We arrived 1h30min late to the airport. We were ok at the end but it was stressful. Also, when we got to hanoi we had to change to another car to get to the airport and the driver was looking at ticktock videos the whole time while driving with the volume on
I hate to leave a bad review, but just a fair warning to other travelers. The first car was 40 minutes late. Multiple people contacted me on WhatsApp saying they were my driver before someone was actually there to pick me up. Then at the car-exchange location, I was given a meeting point, then another, then another, walking between each one with all my luggage. I arrived at my final destination 1.5 hours later than scheduled.
Everyone I personally spoke to was very kind, but the overall experience was confusing. Don’t book any activities close to your arrival time, because you may arrive much later.
That being said, the vehicles were comfortable and safe, and everyone was very kind. Just be aware, you may need to be patient!
Multiple buses and cars for the journey - this was not explained before hand. Pickup was delayed and we ended up arriving at our destination nearly 3 hours after the promised arrival time. Final driver tried to charge us extra to take us to our destination.
Apart from the contact person who helped us via WhatsApp, the whole experience was very complicated. We were transferred between five different vehicles, and no one ever explained what was happening. They would simply tell us to get out and move to another vehicle.
The journey was significantly delayed and it took a very long time to reach our destination. We were already exhausted from the day and just wanted the trip to be over.
Very comfortable trip. The pick up location was a bit difficult to find. There was a switch from a van to the actual bus in Hanoi. Panoramic bathroom brake. Overall great experience!
We took the mini bus from Hanoi to Chai Mau and it was great! First a smaller bus brought us from Old Town to a bigger van. The van was old but comfortable, the driver drove well and we stopped at a beautiful viewpoint plus shop for a (toilet) break. In total the journey did take a little longer (12:30-17:00) but that was fine.
It all worked out in the end, but it was super stressful. As stated in the booking confirmation, you should write them in advance for the hotel pick up. I did that, nobody answered for 24hours. Only after someone from our hotel called, they answered. They told the hotel staff that a pick up was not possible, we should come to the town. I then told them that we would come directly to the pier, makes more sense. Then they said they could pick us up at the hotel. I send them a picture of the location at the interception of the main street and marked the spot where we would wait. ATP wrote ok, we will come 8-8:15 am. I asked them if that was enough time to get to the pier, bc we needed to catch the ferry at 9 am and it is a 40mins drive. They confirmed, time would be not an issue. I wrote them again in the morning that we would be on time. No one ever read this message. Unfortunately no one came at 8:15 am. I tried calling them, no one picked up. Finally I was able to reach them under another number, person had no idea what I was talking about. It was 8:28 am by then. Turns out, the driver just drove past us and stopped somewhere else. He drove back after the ATP person called him. We then drove to the pier and told him we need to get the ferry, he was driving super slow, but we still made it. At the pier, we had no information how to purchase the ticket. In the end, our driver bought them but did not tell us about it.
Not our first time in SEA and usually everything works out, I trust these people that they know what they are doing, but communication was horrible.
Our second Journey (Mai Chau to Hanoi) with APT Travel was better. This time the driver drove slower, as a small child already got motion sickness in the beginning of the journey. The driver was also on time and we were only 15 min delayed. The van could be still in a better condition, the seats could be more comfy.
Pickup was 1 hour delayed. Drive to Mai Chau was ok. Bus was on the older side but in reasonable condition. Driver did a few scary overtake manoeuvres. One felt quite close. Would have been better to drive safely and arrive 10 minutes later.
They told me to be ready at 12:30, but the Van came at 12. Because I wasnt ready, he left again and came back at 12:40. If I would have known that he would come earlier, I would have been prepared :/
Also we waited for about 40min at a bus stop, because a person was late (took a taxi to get to the van). So we arrived later in Hanoi. Other than that it was ok.
I accidentally sented this complaint to the other ride I did this week. But I actually ment to write about the ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau. The driving was alright and they dropped me off at my hostel, but an hour later than expected.
I highly recommend to find a new pickup stop. They told me to wait at a bus stop, but when I got to the location they send me, there was no bus stop. Instead there was some construction work going on, so I had to wait infront of it by a big street. In the sheet it says to be there 30-45min before, so I stood there for a long time. Would have been nice to have at least a seat or maybe even a toilet.
After 45min I received the message that the Van is late and they send me a Taxi to drive me to another pick up location 45min away, where I waited at least another 15min until the bus driver found me and got me to the van.
I felt very unsafe, especially since I am a female solo traveler, first waiting in front of a construction side, then getting into a random car to be driven to another pick up location and waiting there in a random parking lot. Felt unprofessional and creepy. Sorry for the complaint, but I recommend you find a better pick up location and work it out with the punctuality, so no one needs to wait 45min at a construction side. Thank you very much.
(And sorry for the confusion, I already wrote this complaint for another drive, which was my mistake. The other deive from Sapa to Hanoi was very nice, no complaints, 5 stars!)
The van was in okay condition, but we arrived more than an hour late. We also didn’t get to ride the van all the way as we were dropped off somewhere and picked up by a taxi the last hour of the ride.
After buying the trip, it was delayed 30mins
Our trip had two parts:
1. Taxi from hotel to Big C. On time, correct
2. Bus from Hanoi to Mai Chau. We had to wait 1h more for the bus (Hanoi-Mai Chau) to come. We tried to contact agency because situation was confusing (meeting parking was closed and the bus was late) and they didn’t answer in 1h.
We arrived 1h later than expected and the driver drove quite dangerously
At one point we had to change from the bus to another car. Which was a 7 seater, but we had to sit with 8, so wasn’t the most comfortable.
Overall service was fine
Nice van, good communication, friendly and safe driver that picked us up from our hotel on time and brought us to our new destination even faster than estimated.
Service included pickup from our hotel and delivery to our hotel near the airport. Everything went well, however it is not safe for the driver to text and use his phone so much , while driving in busy traffic.
Pick up at airport was good. On the way to meet the minibus we had to swap cars and were then dropped at a coffee shop and told to wait. Pick up time came and went. Phone call to APT led to a taxi driving us 50m to the minivan! Arrived in Mai Chau on time after some hairy driving.
The service is not aggressive to contact me for check on WhatsApp. The driver this car has a big delay (1 hour), and speak louder with local passengers as he is driving, crazy bottom to over pass so many cars. Driver does not respected to his work, very amateur.
It was easy to book the trip through 12go. But the trip itself was not good. The driver drove like a crazy person, we didn’t feel safe with him driving. The seats did not stand upright, only in a low declined position. Would not go again with this company.
The driving was EXTREMELY dangerous. Driver was driving on the opposite lane all the time and taking over other cars on EXTREMELY dangerous corners and timing. Driver spent all his time on the phone driving dangerously with only one hand