Tam Coc Garden
Location
Located in watercolour-pretty Ninh Binh, south of Hanoi, the Tam Coc Garden is tucked into the crevices between lumbering limestone mountains and bright-green rice paddies. A short ride on one of the hotel’s complimentary bicycles will take you to Bich Dong Pagoda, a series of atmospheric caves filled with ancient shrines. While other local attractions — Tam Coc River, Dong Thien Ha (Galaxy Caves), Van Long Nature Reserve — are all relatively easy to reach by car.
Style and Character
It comes as a delightful surprise to find such a stylish little abode in what is essentially the middle of nowhere. It is bursting with charm, and there are fragrant wildflowers and tropical blooms framing the pathways, intimate outdoor terraces and chic rooms which open up onto swaying rice fields. Combine that with the remote location and bucolic scenery and you’ve got the perfect recipe for calm.
Service and Facilities
As it’s a small property, facilities are few. Although there is a lovely little swimming pool in which to cool down after trekking around the countryside. Overall, the staff were excellent: friendly housekeepers, an efficient reception desk, with just a couple of missteps in the restaurant, when the waiters just wandered aimlessly away mid-meal.
Rooms
The 16 rooms hit the sweet spot between rustic and refined, with two-toned tiled floors, chunky stone walls, vaulted ceilings and large beds dressed with wispy nets and embroidered linens. Indoor/outdoor bathrooms have ceramic blue-glazed soaking tubs and locally-made jasmine-scented toiletries. Premium rooms also come with cosy living spaces and outdoor patios with rice-paddy-tastic views – well-worth splashing out the extra £12 to enjoy.
Food and Drink
Breakfast — think poached eggs, rice buns, porky pho and pineapple and ginger lassi — is served on the terrace. If you love Vietnamese food, you’ll be in your element here, with oversized bowls of banana flower and chicken salad, pork stew with lotus seeds, and carrot, mint and pawpaw spring rolls all coming in at less than £5 a portion (tomatoes, spinach, aubergines, papaya, mangoes and more come straight from the Tam Coc’s organic gardens too). Western dishes — club sandwiches, burgers, chicken wings — are also available, but were less impressive.