CATCAT GARDEN (Home - Restaurant - Cafe) — Hotel in Cau May Ward

Firstly, my gratitude to the one staff member who did their best in the circumstances - they were friendly and attentive. This experience was complicated by the lunar new year. I had booked to stay at the H’Mong cat cat Homestay through booking.com but was told the afternoon before check-in that all guests from there would be moved to cat cat garden house instead (because of the late notification I couldn’t cancel without penalty) due to no staff over lunar new year. As lunar new yr happens annually, the venue would have known this would happen far in advance but only told guests last minute.

I cannot recommend this venue in Winter. Despite being given an extra blanket and heating set to 32C the room was still cold, and despite heating the water for over an hr, the hot water in the shower only lasts for 3mins. I gave feedback to the owner, including how it’s freezing in the dining area that’s open to 5 degrees C and guests can only choose to be cold indoors or outdoors because ‘indoors’ is not enclosed. Everywhere is cold and the owner told me that I am not used to Sa Pa weather and that if I want to be warm I should go to a hotel. There was a lot of gaslighting when I was giving feedback and the owner kept saying she did not want trouble even though I was willing to pay the full amount as per booking policy when I left early.

To their credit, they only charged me for the night I stayed there. But the excuses for the conditions, and being moved to alternative accom will little warning, and switching between saying I need to pay the full amount to not (even when I insisted on following policy) made this a very weird experience. I showed the descriptions for both rooms on booking.com and how the reality did not live up to them. This was initially also met with resistance. The owner cancelled the booking on booking.com for various reasons so I cannot leave a review on there, only here. I chose the original accom based on previous reviews that cited amazing staff and a fix to the heating situation. But these interactions...

This is one of the best places I have ever stayed! As soon as my partner and I arrived, we were stunned by the view. We booked the bungalow so woke up to the gorgeous mountain landscape every morning. The staff were the friendliest we have ever encountered, and couldn't do enough for us. They brought us tea whenever we were in the main building and gave us lots of recommendations. One evening, one of the staff brought over some snacks that the family make from corn - you can't buy it, they just make it for themselves. It was so sweet! Our room was very basic, which for us is fine. It had a comfortable and sizeable double bed (very good mattress), a fridge, kettle, air conditioning and wet room with toilet, sink and shower. The only thing was that the floor became very wet from the shower, and also the hot water only lasts about 5 minutes. This didn't bother us too much, given all of the other positives as well as the price (£16.50/night). For us, breakfast was included as we had Genius discount (booking.com). They had about 9 options to choose from and each was 99,000 vnd. I would recommend the pho and the coffee. We loved the location as it was set back from the town (about 15-20 minutes by foot), close to Cat Cat Village, but if you have accessibility issues or don't like hills then it's not ideal. However, a taxi to Sapa centre cost us only 40,000 vnd. Much like anywhere in Vietnam, the roads aren't the best and drivers honk a lot. Teamed with many stray dogs, you may want to bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper like me! Overall, we were blown away with this place. I...

Arriving at Cat Cat Garden House is an experience in itself. The view is breathtaking and the ideal Sa Pa landscape unfolds before you in the entrance.

It is a small place which offers some delicious juices, cool drinks and a variety of hot tots to keep you warm in the cold weather. Secretly they have rooms, bungalows and etc...of all sorts around this hillside sanctuary. The rooms are well placed along with areas to play cards, talk and even braai/barbeque if you so choose.

I especially enjoyed my room with one or two set backs though nothing too far for the staff to step in and assist. I only stayed one evening there though I left feeling well rested and better off having been there. The tranquillity of the mountainside and wonderous terrain enthralls and leaves you alone to your thoughts or creature comforts. I personally read and explored the town, all within walking distance; maybe slightly more up than normal though.

To bring it in, if your traveling about and looking for an affordable and reasonably comfortable accomidation, then this garden haven will leave your desires well quenched.Give it a try, what's the harm in saving a buck or two and getting a real deal or should I steal.

P.S. Note to self, when traveling check that everything works first or remind the owner...