Escape to Paradise: Anh Thu Motel's Vung Tau Getaway
Escape to Paradise: Anh Thu Motel Review - Vung Tau Getaway (Messy Edition!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the slightly wonky, wonderfully chaotic world of Anh Thu Motel in Vung Tau. This isn't your sterile, perfectly-curated travel blog. This is real talk, folks. This is what happened when I tried to "Escape to Paradise." Let’s see if this place delivers.
Accessibility - (Can you get in the door?):
Okay, so accessibility…it's a mixed bag, like a bag full of chips with some crumbs and a stray piece of carrot. They list "Facilities for disabled guests," but I didn't see a detailed breakdown. This is where my journalist brain goes, "Okay, Anh Thu, let's spell it out. Ramps? Elevators? Wide doorways? Grab bars?" Because “facilities” can mean anything. While this is fine for now, this gets a B-.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges:
Hmm. Again, vague. Listing "Restaurants" and "Poolside Bar" doesn't say anything about accessibility. Will you need a Sherpa to get your margarita? We're in the dark. I'd assume the pool bar is a no-go, but restaurants could offer access. Needs clarification, people! This is a C+.
Wheelchair Accessible:
See above! Without specifics, I’m hesitant. This deserves some hardcore fact-checking (and I didn't do it on this trip!). This gets a D.
Internet Access (Oh, Sweet Wi-Fi, How I Love Thee!)
Internet - (YES!) We're talking free Wi-Fi in rooms! And it says, "Free Wi-Fi in all Rooms!" Insert Homer Simpson-style drooling noises. And it does go on, "Internet [LAN], Internet services". Oh, sweet, sweet Internet. A modern necessity. Let's hope it's not dial-up speed…that would ruin my stay! This is a resounding A.
Things to Do (Beyond Just Existing):
Okay, this is where things start to pick up.
Swimming pool… Yay! Outdoor? Even better! A pool with a view? YES, please. Picture it: me, floating on a giant inflatable flamingo, sipping…well, whatever the poolside bar has at the moment. This sounds divine, and I'm already picturing my "Instagrammable Moments".
Fitness Center, Gym/fitness I have never used a Gym in my life, but I am glad it’s there. If any of my travel buddies are fitness junkies, this gets a thumbs up!
Massage, Spa, Body wrap A spa? This is where my stress levels start to melt away like ice cream on a hot Vung Tau beach. Body wraps? Sign me up. Who doesn't love a little pampering? I'm envisioning myself draped in seaweed, smelling of lavender, and thinking, "This is the life."
Sauna, Steamroom, and Spa/sauna. I am not the biggest fan of high temperatures, but again, good to have just in case.
I'm already starting to think Anh Thu and I could be great friends.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because Nobody Wants the Crud):
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hygiene certification… Yes! This is what I want to see. The world is a scary place sometimes. Knowing that the place isn't a Petri dish gives me peace of mind.
- Individually-wrapped food options… Good for grab and go, and for peace of mind.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Safe dining setup… Important for covid.
- Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment… Double yes!
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Essential!
- Hand sanitizer… More yes!
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit… Good to have. This gets an A in my book.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Fueling the Paradise Experience):
- Restaurants, Poolside bar, Snack bar. I'm sensing a pattern here: lots of ways to avoid cooking. Thank you, Anh Thu!
- Bar, Happy hour… Because who doesn't love a cheap drink?
- Breakfast [buffet], A la carte in restaurant, Breakfast service… Buffet! Always a win. Although, I'm a sucker for a good Eggs Benedict.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant… Gotta get my pho fix!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop… The lifeblood of my day.
- Desserts in restaurant, Soup in restaurant… I am intrigued.
- Vegetarian restaurant… Good to be inclusive.
- Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant. I like to see variety.
This is a solid showing. Food is a big deal for me, and Anh Thu seems to understand. So, I give this an A-.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Extras That Matter):
- Air conditioning in public area, Elevator… Praise the heavens!
- Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping… All the essentials.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service… Excellent for those of us who pack like we're moving.
- Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop… Always good to have options.
- Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms… Peace of mind is priceless.
- Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center… Useful, though I hope I won't be needing to fax anyone on my vacation.
- Doorman, Front desk [24-hour] Important!
- Facilities for disabled guests, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events… Good to know.
A definite A!
For the Kids (Because Everyone Deserves Vacation):
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal… I don't have kids, but knowing they are welcome is a good sign. My hypothetical nieces and nephews would adore this. This gets an A!
Getting Around (Navigating Vung Tau):
- Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Taxi service… Nice.
- Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Valet parking, Bicycle parking… The details really help!
This is pretty good. B+
Available in all rooms:
Okay, now we're getting serious about the details:
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub… Yes, yes, and yes!
- Blackout curtains… Essential for sleeping in, which is a core vacation activity.
- Coffee/tea maker… Very important.
- Complimentary tea… Amazing!
- Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed… Awesome!
- Free bottled water A must.
- Hair dryer, High floor… Gotta have that hair lookin' fresh!
- In-room safe box… Important for storing money.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities… More Internet! More ironies!
- Laptop workspace… Okay, maybe I will do some work…
- Linens, Mini bar, Mirror… Important!
- Non-smoking… Even though I do smoke! I like being considerate.
- On-demand movies… Yes!
- Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator… All good!
- Satellite/cable channels, Scale… Hmm, maybe I should work out?!
- Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub… Luxurious!
- Shower, Slippers… Yes!
- Smoke detector, Socket near the bed… Safety first!
- Sofa… Cozy vibes.
- Soundproofing… I am a light sleeper.
- Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella… All useful!
- Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens… All great!
This is a solid A+!
Rooms Sanitized Between Stays
Rooms are sanitized between stays. This is great!
The Offer - Escape to Paradise at Anh Thu Motel!
Alright, here’s the deal. Anh Thu Motel isn't perfect. Some of the accessibility details are fuzzy, but overall, this looks like a pretty darn good option for a Vung Tau getaway. They have what I want: a nice pool, a spa, delicious food, and importantly -- plenty of entertainment.
My Honest (and Slightly Rambling) Recommendation:
If you're looking for a relaxing escape with plenty of amenities, and you don't mind a few minor unknowns, Anh Thu Motel is worth your consideration.
Dahlia Villa Canggu: Bali's Most Stunning Oceanfront Paradise Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is my Vung Tau, Vietnam adventure – and it's gonna be a glorious, messy, and probably slightly sunburnt ride. We're talking Anh Thư Motel action, people! Let's go!
Day 1: Arrival, Beach Bliss (and a near-disaster with the motorbike!)
14:00 - Arrival & Anh Thư Motel Check-in: Whew! Finally, after a grueling (and slightly delayed – thanks, budget airlines!) flight and a sweaty taxi ride, I landed at the gates of paradise. Or, well, almost paradise: Anh Thư Motel. It’s…quaint. Let’s just say it’s “rustic charm” with a healthy dose of questionable plumbing. The room smells faintly of incense and… something I can’t quite place. (Pray it's not last week's seafood.) But the AC blasted ice, and the bed looked clean enough, so, sold!
14:30 - First Impressions & Rambling: Holy humidity! I stepped outside and immediately became a sticky, glistening mess. The street life just exploded. Little kids ran between parked motorbikes, vendors yelled about something unintelligible, and the smell of… everything. I’m already overwhelmed in the best way possible. I'm guessing the motel is in a relatively quiet area away from the beach, so, I have to find out what I want to do for fun! The best thing to do is to take a walk.
15:30 - Beach Bumming: Bãi Sau beach, here I come! I'm planning to do nothing but chill with the ocean. I mean, I did it! Laying out on the beach… It's beautiful to see the beach. So, peaceful. I found a beach chair and a cheap umbrella and immediately settled into the glorious laziness. The waves whispered secrets, and the sun warmed my skin, and honestly, for a moment, I thought, "This is it. This is the good life."
18:00 - The Motorbike Mayhem (aka. My Near-Death Experience): Okay, so remember how I mentioned the motorbike? Yeah. I, a complete motorbike novice, thought, "How hard can it be?" VERY HARD, it turns out. I rented one, figuring I'd embrace the local experience. Within five minutes, I stalled it in the middle of a busy intersection, narrowly missing a truck that looked like it had seen a thousand years of war. It was terrifying, amazing, and completely ridiculous all at once. After a shaky restart and a few wobbly laps around the block, I decided I'd be sticking to walking. Maybe. OKAY, yes, I will stick to walking.
19:30 - Seafood Street Food & a Lesson in Bargaining: After surviving the motorbike, I deserved a feast. I went sniffing around the street food stalls, which were an assault on the senses. Wonderful assault, I mean. I mean, look at that grilled squid! I pointed, smiled, bargained (badly) and ended up with a treasure trove of seafood delights. It’s so good and I can feel the spice in my throat, a great way to end the day.
21:00 - Anh Thư Motel, Nighttime Observations & Sleep: Back at the motel! Showering with questionable pressure. The air smells like incense again…and something else. This trip will be memorable, in the best way possible. My eyelids are getting heavy. Goodnight!
Day 2: Temples, Tanks & Taste Buds EXPLODING!
08:00 - Wakey Wakey, Eggs and a Stroll: The rooster next door… I think he hates me. I wake up to his crowing (which is a little offbeat for a rooster, honestly). The first thing I do is to grab a coffee and go for a walk. The breeze is so much more pleasant in the morning. I walk around this beach. I love the beach!
09:00 - Exploring the Locals: I wandered away from the beach and looked at the locals, the workers, the children playing… Everyone seems so happy, it really warms my heart.
10:00 - The Giant Jesus & A Long Climb: I'm not particularly religious, mind you, but the Giant Jesus statue on top of Núi Lớn mountain is a must-see. Okay, climb, actually. I swear my thighs are still burning. The view from the top, though… breathtaking! The entire city of Vung Tau stretched out before me, a panorama of blue and green and sparkling gold. Worth it, but man, that was a workout.
12:00 - Lunch, Banh Mi Heaven & Emotional Breakdown: Oh. My. God. The Banh Mi. I found the motherlode of Banh Mi shops. Crispy baguettes, succulent pork, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, chili… I ate three. THREE. And then I proceeded to have a minor emotional meltdown over the sheer perfection of it all. I wanted to stay there forever.
14:00 - White Palace: So I go to White Palace after my lunch. It's so so so… White.
16:00 - The Tank Museum: War junk! This place is a blast. The museum is a bit… intense (lots of tanks, naturally), but it was a fascinating glimpse into the country's history. I will never understand how they built and maintained these military weapons. I mean, it's impressive.
18:00 - Dinner, More Street Food and a Karaoke Disaster: I had every plan to have a quiet evening. The food stalls did not agree. This time it's seafood! There's a karaoke bar next to the stall, and, in the spirit of adventure, I went in. The music was off, my voice was off, and everything was off. I failed so miserably. I have to go back to my motel now.
21:00 - Reflecting on the Day - And Hoping for Hot Water Tomorrow: Back in my room. The plumbing is better than yesterday, and so is my mood! I'm already planning my return.
Day 3: Market Mayhem, Beach Relaxation, Departure
08:00 - Market Madness & Bargaining Battles: First thing in the morning, I dive head-first into the Vung Tau market. The smells, the colours, the chaos! I bought ridiculous fruit, some questionable trinkets, and learned the art of aggressive bargaining. I may have even won a few fights (of some kind!)!
10:00 - Bãi Trước Beach: The beautiful beach is so lively!
12:00 - Last Lunch & Longing: I revisited the Banh Mi shop. Of course! I mean, is there any other choice? I think even in my dreams I'll be eating.
14:00 - The Final Beach Relax: I need to soak up the sun one last time, and say goodbye to this amazing little beach town.
16:00 - Anh Thư Motel Goodbye & Departure: Time to pack up, check out, and drag my sun-kissed, slightly overwhelmed self back to reality. I'll miss this place. The quirks, the food, the sheer, unapologetic Vietnam-ness of it all.
18:00 - Farewell Vung Tau!: Farewell, Vung Tau! I hope to be back for another adventure soon!
Important Notes & Imperfections:
- My Vietnamese is terrible. Hand gestures, pointing, and a lot of laughing got me by.
- The weather is unpredictable. It's hot, humid, and sometimes rainy, so plan accordingly!
- I got lost. A lot. Embrace it.
- The food is addictive. Seriously. Bring stretchy pants.
- The motorbike is a myth. Or, well, maybe not. Just stay away from it.
- The memories are endless. And that's the point.
This is just a rough draft. Real life is messier, and the best adventures often involve unexpected detours, wrong turns, and moments of pure, unadulterated joy. So go out there, get lost, try everything, and embrace the beautiful chaos of Vung Tau!
Luxury Penthouse Paradise: Rincon de la Victoria Awaits!
So, Anh Thu Motel in Vung Tau... Is it *really* paradise? Or just… a motel?
The Room: What Can I Expect? (And Should I Expect a Roach?)
Location, Location, Location! How's the Beach Access?
Food, Glorious Food! What's Eating Like Around Anh Thu Motel?
Anything Else To Do Besides Beach Bums and Eating?
The Staff: Friendly or Forgettable?
Would I Go Back to Anh Thu Motel? (The Big Question)
