on. If you are looking for a perfect tour- this is it. Thank you Thien. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 10, 2024
In Depth Cu Chi Tunnels experience - Our 2nd day with Thien was a spent at the tunnels with a more in-depth tour than others we saw advertised. We learned about the lives of the locals and the origins of the tunnels before the war and how they were developed over time to what they are now. We found it quite hot so missed out the long tunnel so be prepared! Enjoyed some tasty local snacks all made on the premises before heading back to HCM. Thien has a good rapport with everyone at the tunnels and was missed by them when she took a holiday. We also enjoyed an unforgettable unique experience on the way back to our hotel.
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