Timothe Beach Bungalow

The meals were a highlight for us, with fresh ingredients and delicious local flavor. Our place at Timothe Apartment was comfortable, well kept, and had everything we needed to rest. We think the beach there may be the best in Vietnam: it was exceptionally clean and calm, lovely for relaxing and being in nature. It's a perfect escape from city noise, and we're already planning to come back soon. Highly recommended!

We had a good time in this charming, rustic guesthouse, but I wouldn't make a special trip back. It's in a remote coastal area, on a long white sand beach with mountains in the distance and few tourists. The manager cooked wonderfully, and we ate well at every meal. She even arranged a beach BBQ with big, juicy local lobsters from her family farm. The village of Vinh Hoa has little food or drink to offer, so eating at the hotel makes sense. The access road is rough, and the area needs more investment for tourism to work better. The rooms were a letdown. Facilities are basic and need repairs, maintenance, and better cleaning. That's on the owner, not the staff. Toilets that wouldn't flush, broken holders for toilet hoses, loose rusty faucets, a smelly shower, no blankets, broken lights, and moldy exposed plastic pipes all added to a neglected feel. The beach pollution was also troubling. Fishing is central to the area, and Phu Yen province, especially this peninsula, is among the most polluted places I've seen in seven years living in Vietnam. Having to dodge plastic bags while swimming isn't what most people expect from a beach holiday.

We had a great weekend at Timothe. The team were kind and hardworking, and made lots of vegan dishes for us when we asked. The beach in front of Timothe was kept clean. The downside is that nearby residents burn plastic rubbish, and the pollution can get thick. That's not Timothe's fault, but it's something to know. A Vietnamese party spot nearby leaves plastic all over the beach every day, and people drive jet skis at full speed through swimmers. It seems only a matter of time before they hit a snorkeler or someone swimming underwater. The nearby coral is completely dead, a graveyard compared with how much better it was just a year ago. It's really sad seeing nature polluted and destroyed with no shame or remorse.

We had a lovely stay at Timothe Beach Apartment. The whole team helped organize our arrival and departure. The rooms were spacious and clean, with a wonderful view, and a large balcony where we could sit outside sheltered from the rain. The beach was fabulous too.