Cat Ba Sena Valley Retreat

The only thing that went well was booking a Lan Ha Bay day trip through Cat Ba Local. The hotel cost more than many other places we'd seen on the island, and it became one of our worst accommodation experiences. At first, check-in went smoothly. A woman who spoke very good English explained the amenities: an onsite restaurant open until 10 pm, laundry in six hours, a dedicated WhatsApp number with quick reception replies, and a preference for cash at checkout. She said cards were accepted with a 4% surcharge. The hotel had only opened a month earlier, but everything felt unfinished. We never saw that staff member again and had to deal with a male manager whose behavior was terrible and unapologetic. We were told the laundry would take 36 hours instead of the six we'd been promised. After we challenged that, they got it done in 12 hours. We also tried four times to eat at the restaurant and couldn't. There was nobody there at lunch on the first day; at dinner, we were told a party had closed the restaurant and we could find food next door. On the second day, no one was around at lunch, and reception told us to come place our order there. That evening, we were told restaurant staff had gone home at 8 pm. We ended up eating every meal at the neighboring accommodation. At checkout, restaurant expenses had been put on our room even though we'd been unable to use the restaurant. We were then told the card surcharge was 11%, made up of 8% VAT, which seemed to apply only to card payments, plus 3% for the card. When we said we wouldn't accept that, the manager offered a QR payment with no surcharge. Other problems added up: the air conditioning in common areas was never on, and with the windows always open there were bugs everywhere, making those spaces uncomfortable. Lots of staff were around, but nobody collected pool towels and there was no designated spot to get clean ones or leave used ones. Breakfast had few Western options. The bedroom shower drain didn't work properly, and there were no hand towels or hand soap. The projector in place of a TV sounded like a good idea, but worked poorly against the brown curtains. The manager never acknowledged the bad service or apologized.

What made the stay special was the staff, whose care and attentiveness helped us feel at ease. Cat Ba Sena Valley Retreat was the highlight of our trip to Cat Ba, a peaceful escape from the crowds that was still close enough to enjoy the island. The rooms were spotless and thoughtfully designed, and I slept like a baby, though I don't know what kind of mattresses they use. We loved relaxing by the pool and having fresh, delicious breakfast options each morning. The beach is a two-minute walk away, and Chut Chit Beach is right behind the retreat. Walking over there to watch the sunset was one of our favorite parts, the views were stunning. We'll make this our go-to spot when we return to the island. It's welcoming and relaxing, and we're already looking forward to another visit. Highly recommended.

Everything was wonderful, from the clean, spacious rooms and helpful, friendly staff to the beautiful, peaceful setting. Highly recommended! I'll rent a bike next time, though be careful traveling to City at night.

Very unprofessional hotel. They confirmed eight rooms, then the very next day said there were no rooms left. Maybe another group agreed to a higher price. Minus ten stars.