Thang Loi Resort ^unique

Our brief comments:
The Thang Loi is a simple resort with very basic accommodation in an almost deserted area of Phu Quoc Island. It's located in a disused coconut plantation a couple of kilometres from the beach road.

Reaching the resort is problematic - the side road soon becomes a narrow track that eventually peters out to become a stretch of loose sand. It's inaccessible to four-wheel vehicles, but a light motorbike can just about get through.

The centre of the small complex is a restaurant cum reception and bar overlooking the beach but shaded by the closely packed coconut palms. It's best described as a rustic wooden construction roofed with a mixture of thatch with corrugated aggregate to the rear. It serves as a communal area for visitors and hosts the resort's single telephone.

Meals are simple and cheap. Fresh seafood and fruit from the plantation is readily available, and prices are cheap.

The bungalows are also wooden and thatched or tiled, and come in two sizes, the 15m² Standard set back in the coconut grove, and the larger 24m² Beach Front with a clear view of the Gulf of Thailand but also well-shaded.

Apart from a bed and a cold water shower, there's not much in the way of amenities. The limited electricity comes from a generator (a reasonable distance away) and is mainly used to provide power and light for the restaurant.

The beach in front of the restaurant and bungalows is a mixture of soft sand with outcrops of weathered rocks. However, beyond the two promontories of the Thang Loi's small bay, the beach stretches as far as the eye can see on both sides and includes large sand and rock areas.

Simple rock snorkelling is within easy reach, but a boat trip to nearby islands is necessary to see coral and other more exotic sea creatures.

The Thang Loi deserves its 'Unique' label. You won't bump into big crowds, which is the special feature of this place, but the tradeoff is an almost complete lack of conventional hotel facilities. It's not for everybody, but if you're looking for solitude well off the beaten track and enjoy a completely 'laid-back' lifestyle, it has a lot to offer - and it's inexpensive as well!

Inspected 2001- feel free to contact us for an update