Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc

First opened in 2008, the Chen Sea Resort & Spa is for those who want to get away from it all. The property is located on a secluded beach a 20-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Duong Dong, and its manicured grounds are quiet and relaxing, with just 36 villas set up in four rows along the beach. Small stone paths flanked by grass and tropical plants run between them, allowing for a high level of privacy, while common areas are clustered together in a spacious lawn overlooking the beach. This layout allows for panoramic sea views from most of its rooms and all common areas, including the restaurant, the pool, and even the spa. 

The hotel offers all-inclusive packages, but it is diametrically opposite to a Cancun-style mega-resort with booming music and free-flowing drinks. Guests here spend the day sunbathing by the pool or on the beach, and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. Waiters come around a couple of times per day with cold towels and fresh fruit, and the few kids we saw were either playing in their villa’s private pool or at the beach. Even at sunset, when the popular beach lounge fills with guests and non-guests for drinks, the vibe is friendly and casual, with bean bags and hammocks spread over the spacious lawn overlooking the sea. 

The Chen Sea Resort & Spa has some of the highest rates in Phu Quoc (for good reason), so those seeking something a little cheaper but still in the luxury category may want to consider the Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island, a gorgeous hotel with an excellent spa, a beautiful beach, and great rooms. Mango Bay Resort is for those interested in an eco-friendly, somewhat off-the-grid experience, with rustic-chic villas, direct access to three beautiful bays, and a great restaurant. The upscale Shells Resort & Spa is even cheaper, but it is a large hotel and can feel crowded during peak season.

The Chen Sea Resort & Spa is located at the end of a dirt path off a small country road in western Phu Quoc. Although secluded and remote, the hotel is within walking distance of a few casual restaurants and cafes, and there are a few other dining and drinking options about a five-minute drive north of the property. A wider array of restaurants, bars, and shops can be found in Duong Dong, located about a 20-minute drive away. The town’s night market -- selling everything from pearls to souvenirs to fresh seafood -- is one of the island’s most popular non-beach attractions. Stunning Sao Beach is 50 minutes away by car, and the airport is about 40 minutes from the hotel.

The hotel has 36 air-conditioned villas, all featuring big outdoor areas with comfortable lounge furniture, and great bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. All come equipped with upscale amenities such as large flat-screen TVs with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, custom-made reflexology slippers, Thann toiletries, and DVD players, but decor varies between room types. Sea View and Beachfront Villas are beautifully decorated with a stylish mix of minimalist lines and natural materials. Hardwood floors, exposed wooden beams, and dark wood closets combine with platform beds and large black-and-white photos of Vietnamese scenes to create soothing, modern spaces. Bathrooms in these villas are spacious and upscale, with outdoor rain showers, big stone sinks, and large mirrors. Each of these rooms also features a soaking tub on the terrace. 

Housed in gorgeous original houses brought from Quang Nam Province and reassembled on-site, Jacuzzi Villas are the property’s most special rooms. Both interiors and exteriors have all the elements of traditional Hoi An homes, including thick black wooden pillars, polished stone floors, beautiful carvings on wood, and soaring pitched wooden ceilings with terra-cotta tiles. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto big patios with porched areas complete with whirlpools, big daybeds with plenty of pillows, and a couple of loungers under a big umbrella. Huge bathrooms have walk-in rain showers, sunken tubs, and two stone sinks. The only other property that has this type of architecture is the Long Beach Resort Phu Quoc, but the villas at Chen Sea are more luxurious.  

Two-bedroom Pool Villas are a mix between Sea View or Beachfront units and Jacuzzi Villas. These two-story units have a stunning master bedroom designed like a traditional Hoi An house on the top floor, and a simpler second bedroom and living room on the lower level. These are the only villas with a private pool.

The hotel is built directly overlooking a beautiful beach with fine sand and clear waters. A number of wooden loungers with white cushions, small tables, and white umbrellas are well spread out along the sand, while there is additional seating on a pleasant lawn adjacent to the beach. Sea kayaks, surfboards, and snorkeling equipment can be borrowed for a few hours free of charge. Food and drink services are available at the beach as well. Due to the hotel’s location on the western coast of Phu Quoc, sunsets are particularly stunning here. 

The hotel has a big infinity pool built on a wooden deck overlooking the beach. A couple dozen padded loungers are arranged in pairs under big white umbrellas, and small tables come in handy when waiters come around the pool with fresh fruit and other light bites during the day. A small path made of stones leads to GHE Bar, which serves cocktails and small bites during the day and into the evening. The bar is particularly popular for sunset drinks, and has a number of bean bags and cocoon-shaped chairs on a spacious patch of grass adjacent to the beach.  

Il Ristorante is the hotel’s only restaurant, and serves a tasty Italian and Vietnamese menu in an open palapa with thatched roofs and a spacious deck with sea views. An excellent breakfast buffet is served daily free of charge to all guests. The morning spread is one of the most extensive we’ve seen in some time, and includes six hot options (that change daily), homemade yogurt, pastries, several different types of bread, made-to-order eggs, and freshly made fresh fruit smoothies. 

The spa is small but charming, with three massage rooms housed in as many open thatched pavilions with straw shades for privacy. The spa menu includes an array of treatments, including scrubs, wraps, and massages, along with a number of salon services. There is also a fitness center on-site, but it only has two machines, a few yoga mats, and a few free weights.