Staying at Mango Bay is a ‘back to nature’ experience – it is a minimalist, low-density resort, driven by its passion for the fragile ecology of the island. To stay means shunning the town, with its restaurants, bars and encroaching commercialism, and instead seek refuge on a remote stretch of unspoiled rocky coastline. Fortunately, there are several picturesque small coves with white sand beaches, ideal for swimming. Better still, you will most likely have them to yourself. The 40 low-impact ‘Rammed Earth’ and ‘Plantation’ Bungalows are sparsely set throughout generous grounds which never feel crowded – you’ll no doubt only meet your fellow guests in the open-air beach restaurant for breakfast and dinner. The restaurant’s food and prices are good, almost as good as its reputation. Mango Bay is effortlessly comfortable and an utterly relaxing place to waste time in. The absence of everything means you want for nothing and the unassuming nature of the place and staff can be a real tonic at the end of your journey.

NOTE: At Mango Bay there are no televisions, no telephones and no air-conditioning. It is also in a remote location. We consider these all to be positives. The following comments from a client accurately portrays the experience:

“If you are frightened of creepy crawlies, then this is not the right place for you. Personally, I love ’em – and waking up in a hut with geckos patrolling the walls for mosquitoes makes me happy. With a net draped around your bed and a breeze blowing through the shutters, I must admit I felt a bit Robinson Crusoe. There is also something strangely exhilarating about an outdoor bathroom in the sun. I can’t say enough about the restaurant setting though; the water practically laps up against your feet. The staff are great, gentle and relaxed but still attentive. The food was sensational and the cocktails were pretty decent too. The coastline of the resort runs for a kilometre and the beach bar is a perfect place to put your feet up after a walk. Coming back to the room after dinner, the staff had lit coils and candles and made the room feel luxurious. You can also order drinks to be waiting in your esky after the beach and the massage hut is in an incredible setting with reasonably priced deals. A perfect place to end a trip to Vietnam as we did. After the hectic cities its nice to go back home to a big city with that rustic, laid-back beachy feeling. Pretty special place.”