Mango Bay

Rooms

Mango Bay consists of rustic rooms and bungalows dotted around the flower-filled gardens and linked by a series of pathways - you might need the torch provided to find your way back after dark. Most rooms are a single-room thatched cottage, with a wooden decked balcony and loungers or sofas at the front, and a bathroom out back.

It’s fairly simple, but also tasteful, comfortable and extremely relaxing. You can see the sea from most bungalows, and all are a 2-minute stroll through the garden to the beach. We liked the little touches, too: Thermos flasks, which can be filled with tea or coffee at the restaurant (free of charge), and an icebox, which will be filled with ice and soft drinks/beers on request.

There's no air-con due to the owners’ eco-friendly concerns, but a clever low energy air cooling system is fitted around all the beds for a good night sleep. Not all rooms are air tight which allows for a cacophony of insect noise and the odd visit from an unexpected bug, but there are fans and sturdy mosquito nets. Bathrooms (shower only) are at the exterior of each bungalow and are half-open to the elements, which enhances the glorious living-with-nature feel.

Veranda Rooms are the cheapest; a little terrace of adjacent small twin/double rooms with a shared veranda out front. These are great if you're on a real budget, but there’s little privacy and a main pathway runs right past your front door.

Next up are the Rammed Earth Bungalows, which are naturally cool due to their eco-friendly construction. Some are detached but others are only semi-detached, which makes for quite an intimate set-up. The Fisherman Bungalows are great for families as they have a double and single bed. There's also a 2-bedroom Family Bungalow (double and twin) with space for a rollaway bed, too.

We'd recommend going for a Plantation Bungalow. They're a little more expensive, but well worth the upgrade to not feel on top of your neighbours. Divided into Sea View and Garden View, they feel spacious inside and can also fit a rollaway bed. The Bay View Villas, which we haven't seen yet, are also particularly roomy, as they're split over 2 levels.

Larger groups should try and bag Reef House, which has 2 double bedrooms (both with ensuite shower rooms), a large terrace with sofas and a hammock, and an open-plan living/dining space. Meals from the restaurant can be brought to you here - an added bonus. It's super popular, so book early if you want it; there's space for a rollaway bed, too.

Features include:

• Beach towels
• Cots available
• Fan
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• Torch
• WiFi

Eating

The On The Rocks restaurant is the heart of the hotel, and one of the best on Phu Quoc. It’s got a chilled, relaxed vibe and comfy sofas, so people tend to congregate here during the day and evening. They play music, which most people enjoy, but some may find it intrusive (a mix of jazz, Cuban and reggae).

The Vietnamese food is delicious; the chef cooks up a storm using Mango Bay’s home-grown vegetables and locally sourced meat and fish. This isn’t generic hotel food, it’s mouthwatering and authentic. The pork in clay pot and crab stir-fry were favourite meals of our trip. There’s a good choice of Western food, too, like pasta and pizza, which will keep kids happy. However, we'd give the puddings (except for the ice cream) a miss - they're not the best. Breakfast is simple but good - juice, coffee, bread, fruit. Eggs are available on request, and the omelettes are great.

There's also On The Sand which serves up a smaller selection of their most popular dishes a few steps from the beach - making it perfect for lazy lunches, plus amazing cocktails from barman Tin Tin.

Unless you're staying in Reef House there's no room service, but you can, if you order the day before and pay extra, get them to bring breakfast to your balcony if you prefer to start the day in solitude.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Laze on the beach and swim or snorkel in the lovely warm shallows. If you get restless, there are badminton and cricket kits and beach footballs to borrow for impromptu sport, or you can hire a kayak or paddleboard
  
  
• Lose a few hours/days in the Mango Bay Spa. Nestled amongst lush gardens and water features, you can enjoy beauty treatments and great massages
  
  
• Learn how to cook authentic Vietnamese food with Mango Bay's chef; great fun and you get to eat your 3-course meal at the end of it
  
  
• Visit the hotel's butterfly and rare orchid garden, and if you’re particularly enthusiastic about nature take a guided trek through the surrounding jungle. You’ll definitely see lots of birds, possibly a monkey or 2, and there’s a waterfall where you can sometimes swim
  
  
• If you're feeling adventurous, hire a moped (just watch out for lorries!) and drive down to the beautiful Sao Beach in the southeast: idyllic white sand and turquoise waters
  
  
• Or head to Long Beach and visit Pearl Gallery; a small shop selling locally cultivated pearl necklaces and earrings. Wall panels describe (in English) how the the pearls are obtained from oysters
  
  
• Hire a traditional fishing boat to pootle around the island

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Badminton
• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

This is a great place for children with lots of space to explore, and especially families with a green ethos. Kids activities are organised daily - these might include gardening, kite flying, cooking classes or beach games. The sea is shallow, safe and warm. We saw a group of 2 families, which seemed to work really well. Children under 5 stay for free, and extra beds and baby cots can be provided. The property is pushchair-friendly.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Nearly all rooms could work for families and there are heaps of extra beds available.

The Fisherman Bungalows have a double and single bed. The 2-bedroom Family Bungalow has a double and twin room, plus space for an additional bed. Plantation Bungalows have space for a rollaway bed; some Rammed Earth Bungalows share a terrace. Larger groups should try and bag Reef House, which has 2 double bedrooms (both with ensuite shower rooms), a large terrace with sofas and a hammock, and an open-plan living/dining space. Meals from the restaurant can be brought to you here - an added bonus. It's super popular, so book early if you want it; there's space for a rollaway bed, too

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 20 minutes
• Hospital: 25 minutes
• Nearest shop: 10-15 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Mango Bay is situated on Phu Quoc Island, which is 50km off the south coast of Vietnam. It's actually only 15km from coastal Cambodia and is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand.

By Air:
The nearest international airport is in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Tan Son Nhat International Airport). From there its a quick 1 hour internal flight to Phu Quoc with multiple flights leaving throughout the day


From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers from the airport (10km).

By Boat:
Quite a few ferry companies operate hydrofoils between Rach Gia on the mainland and Duong Dong on Phu Quoc. The journey takes about 2.5 hours. The hotel can arrange a harbour pick-up.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Vietnam and getting around