River Ray Estates

Location: Ben Cat Beach, Ho Tram Area, PhuocThuan, Next to Vietso Petro Resort, Ho Chi Minh City, 0074, Xuyen Moc, VN

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Resorts

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - Anytime

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Instructions: Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Free WiFi
• 24-hour front desk
• Terrace
• Garden
• Sauna
• Continental breakfast
• Picnic area
• Bicycle rentals nearby
• Free breakfast
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Smoke-free property
• Wheelchair accessible parking
• Playground on site
• Free self parking
• Free continental breakfast
• Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Guest Reviews

• catlanchi (6/5): Great for camping - This resort have a best beach in Hotram area, I love to come here just because of peacefull place and a lot of tree in the beach. There villa is old and the food is not so good, you can choose this for the family gathering and you should cook by yourself (they have kitchen and full of cookware). To me, they are the best place in Hotram for camping (safe, fresh water, price).
• Nina1072 (4/5): Only from the outside because we didn't stay! - We have booked this resort for Têt holidays as we have a dog and read good reviews about this pet friendly place ... Unfortunately, once we arrived there (not easy to find) we were surprised to see the path to the hotel was narrow and stony. It's in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but wilderness, far from restaurants or shops or anything. We assumed guests should be stuck at the hotel for dinner because noboby would drive back there at night as there's almost no street light. There are some bungalows by the river and others by the sea. The beach is unattended, neglected, dirty and full of detritus. The bungalows on the beachfront are way more spooky like deserted, not a living soul, no securiry guard, nobody ... We really couln't stay there so we made a U-turn and fled!!!
• Samantha (8/5): Great weekend escape! - We loved our weekend at River Ray! I went with a couple friends and my dog, and we all had a lovely time. Very relaxing at the pool and the beach. We even got upgraded to a sweet villa! The staff we great and it was nice to see other people there with their dogs. But the resort area was still clean! The only downside was that the beach is covered in plastic (not the reaort’s fault!) and there was a loud camping group nearby playing extremely loud music. I never really understood if they were part of the resort or not. Overall, we had an excellent time and will definitely be back!! Oh!! I left something small at the villa and the owner had it shipped to me ASAP— such great service :)
• Christel (8/5): Great with dogs but very local - We have been before at River Ray and enjoyed it again. As we always bring our dog we have to stay in the Wooden House, which we like. Only this time the mattresses haven't been very comfortable. Maybe some more offer for breakfast would be good. Even I do not mind to have only Omlet or Pho. But we had my cousin with us who was first time in VN and for her it wasn't so easy. And beach should be cleaned. We are aware that there has been some flooding and heavy rain, but the beach is just too dirty to use it. Good to walk the dog but not for bathing. Drove to the Vung Tau beach instead.
• 127henryf (10/5): The doggies and us had the best day ever! - First time on the beach for our two little doggies, had a fantastic time on the wide flat deserted beach. nice and safe, only 2 hrs from HCM, we'll be back monthly! we took our own food and drink, awesome times
• F_B_E_2013 (4/5): Ghostly Resort - We live in Vietnam and have seen a lot of crazy places so I can say this with confidence — our stay here was plain weird. We arrived early afternoon on a Saturday -- taking a 600K VND Grab car from the Greenlines Ferry terminal in Vung Tau. On the surface, the place looks great. The pool is beautiful, the beach is long and deserted, the buildings seem in good repair. But there was no one staying there. After a couple of hours it began to feel spooky. We had booked rooms in the wooden houses overlooking the river but got upgraded to beach front villas at no extra cost. There was no explanation for the move although other friends later told us that they were moved to the beach because the less expensive rooms near the river had a rat problem. We saw no rats during our stay but we did not see the wooden houses either. There was an extensive lunch menu although it became clear that only a few things were on offer. What we had was good value. Three of us ordered simple plates of stir fried beef, bean sauce pork etc and were stuffed at the end of the meal. The vegetables were crisp, fresh and delicious. Beer was available but there was no wine. We had the pool to ourselves, of course. It's quite beautiful but a bit too shallow for serious swimming. Being early May, the water was luke warm -- as was the sea which we tried a bit later. My wife and daughter thought the beach was littered in garbage but I think most of it had washed ashore. There were fishermen working the beach through the day but few other people around to actively litter the beach. Compared to similarly priced beach resorts in Mui Ne and Phu Quoc, River Ray Estates Resort had few beach facilities. There were no lounge chairs. In fact the path from our beach house to the beach led straight to a three foot drop instead of to the stairs that were several meters away. The staff was friendly but were there for laundry and house keeping -- no beach maintenance. The cook had to be called in from her home when we wanted dinner because we were the only diners. When we went for dinner, the outside dining room was swarming with mosquitoes so the staff offered to bring our food to our room -- we had a baby with us and were happy to shelter inside. Oddly though, there were no mosquito nets in the bedrooms which is quite rare in my experience. Our free breakfast was NOT the continental promised on the website. The young waitress told us Sunday morning that they only had eggs, bread and coffee. No apology or explanation offered -- that was just the way it was. The Medina villas were outdated as noted by other reviewers. The kitchens had no cutlery, cookware or dishes. But the fridges worked fine. The furniture was rudimentary but comfortable enough. There was a small dining table plus a sofa and coffee table in each suite. One bedroom had a Thai-style hard mattress while the other was soft and comfy. The AC worked great. The bathrooms were functional but 1960s ugly and stained. At one point an older German guest with a dog walked by us on his way to the river walk and explained that there were no other guests because the units were all rented out to staffers working at the new casino down the road. But in our 21 hours here, we saw no sign of anyone -- no scooters, no people, no voices. Maybe the new casino and other mega resorts in the area have killed off business at the River Ray and its neighbours. Too bad because it is a great setting. For now though, I recommend it for seasoned Viet travellers and I certainly wouldn't pay more than $50US a night. Expect to get upgraded to a much more expensive room near the beach. (If we had paid over $100 a night per room we would have been pretty unhappy.) I found the stay amusing and enjoyed the peace and quiet. We had heavy rain in the evening and in the morning so didn't get a chance to really explore the beach or the river walk. Great view of the lightning storm over the sea though. My daughter (mother with baby) was visiting Vietnam for the first time and found the whole experience unsettling. If you go, bring your own snacks and beverages and a sense of humour. I hope the owners find a way to get the business thriving again because it could be a beautiful place.
• Verified traveler (6/5): A remote and quiet place - We were upgraded to a villa even thought we booked for the wooden House since the ad said everything else was full. The resort was completely empty. We were the only guests. We enjoyed the upgrade. The villa was spacious, the bathroom needed updating. The beach was littered with garbage even though it was a beautiful stretch of sand. The pool is lovely. The restaurant provided few choices since there were no guests other than us. It felt like a ghost town. Limited food, no reception to speak of. For breakfast we were promptly told we only have bread and eggs. The resort has potential but it did not deliver on this occasion.
• Verified traveler (4/5): Failed Potential - The property was in a secluded area and the beach was okay. However, the property wasn't poorly maintained and infested with mosquitoes, mainly because of the pool (still water attracts mosquitoes, should at least have anti mosquito torches by the dinning area). The room was okay, but the cabin hadn't lots of holes for mosquitoes to crawl through. The only preventive measures taken is a mosquito net over the bed. Not a great experience.
• Paulette1960 (8/5): Great Hyde away from HCMC - Spent only one night but could have stayed for a week. Take the boat to Vung Tau (pleasant 90 minutes journey from Saigon). Drive 40 minutes or so to resort and enjoy peace and quiet away from hussle and bustle of HCMC. You can continue enjoying Vietnamese street food and shopping only 30 minutes away from resort. The accommodation we had was a seafront unit in one of the villas. Found unit to be very comfortable: lots of room, excellent bedding. Although bathroom showing its age, it was perfectly adequate. Beach front units are relaxing: listening to the wind through the trees and the waves breaking on the beach, watching the fisherman in their tiny soup bowl type embarkation. Walk along sandy beach and just breath fresh air. Resort's swimming pool is large and over looks the river. Top spot to relax with a book. We enjoyed lunch at the resort: local produce, freshly caught seafood. No pretence of haute cuisine, just simple and healthy vietnamese cooking. The mini spring rolls a real treat. Staff only too happy to please you. Don't be put off by the perceived remoteness. It is a big plus if you wish to experience the more rural side of Vietnam. It is an easy get away from HCMC and not too expensive.
• psydr (6/5): Off the beaten path - The River Ray Estates Resort is situated on a beautiful piece of property right next to the ocean and a river. The land is absolutely beautiful, and the peace, quiet, and solitude make this resort a great destination for those who want to escape the city life. For me, however, it was a bit too secluded and far away from civilization. Fortunately, there was a restaurant on site, although it was outside and very hot. From the outside, the resort looks well maintained and clean; however, the interior seemed to receive less attention. I understand that replacing major appliances or furniture can be costly, so I tend not to be fussy over those sorts of things, but the bathroom needed some work. The blinds that should cover the large window in the wall of the bathtub were falling apart and impossible to close. Anyone from the outside could look into the window, especially at night, which made me uncomfortable. When I booked this resort, I was under the impression that they had airport transportation. I had to take multiple cabs and vans to get to the resort, which cost me over 1,250,000 VND. My suggestion - take the hydrofoil! I will say that I did appreciate the resort's flexibility about my arrival. I had issues acquiring my visa, so I had to stay in Thailand a few extra days. The resort allowed me to push my reservation forward with no penalty. They were quite friendly, too, and were very welcoming upon my arrival. Their hospitality buffered other difficulties. Again, a beautiful place with peace and quiet for those looking to escape reality for a bit.
• C2533TDsimons (8/5): peace and tranquility - Beautiful setting RIGHT ON a lovely clean safe beach. we were upgraded to a lovely 3bed 3 bath house on the beach which was great. The staff lead by Ms Tam really did all they could to make our stay special, even took us to the local market to buy stuff so we could BBQ on the beach which was great. The small restaurant they have served great simple food and would try cook whatever we asked for ( off menu). not much to do in the area, apart from mud baths about 20 min away BUT if you are after peace and tranquility in good accommodation on the beach then THIS IS THE PLACE!
• 360craigs (8/5): Lovely - We had a beautiful garden wooden garden room with a stunning view over the little lake. Next time we come with the family looking forward to the villas right on the beachfront. The restaurant is friendly and make a request at lunch-tie they are more than willing to go and find you fresh local seafood to your requirements. Actually the service is fantastic. We required a phone card and on hopped on his bike and went out to get us one. The room’s garden rooms are lovely but need a little attention now. The glass on the coffee table was cracked that could be dangerous for children. And a lack of power sockets was a little frustrating. We have two dogs and the beach is perfect for them, miles of nearly deserted white sand beach. (local fishermen very friendly)
• harrya349 (6/5): Fairly average - Average service, noisy "construction" work. Missing half the menu. Other than that it was a pleasant, relaxing stay. The staff were friendly and the rooms clean and comfortable. The location was secluded, peaceful and had it been sunny we would of actually really enjoyed the beach and the pool.
• oskmail (8/5): A peaceful corner of paradise. - We spent three days in this lovely Resort situated in the middle of the nature with the sea on one side and the river on the other one. Is this a nice resort in its semplicity. The service is good and the staff is friendly and efficent. We booked a two levels large wooden house so rustic and eco friendly. But indeed the main reason we chose it was cause they accept dogs. The beach is wide and clean and the sea is not too deep with clear and warm sea.
• thuse (10/5): Nice stay and relaxing area - River Ray is near Ho Tram but since the latter is more well-known, it's usually crowded comparing to River Ray. From Ho Chi Minh City, you can take the bus to Ho Tram, get off at the intersection of Vietso Petrol Hotel, then turn right and walk something like 5 minutes to River Ray Estates Resort. Spaning over a large area with not so many guests, River Ray Estates Resort is a great choice if you're looking for a place to relax. They have their own private beach and a pool so you can choose how to spend your day there. However, the pool is outdoor so the water may get really warm during the day. When making your reservation, try to ask for a room on the hill so that you can have a nice view of the river from your windows. They also have villas facing the sea. I had a room in the wooden house on the hill (Iris 1 or 2); the downside is that the wall was so thin, I could hear what was happening in the room next door. It's really quiet and there's not much to do in the evening here. If you want a bit of nightlife and different options for dinner, go to Ho Tram area (call a taxi or so, walking would be far).
• Anton1975-1 (8/5): Nice place and nice people - I was looking for the seaside place to spend weekend near the HCMC. The closest place to go is Vung Tau, but I did not want to stay in town, so I looked for something quiet and remote. I found offer for one night for $42 and thought that this should be a place to go. At the moment I did not realized that this is an hour drive from VT Port. The place is really remote, but very nice. Management was very hospital as well as all others. I got the room near the river – at the beautiful corner of the resort. The room itself was not so good, very simple, but for $40 and for one night it was sufficient. As I understood they also have villas at the beach that furniture nicer and look very good. In the territory of Resort you can find swimming pool and small restaurant. Simple breakfast is included. Sea is beautiful, perhaps b/c of time of the year I was alone at the shore. Beach is a little bit dirty, but looks like it is everywhere here. I would advise this place for the quiet vocation with kids and for one-night stay. If you go for longer period, make sure that you book a cottage at the beach.
• cristinaamatea (10/5): Perfect place to relax and forget about the world - The hotel is located in a place completly relaxing, it has a beach close by, and a very nice swimingpool where we enjoy a lot. It has a place to view the sunset by the river wich is amazing, and definetly very relaxing. The staff is extremaly nice, and lovely, they are able to help you with everithing. The restaurant is ok, we tried the tomato with beef wich was surprisingly nice. Breakfast was ok, would be nicer if they toast the bread, at least for occidental tastes. The room was nice and clean and nice river view, the bed is more confortable that a first sight wich seems a bit old, we definetly recomend the hotel and thanks the staff.
• princesskelly (6/5): beautiful beach but - Our large family stayed in a three bedroom beach village and a one bedroom unit. The property is located in a beautiful location in a middle of nowhere. We can walk to the beach from our back door and rooms include breakfast. The rooms are not terribly comfortable, the beds are vey old. All en Suite Bathrooms smelled (sewage) and old towels were provided. So we have to close the bathroom doors and spray deodorant periodically. Mosquitoes are abundant, luckily we brought our own mosquitoes and deodorant sprays. Our village was not cleaned after the second day, this could be due to the Tet New Year holiday and there were less workers. I managed my expectation before arriving here so my complaint is limited. This hotel is not up to western standard. The positive comments are beach, beach, and beach and the ladies in the Management Office were very nice. This property will be excellent if the owner decides to spend money to invest on comfort of the space.
• CTBPhuong (10/5): Refreshing and relax stay - We really enjoyed staying at this resort for 2 nights. Good location to enjoy quiet place to get away from busy and noisy city. The resort is very beautiful place in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province. This place is must visit place that is away from HCMC.
• Z5848ZKsarahl (8/5): Great people who deserve your business - River Ray Estates provided great contrast from our time in Ho Chi Minh. This was a beautiful place surrounded by nature, right in between the beach and a river which has the most amazing sunsets. Ideal if you're looking for relaxation time and privacy. We were slightly disappointed with the beach which didn't have the cleanest water, but it was still great to lie on the sand. The staff was extremely accommodating, going shopping for exactly what we wanted for dinner and setting us up a beautiful table out by the pool (which was great). The owners even kindly gave us a ride out to the bus station. Great area of Vietnam to explore
• 2405shinej (8/5): Refreshing, relaxing, lovely stay - My partner and I needed an escape from the bustle of Saigon, and jumped on our motorbike to head to Ho Tram. We planned poorly, and got lost along the way (no motorbikes allowed on the new expressways...rookie mistake). The staff was patient and kind with us as we had to re-navigate our way. One of the owners gently guided us with texts and calls, and we eventually made it! We stayed in a lovely wooden house (I believe we were upgraded to a two-story suite) with beautiful views and breezes from the river. The whole setting is quite serene, with rustic touches and beautifully kept grounds. The beach is quiet, we were the only sunbathers, and were able to have beach chairs for the day. We didn't use the pool as it looked a little too murky to enjoy. There is a mini-market down the street to stock your fridge with drinks and snacks. Just beware of the critters at night who will be want to get into bags. We had a late night visit from a possum, who must live in the wooden rafters of the building...but no harm done. Surprisingly, it added to the woodsy charm of the building. The staff are wonderful, super friendly. Tam is a star.The trip home only took 2.5 hours once we knew the way, so we will definitely be escaping to River Ray Estates again.
• Aileen (6/5): Could have been better for the price - The room smelled moldy and for the price of $42 a night, it could have been better. The location is ok.
• Francoius (8/5): Bliss.. - Great location if you are looking to get away from the city noises. We stayed in the wooden room/house. Got a typical cabin at the lake feel to it. The walls are a bit thin and we could hear the neighbor snoring loud.(and well everything else that went on next door) It would be great to see some cooking facilities in the rooms(or common area) because the resort is located a bit far away from the town and other restaurants(except for the resort restaurant).
• annc459 (6/5): Has Potential - We stayed in one of the villas at this resort. The villas were comfortable but lacked many items expected as foreign tourists. There were no wine glasses, no hair dryer, no iron or ironing board. When we asked, we were advised that they were available at the reception area on request. However, there was nothing in the room to advise us of this. Breakfasts were basic consisting of eggs, bread rolls, jam and cheese, plus tea, coffee, etc. The staff were very helpful. If you are looking for a place to "get away from the hustle" it certainly is a nice quiet place.
• Beata_Saigon (8/5): Quiet location right on the beach - I've been twice in this little gem hidden among the pine trees, right on the beach. There are different kinds of accommodation but the best are the villas on the beach ; 3 rooms can accommodate up to 8-9 persons. Fully furnished kitchen with a big fridge makes your stay comfortable for longer stays.

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