Hoi An Garden Palace & Spa — Hotel in Hội An

We stayed at Hoi An Garden Palace for 5 nights and, overall, we were underwhelmed. I booked based on glowing reviews on Booking.com and other platforms, but the experience didn’t live up to expectations.

The best part was the staff — especially Lucky, who was warm, attentive, and made our stay feel more personal. The team even surprised my son with a birthday cake at breakfast, which was such a kind and thoughtful gesture.

Unfortunately, the hotel itself has many downsides. On the first night, a bar next door had a loud party until 11pm, and I had to call reception so my kids could sleep. Several other nights were disrupted by dogs barking from 1am–3am, and we eventually had to switch rooms. Walls are thin — we could hear every hallway conversation and noise from other guests.

Even daytime rest was hard. The cleaning staff regularly yelled to each other in the hallways, and I had to ask them to quiet down during my son’s nap.

The rooms look far nicer in the photos than in reality. They’re outdated, with hard, uncomfortable beds, thin blankets, and old, bumpy pillows (just two on a king bed). The AC works well, but was too cold at night with no extra bedding.

Breakfast is very basic — it does the job, but with some effort, it could be much better. The location is not central, so we used bikes, which was fine for us. It’s close to An Bang Beach, which is beautiful and peaceful.

Checkout was awkward — they tried to charge us for one bottle of water while our taxi was waiting, even though we were provided water daily. It felt petty and unnecessary.

In summary: lovely staff and a sweet birthday surprise, but the hotel needs serious updates, better soundproofing, and more thoughtful service to justify its price. Sadly, it didn’t match the positive reviews I’d read...

Great value for money, highly recommend.

Overall: Perhaps the best value for money ratio in whole Hoi An. The hotel is built in Victorian style. Rooms are spacious and offers several design features. It seems extra popular among Westerners, Japanese and Koreans.

Location: Might seem of the beaten track but by bike you are on the beach or the ancient town in 15 min. Also taxi to beach/city is very cheap. So I would not worry about location not being on the beach / in the city centre.

Facilities: The garden is harmonic and a perfect place to relax and enjoy the pretty amazing flowers.

Pool is a perfect place to re-boost and get away from the busy streets.

Rooms are tidy, clean and spacious. Note: one of the reviewers had fungus in her room and had to change room.

Staff: Staff very kind and helpful. Make friends with Lan Phuong and you will be pampered.

Food & Beverage: Breakfast has a mix Western and Eastern alternatives. One hot cooking station for omelette and pancakes.

Lunch is above expectation and at moderate prices. Can recommend as a walk-in as well.

Environmental footprint & CSR Unfortunately very limited. Possible to sort garbage in organic / non-organic. Hotel rely on plastic bottles for supplying water to guests. No CSR initiatives were visible.

Ancillaries: Great massage which we used at several times during our stay. Hotel also offers tours and transportation in modern cars.

Guest characteristics: Suitable for all types of guests.

Ideal...

I stayed at Hoi An Garden Palace and was genuinely impressed by how beautiful the property was. The architecture, lush garden, and overall atmosphere felt dreamy and tranquil—like a little oasis. The room was very spacious, clean, and beautifully decorated. Everything felt elegant and well-maintained.The staff were friendly, professional, and went out of their way to be helpful. They offered great advice, engaged in warm conversation, and made the experience feel personal and welcoming. The breakfast buffet was well-organized with a nice variety of food, and everything was presented very professionally.That said, I did have a few small issues. While the room was very clean overall, the floors didn’t feel completely clean—there was a bit of dust or grit underfoot. Also, the noise level in the mornings was a downside. The cleaning staff and nearby construction made it hard to relax or sleep in, and the walls were quite thin, so I could hear guests in neighboring rooms.Despite these things, it was still one of the most beautiful and well-run places I’ve stayed during my time in Vietnam. If you’re looking for a visually stunning, comfortable hotel with excellent service and don’t mind a bit of noise, this is a...