Fodor's Expert Review The Island Lodge

Only 2½ hours from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh (where a luxury pickup can be arranged), this boutique riverside resort is a great place to rest and recharge in luxury at the start or end of a visit to Vietnam, with massages, pastries by the pool, drinks at the bar, or fishing off the pier. The lodge, run by a French couple and superfriendly local staff, is set in beautiful gardens on the western side of Unicorn Island in the Tien River, 8 km from the Rach Mieu Bridge. Bicycles and electric bikes are available to explore the island. Wider-ranging tours (by car or boat) can be booked with the staff.