Travel Adventures
HO COC BEACH :
Budget :
Saigon-Ho Coc Resort ( camping ): This vast resort has a very attractive camping area , where you can pitch your own tent ( no tents are available to rent ) on brick platforms among coconut palms for 150,000vnd . The showers are good and the price includes access to the resort ’ s long stretch of beach , but use of the pool is extra . Huong Phong Resort ( camping ): Similar to Saigon-Ho Coc , Huong Phong is like a cheaper version of the former : a sprawling complex of accommodations , restaurants and cafes . The cheap digs here are tents for rent for 130,000vnd per person . Small and large tents are available or you can pitch your own . There ’ s lots of space , good showers , a long beach and a pool ( 80,000vnd ). Hoang Thanh Thuy 3 Hotel : This excellent hotel is located 10km inland from Ho Coc beach , in the village of Bung Rieng . There ’ s a nice pool and the rooms are large , bright and clean . It ’ s a good budget option if you don ’ t want to camp by the beach , and if the other beachfront options are out of your budget . Prices are between 300-600,000vnd . However , there ’ s an absurd ‘ rule ’ whereby if you are in the cheaper rooms you can ’ t use the pool – Durrrh ! BOOK HERE
Mid-Range :
Ven Ven Hotel : Occupying a lovely , leafy corner at the Ho Coc crossroads , Ven Ven is great mid-range value . Although it ’ s not on the beach , it makes up for it with its shady , tranquil , birdsong-filled grounds , ( although it wouldn ’ t hurt if they invested in a swimming pool among the trees here ). Most rooms were upgraded a few years ago and are now crisp and modern , if a bit bland . There ’ s still one block of ‘ old ’ rooms in a wooden house on stilts with a veranda ( which I actually prefer to the new ones ). Prices range from $ 25- $ 50 . The restaurant is also fabulous . BOOK HERE Huong Phong Resort : This constantly evolving resort offers bland but comfy bungalows on the beach . If you book in advance , the seaview rooms are a steal at $ 40 . At the other end , the suites are overpriced at $ 100 . There ’ s a long beachfront and a decent pool too . Be warned that the resort grounds get very crowded during the holidays . BOOK HERE
High-End :
The ‘ old ’ rooms at Ven Ven Hotel , which I prefer to the new ones ; the restaurant is great too
The Grand Ho Tram : Setting the standard in Vietnam ’ s new wave of integrated resorts , The Grand is a huge project that ’ s set to get even bigger . You can ’ t fail to miss this 25-storey giant , sticking up out of the sands as if it were the first hotel in Vegas . And that ’ s what it ’ s all about : Vietnam ’ s Vegas . The vision for the future is to build up the surrounding area into a gaming and resort complex to rival the best of them . Complete with casino , golf course , cinema , multiple restaurants , ginormous pools etc etc , The Grand is leading the way in entertainment resorts . Whether this is your kind of ‘ thing ’ or not , there ’ s no denying the sheer quality and standard of facilities and products here . The rooms are excellently furnished , all with floor-to-ceiling windows with terrific views , and service is impeccable . What ’ s more , if you book in advance , the rates offer good value for money , averaging around $ 100 a night , including one of the best quality buffet breakfasts I ’ ve ever had . For much more detail read my full review . BOOK HERE Saigon-Ho Coc Resort : With a bewildering array of accommodation options available , Saigon-Ho Coc is a confusing but very attractive complex . You can expect to pay anywhere between $ 50- $ 200 a night , from a fairly simple bamboo bungalow in the trees back from the beach to a stunning wooden beachfront villa with stylish furnishings . There are two excellent swimming pools and a very long stretch of beach . It ’ s aimed at large tour groups and Vietnamese families , so you can expect discounts during the week when it ’ s almost empty . BOOK HERE Carmelina : Modern , spacious rooms and lush grounds with access to the beach make Carmelina a decent high-end resort . But with similarly priced rooms at both The Grand and Saigon-Ho Coc , it ’ s difficult to find a reason to stay at Carmelina . Perhaps it ’ s best-suited to families with children , because there are soft play areas and a pool full of slides and floats . Average room rates are $ 90- $ 120 a night . BOOK HERE 20 The MAG Vung Tau