Mekong Delta Ricefield Lodge

Martin's place is away from the tourists so you really get a feel of how the locals go about their daily lives. His place and the food is amazing, his staff so friendly. We loved walking in his garden/farm where we saw lotus flowers, fruit trees and hibiscus flowers. The early morning boat trip to the floating markets was brilliant. If you want to visit the Mekong Delta and can put up with a bit of noise at night you won't regret staying at Martin's place.

The pillows on the bed could have been more comfortable. Martin had warned us that the locals and animals were noisy at night time, but it was worth it just to be able to see how the local Vietnamese live.

Martin is a German expat who expertly runs this beautiful lodge "in the middle of nowhere", as he likes to say. He will assist you with anything you might need during your stay and has some interesting stories to share during dinner time. The boat tour with him is a must. The lodges and garden area are very clean and well maintained. Beds are comfy and the terraces equipped with hammocks are superb. Dinner prepared by local cook Mymy can compete with those of five star hotels. The area is one of the most beautiful places we visited so far, easily explorable with one of the bicycles available for free.

Everything was perfect, but here are a few things to consider when choosing if this is the right place for you. * Whilst there are no supermarkets or restaurants in close proximity, you can easily find storefronts and streetfood stalls a few kilometres away. With a 45 min bike ride, you can get to the next bigger village with restaurants, cafes, and lots of other interesting things to see and do. In the evening, however, having dinner at the lodge will be your best (and maybe only) option. Also, dinner is a set course, no options for you to choose (other than dietary requirement). You will only know what is being served when it's being served. Dinner time is also fixed, 18:30, and takes place with all the other guests in the common area (so a little socialising is required). * Around the lodge, the normal Mekong Delta life takes place. That is: karaoke, crowing roosters, boat engines, barking dogs, etc. So, while it's peacefully quiet most times, this can suddenly change. * Cats and dogs are part of the life at the lodge. They are hard to avoid. * You can of course enjoy the tranquility of the lodge, pool and nearby farm without leaving the place. However, the real beauty of the place only unfolds when you go out and explore the area by foot, bike or boat.

If you are looking for a place to connect with Vietnamese people and their life...then the Ricefield Lodge is a wonderful place to stay. Martin and all the Vietnamese staff are amazing. This was my first visit to Vietnam. Martin sent information to me before the trip and assisted me on best way to get to the lodge. I appreciated this travelling on my own. The early morning authentic boat trip along the Meekong Delta to the floating markets was so so beautiful...We met the locals and travelled where there was only our boat....I'll do it again next time. It's not touristy. I cycled around the rice fields...met many children and friendly people ...you can also rent Martin's scooter. The food is amazing and My My gives a description of each dish. I met many lovely people at dinner and cooled off in the swimming pool. My favourite thing was the hammock by the pool. The taxi driver taught me so much about Vietnam on my return trip to HCMC..along with a Vietnamese lesson. Thank you Martin and to all of your staff. See u again next year.

Everything was great

Lovely location and swimming pool. The food was amazing and our host helped with all our travel plans. Speed boat trip a highlight. This was a great place to rest, relax and recharge.

As the owner Martin says "this is a little piece of paradise" and we can totally agree with that. The accommodation is quite isolated- there are no bars or restaurants nearby. So if you do not like isolation do not come here! We stayed in an independent property with it's own outside space and including an upstairs area with hammocks - perfect for relaxing. As stated, Vietnam can be a noisy place and you may have to put up with the occasional karaoke session from neighbours. But this is not something that goes on into the early hours. It is part and parcel of life in Vietnam and in a curious way it adds to the atmosphere! You can cycle or walk alongside the river from the lodge and bicycles are freely available. We spent 3 nights there which was perfect. The early morning boat ride is a must. We both enjoyed every minute. Martin has a good rapport with some of the boat people and gives interesting information about Vietnamese life on the Mekong River. Authentic experience and breakfast and coffee provided on board the boat. It is good to experience "real" Vietnam. The food in the Lodge was exceptional both in quality and quantity. 5* for the food prepared by My My and her team. Guests eat together at one sitting at a long table which we thought was a great idea, as you get to meet your fellow travellers. All in all, a brilliant few days.

Nothing

I think this was one of the best place I’ve been in three weeks around Vietnam! The place is surrounded by green and tropical plants, the pool is super, the food was delicious and cooked by a local and kind Vietnamese cook. Martin is a special host, with his “speed boat tour” he took me to visit authentic and less touristic markets! I was traveling alone and with the other guests it was a bit like being with family :))

Nothing at all

Martin Stiermann and all his staff are exceptional. Martin has created a paradise. We loved the food prepared by his Vietnamese Chef, MyMy and our Housekeeper, Tu, was great. Martin’s Boat Tour is a must! Way more than just boating down the river inclusive of Floating Markets and authentic Vietnamese food and experiences. All of our needs were met and we felt like we were leaving home. We loved the pets, cats, dogs, birds and fishes. Martin’s knowledge and passion for the people is exceptional and honourable. We definitely recommend including Mekong Delta Ricefield Lodge on your Vietnam itinerary. For our first time to Vietnam, this was perfect!

We have only warm thoughts and comments.

Martin the host and his team were amazing at making our stay comfortable and enjoyable for our family. He took lots of time out to share insights about the region. His tour of the Mekong was a highlight of our trip.

Quite expensive compared to other accommodations but still very worth it. Lovely little place, cute bungalows, very good food and great boattour in the morning. Martin organised us an affordable taxi for getting there and also for leaving, big plus!