Over the Christmas holiday, I visited Vietnam with my Grandmother. She is a very experienced world-traveler and has been to Vietnam a grand total of six times. For the last three of her visits she has had the same tour guide, Tu Nguyen; this trip was no different.
He absolutely made our trip perfect. He went above and beyond what is usually expected of a tour guide, always providing a car and driver for us, reserving us seats at the best restaurants and traditional shows. We never felt unsafe, even wandering the city at nighttime. He always looked out for us.
International travel can be an intimidating endeavour in and of itself, especially if one is not familiar with the language or customs of the country. Having a native-speaker of the language that you trust is not only sensible, it's comforting. Traveling with Tu was fun and easy; we never felt stressed or scared. It was a wonderful experience.
If you are traveling to northern Vietnam, I would absolutely recommend Tu Nguyen. His website is <www.worldmatetravel.com>. He will take great care of you and allow you to enjoy the beautiful country that is Vientnam.