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Who we are
About Local Vietnam, a local Vietnam travel agency
Local Vietnam is a local travel agency and tour operator, based in Vietnam. We plan private tailor-made trips and run our own private tours, built around local and authentic experiences, with a team that lives here.
Founded by Nhung, from Vietnam, and Marnick, from the Netherlands. We only do Vietnam.
Registered in Vietnam since 2019
Enterprise number 0315712466
Licensed international tour operator
Licensed by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
Team based in Vietnam
Most of our team lives and works in Vietnam.
Our story
From a travel blog to a travel company
Local Vietnam began with Nhung’s travel blog. She was one of the first Vietnamese women to blog about traveling solo, and her readers began to ask her to help plan their trips. Helping travelers became her full-time work.
Marnick, from the Netherlands, left his job to join her, and together they turned the blog into a travel agency. We have been planning trips in Vietnam for more than ten years, and we travel the country ourselves to find the places and routes we recommend.
How we work
Local knowledge, careful planning
We live in Vietnam and work directly with local guides, drivers and small, often family-run places to stay. Every itinerary is made by hand, not copied from a list. Our routes combine the well-known places with quieter ones, for example a motorbike trip in Ha Giang, a boat ride in the Mekong Delta or a walk through Hanoi’s old streets.
Our lodge
A lodge in Ha Giang
In 2026 we opened Ha Giang Aya Lodge, our own lodge in a Hmong village on the Ha Giang Loop. The lodge is part of Local Vietnam, and guests on our trips through the north can stay there. We also own land along a river in Ha Giang for a second lodge. There is no opening date yet.
Our journey
Key moments
2013
A travel blog
Nhung, one of the first Vietnamese women to blog about traveling solo, starts a blog about her travels. Readers ask her to help plan their trips, and she makes it her full-time work.
2015
A travel agency
Marnick leaves his job in the Netherlands to join Nhung, and together they turn the blog into a travel agency.
2019
Local Vietnam registered
On 3 June 2019 Local Vietnam becomes its own company.
2026
Ha Giang Aya Lodge
We open our own lodge in a Hmong village on the Ha Giang Loop.
2026
Tour operator licence
On 21 September 2026 we receive our international tour operator licence.
Why travel with Local Vietnam
What we stand for
We help you discover Vietnam the way it truly is, through people who live here and love showing it to the world.
Custom-made Vietnam trips
Most of our travelers choose a tailor-made trip of one to four weeks. We listen carefully to your interests, design your route from scratch and handle every detail: transport, guides and accommodation. Whether you want a two-week family adventure or a slow-travel honeymoon, every trip is built personally for you, not from a template.
Authentic tours we design and operate ourselves
Besides custom itineraries, we also create and run our own Local Vietnam tours. These aren’t resold programs from third-party operators; they’re designed by us after years of exploring every region. Each route connects famous highlights with quieter, more meaningful experiences.
Honest, real travel advice
We don’t describe everything as “amazing.” If a place feels crowded or overhyped, we’ll tell you. Travelers trust us because our recommendations are based on real experience, not marketing language. Honesty is what keeps our trips personal, reliable and refreshing.
Small-scale, private and flexible
Every trip we plan is private. Some parts can be shared in a small group, such as a day trip to Ninh Binh or a Halong Bay cruise, and we always say so in the proposal. We do not sell big group tours. That means more freedom, personal contact and genuine cultural exchange. You travel at your own pace, stay in locally run lodges or small hotels, and enjoy experiences that feel natural, not staged.
Sustainable and responsible tourism
Local Vietnam supports community-based tourism and locally owned businesses. We choose partners who care about their environment and culture, reduce waste where possible, and avoid mass-tourism activities that harm nature or wildlife: we offer no animal rides. On our tours in the northern mountains, many of our guides come from the ethnic minority groups who live there. This way, more of your money stays with local families.
Local expertise, global understanding
Local Vietnam is based in Vietnam and run by people who truly know the country. Nhung is Vietnamese and Marnick is Dutch, and we are travelers first: together we have explored more than fifty countries. We know Vietnam inside out, and we plan every trip the way we would want to travel ourselves.
Our services
What we do
Ways to travel with us, all arranged by our own team in Vietnam.
A private trip of one to four weeks, planned around your dates, interests and budget.
Ready-made routes of one to four weeks that we can adjust for you.
From a day trip to Ninh Binh to several days in Sapa or Ha Giang.
Travel at your own pace with a local driver.
Our own lodge in a Hmong village on the Ha Giang Loop.
Our people
Meet the founders and our team
Local Vietnam was founded by Nhung and Marnick. Our travel experts plan your trip with you, and our team behind the scenes keeps everything running.
Co-founder
Based in Tuy Hoa
Co-founder from the Netherlands, who turned Nhung's travel blog into a travel agency with her.
Co-founder
Based in Tuy Hoa
Co-founder from Vietnam and one of the first Vietnamese women to blog about traveling solo.
Hien
Tra
Tan
Ni
Xuyen
Guest reviews
What travelers say about us
Short summaries of reviews on Tripadvisor. Reviews in other languages are translated.
Our company
Company facts
Local Vietnam is the brand of a registered and licensed Vietnamese company.
Company name
THELOCALVIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED (Cong ty TNHH TheLocalVietnam)
Brand
Local Vietnam
Enterprise and tax number
0315712466, first issued on 3 June 2019
Registered office
793/49/1 Tran Xuan Soan, Tan Hung ward, Ho Chi Minh City
This is our registered office, not a visiting address. Our team works from home.
Tour operator licence
International tour operator licence for inbound travel, number 79-2745/2026/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT, granted on 21 September 2026 by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Check our licence
Websites
localvietnam.com (English), localvietnam.nl (Dutch), localvietnam.de (German)
Plan your trip
Plan your trip with our team
Send us your ideas. You get a free proposal within 48 hours.
