Last updated August 2020 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

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Surrounded by coffee farms, tea plantations, rice paddies and fruit trees, Ivory Falls Villa is a quiet, secluded and peaceful place to stay in the mountains and valleys of the Central Highlands. Formerly Juliet’s Villa Resort, Ivory Falls is located at roughly 1,000m (3,280ft) above sea-level on the Di Linh Plateau, 80km southwest of Dalat in the mountains and 90km north of Phan Thiet on the coast. With only 10 rooms, Ivory Falls Villa is a small resort featuring tasteful bungalows situated around a pool in lush tropical gardens on the edge of an escarpment, where an unremarkable little stream transforms into a striking, 10-metre-high waterfall, plunging into thick foliage. Ivory Falls Villa is an ideal stopover for motorbikers exploring the Central Highlands, or travellers wanting to break the journey between Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and Dalat, or expats looking to escape the city for a couple of days. At Ivory Falls there are nightly fireside barbeques, good views, cool temperatures, fresh air, peace, quiet, birdsong, and opportunities for trekking and cycling: it’s a highly relaxing and rejuvenative place to stay.  [To check rates, availability & make a reservation for Ivory Falls Villa please BOOK HERE]

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REVIEW: IVORY FALLS VILLA

Address: 13b Hang Hai, Gung Re Village, Di Linh, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam [MAP]

Average Rates: $60-$100 | Email: info@ivoryfallsvilla.com

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: All my reviews are independently researched & financed. I never receive freebies of any sort in exchange for positive reviews or listings. If you use the links on this page to book your accommodation, I make a small commission. All my earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you.

[Click the image below or BOOK HERE]

MAP:

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Located at the end of a narrow paved lane leading off Road QL28, a few kilometres south of Di Linh town, Ivory Falls Villa is deep in the countryside of the Central Highlands. Road QL28 is a pretty route connecting the mountain town of Di Linh with the coastal city of Phan Thiet (90km). The resort is surrounded by agricultural fields and forests, and sits in a flat valley ringed by mountains, which fills with mist on crisp, cold, early mornings. The resort grounds are dotted with fruit trees and tropical flowers – in one cursory glance I spotted jack fruit, guava, coffee, star fruit, dragon fruit and durian. At the centre of the resort, in a paved, open courtyard with views across the valley, is a circular hearth, smouldering throughout the day and night. Besides the hearth is the resort’s cosy  little bar and restaurant, housed beneath a tiled shelter, open on all sides, with seating on a patio overlooking the gardens and countryside.

Managed by Pascal and Phuong (a French-Vietnamese couple and owners of the Full Moon Group, who also have long-established properties in Mui Ne on the coast), Ivory Falls Villa has been extensively renovated and improved since they purchased the property a couple of years ago. However, the resort still retains a familiar intimacy, character, ambience and attachment to nature that was so endearing in its previous incarnation as Juliet’s Villa. Indeed, Pascal and Phuong were regular guests at Juliet’s Villa and friends with the former owners, Hien and Renaud. Pascal and Phuong have a clear vision for the resort and have worked quickly to complete it. When I visited, some final touches were still underway, but everything should be finished by the time you read this review.

With a total of just 10 rooms, there are only a few bungalows (or ‘villas’) at Ivory Falls, each of which sleeps between 2 to 4 guests. Rooms are spread around the gardens, courtyard and saltwater swimming pool which, although a lovely place to relax, is too small to actually swim. Painted an attractive shade of terracotta, all the bungalows face south or west, thus making the most of the warm highland sun. (Unlike lowland Vietnam, the Central Highlands can get surprisingly chilly, especially in the mornings and evenings.) Each room is thoughtfully furnished and they are all nice places to be. Tiled floors, lamps, wooden furniture, textile bedspreads, eucalyptus oil burning in rooms upon arrival, and outside patios under trees and flowers all create a tranquil, uncluttered and tasteful space. Bathrooms now include bathtubs with reliable hot water (something that was lacking in the past). Decor and adornments are well-judged and one can sense a personal touch, rather than a generic style, such as one gets in large hotel chains.

Although there are only a handful of rooms, there are several room-types to choose from. Bungalow and Deluxe Bungalow doubles or twins face the gardens and pool, whereas the Valley View Bungalow is perched on an outcrop above the waterfall with views across farmland (this is the pick of all the rooms). Finally, the Family Villa Room is an enormous space opening onto the courtyard, including a large living area and some interesting furnishings: good for a family, of course, but also a good option for a group of friends.

The resort’s gardens are lush and beautiful, and the crisp, clear highland light makes the colours pop-out during the day, while nighttime reveals an impressively starry sky. Chairs and tables around the gardens invite guests to sit and listen to birdsong, or gaze at the colourful plants, flowers and pine-forested mountains in the distance, or read a book, listen to a podcast or some music, and while away the day. A steep stone staircase (which can be dangerous, especially when damp) leads down to, and behind, the resort’s very own natural waterfall (hence the name, ‘Ivory Falls’). Some 10-15 metres high, the picturesque falls have a steady flow, even in the dry season. Coffee plants, jack fruit, avocado, papaya and banana trees grow up around the cascade. At dusk, the sun sets in the wide, fertile valley, making silhouettes of the buffalo pulling ploughs across the fields: a scene best enjoyed on the patio of the bar.

An attractive restaurant and bar fronts onto the courtyard, where the fireplace is, and a patio above the waterfall. Breakfast (included in the room price) is served here – the eggs were some of the freshest, most colourful and tastiest I’ve had for a long time. Dinner can be ordered off an à la carte menu with a range of local Vietnamese dishes, including roasted chicken, local vegetables, and good-value set menus for one or two persons. Best of all there’s decent wine, cocktails and beer available. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, and the general feeling is relaxed and sociable. The hearth fire continues to burn into the night, keeping guests warm in body and spirit, with the nighttime chorus of frogs throbbing in the background.

Pascal and Phuong and their family are often at the resort. But there’s also a small and friendly local staff on the premises who can help to arrange excursions to nearby sights and activities, such as hikes, cycling and boating on Kala Lake. On first impressions, Ivory Falls appears to be difficult to get to. However, there are several good ways to get here. The easiest option is to fly into Dalat, whose airport is, in fact, at Lien Khuong, which is only 50km (45 minutes) from the resort. The second option is to take any of the regular sleeper buses from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to Dalat and ask to be dropped off at Di Linh on the way, from where Ivory Falls is just a few kilometres. The final option is to travel with your motorbike on the train from Saigon to Phan Thiet (arrives 10.30am), then ride up QL28 to the resort (90km; 2-3 hours). And, of course, for independent motorbikers, Ivory Falls is accessible from anywhere, but is a particularly good stop on the Dak Nong Geopark Loop and the Back-Roads to Dalat.

Over the last few years, I’ve had several excellent stays here: formerly as Juliet’s Villa, and presently as Ivory Falls. I’ve stayed here with my family, my friends, and alone, and I highly recommend it. Under the new management of Pascal and Phuong, there is no doubt the resort has been improved and upgraded. Ivory Falls Villa is now firmly in the mid-range category: in terms of comfort and amenities, but also in terms of room-rates, which are double or triple what they used to be. The cheapest rooms are now between $50-$75 a night, while the more expensive options are between $80-$130 a night. These higher prices mean this is no longer a budget or flashpacker accommodation and is unlikely to remain a popular stop for independent motorbike riders or tours. And, while the improvements are significant and the higher rates do reflect a higher standard, there does seem to be some inconsistency in the rates. Many high-end resorts in the region offer similar rates but a much higher level of comfort and amenities: for example, Ana Mandara Villas in Dalat, a luxurious resort consisting of renovated French-colonial villas, including an enormous buffet breakfast, is currently the same price as Ivory Falls. This, I feel, may be a problem. However, even with rates as they currently stand, Pascal and Phuong predict the resort is unlikely to be profitable. Guests can also book half-board at Ivory Falls, which is a good option because the food is very good and because, unless you have your own wheels, other dining options are few. [To check current rates, availability & make a reservation for Ivory Falls Villa please BOOK HERE].

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: All my reviews are independently researched & financed. I never receive freebies of any sort in exchange for positive reviews or listings. If you use the links on this page to book your accommodation, I make a small commission. All my earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you.

Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free & independent. I’ve written this review because I want to: I like this resort & I want my readers to know about it. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here

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