Riverside Garden Villas

Do not stay in room 102. The damp and mold here are a serious health concern, and I got no real warning. The agent mentioned it in passing as though it were normal, without telling us how to deal with it. It looked impressive and was cheap, which seemed too good to be true. Later, when the weather turned drier, we realized there were parasites, and we became seriously ill. We haven't been able to identify them in Hoi An or apparently even Danang, and have to go to a capital city. You don't want to be heavily infected. Other guests seemed to have left early on bad terms. One had rats upstairs and got no help, and another was brushed off when something needed fixing. The place can look idyllic, but I'd avoid it. Damp, black mold, and parasites are common in Vietnam, and being next to a semi-stagnant river makes things worse, especially on the ground floor above water pumps. Damp comes up from below and in from the sides. I think the building housing room 102 could eventually fall down because damp reaches the central supporting wall, which is vibrated every day by the pool pump beneath it. The parasites came through the air conditioner and went into that wall. It was strange seeing them travel across the room in huge numbers. I'm unsure what's in the photos, and there was much more to choose from. The worm may be unrelated, but there are longer, thinner ones that mature in the body, possibly a larger unknown strain of strongyloides. They mostly appear in the bathroom, but can be seen elsewhere. They come in as small to large larvae and enter through the skin. Scabies and other parasites are possible too. We've seen shocking things inside and outside our bodies. More photos are available. I'm happy to talk to anyone about my experience or provide proof. The owners may already have painted over it and rented the room again.

The manager and staff were very helpful with everything, including arranging a transfer and a motorbike, and taking us to a doctor when we had a fever. The rooms were spacious, clean, and very nice, and the pool was beautiful. Breakfast had a small selection, but everything was good. The staff were lovely too.

The apartment is a long way from everything, so you'll need a taxi to get around. Noise is another problem: several neighbours play loud karaoke from sometime between 7 a.m. and midnight, and with thin walls it sounds like you're in a bar. There aren't proper curtains, so light will wake you and make a good night's sleep hard. The wifi keeps cutting in and out. Rain gets into the apartment, leaving the walls wet and moldy, and there's a strong mold smell. The hot water won't fill a bath, so you end up sitting in lukewarm water. After a shower, water spreads across the bathroom floor because there's no drainage. You'll have to use the blanket they give you to dry it. I'd find somewhere else. Hoi an has plenty of beautiful apartments.

I got together with friends at this villa. The pool looked inviting, and my friend's apartment was cozy with a small kitchen.