Good Morning Vietnam
Vietnam is a country of lush countryside, fabulous beaches, culture, history, friendly happy people, and amazing food!
The country is a diverse place with a different feel between North and South, on this trip I was lucky enough to visit two beach areas. Vietnam is not a beach destination you would not fly to Vietnam to spend two weeks on a beach! A. you would be bored and B. you would miss so much of this beautiful country.
The perfect trip to Vietnam would be a tour, either private with your own guide and driver or as part of a small group which takes in Hanoi the capital in the North, Halong Bay and the Mekong River, the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon) in the south with all of its history and mopeds! I have never seen so many mopeds, then end your trip with a few days or longer on the beach to unwind and relax before flying home,
On this trip I stayed in the Beach resorts of Phu Quoc and Mui Ne,
Phu Quoc is an island a short 55 minute’ flight from Ho Chi Minh City, I stayed at the stunning Sailing Club Signature Phu Quoc, which is a complex of Villas with private pools in the Marina area of the island. The villas are out of this world, luxurious in décor and finish, I stayed in a 3 bedroom villa which has a large lounge area with huge TV, big dining room table, full kitchen with dishwasher and laundry room, then upstairs are three large bedrooms all ensuite, two double and one twin room, Outside is a large pool, well as villa pools go, perfect for cooling off, a couple of sun loungers and a large table with chairs in the shade.
The Villas are a home from home and have every amenity you need, you can visit the onsite “Market Place” and buy fresh produce to cook at home in your villa or you can dine in the onsite restaurant, the food is amazing and a wide choice available too. There is also a Spa, where I had the best massage, it is reasonably priced too which is a bonus, a main pool area, Gym, Sauna and Steam room and a Kids area/kids club, where various activities are available, there is also games consoles for the big kids in our lives.
The resort opened in June and there is more to come with a kids play area and outdoor cinema due to be completed by the end of 2022.
Sailing Club Signature Phu Quoc is not beach front, it is a short 5 minute buggy ride or 10 minute walk from the Sailing Club Beach club, which is right on the beach, with comfy chairs, loungers, swimming pool, great food, cocktails, DJ and fire show in high season, the beach club is the perfect place for a few hours, the full day into the night or for a meal in the evening, there is fabulous food, great cocktails and a really good fun atmosphere. The Buggy’s are readily available just call reception to take you to the beach and when it is time to go back to your villa, the beach club will arrange for you.
At the resort you can take a Vietnamese Coffee making class, the Vietnamese are serious about their coffee and a Vietnamese Cooking Class, but If you want to venture out and about, Phu Quoc has a night market around 20 minute’ drive from the resort, a Pepper farm where you can see how peppers and spices are grown, what they look like before hitting the supermarket shelves in pots! There are also other beaches on the opposite side of the island, but personally you are here to relax.
Mui Ne is a small laidback resort on the mainland a 4 – 5hr road transfer from Ho Chi Minh City, the transfer time depends on how long it takes you to get out of Ho Chi Minh City as the traffic is bad/very busy, but it is great fun watching all the mopeds from the window though,
I stayed at Sailing Club Mui Ne, which is a small beachfront boutique located right on the beach. It has just 31 rooms, all semi detached thatched cottages, some have semi outdoor bathrooms, double beds and there is also a family unit too, they have every amenity you need including a lovely day bed in the shade on the terrace to relax after a hard days sunbathing or for an early morning coffee.
The staff are so friendly and helpful many having been there for many years and nothing is too much trouble, The food is great, a wide choice of food and drinks something to suit every taste, for both breakfast, lunch and dinner and are also reasonably priced.
The hotel has a water sports area, small kids club with craft activities, a spa and yoga.
The hotel is located in middle of the resort of Mui Ne, directly on the beach where you can learn to Kite Surf, relax on one of the most comfortable sun loungers I have ever laid on or swim in the sea, it is safe and the most stunning sunsets too! If you want to venture out just outside the hotel you will find a small selections of shops, bars and restaurants, there used to be a few more but Covid has unfortunately affected Vietnam the same way it has affected the rest of the world, but as the country is opening up again to tourists more bars and restaurants are starting to open up again.
I fell in love with Vietnam the food, the people and cannot wait to return one days and see more of this fabulous country on a tour before ending up back at one of these amazing hotels
My top tip - Tour the island and relax on the beach, eat local dishes you wont regret it.
When it’s the best time to travel - November through to April is peak season, end of October when I travelled is also a good time as coming out of the rainy wet season and into the dry season,