Cassia Cottage Resort & Spa Phu Quoc — Attraction in Phú Quốc

So Many Options... But So Glad We Chose Cassia Cottage!||After months of searching (seriously, how many places are there to stay on Phu Quoc?), changing my mind, and circling back again, I finally booked Cassia Cottage - and I’m so glad I did. It was a big decision: my best friend was flying in from Australia, my partner and I were coming from the UK, and this trip was all about celebrating – two 50ths and a birthday while we were there - so the stakes were high.||Booking Direct - Smooth and Easy|I booked directly with the hotel and had to make a few changes along the way - nothing was too much trouble. Every interaction was handled with warmth and efficiency. The team were friendly, responsive, and incredibly helpful throughout.||Arrival and Driver|We were greeted at the airport by Nguyen Hong Son (and his fantastic dashboard full of kung fu figurines!) - the warmest welcome after a long flight. He was absolutely brilliant: smiling, kind, honest, and just a joy to be around. We hired him for several day trips and were so happy we did - reasonably priced and always reliable. Don’t forget to tip him!||Accommodation|Check-in was quick and personal, and we were shown to our Premier Seafront room - which we adored. It was spacious, beautifully furnished, with lovely French doors we kept open at night (thanks to a good mosquito net) to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. The bed was ridiculously comfortable, with high-quality sheets and pillows. The room was spotless, amenities were thoughtful, and we loved the fresh well water provided. Absolutely worth the upgrade.||My friend stayed in a Garden Cottage, which was also gorgeous and beautifully appointed. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the rooms here.||Food & Drink|On our first night, we dined at the Spice House - and wow. The food was fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. Knowing the chefs source local ingredients seriously added to the experience.||We were a bit sad that Malabar (the beachfront bar) wasn’t open during our stay - we’d seen photos and were looking forward to enjoying sunset drinks there. But we totally understood, as we were visiting in the rainy season. Just one more reason we’d love to come back.||Happy Hour at the main bar became a highlight. One rainy afternoon, the three of us made it through the entire cocktail list (oops) - and the drinks were strong, well priced, and very tasty. Sang and the team behind the bar were hilarious, kind, and so much fun.||Breakfast was a daily joy - fresh fruit, pho, eggs, vegetarian options, homemade cakes and jams, and breads. Always plentiful and fresh, we were warmly greeted every morning and always left well fed.||The Staff - Truly Exceptional|Cassia’s biggest strength by far is its staff. Every single team member we met was kind, attentive, and genuinely cared about making our stay special. There was nothing robotic or rehearsed - just honest, warm hospitality.||They truly went above and beyond to make my partner Paul’s birthday feel special. From a beautiful rose petal message on the bed to a perfectly presented and delicious cake – and with every customer-facing staff member taking the time to wish him a happy birthday – it was all so thoughtful and personal. We were genuinely touched by the effort and warmth.||Honestly, with so many hotel options on the island, it’s the people at Cassia who make it so special. I really hope they are paid their worth, because they are the heart and soul of the resort.||Entertainment|One unexpected highlight was the live entertainment – and I say that as someone who usually avoids it like the plague. There was a duo performing on a couple of evenings, and they were genuinely talented. No cheesy holiday vibes here – just lovely, soulful music that suited the relaxed setting perfectly. The female singer (I think she was Russian – my memory for names is shocking, sorry!) had a beautiful voice and was incredibly warm and friendly. The atmosphere they created was calm and intimate, not intrusive at all. Even better, they invited my friend (who also has a fab voice) to sing with them one night - it turned into a really special and memorable moment. Just another example of how welcoming and laid-back Cassia Cottage is.||Yoga|We joined two sessions with Louisa and wished we had done more. She’s an amazing teacher - calm, skilled, and welcoming to all levels. We’re hoping to continue with her online classes now that we’re back home.||The Gardens and Grounds|The resort grounds are absolutely stunning - lush, green, and clearly very well maintained. Even in the rain, everything looked vibrant and fresh. One small heads-up: keep an eye out for the giant snails wandering about - please don’t squish them!||A Note on the Beach|Just to be clear - what I’m about to say is absolutely not the hotel’s fault. During our stay (off-season, with plenty of rain and rough seas), a lot of rubbish washed up on the beach. It was upsetting to see, but this is a global issue - not a local one - and it affects many parts of the world, especially islands like Phu Quoc.||From photos, it’s clear the hotel keeps their beach area pristine during high season when conditions are calmer. I really hope more support is given year-round by local authorities and neighboring resorts, because places like Cassia shouldn’t have to manage this alone.||The sea itself was a little rough during our stay, with a noticeable current - but we still enjoyed a few dips and short swims. It felt safe enough if you’re a confident swimmer, but caution is definitely advised during off-season.||One thing we sadly didn’t get to enjoy was the sunset - thanks to constant clouds and rain. But again, we knew it was rainy season when we booked, and we have zero regrets. The atmosphere was still magical, and we’d love to return in dry season to see the beach in its pristine state and enjoy those sunsets in person.||Location|The resort is in a perfect spot - peaceful and tucked away, but just a short walk from other restaurants, cafes, bars, and massage spots if you feel like venturing out. We never felt isolated - just relaxed.||Price|If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful stay, this probably isn’t it - but for comfort, genuine hospitality, and soul, it’s worth every extra penny. The little touches and creature comforts truly elevate the experience.||Final Verdict|Would I stay again? Absolutely. Just maybe not in the off-peak season. Cassia Cottage was everything we hoped for - charming, comfortable, peaceful, and full of heart. The staff are exceptional, the food is fantastic, and the setting is beautiful. We stayed five nights before moving on to another resort (separate review to come), but Cassia really set the bar. We're so glad we chose it, and we hope to return one day to see it in all its sun-soaked...

From the moment we arrived at Cassia Cottage, we could tell, the actual property is not as advertised. The reception in reality verses pictures alone were different, and not in a good way. We booked for a family of 6, 3 couples, 3 rooms that were garden facing. The entire place seems to be run on a shoe string budget. The gardeners and cleaning staff were pleasant. The rooms are clean and spacious however the beds are not comfortable. The shower in one room had a shower curtain, and in all the advertised pictures there is no shower curtain. This is subpar for a so called 4 star place. The "gardens" are over grown, unkept, dry, untidy and not as advertised as a luscious garden resort. A gardener was going about his day when we noticed him taking pictures of an area before he swept and after. We deduced that the owners are monitoring staff this way - you really got the feeling that the place is not being run well. The paving around the property was green and black with moss in most areas- slippery too! Just not up to standard. There is a canal sort of water way running through the property, the water flowing through murky and dirty- unsightly. We ordered some water and ice on the first night of our 7 night stay, and we're told that all room service had a 20% surcharge for bringing the items ordered to your room. I've been to hundreds of cities all over the world- I was appalled to learn that a bottle of water costed 120%. Further, we were charged for ice- another first for me. When I complained about this, the restaurant manager walked to our room to explain that ice is charged and why- it was just SHOCKING! The meals/breakfast was about the worst thing. Firstly, breakfast is included with the booking but is limited to around 6 dishes - all of which were made poorly. If you want things from the other side of the menu, you have to pay extra- not a reasonable amount extra- an exorbitant amount more. The buffet stations were dismall- a cheese and cold meat selection that was always sparcely filled, tea, coffee, a few veggies for salad (hereto, sparcely filled) a very slow moving toaster, some baked goods and literally 2 types of fruit. Everything we ate was not up to standard. A sausage in the english breakfast was cut into pieces and down the middle and served 2 easily dry pieces per plate. With the poor breakfast, the restaurant staff continously badgered us and guests to come to the restaurant for supper, and that was uncomfortable and unprofessional- we felt like we got the third degree from the lady restaurant manager because we were not interested in the dinner. The dinner menu was exorbitantly priced. If you compaired the menu, the quality we got from the breakfast kitchen and the service to other hotels in Vietnam they were no where near acceptable. We supported the happy hour once, whilst having a late afternoon swim. The pool areas had a terrible sewrage odor! So one swim was all that could be had. The hotel premises was also situated quite inside a narrow alley, 2 small roads away from the main road. Be aware that as you drive in, it's not the beach villa experience you would be envisaging. Very underwhelming. The beach, the shore right outside the gate was dirty, is not a bathing beach, so don't expect to swim there- although it's implied in their advertising! There is a huge outlet pipe right smack in the middle of the beach in front of the hotel- not sure what effluent is coming out there- but it's not pleasing- it was a real downer to see a poor beach when all you think about before arriving is walking onto a pristine beach. It is FAR away from what is advertised. There is an ugly green shade clothe wrapping the untidy fence of the property, again underwhelming. We felt like we paid for a 4 star experience, but got a 2 star place. There is no beach volleyball, lounging near the beach under palm trees, dinners on the beach in a fresh canopy- all those pictures do not exist! Once we were in we just stayed, but in retrospect we should have actually checked out early abd re...

Every minute here is a moment I want to enjoy and savour as if time is running out. Thus I kept extending. And extending. Never been so in tune with a surrounding in my entire life. Heavenly days walking around on clouds, with peace lilly´s and flowers of life between the grass, literally. Its not a spiritual retreat or resort, it is more than that, it is done, being what it is, unapologetically, proudly, not healing from anything but shining, sharing, supporting, overflowing and facilitating whatever is alive within its residents. I came to Cassia in a wonderful inner state and was amazed how well Cassia mirrors it back. There's an abundance of places easily mirroring back our inner suffering states but rare to experience this heavenly mirror!

I really appreciate the confidence of the place - it doesn't need to scream, it informs. Like good old trust-era-marketing before the manipulation-era.

I felt cuddled by the universe as Cassia is like a preview of heaven on earth for all. Not originated from greed or childish unsatisfiability, as majority of establishments today, but grown out of love, dreams, successful living, aspirations and caring sharing. Love is not scaled here, but shines, expanding and nurturing. I felt as welcomed by the owner as I ever have, and I didn't even meet him!

Perfect yoga classes each morning, solid gym close-by, harmonic choice in groceries and food menu, a few pools beautifully sprinkled around the landscape on the way down to the beach through the fertile lush garden of eden. All infused by balanced music in both vibration and volume along with an amazing scent - as they say "even the air is filled with intent" - and that subtle cinnamon scent - heavenly ! Cassia is a sensory delight!

Having spent over 1000 days in hotels over the years in all sorts of classes and genres over the world, Cassia is one of the top experiences to date in terms of soul alignment and dimensional harmony. Some guests might not even notice the fact that the tap water is drinkable(!), or that the rooms and sheets are cleaned with life-friendlier products, the cleaners leaving a scent of healthy cinnamon, the avoidance of processed foods and MSG etc in the kitchen, every design and construction choice is clearly made as the owner would want to live here himself with no short-cuts (notice the doors quality!) but when you do notice, you fall and feel in love !

No need to run around for poison free shower soaps or organic restaurants serving happy groceries - its all here already, not guaranteed, but by best effort - an honesty I appreciate a lot! It feels clean, from poison, to eat whatever they serve here and rarely do i ignore brands or ingredients but here I let my entire guard down. What a relief !

The food is right on the money and the menu is great for long term stays as it caters to the full range of both my soul and my parasites and with a strong global palette at that.

Overall Cassia has everything in harmony as the owner clearly, still, pays attention to his creation. It is felt throughout the place - no scattered contradictive vibrations or choices anywhere to be experienced! Smooth, harmonious, elegant, real and a gentle yet powerful kindness. A personal favourite of mine is the drink menus where the owner really show he doesn't shy away from simply being himself.

Oh, and needless to say - the rooms are perfect, of course - intelligent, practical, beautiful, rustic, bright, spacious, airy, clean, and cozy.

Ironically, you will find the energetic opposite of Cassia if you go to the mass produced empty shell euro-copy-replica cities up north and south of Phu Quoc making a very interesting and soul inspiring experience of contrasts and creations. I loved Cassia even more after those escapades!

Thank you Cassia, Luisa, Mark and all you shining beautiful co-creators making it Cassia everyday! You are all raising the level of...