Seven years after our first time in Vietnam, we were excited to go back to the cities we used to call home: Da Nang and Hoi An.
We had the pleasure to be guests at Citadines Pearl Hoi An Hotel&Resort and had a great time in the beachside resort, so here is our full review following our stay.
HOI AN, VIETNAM
For those who have never been to Vietnam, the first images that usually come to mind when thinking of it are its lush natural landscapes of jungles forests, rivers and mountains, its bustling cities and street markets, its museums and history about the Vietnam War, and the world famous Halong Bay.
However, many won’t be aware that Vietnam boasts a coastline that is over 3,000-km-long. It stretches from the border with China in the north, to the one with Cambodia in the southwest. Endless sandy beaches facing the South China Sea offer plenty of chances to enjoy some beach time while in Vietnam.
Hoi An is a famous seaside town in Vietnam. It’s also one of the top visited places in the country, thanks to its charming old town rich in cultural heritage. When you pair this with a stunning ocean front location down the road, you have the perfect holiday destination. Also, right in front of An Bang Beach, the Cham Islands archipelago is a group of 7 islands great for snorkeling&diving day trips.
Furthermore, consider that Da Nang International Airport is a mere 25-km-drive from Hoi An, with more and more flights connecting to every major hub in Southeast Asia, like Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, or Kuala Lumpur.
CITADINES PEARL HOI AN
Some of the best beaches and seaside accommodation facilities in this sense are located in Central Vietnam, particularly in the Da Nang-Hoi An area. Here, Citadines Pearl Hoi An legitimately claims its space.
Citadines Pearl Hoi An is a 5-star hotel and resort located four km from Hoi An, along renown An Bang Beach. With over 500 fully furnished rooms, apartments and villas, it’s one of the top ranked hotels in Hoi An.
For all of the above reasons we can confirm that Citadines Pearl Hoi An Hotel is located in a very strategic location, close to the best attractions in the area and ideal for longer stays too.
HOTEL RECEPTION
We are introduced to Citadines Pearl through a large entrance and reception hall, greeted with smiles and welcome drinks. Plenty of staff are available to help, comfy sofas and lounge make you immediately feel at home.
Citadines Pearl is a proper all-round resort, everything you need is right there. As we explore the property, we can see restaurants, food shops, convenience stores, a nice gym with a view, and even a large cinema, all scattered around the various resort zones. Not to mention the spa and huge pool side areas that we’ll enjoy later.
Serviced apartments spread across three blocks extending from the main building – this is where superior rooms are. Whereas getting closer to the beach are the villas with private swimming pool, that look luxurious as you may expect.
BEDROOM
We are staying in one of the Ocean View Deluxe Rooms. The room is effectively a one bedroom apartment, with a large living area equipped with a kitchen, cooking utensils included. The lounge area sits cozy in the corner, featuring a sofa, an armchair, coffee table and cable TV. The bathroom is well-sized and has a bathtub with shower.
Last but not least our bedroom, with a large fluffy king bed, exactly how we like it! A second TV is in front of the bed, the wardrobe is spacious enough, and we end the room tour with the view from our balcony overlooking the resort and the ocean in the background.
Rooms are serviced daily, we could tell the cleaning staff did a great job not only to clean and tidy up our apartment daily, but also to accomodate all guests’ schedules, being available to service the rooms promptly whether it was 10 a.m. or 3 p.m.
SWIMMING AREA & POOL SIDE BAR
Get ready to see the swimming pool at Citadines Hoi An, because this is no ordinary pool. A huge swimming pool with a sinuous shape is studded by several lounge beds and umbrellas, inviting you to dive in straight away and enjoy the ocean breeze. It comes to no surprise to know that Citadines Hoi An boasts the biggest swimming pool in Hoi An!
There’s a second swimming pool which suits families with babies and small kids. This looks small compared to the main one, but it’s actually pretty spacious as well.
Around, the garden spreads all the way towards the ocean front, where the pool side bar is.
Great location, with tables overlooking both the swimming pool, the garden, the beach and the ocean. Perfect for a classic happy hour cocktail at sunset.
BEACH ACCESS
You can also see the Cham Islands from here, right in front of the beach. On clear days Lady Buddha statue and Son Tra Mountain in Da Nang can be spotted too.
On both sides, large stairways lead down to the beach. A plethora of activities is at your disposal. From jogging to playing beach volley, from sunbathing to evening walks, and of course a dip in the ocean. Watch for red flags when the sea is wavy. Clearly the beach is public here and external people may walk by. But rest assured that the resort beachside as well as the pool area are always supervised by the staff.
BREAKFAST SERVICE
Breakfast is included in every room type at Citadines Pearl Hoi An. It lived up to our expectations, definitely up to the standards of a 5-star hotel.
The morning buffet is generous and well presented. Guests can enjoy daily breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the 1st floor above the reception.
Options include continental breakfast, Vietnamese and Asian ingredients to customise your own dish, plus eggs and soups ready made on demand by the chefs. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan selection too.
The large dining hall has tables both indoors and on the outdoor terrace, located beautifully facing the ocean and the sunrise to the east.
GARDEN AMENITIES, SPA AND MORE
We took our time to explore the different spaces while staying at Citadines Pearl Hoi An. The large property allows for enjoyable walks across the garden even when simply moving from one facility to the next. The lawns are well looked after, so are all plants and trees. There is even a kids playground between the swimming pool and the beach.
The Spa is located in the main building. It offers various services such as Korean hot&cold sauna, steam bath, massage and jacuzzi. These may be complimentary depending on room type and inclusions.
We found the Fitness Centre to be particularly unique and well located, extending over 2 floors in the middle of the resort. You can choose whether to train on the ground floor gym, or upstairs with nice garden views through the glass walls.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall we had a very positive stay at Citadines Pearl Hoi An.
Having stayed previously in Hoi An, we knew that the old town can be overwhelming with the many tours and large groups of visitors.
We found that staying by An Bang Beach was ideal, as we could easily reach Hoi An to visit the town away from peak hours, and quickly get back to the resort to enjoy its facilities for the rest of the day.
Whilst An Bang Beach village is at walking distance, we rented a motorbike to get around. Taxis are cheap and fast to get you to town, and the resort offers a shuttle bus service for guests too, several times a day.
Our apartment was cozy and spacious, we quickly adapted to it and it was easy to call it home during our four day stay. Rooms are designed in modern style and offer everything you may need. Cleaning service was spot on too.
Breakfast service was great and filled us up with energy for our exploring rides around Hoi An.
As you can tell, the swimming pool and garden areas were simply outstanding, the pool alone is worth the stay!
We do recommend Citadines Pearl Hoi An to all kind of travellers, especially for couples and families with kids.
Enjoy your stay in Hoi An!
BOOK HERE
You can check the rates for Citadines Pearl Hoi An and book your next stay by clicking here.
Check our Vietnam 2-week itinerary and 1-month itinerary guides to plan your next trip to Southeast Asia!
Below is the video reel of our stay at Citadines Pearl Hoi An:
