Sunset Garden Villa Riverside

We had a lovely holiday here with friends. The pool, sauna, and billiard table were a real pleasure, and the staff were attentive and friendly. Our hosts arranged massages and mani-pedis at the villa. It's a short Grab ride or bike trip from the main city area, and there are plenty of delicious restaurants and spas nearby.

The price isn't competitive enough to make up for the problems here. After comparing other places, I'd choose a different Airbnb in Hoi An and suggest others shop around before booking Ylang Garden Villa. The receptionist Suong and the cleaning staff were fantastic and handled things professionally, but the host showed little interest in resolving anything we raised, leaving it all to Suong. Several basic things also weren't working: some safes had no power, there were no clothes lines, and our hot water heater failed, so we had to use another bathroom. The lawn was mostly dead weeds and compacted dirt, unlike the listing photos. The door locks were the biggest problem. They often wouldn't engage properly or would seize, sometimes taking several minutes to lock when leaving. We were trapped in our room for 20 minutes before staff let us out, and despite a repairman coming, we got stuck again the next day. The electrical setup was concerning too, with breakers tripping often and exposed live wires running along the ground without protection, especially the wire from the switchboard to the sauna. That would be dangerous with toddlers or young children. Pool tiles were chipped and shattered in several places, making it easy to get cut when pushing off the bottom. Other equipment caused hassles. The common-area fridge was set so high that things never cooled below 4 degrees. Air conditioners were programmed to turn off at midnight and come back on at 6am, so we'd wake up wondering why the rooms were hot. Some room lights didn't work, including downlights in one room, and the table lamp in mine flickered intensely. Nearly all the free bikes had broken brakes, one had a badly bent frame, and no helmets were provided. We had to brake with our feet and only rode them on the property's street.

We spent two months here with friends during covid 19, and the staff deserve extra credit for putting up with us while keeping the place clean and serving breakfast every day. The rooms and bathrooms are modern, the pool is clean, and the outdoor kitchen and grill area are really good. It's right by the river, with free bikes for getting around and motorbikes available to rent. The location is a bit random, roughly halfway between the old quarter and the beach, but that also makes the villa its own destination and splits the difference between the two tourist areas. It's expensive for the area, though, and really beautiful.

Everything was clean and in good repair, though not brand new, and the bed was comfortable. The villa has many separate rooms, more like a small hotel or Airbnb, plus an outdoor pool looking over a small lake. There's a covered outdoor kitchen and dining space that works well for groups. A market and a tap hoa are within walking distance.