Poulo Condor Boutique Resort & Spa — Hotel in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province

Pretty disappointed with our experience here. The resort is pretty but that’s about all it had going for it. A tour agency booked it for us and it’s taken a lot of self restraint not to send them an annoyed emailed.

When we arrived, they told us they upgraded our room. We were taken to a lovely room with a nice view... that had an outdoor bathroom (shower, toilet, tub outdoors). Maybe that works for some people, but as the subject of mosquito feasting (even after spraying myself with bug repellent), an outdoor bathroom is basically my hell. We asked to switch to a room with an indoor bathroom, which they accommodated.

While we waited for our new room, we checked out the two bars on site. They had the same menu. The menu had limited and rather unappealing vegetarian options.

We tried the fish tacos... they weren’t very good and they weren’t even really tacos so much as small flatbreads with inflexible bread so you had to eat them like large, overloaded crackers.

The new room was smaller and had no view, so it was a bit of a bummer. The sheets had stains on them. The safe didn’t work when we arrived. All in all, a disappointment.

We wanted to go to the town to check out what was there (particularly food wise). Town is about 12km from the hotel. Apparently biking isn’t an option because it’s too windy and hilly... the hotel only has two shuttles to and from town each day - at 9am and 1pm to town and 1:30pm and 4:45pm to the hotel. So... if you want to have dinner in town, you need to find your own way back. Considering the cost of the hotel, I would expect them to provide more shuttle times to/from the hotel.

A cab to/from town costs 250,000 dong (so ~10usd), cash only. It seems a bit much to pay $20 for transportation for an excursion to the town, which could very well be a total let down.

Instead of going to town, we went to the pool. I’m not sure how many hotel guests there are, but there are ~10 chairs around the pool... which seems a bit short. We almost didn’t have anywhere to sit, but someone had literally just left (although they left their towels on the seats so who knows what their intention was). The pool chairs are dirty and stained. Again, I expected more given the cost of the hotel.

Very much regretting staying here. It makes me feel trapped and very irritated. Perhaps my desires for cleanliness, indoor bathrooms, vegetarian food that tastes decent, and the ability to be more easily and affordably mobile aren’t concerns for others... but for me, the whole situation was...

Poulo Condor Resort on Con Dao island masterfully balances luxury with authentic Vietnamese character. What immediately strikes you is the soul infused into every aspect of the property - this is far from a cookie-cutter resort experience. The reception area sets the tone perfectly, featuring carefully curated traditional Asian artwork adorning white walls, complemented by elegant dark wood furniture and comfortable chairs with yellow accent cushions. The welcome ritual, complete with iced tea and native almonds, demonstrates the staff's commitment to hospitality from the moment you arrive. The resort's crown jewel is undoubtedly its stunning infinity pool. Set against a dramatic backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, the multi-level pool design creates a serene oasis. The thoughtful layout includes comfortable seating areas and beautiful stone paving that perfectly complements the natural surroundings. Interestingly, the pool area maintains a warmer microclimate than the beach, making it an ideal retreat on breezy days. Accommodations don't disappoint, with spacious, well-designed rooms. The evening tea service delivered directly to your room adds a particularly charming touch that exemplifies the resort's attention to detail. The beach is a highlight - long and beautiful, offering unique opportunities for walks that can take you all the way to the airport fence for plane spotting. Speaking of the airport, despite being only 6 minutes away by car, its small ATR aircraft operations never disturb the resort's tranquility. While the food quality is good, the menu could benefit from featuring more local Vietnamese cuisine alongside its Western offerings. This would better cater to adventurous travelers eager to explore regional flavors. What truly sets Poulo Condor apart is how every element - from the decor to the service - reflects genuine care and thoughtfulness rather than corporate standardization. It's an ideal choice for travelers seeking luxury accommodations that haven't sacrificed their sense of place and cultural identity. Location: ★★★★★ Ambiance: ★★★★★ Pool: ★★★★★ Rooms: ★★★★★ Service: ★★★★★ Food: ★★★★☆ Perfect for: Luxury travellers who appreciate authenticity, couples seeking a romantic getaway, and anyone looking to experience Con Dao's natural beauty in...

If I could put 3.5 stars, that’s what I would’ve put. There were some ups and downs here, but throughout it all, one thing was consistent: the service was really good! The location of the hotel is a bit far from ‘downtown’ Con Dao, but that’s the whole charm of it. You really are in the center of nature… and all the friendly animals and bugs that come with it, I don’t mind them, but some might ! Monkeys, geckos, lizards, snails, etc.

The first thing that threw me off was the unadvertised ‘interior-exterior’ washroom. Although most of it is covered, the shower is open to nature (and so technically is the rest of the washroom), with only a small net preventing monkeys from entering.. but not the rest of the fauna ;) It’s really interesting, but I think they should offer this as an option when you book. I met some other people on the resort that we were really not happy about it!

The rooms are nice and clean, but the only place to store and hang clothes is in the aforementioned washroom.. which is very humid.

The resort is very quaint and quiet, the pool is big and very peaceful. Access to the beach is key!

The spa was simply wonderful, I booked the Yen Signature 90-mins package and it was divine !

The restaurant is good, large colonial design space with a varied menu, again the staff is very nice! The prices are slightly high, and there aren’t many options around unless you go into town, but for that you’d need to rent a motorbike (which I strongly recommend) since the shuttle service ends at 6pm.

Overall the facility seemed like it was on pause. Not sure if it was the effect of low season, weekdays or post-covid recovery, but most of the services were not available or stations unmanned. I was looking forward to the ‘daily morning yoga/meditation’ as advertised on the website, but was informed that they weren’t doing that anymore.

I would recommend to nature lovers and people who can ride motorcycles! Being aware of the ‘exterior’ washroom, the reduced service and the shuttle situation before booking would’ve made a difference, but it was enjoyable nonetheless :)

Thanks to...