Orange Resort

The restaurant staff were lovely and the service was always great, but the vegetarian food wasn't always vegetarian, since the broth often contained fish or beef. The resort could be great, though the repair and upgrade priorities don't make much sense. We had to walk through a grimy side street to reach it, often past rotten rubbish and fish boxes from the many Russian hotels in the area. For the price, there are unfortunately better resorts. We usually support independent places, but this was the wrong choice for us. Keep a note of everything in your room, including the towels, each day. We reported three times that the shower was leaking into the bedroom, and they denied it, including the woman I spoke with. I had to show them a video and photos of my notes and who I'd spoken to. They fixed it the night before checkout. The cleaners also ruined one of our towels and said it had been dyed pink, then tried to charge us for it. Other guests at the bar said this apparently happens quite often. The pool didn't feel safe for toddlers. With all the broken tiles, sharp edges, and faulty stairs, it would be shut down in the UK or Canada. Drilling for security cameras and banging at 6:30 a.m. wasn't ideal either. Check the water pressure and shower temperature before accepting your room.

The staff were unbelievably helpful, and the location was perfect. I never got the older man's name at the pool, but he's the best. He kept a bed free for us every day. We stayed in a garden bungalow that could use a fresh coat of paint, though that's a small thing. The beds were hard as rocks compared with the places we've stayed while traveling around Veitnam.

The beach was almost unusable, with rubbish everywhere that made walking unpleasant, so we never swam there. Outlet and waste pipes from this hotel and others along the beach flow straight onto it. The property itself felt neglected and run down, with newer buildings oddly set in front of older, shabby ones. Some staircases seemed unsafe, including one with a “foot wash” at the bottom that looked like a step. Inside, the online photos gave a misleading impression, as things looked much more dated in person. There was a strong sewer smell from the bathroom that spread into the room, mold on the tiles, and missing doors on the shower screen. The mattresses were uncomfortably hard. The wardrobe was broken, and the in-room safe wasn't secured inside it. The breakfast experience was poor. No one greeted us, and staff seemed hard to approach and more focused on scraping dishes beside diners than serving them. Much of the food was cold, chewy, or dry, with no rotation or freshness. The teapot was empty and stained, bowls and cups were missing, and there was no milk. The only cereal was a stale mix of cornflakes and Coco Pops. The restaurant looked shabby too, though the downstairs dining area had a nice view and the staff there were friendlier. Still, the overall impression was rough. Staff generally rarely smiled and seemed indifferent, which made the atmosphere feel unwelcoming. We'd booked seven nights for our family of four after reading good reviews and getting personal recommendations, but the stay fell short of our expectations and of other trips we've had in South east Asia. Something felt off from arrival, so after two nights we moved elsewhere for the remaining five. Reception staff were polite about it, but wouldn't discuss a partial refund even though we gave up most of our stay. We hadn't expected one, but it would have been courteous. This might be enough for travelers on a strict budget with few expectations, but for international visitors it falls far short of the advertised three-star standard. We didn't find it relaxing or comfortable. It was a long way to travel for such a disappointing stay.

It's lovely to spend time by the beach in the evening or late at night, just sitting in solitude. The property is right beside the sea, has a decent pool, and offers different room types, including sea-view rooms right on the shore. The atmosphere is great. The breakfast buffet isn't that good for Indian food, though, and the spread is exactly the same every day.