TRAVEL AGENCIES

Hanoi has no shortage of travel agents – but so many have a reputation as outright cons. Here’s some reliable ones, most of which can get you onto a Halong Bay cruise or Sapa trek (at varying prices), or sell ‘open bus’ or train tickets or extend visas (about US$26 or so; allow three or four days).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, drop by Hanoi Backpackers’ Hostel for advice. Also, see Group Tours for more on deciphering whom to go with.

APT (tel 04-926-2294; www.apttravel.com.vn; 37 Dao Duy Tu St) Budget agent. Multi-lingual guides and eyes for foreign groups, APT is regarded as a ‘budget-plus’ agent by some.
BUFFALO TOURS (tel 04-828-0702; www.buffalotours.com; 94 Ma May St) High-end agent.
ET-PUMPKIN (tel 04-829-5571; www.et-pumpkin.com; 89 May May St) Mid-range agent. Books tours and Sapa train tickets.
EXOTISSIMO (tel 04-935-1400; www.exotissimo.com; open 8.30am-6.40pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-noon Sat) High-end agent. No giant-bus tours, Exotissimo gets many European travelers – only uses best hotels, best boats, best guides.
HANDSPAN (tel 04-926-0581; www.handspan.com; 80 Ma May St; open 7.30am-9pm) Mid-range agent. Excellent reputation, though some say you can pay a little less for the same – still, it’s 100% you’ll enjoy your trip
KANGAROO TOURS (tel 04-828-9931; www.kangaroocafe.com; 18 Bao Khanh St) Mid-range agent. Run by an Australian ex-pat, well-run tours focus on small groups and reliable mid-range comfort.
SINH CAFÉ (tel 04-926-1568; www.sinhcafevn.com; 52 Luong Ngoc Quyen St) Budget agent. The real Sinh Café.
VEGA TRAVEL (tel 04-926-2092; 24A Hang Bac St) Budget agent. Sells transport and budget tours (without claiming to be ‘Sinh Café’).
VOYAGE VIETNAM (Tel 04-926-2373; www.voyagevietnam.net; 1-2 Luong Ngoc Quyen St) Well-run dirt-bike private tours of the north. See ‘Motorcycle Tours’ under Group Tours.
WIDE EYED TOURS/CULI CAFÉ (tel 04-926-2241; www.wideeyedtours.com; 40 Luong Ngoc Quyen St) Mid-range agent. Foreign-run agent with reliable info and an appealing bar upstairs.