Phuong Nam Resort

The buffet was so good we didn’t want to leave, and the spa was amazing. The staff, food and rooms were all excellent. We had planned two nights, but extended our Ho Chi Minh vacation to spend more time at the resort. This is easily my favorite stay so far, and I can’t wait to come back. It felt premium, from the rooms to the service, and was far better value than I expected. I booked three rooms and paid much less than I thought I would, but it didn’t feel like a cheap hotel at all. It was my son’s birthday, so I mentioned it to reception when we booked that day. I’d arranged dinner for eight, and they surprised us with a proper cake, not a little one, with his full name on it, plus the staff sang a matching birthday song. I loved this place!

The room was okay and clean, but there were lots of mosquitoes. When I arrived, I was told the restaurant was closed and I’d have to order through Grab or go out, though there aren’t many places nearby. Walking around the resort, I realized everything was shut: no restaurant, spa, sauna or gym. I didn’t see any other guests either. I booked a resort expecting everything in one place, so I went back to reception to ask what could be done. The staff just smiled and said, “But we have a pool.” I didn’t feel they took me seriously. I decided to stay one night instead of the five I’d planned, and told the manager. The response was the same, just a smile and no real reaction. At checkout the next day, I had to argue with reception about getting my money back for the nights I wouldn’t be staying. It was a disaster and the opposite of a relaxing stay. The resort could be very nice if it were run properly, but right now it feels like a scam.

A quiet place to dine in a noisy city, with classical architecture surrounded by lots of trees.

My company ordered vegetarian food for me at a year-end party dinner there. They brought just two dishes, with nowhere near enough food to fill me up. I told the manager, but they only delivered those same two dishes again.