Palm Garden Resort

Known for having hosted world summits and even beauty pageants, the Palm Garden Beach Resort is one of the most famous resorts in Hoi An. It may have lost some of its glow since it opened in 2005, but the hotel is still upscale and beautiful, with lotus ponds in manicured gardens, elegant interiors with traditional Vietnamese touches, and a long stretch of beach. Natural erosion causes the sand to disappear periodically, but the hotel is fast to rebuild the beach, and there are always several loungers and umbrellas for guests who prefer to get away from the family pool, which can be busy during school vacation periods. Outside of those weeks, though, the hotel is quiet and mostly popular with older couples, many of whom are return guests. The conference center also draws corporate groups and business travelers a few times every year. 

The cobblestoned driveway and large lobby with cathedral-like ceilings give the hotel a slight business feel on first sight, but the rest of the property is serene and lovely, with several buildings dotting 12 acres of gardens, allowing guests to spread out. The focus here is on the outdoors, and restaurants and bars feature decks with umbrellas, or are housed in cute open pavilions overlooking the pool or the beach. The design style is elegant but unpretentious throughout, with wooden furniture, terra-cotta tile floors, and lots of natural fiber finishes. The most charming common space is Wessia, the lobby bar. It's housed in a thatched pavilion made entirely of wood and straw, and decorated with cute straw and metal lanterns and antique-style furniture with traditional Vietnamese carvings. 

The similarly priced Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa has even more local charm, but the pool and the rooms are smallish. Travelers looking to stay closer to the city center may want to compare rates at the Almanity Hoi An, which has a stunning pool, great rooms, and a wonderful spa. Another great pick directly on the beach is the Hoi An Beach Resort, complete with two pools, nice rooms, and a spa. Those on a tighter budget may want to compare rates at the Vinh Hung Riverside Resort, which is a five-minute walk from the heart of Hoi An. It is not as luxurious as the Palm Garden and it doesn’t have a beach, but rooms are comfortable, and the pleasant pool has river views.

Despite being right on the coastal road connecting Hoi An and Da Nang, the Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa’s location is quiet and peaceful, as the hotel is set back from the street. There are several solid local restaurants across the street, but the area is almost exclusively visited by guests staying in the many nearby beachfront resorts and is generally quiet. The gorgeous Ancient Town of Hoi An -- home to dozens of historic sights, excellent restaurants, charming shops, and hundreds of tailors -- is just a 15-minute drive away, and the hotel offers free shuttle service to the city center several times per day. An Bang Beach, known for its hip oceanfront restaurants and great swimming, is less than 10 minutes away by car. The stunning Marble Mountains can be reached in about 25 minutes. Danang International Airport is about a 40-minute drive away. Airport transfer services can be booked for a fee at reception. 

The hotel has 214 rooms, including a number of suites and bungalows. All are decorated in a classic style, with terra-cotta tile floors, heavy wooden furniture, and crimson upholstery on chairs. Although the lower category rooms lack a wow factor due to their subdued decor and earth tone palette, they do have eye-catching touches such as screens made of thin wooden strips, wood and white fabric lantern-style sconces, and large black-and-white photos of Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Some room types have a more cheerful color scheme, with pistachio green accents that stand out against the darker furniture and crisp white linens. All rooms except for a few Deluxe units have furnished balconies or patios. Bungalows are housed in pairs in stand-alone buildings with direct access to the gardens or the beach. 

Each room is equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, air-conditioning, an electric kettle with free tea and coffee (replenished daily), a digital safe, and a minibar stocked with beer, soda, and water. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. 

Bathrooms are large and clean, with lots of wood finishes, cream-colored tiles on floors and walls, and an array of toiletries, including combs, toothbrushes, shaving kits, and cotton swabs. Wall-mounted hairdryers are provided. Deluxe Rooms, Suites, and Bungalows have large bathrooms with sliding screens or roll-down straw blinds separating them from the bedroom. Big stand-alone tubs and separate glass showers are upscale, but Superior Rooms have simple shower/tub combos.

There is only one pool at the Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa, but it is large and lovely. It features lots of loungers and umbrellas on a spacious palm-fringed deck, a whirlpool, and a kiddy section separated from the deeper area by a metal railing. A bar with a full food and drinks menu is available by the pool, and waiters come around the loungers taking orders from time to time. Guests can also raise a flag to indicate they want service. The main restaurant, open for all three main meals, is not far from the pool, but Colibri, the hotel’s beachfront Italian restaurant, is more popular for a casual bite during the day. Breakfast is included in all rates and offers a wide range of Asian and Western options, including noodle and rice dishes, fresh fruit, pastries, made-to-order eggs, bread rolls, and fruit juices. 

The spa is housed in a beautiful wood-and-stone building tucked away in the gardens and surrounded by a lotus pond, which makes it feel immediately peaceful. There are six indoor rooms and an outdoor pavilion by the beach available for body treatments and salon services, including facials, manicures, and pedicures. There's a large fitness center, though the equipment is dated. For tennis players, two outdoor courts are available. Guests can rent bikes to explore the area. Water sports are on offer at the beach, along with several lounge chairs and umbrellas. 

The kids’ club offers plenty of daily activities for children of all ages, and there is a cute playground with a slide, a see-saw, and swings. Babysitting service are available for a fee. 

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. There are three meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment.