Dao Anh Khanh Treehouse

Zu manages this cozy little artists retreat and is very sweet. She speaks English incredibly well, and breakfast is free from 6:30am. The pool area is a nice place to lounge, though I wouldn’t recommend getting in the water. Take time to wander the quarters and explore the nooks and crannies. We liked our bungalow, but be prepared for very basic arrangements. The bathroom is down 3 flights of ladders, and it isn’t attached to where you sleep. The shower is just a shower head fitted to the sink. It’s on the outskirts of town. If you need first world commodities, this isn’t the place. For an authentic experience, it could suit you.

The rooms are a little more rustic than we expected, since your room and bathroom are in a tree. Still, it was a really unique stay, with great meals from the host. The studio is full of art, and the jungle-style grounds make for a relaxing setting. It’s a bit out of the way, which was nice for getting away from the city bustle.

The hosts tried hard to make things better by giving us an extra room, but the bad impression stayed. When we arrived, we were really disappointed by how different the room quality was from the pictures online. It was tiny, humid and uncomfortable in summer, and all the facilities were out of order. Be careful booking this accommodation.

Khanh and his family made this a special visit. Mingh is a fantastic cook, and her noodle bowls were the best I’ve had. She kindly catered to our vegetarian diet. Khanh is charming and generous, and it was a pleasure meeting and spending time with his wife and children. I’m grateful to have met them, seen Khanh’s work and had this experience. The rooms are simple, rustic and clean. The tree house is brilliant, though a bit noisy early in the morning. Luckily, my heart emoticon and I are early risers. The studio is a 15 minute taxi ride from the city center. It helps to be flexible, since a few times we had to wait for a driver to make it out there.