Muong Village Ninh Binh

The setting is gorgeous, and everyone working there was so kind. We even got to shower in the evening after checking out that morning, before catching our night bus. Scooters were available to rent, and the in-room massages were amazing. Wish we’d booked a longer stay. I’d happily recommend it!

We had dinner there before heading out, and it was probably the best meal we ate in Ninh Binh. Fresh and really tasty. The breakfast was great too, with omelets, pho, noodles, fruit, and other Vietnamese dishes. Moung Village was a peaceful little escape, though still easy to reach: about a 10-minute Grab ride from Tam Coc, a 7-10 minute walk to the main street, and easy to get a Grab when needed. There are ducks by the pond and goats on the hill, which were fun to watch. Our room was spacious, clean, private, and had a spectacular view. Hot water came through quickly, and the WiFi worked well. Staff were friendly and helpful, even handing us water bottles before our overnight bus. Free bikes made getting around easy, so take advantage of them if you stay. We loved our one night there.

The countryside setting really is beautiful and peaceful, and there’s potential here, but the stay fell well short of what the photos on Booking.com and Google reviews led us to expect. We’d hoped for a romantic break away from the city. Rats were around the grounds, and we even saw them in reception, which was a really unpleasant first impression. I know it’s the countryside, but inside reception felt unacceptable. Our room didn’t look like the online pictures either. The bedroom was reasonably clean, but the bathroom smelled bad and seemed not to have had a deep clean in a while. The whole place felt tired and needed maintenance. The pool needed a proper clean, and the free bikes were falling apart and hardly usable. Breakfast was just okay, with very little choice. With more investment and better upkeep, this could be lovely, but it didn’t meet the expectations the photos created.

Free bikes made it easy to cycle to everything we wanted to do, and the breakfast had a nice mix of Western and local food. The bungalows are tucked away in the Ninh Binh mountains, and the staff were so helpful. They even arranged our Ha Long Bay transfer at very short notice.