The One 'Private Island' Escape

Everything is great. Staff is very friendly. Receptionist Mr. Dat is very helpful can help you book bus and bay tour easily. Food is good and reasonable price. Dog is very cute.

The One Island Private Escape is a nice break from the busy cities in Vietnam. After staying in Cat Ba town for a few nights and Hanoi for a week, it was nice to have a little getaway. Tommy the manager is very nice and friendly. Boat pick up on our first day went as expected, but the dock is outside of Cat Ba town center and we had to pay for a taxi to get there because it’s too far to walk. They use a wristband system for payments, so you find out your total bill at the end. As a general reference, for 2 adults for 2 nights, we paid €110 including the room. Happy hour from 8:30-9:30 is buy one get one free of the same drink, so if you and a friend order different drinks, you get 4 drinks, not 2 like I expected. Some signs are misleading - for example there is a sign about a BBQ in front of the bar asking you to sign up in advanced. When I asked about signing up, they said that they don’t do the BBQ every day. If they don’t do it that day, they shouldn’t have the sign up. They had it up each day I was there. Breakfast is simple, but can be nice. For example, I appreciate the freshly cooked eggs and fresh fruit. I recommend the staff cleans the salt and pepper shakers so that they are usable. Watch out for sand fleas and mosquitos (normal beach things). Bring bug spray. The dogs and puppies are cute, but one of the puppies is in need of medical care and has mange. I recommend not petting the dogs as they have fleas. Kayaking, billiards, ping pong, and beach volleyball are free! The receptionist was never there for us to arrange a bus for our departure day, but we asked restaurant a staff member for help, and they just called someone and we sorted it on the phone. We asked about it at check out to confirm and the receptionist booked it for us at that point. Make sure to give yourself enough time to transfer to your next stop. Check out is at 11, then you wait 30 minutes for the boat at 11:30.

It’s remote location

Misleading promotional images. The beach equipment wasn’t maintained and a lot of discarded sun lounges around. There was an outbreak of gastro/food poisoning in the dorms which wasn’t handled very well.

Reasonable breakfast. Huge servings of food. Delicous and fresh food. Wide room.

Boat pick up time is not accurate. We had to wait for late tourists and waited until 5 PM instead. If you want to go ahead you have to pay 10 USD per head. It's not a problem had they told us it time could vary, nevertheless, our stay in the island was supposed to be how we expected.

special experience to stay on the Private Island very funny and friendly staff good organisation of the transfer from/to main island, helped getting a taxi on way back to Cat Ba 2 small hiking ways, group hike to sunset beach was fun good for socializing, meeting people, relaxing comfortable beds!

be aware it's a very small private island arrival from Cat Ba town a bit far

Pretty location that has a lot of potential. Peaceful during the day. Food & drinks were made well with fresh ingredients. Staff at beach bar are friendly. We only stayed for one night but lots of people on the island said they had extended their stay. So activities & interactions may be different if on island longer.

- Limited boat taxi options, no other way to get to island. Waiting for over an hour at the pier after paying for earlier boat. Expensive per person to arrive/leave at an alternative time. Spent more money on boat pick up than the room. - Pier is an industrial site, so no where to wait under shelter or get food/water. Would be helpful to know ahead of time. - The general reception/ main building is really messy with lots of clutter, papers and cleaning products. - Piles of rubbish all around the property and island. - Worn furniture e.g. broken sun loungers with no cushions or with holes. - Labeled as party hotel but no activities organised by staff. Bonfire in the evening but was started on beach without any mention. We only stayed for one night so might not be a full representation. - The only water sport facility is the kayaks. - Windowed eating times but no snacks available to purchase. - Very basic rooms. Private room only had two towels. Bathroom had lots of limescale. Minimal cleaning between guests. - Would be helpful to have sheer curtains to have privacy in the day but still have natural light. - To access the other beaches you either have to kayak or hike, which could be challenging for some people as slippery & steep.

I had the most incredible stay at The One Hostel on Paradise Island! This place truly lives up to its name—it’s a little slice of heaven where you can completely disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in nature. The surroundings are breathtaking, and the variety of activities makes it impossible to get bored. From kayaking and hiking to billiards, tennis, darts, and card games, there’s always something fun to do. What made my stay even more special was the amazing staff. They were incredibly kind, helpful, and always ready to assist. We booked trips just five minutes before departure, and everything was arranged seamlessly—super quick and hassle-free. If you’re looking for a peaceful yet adventurous getaway in a stunning location, The One Hostel is the perfect place. I can’t recommend it enough! I’ll definitely be back.

Paradise island. The staff very friendly. Mr Dat very helpful. Lots of activities. I will recommend to my friends.

Party all night or enjoy the tranquility of the location. Join the afternoon activities of volleyball and short hikes or do your own thing throughout the day playing billiards, table tennis, kayaking, swimming or walks along the short beach or just lay back and read a book the choice is yours while you unwind from the hustle and bustle. You can do it all, just don’t expect to go shopping or get a massage. The buffet breakfast is included and there is an extensive menu for lunch and dinner. The staff are very helpful and friendly. The boat doesn’t leave from the end of the wharf as stated in the link provided, it’s more in the middle so look for the boat as they won’t wait for you. Enjoy the escape and go for more than 1 night.