15 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

With all the charm of a stylish and intimate lodging and the upscale amenities of an oceanfront resort, Binh An Village provides the best of both worlds. The spacious rooms, suites, and villas and the main restaurant are decorated in what can only be described as antique chic. Each of the accommodations is individually styled, and all feature thoughtful touches and interesting artwork. Outside, beautifully manicured grounds contain two pools and the unique Quy An Bar, built into a cliff, is probably the most palatial cave you'll ever see.

Capturing the romantic notion of a traditional Vietnamese village, Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort's wood-and-tile bungalows and villas, along with two beautifully landscaped pools, a children's playground, a charming spa and Gecko Restaurant, are scattered throughout a casuarina forest that opens onto a beautiful stretch of beach. Some villas come with private pools and a butler service.

The accommodations may be simple, but here you can enjoy a laid-back, local vibe right on one of the best beaches on this coast. Opened in 2011, this resort is run by the local Communist Party People's Committee. Rooms, in small separate buildings around the grounds, are fairly basic but large. There's a row of palm-thatched shacks between the pool and the beach, where guests can lounge while the Huong Phong Restaurant, serving Vietnamese and International dishes, has a covered sea-view deck. There's also a seafood restaurant.

With its slightly over-the-top French château interiors and large, sumptuous rooms, the Imperial is certainly the fanciest hotel in Vung Tau (you can even hire a butler!), and it has a private beach right across the road. There are three pools, including one on the hotel's guest-access-only beach, and the hotel is connected to a shopping plaza, which could be a positive or a negative, depending on your point of view. If you're after a European flight of fancy in a Vietnamese oil town, you're on a winner here.

A friendly upscale business hotel, Petro Hotel is within walking distance to the beach, with great sea views from the higher floors (city view rooms look out over the dog track next door). Rooms are large and comfortable, and both leisure and business guests will appreciate the pool, tennis court, business center, and an in-room iron.

Designed as a place to sleep only, this small and neat budget option somehow manages to be charming as well as functional, and the restaurant next door means the lack of in-house dining isn't a problem. The hotel is also within walking distance of the beach, dive shops, and Con Son Café. It's a local-style hotel, with basic, relatively spacious rooms and Vietnamese-style bathrooms, and it used to have amazing sea views until they were blocked by the barricades around a stalled construction site on the beach side of the road.

Time really does seem to stand still at this luxuriously appointed resort, set between Lo Voi Mountain and a stunning 750-meter private beach (a great spot to catch the sunrise) with beautifully maintained gardens. Everything is designed to help guests relax and unwind, from the infinity pool to the range of holistic treatments at the spa and the dedicated reading room.

A neat and clean family-run hotel a little outside the main tourist area, Sakura Hotel has a Japanese-theme, friendly staff, and many charming details, such as a range of loofahs in the bathroom. Ms Thach Hoa is a fount of knowledge about local sights and travel information and is only too happy to provide tips and help with bookings.

Isolated and very large, this well-maintained state-run resort has a beautiful setting, right on Ho Coc Beach, but targets domestic travelers, so customer service, English language ability, and Western choices at breakfast are somewhat lacking. There's a restaurant and a small shop on property and guests have access to a free shuttle to the nearby hot springs. A shuttle bus runs daily from Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 to the resort for a reasonable fee.

A luxurious yet laid-back eco-lodge on a stunning crescent of beach, Six Senses Con Dao's private villas are a heavenly retreat from everyday life with excellent amenities like private infinity pools. The contemporary-meets-rustic design is sympathetic to the natural environment, the service is attentive, and the views of the East Sea are simply mesmerizing. Expect a myriad of personal touches, such as mountain bike rentals, and engaging activities including yoga, cooking classes, kids' club, island tours, and water sports.

This is a massive hotel, casino, and golf complex set along an exquisite white-sand beach. Although the primary market is wealthy Chinese tourists, there is a little of something for everyone here, with its Greg Norman-designed golf course, sleek hotel and restaurants, patrolled beach, and possibly Vietnam's best kids' and teens' club.

Set halfway up a mountain with sweeping panoramic views, the spa-inclusive Wind Boutique Resort and Hotel is a wonderful home away from home, with large, beautifully designed rooms, modern facilities, and friendly staff. At the resort, breakfast can be delivered anywhere you want—your room, the gazebo, or poolside. The nearby hotel section has its own pool, sauna and steam rooms, and a relaxing tropical courtyard. A night's stay comes with massage treatments for two people.

You almost feel like a time traveler when you step into Villa Maison, a lovingly restored colonial villa in the heart of Con Son village with elegant rooms, lush gardens, and an excellent on-site restaurant. The hotel is in a great location, a short walk to beaches, museums, and cafés.