Tam Coc Garden

The resort is stunning, and my room was comfortable and well equipped. I had a great massage, and both breakfast and dinner service were excellent. The breakfast was delicious with plenty of variety. I was less pleased with some of the food: my salmon was dry, and our companions’ mixed vegetable stir fry had only bok choy. After a busy day, it would also have been nice if the hot tub had hot water.

Tam Coc Garden Resort stayed with us as one of the highlights of our Vietnam trip. Looking back near the end of our travels only confirmed how special the four nights there had been. The resort is thoughtfully put together, with a calm elegance and care in the details. We arranged our stay and excursions ahead of time, and the team understood what we were looking for. Huan was an outstanding guide, knowledgeable and generous with context. His history lesson added meaning to our time in Tam Coc and to the rest of our travels in Vietnam. After some familiar sights on the first day, we spent the following days exploring the mountains and a national park, almost entirely alone with Huan and Bon, the resort’s head gardener. We learned about medicinal plants and the local ecosystem. The massages helped our tired bodies recover, and the farm-to-table food was among the best we ate on the trip. The women-led management team made the place feel especially personal. Their care showed in little ways too: they gave us a beautiful handmade laundry bag and a first-edition book of hand-painted illustrations of the garden’s species on handmade paper. A real treasure.

It’s a relaxing, pleasant place, though if seeing the monkeys is your main reason for coming, it may be a bit far away. The full mood villa came with nice extras, including a complimentary massage and an afternoon snack tray. The massage was great; the food was simple, but I appreciated it. There are a few activities, including yoga and a cooking class, which I tried. Both were friendly and reasonably priced, but if you already know the basics, you may not learn anything new. I’m still glad I gave them a go. Breakfast was okay, with a decent mix of à la carte and buffet options, but the coffee was terrible. We were also unhappy with the laundry and ironing. Even so, it’s a nice place to stay.

I wish we could’ve stayed longer. Our room felt like a spacious, welcoming cottage, and the whole place is a gorgeous oasis of calm. There are beautiful gardens, a fabulous pool and restaurant, plus bikes you can borrow for rides through the countryside.