First published August 2016 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

INTRODUCTION | REVIEW | MAP | RELATED POSTS

The Ocean Dunes Resort in Phan Thiet is perhaps the only hotel of which I can say that the prices have decreased since I first stayed here, several years ago. The quality of amenities and the standard of service, however, have remained as they always were: very good. Whenever I go to the strip of coastline between Phan Thiet City and Mui Ne Beach, I almost always choose to stay in the former, because it has much more local life and character than the latter. Depending on my budget, the purpose of my visit, and whom I’m travelling with, I either stay in a local guesthouse in town or on the beach at the Ocean Dunes. But, with rates as low as $40 a night for two people (including breakfast), in the last couple of years I’ve chosen to stay at the Ocean Dunes more often, even if I’m on a budget. With high-end amenities at mid-range prices, the Ocean Dunes is excellent value for money. [To check current rates, availability and make a reservation for Ocean Dunes Resort please BOOK HERE]

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: I never write a review for money: all my content is free & independent. You can support the work I do by searching & booking your hotels via the Agoda links & search boxes on my site, like the ones on this page. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission. Any money I make goes straight back into this site. Thank you.

Great value: yours for $40 a night, the Ocean Dunes Resort offers high-end amenities at mid-range prices

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REVIEW: OCEAN DUNES RESORT

Address: 1 Ton Duc Thang Street, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province [MAP] | Price: $40-$100 

Phone: (+84) 62 3822 393 | Website: www.oceandunesresort.com.vn

[Click the image below or BOOK HERE]

The Ocean Dunes Resort is located just east of Phan Thiet’s attractive municipal beach and oceanfront park. Accessed via a long, private driveway, the main resort building is, at first sight, a bit of an eyesore; a purely functional design, resembling the giant holiday hotels on the Costa del Sol. But, although it might not look beautiful on the outside, it works extremely well on the inside. The entrance lobby, reception area, bar and restaurant on the ground floor are all open to the sea breeze, and all rooms have large balconies with either sea or garden views.

Bordering on abstract: the exterior of the Ocean Dunes is a bit of an eyesore, but inside it works well

In any case, the Ocean Dunes’ finest assets (apart from the room-rates) are its large, lush grounds, extensive amenities, and good stretch of beach. Between the resort building and the sea, there’s a wide, green and grassy area, shaded by tall casuarina trees. Hammocks swing between the branches, deck chairs dot the grass and beachfront, and there are two swimming pools. This outdoor space is great for kids: there’s lots of games and sports equipment available (for free) from the thatched hut by the pool – badminton, volleyball, football, tennis, water polo, floats, rubber rings, and more. It’s the kind of place where, as a kid, I would have happily spent 10 straight hours playing, while my parents could read a book and relax by the pool.

The resort grounds: the Ocean Dunes has 2 pools, lots of green space & a good stretch of beach

The beach is long and sandy, and the water tends to be calm and glassy in the mornings, but gets increasingly rough as the day progresses and the sea breezes pick up. Swimming is good, and hotel staff clean the beach every morning; an important job in a real fishing town like Phan Thiet, where fishing-related debris washes onto shore during the night. At dawn, you can see the coracles pulling in the nets and emptying their catch on the beach from your balcony; a quintessential Vietnamese coastal scene.

Long & sandy, the beach at Ocean Dunes is good for swimming in the mornings, but rough by afternoon

The beach bar is a tasteful combination of wood and thatch, with cushioned, wicker lounge chairs; perfect for the obligatory sunset cocktail. However, by dusk, it’s often too windy to be at the beach bar: the salt and sand covering all surfaces. But, in this case, just retire to the delightful, open-sided terrace bar by the pool, sheltered from the wind by tall trees.

Beach bar: great for a sunset cocktail, but if it’s too windy there’s always the attractive terrace bar instead

The rooms – standard, superior and deluxe – are all softy and pleasantly furnished, albeit without much ‘style’. Beds are comfy, floors are carpeted, there are writing desks, armchairs and, in deluxe rooms, sofas too. But the best feature of the rooms is their balconies. Large, tiled, and with expansive views of the resort’s green grounds and the ocean beyond, many beach resorts would charge a lot more than $40 for this. Even the cheapest rooms, at the back of the hotel, have big balconies, from which you can take in the sunset. However, it should be noted that an enormous urban development project is now underway behind the Ocean Dunes, which seems likely to spoil the views from the cheaper rooms, and may also be noisy during the day.

Sea view: all rooms have wide, deep balconies with excellent views of either the ocean or the gardens

The restaurant, which has inside and outside seating, has a good menu covering Vietnamese and Western dishes. The buffet breakfast (included in the room price) is a delicious spread of hot and cold food; from Vietnamese noodle soups to fresh baked pastries and bacon and eggs. The hotel has dozens of free bicycles available to guests. This is a great way to experience Phan Thiet City, which is just a 5 minute ride away. If you’re not used to negotiating Vietnam’s traffic, try to go around mid-afternoon to avoid the rush hour. Good places to ride include, the municipal beachfront park, the riverfront road (where hundreds of fishing boats moor and fresh seafood is sold at night), and Vo Thi Sau Street, where tasty street food can be found in the evenings. [To check current rates, availability and make a reservation for Ocean Dunes Resort please BOOK HERE]

*Please support Vietnam Coracle: I never write a review for money: all my content is free & independent. You can support the work I do by searching & booking your hotels via the Agoda links & search boxes on my site, like the ones on this page. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission. Any money I make goes straight back into this site. Thank you.

In recent years, with rates as low as $40, the Ocean Dunes has become my go-to hotel in Phan Thiet

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

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