Le Aqua Resort & Spa Phan Thiet

I’d call this more of a three-star place than a four-star one, but it has what you need to rest after a long day in the sun. The room is a good size and has a balcony, though the walls are very thin. You’ll hear someone talking or watching TV, so being an early riser helps. The bathroom is small, with a shower. I’d also seen a comment about loud air conditioning and want to correct that: the Daikin electric split system works as it should and is pretty quiet. They’ll keep your passport for some reason. I’d heard about that before checking in, and it’s not a big deal. Overall, acceptable.

This is reasonably priced and has plenty of parking. You can bring food in, but there’s an extra charge if you want to cook or bring alcohol. The resort is next to the beach, and there’s a small outdoor bar nearby for drinks. It has several pools, spacious rooms, lovely decorations and gardens, and villa options for small groups with 3-4 bedrooms. Breakfast buffet is included with the room. The drawback was slow room service. We arrived on time but still had to wait a while for staff to get the room ready, and the floor and staircase were wet and slippery afterward.

There are lots of resorts along this street, with villas and bungalows. Prices aren’t too steep, and it’s a nice place to rest. The room’s large smart TV is a plus. Breakfast is average, and the pool is so close to the morning restaurant that local groups can crowd it.

Ants were all over the place, including in the bathroom and on the coffee table stand. Pretty disgusting. The hotel is old and needs a makeover, and it felt more like 2.5 stars than the fake four-star rating. There was construction in the room above us throughout our stay, with constant banging, hammering, and sawing. I got no peace. Housekeeping tried to enter twice while we were napping. There are no “Do not disturb” signs. They knocked, opened the door while we were inside, and after we told them to close it, they opened it again. Don’t get trapped by the other reviews.