Cat Tien Jungle Lodge

The restaurant’s menu was a welcome change from the usual fried rice and sautéed noodles on the main road, with good vegetarian choices. I especially liked the eggplant in a clay pot, and the elegant dining room has lovely woodwork. The service was friendly. When I mentioned having had a bad headache that day, the owner kindly offered sound therapy. I came back feeling energized, with my appetite returning just as the food was about to be served.

There’s potential here: a perfect location, a pool by the river, spacious rooms, and a cool yoga and gong room. But the place needs a complete cleanup and overhaul, every square meter. It’s close to rotten. Please change the management, bring in an investor, plan a three-month makeover, and make the new young woman the manager. Otherwise, I think it will close very soon. There were only three guests, six people, in the three days we were there. The park guides advise against staying here too, saying, “this situation is talk of town.” The two male receptionists were a key problem, though the new female staff member at least tries. I carried eight heavy bags to our room while the guy kept his hands in his front pockets. Nobody cleaned the filthy poo or anything else. Bring cortisol creme if you use it. The only cleaning that jolted me awake was an electric blower outside my door at 5:30 am, maybe payback for the lost “management fee.” They wanted $250 for a National Park tour that cost $75, a 220% markup as a non-negotiable “management fee.” It turned out to be a one-minute walk to a ticket booth, so I cancelled with them and booked it myself. Breakfast was nice, but there was otherwise no food. After waiting an hour, we heard the cook might arrive in another hour to start cooking, though most meals were actually unavailable. Four other places within a one-minute walk had cooks and food.

The hotel seems recently renovated, and the facilities were very clean and well maintained. It’s in a spectacular spot beside the entrance to Cat Tien National Park, a natural park full of wildlife and beautiful landscapes. The food was incredibly good, and the customer service was excellent. I spoke with the owner, who was very kind, friendly and ready to help with anything. Highly recommended!

The staff were pushy and unprofessional, and the food was terrible. For this price, you can do better.