Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam | (937) 315-4602
Quiet beachfront location within walking distance of a few popular beach cafes
Private rooms and dorms with air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs
Cute restaurant right on the sand with popular weekly barbecue nights
Free access to pool at neighboring hotel
Free Wi-Fi throughout; a la carte breakfast is included in most rates
Motorbike rentals and day trips can be arranged at front desk
Old, dated rooms, some with severe maintenance issues
Air-conditioning in dorm is only available when there are six or more guests
Solar-powered hot water is nonexistent in the morning
Tons of mosquitos in bathrooms due to lack of window panes
The Viet Thanh Resort is a basic hotel that caters to backpackers and couples on frugal budgets. Aside from its rock-bottom rates, the main draw here is the lovely stretch of beach right outside the hotel, complete with a casual restaurant serving a la carte breakfast and lunch, and popular barbecue dinners. Rooms have a few great amenities for the price, such as air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, but some rooms have major maintenance issues, and mosquitos can be an issue in bathrooms. There is no pool on-site, but guests are given free passes to the pool located at the hotel across the street. For a little more money, next-door neighbor Lien Hiep Thanh Resort is a good alternative.
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Scene
Basic backpacker hotel with lovely grounds and a laid-back atmosphere
The handful of rental motorbikes parked by the tiny open reception area are a good indicator of the type of travelers staying here: adventurous, young, and independent couples and groups of friends. Everything is casual and basic here, from the beachfront restaurant operating out of a tiny brick hut with a few tables, to the rooms, all housed in a couple dozen yellow bungalows with thatched roofs. The grounds are pleasant and inviting, with terra-cotta tile paths winding through gardens overflowing with plants and flowers, and a lovely, laid-back beach. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing, and most guests stay on-site during the day, only leaving their rope hammocks on the beach to grab a bite or a drink from the restaurant. In the evening, after enjoying the stunning sunset views at the beach, most guests head to the city for dinner. There are a number of popular beach bars in the area, but nights are generally quiet.
The combination of a beachfront location and ultra-low rates make the Viet Thanh Resort an appealing pick for backpackers, but those who can afford to pay a little more may find that a few dollars go a long way in Phu Quoc. Those looking for other options may want to check out the adjacent Lien Hiep Thanh Resort, which is virtually a carbon copy of the Viet Thanh. The Thanh Kieu has higher rates, but rooms are nicer and in better shape overall. Located a five-minute free shuttle ride from the beach, the Daisy Resort is one of the best deals in town, with cute rooms, a beautiful pool with panoramic views, and an excellent restaurant.
Location
In a quiet back alley lined with casual beach cafes and bars
The Viet Thanh Resort is located at the end of a back alley running parallel to the beach and the main road in Phu Quoc. Despite the hotel's somewhat secluded location, the area is home to a surprising number of casual, inexpensive beach cafes and bars popular with backpackers. The main road, located about a five-minute walk away, offers a wider array of dining and drinking options, as does the city of Duong Dong, found less than 10 minutes by car from the hotel. The popular night market -- selling everything from pearls to fresh sea food and souvenirs -- is also about a 10-minute drive away. Stunning Sao Beach, known for its fine, white sand and cafes, can be reached in about 40 minutes. The airport is about a 15-minute drive away.
Rooms
Bare-bones rooms with air-conditioning, patios, and hard beds with mosquito nets
The hotel’s 34 rooms are housed in stand-alone bungalows with thatched roofs and small patios with hammocks. Decor is rudimentary and spare throughout, with terra-cotta tile floors, mostly bare walls, and only the most basic furniture, including a small desk and a closet. Amenities are good for the price, and include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with a few international channels, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and free water (not replenished after the first day). However, some rooms are in desperate need of renovations. Ours had a huge one-inch crack running down an entire wall and part of the floor. It was so bad that one of the windows had been dislodged, leaving a big gap between the frame and the wall. Beds are hard, with wooden boards under the mattress and four plastic poles nailed to the bed frame to hold the mosquito net.
Bathrooms are small and spartan as well, with just an old sink, a toilet, and a wet-room style shower whose water drains through a small hole in the wall instead of a proper sewer. The hotel provides tiny soap bars and a couple of sachets of shampoo. Bathroom windows lack window panes, which means mosquitos can be an issue.
The hotel also has one dorm that can sleep up to 10 people, but air-conditioning is only available when there are at least six guests in the room.
Features
Pleasant beach with hammocks, loungers, and an inexpensive restaurant
The hotel’s best feature is arguably its lovely stretch of beach, complete with a couple dozen hammocks and loungers placed under mature palm trees. The restaurant, opened in late 2016, is also right on the sand, and offers an inexpensive Vietnamese and international menu under a thatched roof. A la carte breakfast is included in most rates, and offers American, English, Vietnamese, and continental options. Weekly barbecue dinners are particularly popular both among guests and non-guests, and include fresh seafood. Guests are given day passes to the pool located at a neighboring hotel, but few seem to use it.
