Son Tra Resort

The staff were helpful, but the price didn't match the standard we expected. The pool wasn't consistently cleaned, and although fresh towels were brought in, nobody came to take away the used, wet ones. This resort badly needs renovating. It might have been lovely 30 years ago.

The natural setting gives Son Tra Resort a real character, and the villas blend right into it. We even spotted a monkey wandering around. It's a relaxed place with a view and incredibly kind staff, with an organic feel compared with the larger, flashy, sterile resorts in the city. This place is outstanding. I'll definitely come back.

The staff made the stay for us. They were always ready to help, checking in each morning with ideas for things to do without ever pushing. They also pointed us to Tuan as a driver, and he made getting around Da Nang a pleasure. Ask them about him if you stay here. We loved the peace and quiet, even though the place doesn't quite match the photos, which is why I'm giving four stars instead of five. Son Tra feels like a little jungle paradise. Our villa had a beautiful beach view, and lounging beside our private pool while listening to the waves was lovely. The private beach was intimate and calm, with never more than ten people there. The restaurant food was pretty good, though it could use more Vietnamese classics. The fresh juices were lovely, and the cocktails were pleasant.

We would have loved to spend more time enjoying the facilities, but constant problems, no privacy, and an unhelpful manager spoiled the stay. Staff were attentive, yet there always seemed to be someone inside or walking past our villa windows. Workers also came by during the day to work on the buildings, shouting and using power tools. For what it costs, it wasn't worth it. Staff seemed aware of the issues but unable to get help from the owner. When we raised the problems, management seemed focused on making a deal so we wouldn't report them. Since our stay, the property has dodged requests from Booking.com and hasn't replied. Hot water was a recurring problem, and advertised amenities such as laundry, hot tubs, and in-room bathtubs weren't available. After we couldn't even get a lukewarm shower, a repair person tried for a few minutes and told us to wait for the heater to refill. This went on until around 2am. The next day we moved rooms, but that one had very little warm water too. Staff said the pumps couldn't support showers longer than five minutes, let alone fill the giant tubs in the units.