The Island Lodge
French-Indochinese colonial charm meets Mekong Delta calm. Think teak furniture, bamboo details, vintage maps of Indochina on the walls, and cocktails made from Cambodian rum. Small enough that the owner greets you himself.
Ask for a jetty table at dinner for the best seat in the house over the Mekong
Why It Matters
One of the very few high-quality boutique hotels actually on a Mekong Delta island, rather than in a city nearby. Listed on both the Michelin Guide and Tablet Hotels. The French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant is genuinely excellent, and the 25-meter pool overlooking the river is the kind of thing you don't want to leave.
A 12-room French-owned boutique lodge sitting on the western tip of Thoi Son (Unicorn Island), one of four islands in the My Tho stretch of the Mekong Delta. Founded in 2015 by French couple Michel and Françoise, it blends Indochinese colonial atmosphere with genuine Vietnamese warmth — old family photos, leather armchairs, a gramophone playing French classics, and staff who actually remember your name. It's not trying to be the flashiest place in Vietnam, and that restraint is exactly its strength.
Where You'll Stay
2 room types available
Garden Pavilion Room
Four rooms spread across two standalone two-bedroom pavilions in the tropical garden — named the Francis Garnier Pavilion and the Ernest Doudart de Lagrée Pavilion, after the 1866–1868 Mekong explorers. Slightly larger than the river-view rooms with bathtubs, double washbasins, and outward-facing bathrooms. Better pick for families or anyone who values privacy and garden space over river panoramas. Terraces open directly onto manicured lawns with carp ponds.
36 sqmMekong River View Room
Eight rooms on the first floor of the main building, each with full-frontal views of the Mekong and the plantation beyond. Open-plan in feel, with bamboo storage units, king or twin beds, retro desk and chairs in a light colonial style, tiled floors, and a mosquito net over the bed. The rain shower has open-top design with pebble drainage — functional and atmospheric. Large glass balcony doors mean you can watch the river traffic from bed. Each room has a unique canvas by Saigon artist Tran Ngoc Tun and 100% natural toiletries.
34 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The lodge offers classic, mountain, and electric bikes for hire to explore Unicorn Island's flat rural lanes. Guided 'active and discovery' tours are available, or guests can go independently. Cycling over the bridge to My Tho at sunrise is a popular route. A full Ben Tre cycling tour can also be arranged — book ahead as guide availability is limited.
Hire a boat to visit the other three islands near My Tho: Dragon, Phoenix, and Turtle islands, each with distinct character, local villages, and traditional craft producers.
A one-hour sunrise stretch and movement session held on the bank of the Mekong. Called 'Mekong Serenity' by the lodge. Combines gentle muscle activation with the experience of watching the river come alive at dawn.
A guided afternoon/evening excursion with guide Kha visiting a sugar candy producer, a honey farm (with royal jelly tasting), a local market, and local singers. Returns as the sun sets over the Mekong.
A slow, traditional rowing boat tour around Unicorn Island, rowed by the lodge's own gardener and his wife. Guide Kha provides narration on river life, local agriculture, and the Delta's ecosystems. A completely different pace to motorized tourist tours.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary WiFi in common areas. In-room WiFi also available.
Cooked-to-order breakfast included in room rates. Fresh orange juice, fruit, croissants, and a full à la carte menu.
An in-lodge library with books about the Mekong Delta and Vietnam, plus board games in the lounge.
A 10 sqm fitness room with 4 resistance machines, 1 fixed power rack, 1 stationary bike, 1 elliptical trainer, and 1 indoor rower. Compact but fully equipped for a property of this size.
A 24–25 meter outdoor pool set in the garden facing the Mekong, with direct river views. Surrounded by palm trees. Reserved for hotel guests only.
Adjacent to the pool, also overlooking the Mekong. Part of The Cocoon wellness complex.
24-hour front desk. Staff arrange airport and city transfers, guided tours, cycling, and boat excursions.
The lodge has its own private boat pier for river arrivals and departures. Used by high-end tour operators and for guest boat tours.
Hotel-arranged transfers from HCMC airport or city center. Surcharges apply. Strongly recommended over taking an independent taxi.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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