Hiking to the top of Mt. Fansipan with Khai as my guide was an unforgettable experience. I’m so glad I found his tour! Not only was Khai a thoughtful and wonderful guide, but he also shared experiences and stories along the way to help us keep going and keep our spirits up. It was going to be a private tour, but we ended up running into another guide and couple on the trail, so we joined groups and that made the whole experience even more fun. Khai did a wonderful job at setting the pace, and he shared his knowledge of the local culture as we trekked along. He was so mindful of how everyone was doing, and with his guidance, we were able to get to the top of the mountain in only 5 hours. It was such a special and unforgettable experience. The banh mi that Khai made for us was delicious and the perfect hiking meal. At the end of the experience, the guides had completion medals and certificates prepared for us that they’d retrieved from the ranger’s office. Not only is it illegal and risky (you could pay up to 500,000,000 dong) to hike without a guide, it’s a huge pity. It was so special and meaningful to me to hike to the top of such a magnificent mountain with a local guide with special knowledge and a connection to the land. Please don’t hike Mt. Fansipan without a guide. Hiring a guide is not only a wonderful experience, but it also helps support the local people and their beautiful culture. Plus, you might be like us and watch as the park rangers chase down and escort unauthorized hikers off the trail. Just know that if you hire Khai, you’re in excellent hands. He has hiked Mt. Fansipan more than 100 times…in his words, more times than he can count. If you hike with Khai, you don’t need to worry about safety, you will have an enjoyable time, and you will make new friends. I’ll always remember the amazing time I had on this hike. I saw the most beautiful views of my life, and it was just an incredible time!