8 Best Hotels in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Like life in the Mekong, Azerai revolves around water: set on a pretty little islet on the Hau River, it's only accessible by boat, and it has its own serene lake. This is the Mekong Delta's superlative hotel, with every feature of the resort designed to soothe the senses, from the on-site spa under a banyan tree to the use of natural materials, and the contemporary, comfortable style of the rooms, each with a large wooden deck. Kids love their own dedicated swimming pool and the activities available in the kids' club.

The family-run Green Village Mekong has two sites with simple bamboo bungalows and lush gardens: Green Village 1 is surrounded by rice paddies and banana trees, while Green Village 2, 3½ km (2 miles) away from the original property, is on a canal. A stay here provides some real insights into local life, with guests having access to free bicycles, boats, cooking classes, and traditional fishing equipment, with a housekeeper available to demonstrate how to actually catch fish. Each fan-cooled bungalow has a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and a minibar.

Though it's outside the riverfront area, this shiny international-standard hotel has spacious, modern rooms with slick Western-style bathrooms. There's also a gym, a coffee lounge on the second floor, and a rooftop bar with fabulous views of the city and the river.

A true boutique hotel, the Nam Bo is small and personal with only seven large elegant suites (the corner suites are particularly delightful), friendly staff, great rooftop breakfasts, and many thoughtful little touches, such as local snacks left on the bed, a welcome cocktail, and a fruit platter. You can dine at the upscale rooftop L'Escale or the ground floor Nam Bo restaurants or have food from either place delivered to your suite. The reception staff is also very helpful when it comes to local information and tourist tips.

This is a small, friendly, family-run operation designed to give guests an off-the-beaten-track experience from the home base of a bamboo shack over the Ong Tim River. Each lodging has a hammock-draped balcony and a private bathroom. You can use the free bicycles to explore the local area or take a reasonably priced tour (focusing on food, or boat or bicycle exploration) during the day. Room rates include breakfast, water, coffee, tea, and snacks.

There are neat, clean, freshly painted rooms in Tay Ho, one of Can Tho's few remaining colonial riverfront buildings, and despite state ownership, the hotel has a certain charm. Standard rooms have no windows, so it's worth paying a little more for one of the three deluxe rooms that open onto the balcony overlooking the statue of Ho Chi Minh, although the riverfront is noisy at night and in the early morning.

Built in a style befitting French-colonial times, the Victoria Can Tho Resort comes replete with teak balustrades, hardwood floors, and bamboo ceiling fans. Rooms are spacious and elegant, and a generous breakfast is included. The old-fashioned airs and graces follow through to the service, which is courteous and discreet. Guests can also cruise many of the nearby waterways on the resort's own fleet of river boats. Thy can also lounge by one of two swimming pools.