The Imperial Hotel Vung Tau

The hotel is lovely, in a nice part of town, with great views, amenities, and a delicious breakfast. But the service fell short. Staff were very slow at check-in, wouldn't bring silverware to our room, and didn't allow any guests to visit. I'd accept that at a mid-tier place or simple motel, but I expect much more from a resort calling itself “Luxury”.

We had a great stay, and I can imagine this becoming one of Vung Tau's iconic hotels in a few years because of its theme and interiors. New, modern, large hotels are also coming up next door. The property is right by the beach, with two large buildings, a reception, two broad driveways, and its own bridge from the hotel's first floor to the beach section. The hotel is generally clean, and staff speak English and other languages quite well. Our very large room on the 7th floor was clean and comfortable, with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. The one issue was that the bathroom water wasn't warm. Breakfast had plenty of variety, and the buffet was rich. The pools were warm and clean; there was even a kids' pool party one day, and it was fun watching the bubble cannon. I also got a massage at the hotel spa, which was good, although paying was oddly confusing. They first tried to charge me for a 30-minute signature massage instead of the foot massage, then for a 60-minute foot massage. After about ten minutes, they got it right. Everyone stayed calm and nice. At the bar I tried ca phe muoi, which was really tasty. Mr. Sa, a young guy, made it; his English was so good and he was very attentive.

The staff’s professionalism and warm hospitality made the stay feel comfortable throughout. I especially enjoyed the seafood restaurant, with its lovely setting and excellent food, and there were plenty of tasty choices at the buffet breakfast. The hotel also has a beautiful view and a great location. I had a really enjoyable stay and would recommend it for a relaxing visit with good dining.

The only thing I’d change is the return shuttle time. It leaves at 10:30, even though checkout is at 12, so we couldn’t enjoy the room, hotel, and pool right up to checkout. VIAS Hotel nearby runs shuttles around 1-2 PM, and luxury resorts in Ho Tram have departures after 12 PM. We had a great stay otherwise. The room had excellent facilities, and the bathtub was a nice extra. When our first room had weak air conditioning, the staff promptly moved us to another available room, and repair work on the faulty one started straight away. The breakfast buffet had lots of satisfying options, especially the omelet made by a young chef. There was also an event at the pool, so we never got bored. The service felt thoughtful throughout, and every staff member seemed keen to make sure guests enjoyed their stay. The design and furnishings, inside and out, showed attention to detail.