Quinnybird
November 14, 2023
Its quite hard to write a review about this place as it is not like any place we have been before and every travel will experience this differently. It is very basic with a simple buisness structure and very few amenities but to us this somehow adds to its charm, warmth and character. The place is owned and run by a (youngish but) retired couple who have many years experience in the hospitality/tourist trade, who make you feel like you are being invited to their home, which of course your are... its absolutely shoes off, epecially in the public dining area and your private lodge. The owner grew up here and the property has been developed from a private family homestead to a tourist base by the addition of a simple open sided canopied eating area and a separate fenced garden area housing 7 lodges. Marketing material says 5 but we did see 7 in use by (apparently) European guests. The only access to Coco Riverside is on foot (or on two wheels), luggage is brought in by staff on the back of mopeds and guest walk the uneven pavement for 5 minutes or so to get there (about 300-500m). Pedal cycles are stored at the side of each lodge for free use to explore, but please, fully check yours if using. Our touring bikes were set up and prepared ready for us one morning by the hotel and we just expected them to be fine but hubby found he had no working brakes whilst we were out and had to do a quick 'moving' repair on the go whilst exploring. Good job he's a 'know-how' kind of bloke as i'd have been useless and terrified. Our lodge was central of the plot and on our first day it was truly serene as we were the only guests on site. In fact, it even felt a lttle 'forgotten' as darkness grew in, but eventually someone came and switch some pavement/wall lights on and it felt cosier. Rooms have a beautiful outlook across the river and feel idillic (which is only marred by the hidden residencies on the opposite side of the river who are passionate about their evening kareoke (like most places in Vietnam). We did suspect that having guests in neighbouring lodges might detract from the privacy which was bourne out on the second day but not to a great detriment as the lodges are partially staggered. It was very convenient to have the river pier right outside the lodges, both for coming and going, and we enjoyed the varied trips and activities our local guide had planned in conjunction with the hotel using their onsite river boat and driver... it seemed like everything we did was connected to a family cottage industry in some way related to the hotel. Many of the activities offer a great and deeply personal insight into the local natural Vietnamese people, seeing the palm weaving, coconut rope making factory, frog farming etc and we loved it all. All bar one that is. One seemingly compulsory activity was to visit the resident Viet Kong War Veteran who lives co-located on the property and is related to the owner. We did not like or enjoy this experience although rem