After a busy two weeks in Vietnam negotiating the manical traffic and the energy draining cacophony of lights and sounds (mainly motorbikes) we arrived at a Vietnamese oasis.
The Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa is located approximately 30 kilometres from Danang International Airport and about 5 kilometres from the ancient town of Hoi An, along a beautiful beach of white sand. The resort replicates a traditional fishing village with small streets, water ponds and village houses with clay-tiled roofs. For your e-mail and internet correspondence, an internet corner with PC consoles and printers is located in the main building. It has a quiet library with a large selection of international books in various languages also located in the main hotel building.
The resort offers a wide range of recreational activities to choose from such as parasailing, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling or early morning Tai Chi lessons. The only time my two sons got out of the water was when they ran up the beach and swam in the resort's swimming pool. The resort also supplied bicycles that we regularly used to ride around rice fields and into the town centre of Hoi An, a picturesque riverside town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site with its wooden buildings that date back from the early 19th century exhibiting features of tradional architecture rarely seen today, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge. The resort also has several French-built vintage buses and two vintage motorcycles with sidecars that regularly shuttle the guest to and from the town centre.
Our rooms were large and luxurious with ocean views. The room prices ranged from US$125 for garden rooms to US$220 for ocean views. It was worth it to wake up in the morning and watch the fishing boats and the ocean. The room is traditionally furnished with a king sized bed and well appointed bathroom. The rooms are located away from central buildings and activity areas and so are very quiet. The rooms are cleaned daily and the bathroom supplies (shampoo, conditioner and soaps) replenished. At night the beds are turned down and a chocolate and piece of bamboo containing an information sheet relating to the history of Hoi An are left on your pillow.
In the morning, as you walk to the outdoor breakfast area you are regularly greeted by the friendly staff and on occasion the resort's mascot, 'Darling', the elephant. Every day resort guests can feed 'Darling' and also ride her along the beach and in the ocean.
The meals were excellent, from the freshly squeezed juices in the morning to the l'Annam Restaurant offering casual all day dining, international and Vietnamese cuisine with freshly caught seafood specialties at night. It was my wife's birthday during our seven days at the resort and as a surprise to her the restaurant staff presented her with a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday. If you do not want to eat at the resort a driver will shuttle the guests to Hoi An where there are many excellent restaurants, cafes & bar. I highly recommend Tam Tam's Cafe & Bar, 78 D. Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An and Brother's Cafe, 67 D. Phan Boi Chau, Hoi An.
The Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa was the perfect place to relax and spend time around the pool with the sounds, sights and smells of Vietnam. After a week at the resort our batteries were recharged and we were ready to experience Ho Chi Minh City. I regularly think about our stay in Hoi An and would return there tomorrow.
ProsThe staff and the service they provided.
ConsNone
