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Bruce Peng

Previously I was a crew member working on an international cruise ship. My love for travel led me to join Odynovo Tours. 10 years of working experience have allowed me to visit various countries in Southeast Asia. Experience the long history and majestic architecture of Angkor Wat, Halong Bend, a masterpiece of nature, and the unique jungle trekking in Borneo. I love sharing my travel experiences with my guests. My love for travel lies in the travel itself. I love seeing people's smiles, whether it's visiting beautiful places or tasting local food. I wish I could share some of the experiences I had with more people. Some say travel is spiritual reading. During travel, you can learn about the wonders of the world, learn about different cultures, explore historical civilizations, etc. The world is like a wonderful encyclopedia. If you don’t travel, you will only see a corner of the world.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I have a deep understanding of the history and culture of Southeast Asian countries. Whether you want to plan your own honeymoon, or your wedding anniversary, I have the confidence to plan a satisfactory itinerary for you. I also love children very much and spend time with them a lot. If you are a parent traveling with children, please feel free to leave your travel plans to me."

How did you get involved in travel?

"Working on a cruise ship at sea has allowed me to travel to various countries. But I found that I really wanted to go and travel in person, not just on the surface. So I joined Odynovo Tours in pursuit of my dream and became a professional tour customizer."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"In 2017, I visited Malaysian Borneo. At Shandahe, I took a cruise on the Kinabatangan River. Proboscis monkeys, Asian elephants, Borneo golden cats, it seems like a paradise for wild animals, I have never been so surprised by the integration of nature and animals. Here is a paradise. You can't feel the troubles of life here, only the peace of mind."

A waterfall in Erawan National Park
Central Thailand: Pattaya, Bangkok & Kanchanaburi - 10 Days

Spend 10 days discovering central Thailand, beginning with the coastal city of Pattaya. You'll explore its beaches, ride a speed boat to nearby Coral Island, and view Thailand's sea life at Pattaya's largest aquarium. Then it's on to Bangkok to tour the Grand Palace and shop for Thai goods at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Your trip concludes in Kanchanaburi, where you'll see the historic World War II Bridge on the River Kwai and take a bamboo rafting tour.

Beach views of Pattaya, Thailand
Explore Thailand: Pattaya, Bangkok & Phuket - 10 Days

This 10-day Thai adventure begins with a visit to Pattaya, a former fishing village now a modern, vibrant city. See the Big Buddha Temple and take a speedboat tour of nearby Coral Island, then enjoy some time in Bangkok, visiting Chatuchak Weekend Market or shopping at the luxurious Icon Siam. Your tour finishes in Phuket, where you'll spend your days exploring the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond Island, and the nearby Sang-Nea River, otherwise known as the Little Amazon.

"James Bond Island" in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
2 Weeks in Thailand - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Two weeks allows for plenty of ways to enjoy the best of Thailand, whether you opt for a classic tour of Bangkok and Chiang Mai or hop around tropical islands like Koh Samui. You can also get off the tourist trail with visits to hill-tribe villages and overnight stays in lakeside bungalows in national parks. Or channel your inner action hero on an adventure trek, countryside bike tour, jungle safari, and whitewater rafting trip.

Island hopping: the only way to experience the Philippines
Philippines Island Hopping: Manila, Siquijor, Bohol & Moalboal - 10 Days

On this 10-day active adventure, you'll set out from Manila to explore three of the country's most idyllic islands. Experience the thrill of cliff jumping in Siquijor, see the stunning Chocolate Hills of Bohol, snorkel with sea turtles on Cebu, and get your adrenaline pumping with a canyoneering excursion across the turquoise waters of Kawasan Falls.

Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand, March 18, 2018: National park, beautiful blue sea. White boats with tourists.
Thailand in March: Travel Tips, Weather, and More

March is a fabulous month to visit Thailand. The weather is still pleasant, especially in the first half of the month, although the southern beaches will start getting some rain along the Andaman Sea. It's also the beginning of mango season, and throughout the country, the colorful fruit is piled high at roadside stands and on people's plates mixed with sticky rice. Best of all, the hot season hasn't arrived yet (which is often uncomfortably warm) so you can walk around outside without being miserable.

Phang Nga Bay
Best of Thailand - 8 Days

If you've ever dreamed of Thailand, this 8-day trip covers the highlights with the perfect mix of guided tours and free time. Start off in vibrant Bangkok for iconic Buddhist sites and a dinner cruise down the Chao Phraya River. You'll then fly north to Chiang Mai to explore the Old City and spend a day with elephants. Finish off in Phuket, where you'll kayak, island-hop, and choose between dozens of white sand beaches.

Recent trip reviews for Bruce

Ms. Jina and Ms. Yaya were great guides. The ...
Thailand | Dec 7 - Dec 17, 2022

Jonenell
Jonenell S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Dec 29, 2022

Ms. Jina and Ms. Yaya were great guides. The overall experience and everyone we had contact with was professional, helpful, and extremely welcoming. read more

Ms. Jina and Ms. Yaya were great guides. The overall experience and everyone we had contact with was professional, helpful, and extremely welcoming.

Hotel Review
Smile Lanna Hotel Chiang Mai
Authenticity & Character
The interior design and little unique things in the room . Many breakfast options
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Bangkok City Tour With Grand Palace and Long-Tail Boat Ride
Bangkok

I like the personalized/private experience

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Night Food tour with Tuk Tuk with guide
Bangkok
Quality of Experience
Food
We’re pescatarians so limited food experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Got to experience a Tuk tuk ride
Drive to Kanchanaburi with Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Thailand

Bright and colorful day. Lots to ser

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kanchanaburi Tour
Kanchanaburi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Chiang Mai Temple Hopping with Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Elephants Day Care at Baan Chang Elephant Park
Chiang Mai

Great experience. Let guest know about the cats before arrival. Make it a shorter day or private transportation option.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Fun Cooking Experience With a Local Lanna Family
Chiang Mai

Such a rich, beautiful experience

Quality of Experience
Everything
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Phi Phi Island
Phuket

Beautiful island . A lot of the time was spent traveling in the boat

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Moo Ban Dek tour
Kanchanaburi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Bruce Peng
Bruce
Bruce Peng
Local specialist in Thailand | Reviewed on Jan 06, 2023

Hi Jonenell,
It is so happy to hear that you enjoy the trip! We want nothing but your smile. I believed we did a good job. You have a wonderful experience in Thailand. Hope we have another opportunity to serve you. Happy New year to you and your family in 2023!
Best Regards,
Bruce

First time in Asia and first time using a travel agency! Absolutely wonderful experience
Thailand | Nov 23 - Dec 4, 2022

Devin
Devin H.
Wolf Trap, VA | Reviewed on Dec 19, 2022

This was our first time doing a vacation through a travel agency, and KimKim made it very easy to get in touch with a local agency specializing in Thailand trips, and the agent they connected us with was incredibly responsive! The only issues we had during planning were with the platform -- we encountered some trouble uploading and updating our passport information (my wife's last name was recently changed), which caused some confusion during the booking process and resulted in us needing to... read more

This was our first time doing a vacation through a travel agency, and KimKim made it very easy to get in touch with a local agency specializing in Thailand trips, and the agent they connected us with was incredibly responsive! The only issues we had during planning were with the platform -- we encountered some trouble uploading and updating our passport information (my wife's last name was recently changed), which caused some confusion during the booking process and resulted in us needing to buy a new ticket in her new name right before one of our in-country flights. It would've also been nice to have an app version of the portal to make it easier to look at and respond to things on our phones.

Our trip itself was fantastic. Honestly a 9/10 and one of the most memorable experiences we have ever done! Thailand is an amazingly exotic place with incredible food, architecture, and friendly people. Bruce's itinerary made it so at the end of the trip, we felt like we truly got to experience all aspects of the country. The only change I would have made was to add a full free day to our stay in Bangkok and Chang Mai. There is so much to do in both places, it almost felt like we just got a slice of what they had to offer, even though our schedules were full of sight seeing and other activities! Some of the highlights of our activities were the bicycle tour in Chang Mai, walking around Ayutthaya, seeing the many beautiful temples (everywhere), the imperial palace in Bangkok, the two restaurants we went to in Bangkok (rooftop bar with view of the city skyline and river and one local place that had some of the best authentic Thai food we've ever eaten), cooking with a local family in Chang Mai, and snorkeling off Monkey Island in Phuket.

A few experiences did feel a bit "touristy," although we enjoyed them nonetheless. For example, zip-lining wasn't actually in our itinerary, and exists in other places we've been. The 3-hr round trip drive to get to the mountain took up a lot of that day.

Having personal guides and drivers in each location was absolutely crucial. We didn't have to worry at all about transportation and there wasn't much "down time" waiting to be picked up. For some activities farther from the city center (Ayutthaya, elephant care center, zip-lining), I'm really not sure how we would've gotten back to the hotel if we were relying on taxis!

Our guides were very efficient, friendly, and spoke almost fluent English. They were very responsive to questions and changes in schedules, so we always knew when to be were. Mike (our Bangkok guide) was fantastic. Great sense of humor, really knew the history of the city, and took us to some attractions and AMAZING restaurants off the beaten path that were some of the highlights of our entire trip. Ming (our guide in Chang Mai) was super friendly, and we appreciated her taking pictures of us during some of our activities so we could simply enjoy being in the moment and not feel like we were missing out documenting our experience to look back fondly on later.

All of the hotels we stayed at were fantastic. As cost of high-end of hotels in Thailand are relatively affordable for the outside traveler, I encourage everyone to splurge and enjoy the great food, service, and atmosphere that come with them. (Granted, you will pay higher prices for food, drink, and spa services at them!).

In conclusion, even though we might have changed a few things in retrospect, we are overall very happy and satisfied with our trip and would like to thank everyone involved.

Hotel Reviews
Lancaster Bangkok Hotel
Bankok

Fantastic hotel with a great included breakfast and accommodations. Staff was friendly and helpful. The only downside to this hotel is most things are not within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort

Very calm atmosphere - perfect "river spa" feel. Great included breakfast, and fantastic (if pricey) spa experiences. A little far from the city center, but close enough that they are a very cheap taxi ride away.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
COMO Point Yamu

One of the most unique hotels I've stayed at in my life. Fantastic character, stunning views. Very much worth splurging on a room with a personal pool. Every morning and night we would just stare out at our surroundings and marvel that we were there. The Thai restaurant inside the hotel is only open a few days per week, but was one of the culinary highlights of our trip. Mouth-watering dishes for a reasonable price. Service could be a little slow at times, but everything else more than made up for it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Night Food tour with Tuk Tuk with guide
Bangkok
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Bangkok City Tour With Grand Palace and Long-Tail Boat Ride
Bangkok
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour From Bangkok
Thailand
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Fun Cooking Experience With a Local Lanna Family
Chiang Mai
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Explore Doi Inthanon National Park Tour
Chiang Mai
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Elephants Day Care at Baan Chang Elephant Park
Chiang Mai

It was amazing to see elephants up close and to touch them! It became clear the elephants were very well cared for, but at first we were a bit nervous because the elephant camp we went to was a different one than was in our itinerary and the facilities were all very VERY new, so it seemed like this camp was recently built (keeping in mind that exploitation of these gentle giants is still alive and well). The English language staff member named Ice was very friendly and supplied us with many interesting elephant facts. Some other staff members felt a bit pushy when it came to engaging with the elephants -- i.e., do this pose for the photos now. Lunch was an interesting affair, as some of the staff didn't seem to know how to cook the dishes properly as they were guiding us through the recipes. Overall a good and memorable experience, but I think this camp needs to polish up some of the rough edges.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Chiang Mai Countryside Exploration by Bicycle (Join-in)
Chiang Mai

Our guide for this tour was one of our favorite locals we met on our trip. Super friendly and genuine, didn't rush us anywhere, and seemed so easygoing. He showed us some amazing local spots that we would've never seen otherwise! Was great to get a feel for the local area and how Thai people live. We regret not getting a photo with him!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Phi Phi Island
Phuket

It was magical to see all the incredible islands up close and for the most part, snorkeling and swimming were fantastic. Quite an experience to swim in a cove surrounded by massive jungle rock walls. The boat staff were fun, and we appreciated the big cooler full of free drinks to keep us hydrated! Monkey island was kind of a disappointment, although the snorkeling around it was amazing. Very crowded and we only saw one monkey "in the wild." There were more on the edge of the beach, but they were all in cages, apparently because they were sick? It wasn't clear. The food was okay, as it was a buffet of spaghetti, chicken wings, and watermelon that hundreds of people were eating. I would've preferred to pay extra to go to a local restaurant.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Bruce Peng
Bruce
Bruce Peng
Local specialist in Thailand | Reviewed on Jan 06, 2023

Hi Devin,
It is so happy to hear that you enjoy the trip! We want nothing but your smile. I believed we did a good job. You have a wonderful experience in Thailand. Hope we have another opportunity to serve you.
Thanks for your information and suggestions. Definitely, we will provide some rewards to your guides.
Happy New year to you and your family in 2023!
Best Regards,
Bruce