Cat Ba Eco Lodge

We just want to say that we are not happy with our stay at Eco lodge and we will never return or recommend this place to anyone. They could organize a taxi for 200k on our arrival day (also coming from Cat Ba town because we were asked to wait 30 minutes) but on our departure day they organized a taxi for 350k, almost double the price and were told its because the taxi has to come from Cat Ba town🤨 This is so unprofessional and scamming. They said they would provide us with mosquitoe repellent but they didn't. They only fixed the WiFi on our last night although they had promised to fix it earlier which they didn't. The food was not good (the bread was not toasted and the butter was frozen, the deep fried food made me feel sick on the first day). Our rooms were not cleaned and our toilet was soooooo smelly. They organized very bad condition bikes for us which were not safe as they had no petrol, the breaks were not good, the one mirror was broken and the tyres were flat. On Thursday night we asked for help after we were chased by the neighbors dogs they didn't inform us that it's safe to come back. Their prices are too expensive for this service. They did laundry for us but my shirts are damaged now and they used a tumble dryer to dry our clothes. Its disappointing because we paid a lot to stay at this lodge. We will never return.

This is a great place to relax. Located in the middle of the forest, very fresh and quiet. - Friendly and enthusiastic worker. - Green space, environmentally friendly. - The view overlooking the lake is very poetic, like Da Lat. - The food is fresher and tastier than what I eat at the center. - There is a swimming pool and entertainment billiards table.

Dat and his team were great to us during our stay at their place. Very welcoming and knowledgeable and spoke good English. The lodge is very beautiful and quiet. Amazing food and good, clean amenities. Would stay here again for sure. The staff were also able to provide good suggestions for the rest of our trip in Vietnam which was very useful.

We were there in April and were the only guests there. It was gorgeous, being surrounded by the mountains and the beautiful gardens. The room was very generous and the staff very attentive. The free "cooking class" was nothing revolutionary, but appreciated. The hotel is quite a way out of the main town, so you can't really do much at night. And it's highly recommended that you either rent a scooter or a car/driver. This place has stayed in my mind as my favourite part of Vietnam.

We had a wonderful time here and this was, first and foremost, due to the wonderful staff, their friendliness, their support and their warmhearted hospitality!|They supported us with organising the trips and tours we wanted to take and …

We had the best stay at Cat Ba Eco lodge. The Staff, specifically Cuong were really friendly and accommodating. ||Lovely place in the middle of the forest with beautiful views and great for a relax after a trip in Hanoi! Right by the National park too which has great walks and views ||We will be back! 💍 …

We had a wonderful time at Cat Ba Eco Lodge and this was, first and foremost, due to the wonderful staff, their friendliness, their support and their warmhearted hospitality! They supported us with organising the trips and tours we wanted to take and helped us with the transport to and from the eco lodge. The lodge itself is located in a beautiful scenery and equipped with all necessary amenities. Definitely worth a visit!

A Disappointing Stay at Cat Ba Eco Lodge: Poor Quality and Deceptive Management This was by far the worst experience I’ve had in Vietnam and, hands down, one of the oddest. We booked a two-night stay at Cat Ba Eco Lodge expecting a restful retreat in a well-maintained “eco-friendly” environment. Unfortunately, the reality fell far short. Upon arrival, we received a very brief introduction, and the staff showed us to our chalet. We soon discovered issues: we couldn’t get the air conditioner or warm water to work, only to learn that staff had forgotten to turn on the electric generator for our chalet. This lack of attention set the tone for our stay. 1. Room Conditions and Lack of Maintenance Our chalet’s door had a large, noticeable gap (about 1cm wide along the top and side), allowing mosquitoes, ants, and other insects to enter freely. The lack of seal compromised energy efficiency and certainly didn’t align with the “eco” label of the hotel. Adding to this, there were no fly screens on the doors, making it impossible to get fresh air without insects entering. The bed lacked blankets and had only a zippered duvet cover, a stark contrast to what is shown in the hotel’s photos on Booking.com. The bathroom’s construction was rough, with sloppy joinery and visible industrial glue. Even worse, the floor drain was clogged with human hair. Overall, it felt neglected and dirty. 2. Common Areas and Eco Pool The pool, which is labeled “eco,” was dirty, with visible sand at the bottom, mold, and various insects in the water. There was no filtration system, which is highly unusual and unhygienic. When I asked the groundskeeper if the pool was clean, he simply said, “yes, we put a little bit of salt in.” The lack of basic upkeep was evident throughout the property, and the grounds appeared unkempt with little pride in maintenance. 3. Food Quality The food was both basic and overpriced, reinforcing the sense that the lodge was cutting corners to boost profits rather than providing quality for guests. This wasn’t remotely what we expected from an eco-hotel; it felt more like a backpackers’ hostel. Attempting to Cancel the Second Night We decided by the first evening that we didn’t want to stay another night. I raised my concerns with the owner, Kien, over the phone, only to be met with complete denial about the property’s issues. He initially offered to cancel our second night but only if he could mark it as a “no-show” on Booking.com—a tactic that would prevent us from leaving a review. When I declined, he insisted he couldn’t adjust the booking to one night until “midnight,” which was untrue and seemed like a tactic to avoid accountability. Finally, after exhausting discussions, he reluctantly agreed we didn’t have to pay for either night, only for food and drinks, but only after I refused to let him mark us as a no-show. The owner’s denial and unwillingness to acknowledge even visible issues were shocking. When I pointed out the gap in the door, he dismissed it, saying, “we have to disagree,” rather than addressing the obvious flaw. When I offered to send a photo to prove it, he diverted the conversation, clearly prioritizing profits over guest experience. In summary, Cat Ba Eco Lodge was an unkempt, uncomfortable stay with poor service and disingenuous management. We checked out the following morning, disappointed by both the conditions and the management’s refusal to address legitimate concerns. I hope this review helps other travelers avoid the same experience.