Coco Island Resort Ninh Binh

The resort made everything easy for us. Staff were cheerful and helpful with every request, and they organized everything we needed. The rooms were clean, cozy, and very spacious. We liked the setting too: peaceful because it's outside the centre, but still very close to the sights. Beautiful place with a lovely team. We'd definitely come back and recommend it.

The staff were the best part. They went out of their way to help me retrieve an important item from the post office. The hotel itself was great too, with large, clean rooms and a really comfortable bed. Breakfast had a huge range of options, and I loved the pool and its bar as a place to hang out. We also had a massage, which was lovely and good value. It's about a five-minute Grab ride to Tam Coc, or you can rent a scooter or use a free bicycle. Five stars!

The location wasn't as advertised. Coco Island Villa Hotel sits between two busy roads, with constant horns, and we could clearly hear other guests in their rooms. The restaurant also closed an hour before its posted time without warning, so several guests had to go out in the rain to find dinner. The food there was tasty, but cost almost two to three times as much as nearby local restaurants. Service was awful for a place claiming four stars. The towels had holes, and most of the male staff were condescending or rude. Our TV didn't work for over 24 hours. I reported it to reception three times, and nothing happened until the third time, when I got a dismissive, rude “I know! I’m going now.” When we collected our laundry, staff commented that it was “too much,” which felt unprofessional. Jenny was the one bright spot: she was wonderful and helped us plan a great day. This was especially disappointing as part of our honeymoon. The stay was frustrating and sometimes downright rude, and I can't recommend the hotel to anyone seeking comfort, service, or basic courtesy.

The pool is lovely, and you can see they are trying, but this was a very disappointing stay and didn't feel like a four-star resort. The dining room staff were watching videos on their phones with the sound on, which may reflect the staff shortage I suspect is behind some of the inconsistency. The bedroom tiles looked stained and felt dirty, almost like a terrace; the windows were so moldy you could barely see out. Our pillows had mold too, and it took over an hour and several calls to get replacements. We paid 600k a night for a baby bed with metal parts you could feel while lying on it. One family asking for an extra key was charged 300k, while motorbikes cost 200k a day. The resort could have been great, but it falls far short for a price well above what you'd expect in Vietnam.