The Holiday Villa Halong Bay was the perfect choice for a stay when I visited Vietnam in May 2010 on a five-day trip.
It was strategically located near the world-famous UNESCO Site of Halong Bay and on the well-known resort island of Tuan Chau, about two kilometres from Halong City and Halong Bay.
Update: This resort is no longer the Holiday Villa and is under another name. But the alternative is still here; therefore, if you are visiting or staying here, do update me thank you.
The landscape around Holiday Villa.
Holiday Villa Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island Review
Getting to the Holiday Villa Halong Bay was relatively easy as it is off the main road leading to Halong City and Ha Long Bay.
You cannot miss the grand arch into Tuan Chau Island, about two kilometres before Halong City, where the main area and jetty to Halong Bay are.
Holiday Villa Halong Bay reception area.
Upon arrival, I was immediately greeted by the reception and taken to the lounge area, where I waited for the general manager. I have to say, the Holiday Villa Halong Bay was quite impressive for a recently acquired resort.
Most of the fittings were from the original resort, while minor additions were added to make the place stand out. You get warm once you step inside the main resort building.
Tuan Chau Bar at Holiday Villa.
A lounge bar (Tuan Chau Bar) with a pool table is also by the main reception, where the welcome drinks were served, and it was here that I met John Kirim, the General Manager of Holiday Villa Tuan Chau Island, surprisingly, he was also a Malaysian, so this was perfect!
Holiday Villa garden area.
The entire resort grounds cover a vast area of 220 hectares with lots of greenery and beautiful villa units located almost everywhere. Most of the best-view villas are found on the hillside of the resort.
Walking to the top of the hill will take about 10-15 minutes, while the resort buggy will usually shuttle you up and down. A total of 220 rooms and suites are also available at the Holiday Villa Tuan Chau Island.
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| The gold buggy was used to send guests. |
The resort has about four buggies to send guests around the grounds, but I only used them once to get to the top of the hill.
Mr John took me on a sightseeing tour of Tuan Chau Island, and it was exciting to see how much is being done here. Just so you know, Miss Universe 2008 was also held at this resort.
Holiday Villa Tuan Chau Swimming Pool, Halong Bay, in the background.
Inside the Holiday Villa, they have a private beach and a swimming pool facing Halong Bay.
The pool has a jacuzzi section, and a pool bar is nearby. Families are usually seen having fun here, but I missed the opportunity as I did not have my swimwear this time.
Seafront villa bedroom at Holiday Villa.
On checking into my sea-facing villa unit, I found it highly spacious. This was a first-floor unit with a view of the garden and a little of Halong Bay and the sea.
The doors on each side of the villa opened to a balcony, making it even roomier.
Huge bathroom at Holiday Villa.
The bathroom was an extra surprise as it was one of the most enormous bathrooms I have ever seen. A jacuzzi bath at one corner while the standard bathroom amenities were available.
Outside the bathroom, a double cupboard held bath robes, an umbrella and slippers. Free WiFi is available for all rooms; you must get the password from the main reception.
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| The room amenities. |
For entertainment, a 32-inch LCD TV broadcasts satellite television with sports, world news, movies and even local Vietnamese channels.
A digital safe box and mini bar are also available under the TV, while complimentary coffee, tea and bottled water are available.
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| Swimming pool at the resort. |
You can simply walk around the resort at night and admire the surroundings. Note that there are no shops or other restaurants besides the Tuan Chau Entertainment area on the island.
For those seeking a little pampering, you can also check out the Tuan Chau Spa at the resort. Complete packages are available right down to foot massages and hair washes for the ladies.
Actual view of Halong Bay from Hillside Villas at holiday Villa Tuan Chau.
On my exploration around the Holiday Villa grounds, we made our way up to the highest point of the resort, where spectacular views of Halong Bay could be seen. One of the best villa units can be found here, with non-obstructing views of Halong Bay.
Tuan Chau Restaurant at Holiday Villa.
Tuan Chau Restaurant
Tuan Chau Restaurant is the main restaurant offering you a variety of cuisines ranging from local Vietnamese, Asian and International.
The restaurant on the first floor of the main building also offers fantastic dining views of Halong Bay on one side while the other sees the beautiful garden view.
The place is also well known for its seafood selections and is the typical breakfast area.
Seafood Steamboat at Holiday Villa.
What impressed me most was the portions that were served. They were huge compared to the normal-sized dishes I am used to. The picture above is a portion of a fresh seafood steamboat for one person.
Prices are very reasonable too. I would like to highlight that the Executive Chef here is Malaysian; therefore, the food here is halal for Muslim travellers. There is no pork served here.
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| The restaurant area of the resort. |
Almost every day, we had our breakfast and dinner here at the Tuan Chau Restaurant, sitting at the table by the window overlooking Halong Bay and the swimming pool with the gentle Halong breeze blowing in. This is a smoking restaurant, and the windows are open for summer.
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| A power-packed burger which I ordered. |
Having a long habit of trying burgers on my travels, I could not resist seeing they offered one. Without hesitation, I ordered it and let me tell you, it was one of the most excellent burgers I have ever had.
Just take a look at the size of it in the picture above. I would give it a seven out of ten on my Southeast Asian burger quest in terms of quality and presentation.
In conclusion, Holiday Villa Halong Bay is the perfect place if you have a family with children or a couple seeking a beautiful yet enjoyable holiday in Halong Bay.
The resort also is the perfect place for MICE, Company Trips or Holidays and Team Building events. Because it is located on the stand-alone island of Tuan Chau, you can expect ultimate privacy here.
Tuan Chau Island is well known for its entertainment and recreation activities. A massive entertainment complex which can seat up to 2,000 people holds dolphin and seal shows, a high-tech water fountain with music, laser lighting and film showing on the water screen and a crocodile show.
A newly built jetty that offers cruises to Halong Bay, a 4km man-made beach with local cafes and restaurants, a large building with ferry and cruise counters, and a modern karaoke club and disco make this island a destination for locals and also foreign travellers.
Seafront Large Villa units at Holiday Villa Halong Bay.
Holiday Villa Halong Bay Information
All guest rooms and suites come with an air-conditioner, heater, satellite television, broadband ADSL, WiFi Connection, IDD telephone, bathtub, shower, minibar, coffee & tea making facilities and in-room safe deposit box.
The hotel also caters to meeting and conference facilities, tour services, a souvenir shop, a swimming pool, a spa, a gymnasium, Jacuzzi, a sauna and water sports activities. A private beach is also available for those seeking sun and surf.
Pine Hill Villa Units overlooking Halong Bay.
Room Rates at Holiday Villa Halong Bay;
- Ranging from US$159 to US$319.
- Rates include breakfast and are subject to a 5% service charge and a 10% government tax
Attractions around Holiday Villa Halong Bay;
- The Tuan Chau Entertainment Complex offers several performances daily.
- Crocodile Show in an 850-person theatre, 3 shows daily
- Dolphin, seal and beluga show in a 2,500-persons theatre, 3 shows daily
- Hi-tech water fountain features laser light & sound shows, 1 show daily
- Island Cruise, Local Village Visit
- Water sports activities like jet skiing, speedboats, body board and snorkelling
- Tour of Halong Bay
- You need to check with the resort staff on the availability of shows during the off-season.
Getting to Holiday Villa Halong Bay;
- Airport Pickups can be arranged with the resort, so you need to book ahead
- Transport via tour agents from Hanoi can also be arranged
- Renting a car to self-drive costs around US$100-US$150, and a 2.5 to 3 hours drive
- Express/Public Bus – I took this option as I wanted to experience this journey. Took me about 4 hours as the bus made multiple stops, including one long stop at a local rest area for about 20 minutes.
Map to Holiday Villa Halong Bay
View Holiday Villa Tuan Chau Island on a larger map
Address of Holiday Villa Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island;
TUAN CHAU ISLAND HOLIDAY VILLA HALONG BAY, VIETNAM
Tuan Chau Island, Ha Long City,
Quang Ninh Province,
Vietnam
Telephone: +84 33 3 842 999
Fax: +84 33 3 842 333
Holiday Villa Malaysia Head Office
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
B-16-8, Megan Avenue II,
12 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng,
P.O.Box 11369, 50744 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Telephone: (603)-2162 2922
Fax : (603)-2162 2937
Holiday Villa Other Destinations Website
Conclusion
Holiday Villa Halong Bay was a perfect stay for me, and I would like to extend my thanks to the resort’s management for making my stay here memorable.
As mentioned above, the update is that this resort has been under a different brand and management for a long time since my visit.
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