Nguyen Shack Phong Nha Eco Resort

A heads-up for anyone who isn’t outdoorsy: the pets wander freely, so don’t be surprised by dogs under the breakfast table or cats on your lap. The rooms are clean and comfortable and do the job, though they’re a little unpolished, and small bugs sometimes show up. There’s so much to enjoy outside. The grounds are beautifully kept, with trees, plants, flowers and fruit, plus amazing views of the surrounding hills. The restaurant and communal area stay open all day, with a huge choice of fresh food and drinks. Clare’s yoga classes are free every day at 7am and 5pm. Staff were happy to go above and beyond to help with tours, buses, recommendations and other requests. We arrived late at night and were still greeted with enthusiasm by friendly, English-speaking staff. The beds were super comfortable, a nice change for SEA. I lost count of the animals, but there are at least six dogs, three cats and two pet pigs wandering around, ready to be cuddled or played with. That was really nice when we felt homesick and missed our pets. There’s also a small farm or site with chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows and goats that you can feed and play with.

For me, the mountain road nearby is the most beautiful one around for motorbiking, and there are plenty of beautiful caves too. There’s also a little farm at the resort. It’s my best experience in Vietnam so far: peaceful and relaxing, with amazing staff, good food, and a cheap price for the quality of the facilities. It doesn’t feel like the other hotels I’ve stayed in, more like a resort made up of little private houses. Life feels easy there. Go for one night and you might stay two weeks! And for Quebecers, this wonderful place belongs to a lovely family that’s half Quebecois and half Vietnamese. I recommend it.

The views are beautiful, and it’s peaceful and relaxing while still being a lot of fun. There’s always a cat, dog or pig doing something silly. You can go into the goat, pig and duck pen to feed or interact with the animals, like a petting farm on site. The restaurant is open all day if you want a bite, and the staff are awesome. If you’re allergic to cats, dogs or farm animals, I wouldn’t recommend staying here because they’re so close by. Otherwise, it’s a really fun place.

The rooms are great for the price, with hot showers and good air conditioning. The food is really good, and they keep it on a tab for you to pay at the end. The staff are so kind and sweet, and will do anything to make your stay better. You can hire bicycles or motorbikes, and they’ll help with any taxi you need. There’s a lovely little farm you can visit for free, and the lady who comes to look after it is so nice. She brings her gorgeous baby boy, who sits and watches the animals. The dogs and pigs around the hotel are sweet too, don’t bother you, and love any attention you give them. We’d definitely stay again and recommend it. Thank you so much for having us ❤️