Guest Reviews

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Old School Elegance"

"Wow - what a place. Right on the river. To catch a ride to the heart of District 1, there is no shuttle bus. There is a shuttle boat - a speed boat. You ride up the river, past all the barges and little tugboats - past all the major waterfront development as you approach the heat and noise of Ho Chi Minh City. Villa Song is located in an exclusive old part of the city, tucked away on its own - by the water. We had a room overlooking the river. It was amazing to look out and see a container barge floating by so close. The restaurant is world class in my opinion. The chef has some great ideas about ingredients and presentation. The pool is a bit small and cramped but who cares. This is Saigon, baby. The staff were friendly and professional. We had a late checkout - no problem. The experience overall was flawless. Highly recommended. "

The Island Lodge: "Peaceful place with great food"

"We stayed at the Island Lodge in January 2017 for three nights. A wonderful, peaceful spot with fantastic service and food! We were glad that we chose a riverview room and enjoyed watching life pass us by on the Mekong. The transfer from the airport took about 2 hours. We took a coconut farm tour offered by the lodge that was great, a combo of a boat ride and bicycling through back paths around the island that had little or no traffic. We also had the same guide, Kuy (not sure how he spelled it) take us across the river to the small city of My Tho. We took bikes and visited the Buddhist temple and the fruit market and got a good taste of Vietnam life in an area with few Westerners. The Island Lodge would be a nice stop before or after the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

The Island Lodge: "Boutique hotel heaven"

This is the most amazing place you could visit. Lodge is a must stay if your visiting the Mekong, it is exquisitely appointed the rooms are a delight, the hosts are a joy. I could not fault this place in any fashion.

Rachamankha: "Tranquility"

Rachamankha was wonderful. Very clean rooms, great customer service and extremely quiet. The rooms were big with AC, lots of free bottled water and a hair dryer. Every detail was beautifully thought out. No complaints and I have already recommended it to many friends. I would return for sure.

Tugu Bali: "A Luxurious Oasis Away from the Hectic Modern World"

This is our fourth visit to Hotel Tugu. Per usual the facilities/rooms/property is so well taken care of and the staff are attentive. Although the neighboring properties have gotten louder, it is still a wonderful place to get away from it all.

The Village House: "Peaceful location"

"If you're looking for an action packed location then this is not your place but if you're looking for a quiet and peaceful place to unwind then this is the perfect. The Village House is about a 40 minute drive from Kuching in the village of Santubong. It's a beautiful place with nicely designed and comfortable rooms and great bathroom. There's a beautiful pool area to relax in and the food here is very good. I spent two nights here where i relaxed by the pool, read a couple of books, enjoyed the food on offer, drank some wine and just enjoyed this lovely place. When I felt energetic i walked through the village and down to the beach to watch the sun set. The staff can arrange tours and transport if you do want to get out and do things but it is a great place to relax. Beautiful! Peaceful! Relaxing!"

The Island Lodge: "Beautiful stay in MeKong"

"We were picked up in Saigon and driven for about 2 hours to this hotel. It was an amazingly beautiful spot to spend 2 days and relax and explore. Husband had a wonderful massage and the pool and lobby areas were gorgeous. The whole setting is very ""Indochine"" and so well done. The staff was very attentive and tried to help with all we could ask -- The breakfast which was included was delicious and we also had dinner there as there was no where else near by to go easily. We walked around near the hotel--but it is not near any other things that are places to see. We did do their bike/boat tour to Ben Tre which was wonderful. Our guide--from the hotel--was so nice and we took a boat to Ben Tre--then biked all over the island--stopping to see different fruits, ect... and visiting pagodas and locals on the way. Ben Tre is so nice, shaded and easy to navigate with the guide. We loved this place and the owner and staff were very hospitable! Room Tip: we had gorgeous room with balcony overlooking the pool and river"

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "A beautiful and serene resort for peace- and nature-loving travelers"

"We just returned from a 4-nights stay at the beautiful Rice & Zen resort in Doi Saket district, which is no more than 30km away from the Chiang Mai international airport. Our host, Michael, who is also a resident on the resort is very welcoming and warm. We could see that he runs this resort with great passion and drive. The property is extremely lovely. We booked the entire property for our family of 4, and we practically had the entire place to ourselves! The rooms were clean daily and well maintained, with the usual amenities expected of any upmarket resort. The only swimming pool on the resort is cleaned every morning and it feels so good to be able to dip into the pool to beat the tropical heat. And if swimming is not your cup of tea, there's always the gym and beautifully manicured garden and ponds to keep you occupied. Delicious meals are prepared and served by Maya, the resident chef. And if you're into Thai cuisine, the food is no less than scrumptious than what you can find in the restaurants. Michael and his staff will be most happy to recommend other restaurants in the vicinity should you want to venture out to try other fares. Trips to Chiang Mai city can also be arranged for a small transportation fee. Overall, we had a most pleasant and relaxing stay and we highly recommend this resort to anyone who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan city life."

Chakrabongse: "Stay in a prince’s palace"

This was built in the 19th century by a Thai prince. It's on a busy street and right next to the river. Once you get behind the gates, it's your own private palace. Pool, garden, decks overlooking the river. I think there are only about 9 rooms. It's pricey, but worth it. Our dinner was about a 7-course meal (prix-fixe), each one a delicacy. Took off my shoes at the gate and wandered around the rooms and gardens for all three days we were there.

Rachamankha: "Absolutely perfect"

"This is a beautiful, wonderful oasis. Every single detail has been thought through in this serene, beautiful place. It whispers luxury, but - as a welcome change - doesn't shout it. I want to package it all up, and take it home! We lived in China for many, many years, and being here felt like coming 'home', only better. The Rachamankha has the ambience of a very old Chinese courtyard home/hotel, but with the convenience of a new one. I thought it WAS old, but learned that it was built in only 2004! The ornamentation (spectacular screen doors, statuary in every courtyard) is all old, though. And stunningly beautiful. You will also see a smattering of gorgeous Thai antiques adorning the walls and public areas. Don't miss the library. Or the pool. Or the outdoor, covered 'lobby' lounge area. The only disappointing thing about this lovely spot is that you have to leave it to explore the many attractions of Chiang Mai. But they're all close, and you've got this oasis to return to at the end of your day. Oh, and (I almost forgot to mention, because it really goes without saying) the service is wonderful -- unobtrusive, attentive, and friendly. Sigh. We're checking out this morning..... Enjoy!"