Mekong Delta Ricefield Lodge

One review I read before staying at Ricefield Lodge said, ‘If in doubt just book it!’ Here is our review: ‘if in doubt, just book it!’. If you want to visit the Mekong region this is the BEST way to see it. You will stay in the Mekong guided by the experts, Martin and Vi. We did two trips, one run by Martin himself and one to Con Som Island to see and meet the local people. Like us, the other guests we met were a little unsure before they arrived but we all enjoyed it so much, became friends and want to tell you that you will have a great time there. Mosquitoes: yes, of course they are there. Martin and Vi have done so much to keep them away that I only got one tiny bite in the whole visit. Less than usual for any summer holiday anywhere! I want to write more but I don't want to tell you all the good things - I want you to discover them too. The highlights for me were Martin's story about moving to the Mekong, the relaxation, the beer fridge, the food, Martin's organisation, the trips and best of all Vi's traditional Vietnamese song. Just book it! -Ant

It's difficult to choose somewhere to go next because everywhere is boring in comparison!!

Martin and Vi were very welcoming and did everything to ensure we enjoyed our stay. To be honest, I thought I’d made a mistake when I realised we booked so far out of Can Tho, concerned there would be nothing to do. It turned out to be the best couple of days. We went on two tours organised by Martin and his team, experiencing a fish massage, a duck massage (yep that’s right) and cooking Vietnamese pancakes and more. We also went on a tour of the Mekong Delta and personally driven by Martin in his speedboat. Would highly recommend!

Great service from lovely friendly host and hostess. Accommodation and surroundings gorgeous. Food delicious. Peaceful natural environment. Would definitely recommend

Leaving.

The food is good, and the staff are friendly and cheerful.

There are no shutters in the rooms, so light comes in. He offers a dinner for over $12 for one starter (rice soup) and a main course. He doesn’t force it on us, but there’s nothing else around, so it’s pretty much the same thing… even if it was good, it would cost four times less in town. Same goes for his monopoly on boat tours; he charges over $60 for them. The Google Maps location isn't marked clearly, which made me waste time and pay more than I should have for the taxi. I got yelled at by the owner because I came back at 9 p.m., even though there was never any mention of a “curfew.” Breakfast is at 8 a.m., and that’s non-negotiable. I find it a bit outrageous to impose these schedules on us just because it suits the owner. The photo with the pool doesn’t represent the lodge at all; it’s much less appealing than it looks. The mosquito repellent isn't free, even though there are tons of mosquitoes. All the guests are German, and the owner speaks only German at the table, even though he “insisted” that the other guests speak English. In short, I was happy to come, but even happier to leave.