After many years of organizing trips through trusted local partners, Local Vietnam is taking the next step — becoming an official tour operator. Starting in December 2025, the company will not only design tailor-made Vietnam itineraries but also operate its own private tours across the country.
From Custom Travel Planning to Unique Tour Experiences
Since its founding, Local Vietnam has worked closely with small, responsible operators in different regions of Vietnam. This approach created authentic, small-group experiences far from mass tourism. Over time, however, the team saw room for improvement. Many travel agencies in Vietnam still rely on the same limited set of operators and standard routes. The result: tours that often feel repetitive or overly tourist-oriented.
Local Vietnam believes travel can be more personal and meaningful. By becoming a tour operator, the company now designs and runs its own private tours — combining well-known highlights with real local encounters, lesser-known villages, and genuinely authentic experiences. The goal is to offer travelers something distinctive: private tours that go beyond sightseeing to show the true character of Vietnam.
Expertise from Both Vietnam and Abroad
Behind this step is a team that knows both Vietnam and international travel expectations inside out. Marnick Schoonderwoerd, co-founder from the Netherlands, brings the European perspective on comfort and travel style, while Nhung Phung, co-founder and CEO, has extensive experience in global travel and local tourism management.
The wider team combines Vietnamese insight with international experience: Duong (Ni), vice-director and lodge manager, lived in Poland for years and traveled widely across Europe; Tra, expert in northern Vietnam and manager of the Ha Giang lodge, lived in France and has explored Vietnam through trekking, motorbike tours, and canyoning; and Linh, sales manager, continues to travel nationwide, experiencing everything from paragliding in Mu Cang Chai to cultural stays in the Mekong Delta.
Setting a New Standard for Authentic Travel in Vietnam
This expansion allows Local Vietnam to use its firsthand knowledge to create tours that feel truly personal — locally run, culturally grounded, and thoughtfully designed for travelers who want more than a checklist of sights. While the company continues to collaborate with trusted partners for selected small-group tours, most stand-alone tours will now be original Local Vietnam creations.
By becoming both travel agency and tour operator, Local Vietnam strengthens its mission: to offer authentic, responsible, and unforgettable travel experiences throughout Vietnam.
