With lockdowns over, some of Vietnam’s main tourist destinations are slowly waking up.
Foreign tourists may still be thin on the ground, but local travellers are keen to start exploring again. And, with so few travellers around, there are some great deals and upgrades to be found. Here are two we recently checked out.
LAK Tented Camp
Where: Dak Lak province (160km north-west of Dalat; a 4-hour drive)
Cost: From 1,800,000VND-3,360,000VND per night
Link: https://www.laktentedcamp.com
Tel: +84 262 6255 552
As we cycle back from a trip past verdant rice fields, we’re invited to jump on the back of a tractor. A few moments later and we’re walking through muddy tracks, deep in a forest with a guide carrying a chunk of banana tree over his shoulder. And then the elephant appears. LAK Tented Camp has its own elephant who wanders through the forest and occasionally is brought in to the camp to graze on bananas while guests graze during breakfast.
The camp offers a simple glamping option by the side of Lak Lake, with 15 tent bungalows set on a sloping hillside. Rooms are cozy and simple – it’s the kind of place where you check the bathroom carefully to see what’s crept in. Being surrounded by nature is the appeal here. We woke up and sipped Vietnamese coffee on a balcony made from gnarled wood, listening to a dawn chorus. Breakfast is in a long Mnong-style stilt house and given the remote location – you need a boat to take you across the lake back to civilisation – you’re likely going to be having lunch and dinner there too. Food is based around local dishes, with a few western options thrown in. Sticky rice rolled in bamboo (com lam) with pork was our go-to option. It’s worth saving room for the banana cake and home-made ice-cream, too.
Lazing by the lake could quite easily take up your time here, but if you want to venture out Bim Bip waterfall is nearby. After a 2km trek, the modest waterfall appears and it’s here that guides build a fire, barbecue strips of pork and serve up lunch. Other trips are offered – the World Coffee Museum is as smooth as a creamy cappuccino – but visits to the Mnong villages are limited due to covid restrictions. That’s no big deal though, as the camp itself has enough of its own natural charms.
The World of Coffee Museum in Dak Lak
Centara Mirage Mui Ne
Where: Mui Ne (a 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City)
Cost: From 5,000,000VND per night
Link: www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cmv/
Tel: (+84) 2522222202
One of the newest contenders in Vietnam’s luxury resort scene, Centara Mirage is a family-friendly place packed with facilities.
Mui Ne’s famous sand dunes are close by, but when there’s a water park, pool-side bar, cliff-jumping and lighthouse on offer, it’ll take you some time to check them all out. The water park features a giant pirate ship with slides coming off each side, which ties in with the Spanish theme that influences most of the architecture and design features.
The villas, all 900 of them, are imaculate, with their own gardens and, at the top end, private pools. Free buggies zip around the resort all day and if you want to go farther, the main town of Mui Ne is a short taxi ride away. In addition to the well-stocked gym, there’s a games centre with pool tables (all free, aside from the bowling and karaoke), two outdoor children’s play areas and an excellent indoor one. If you’re after a weekend of hedonism and self-indulgence, Centara Mirage is a top choice.
