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Hotel Review: The Grand Ho Tram Strip

Bottom Line Up Front

The Grand Ho Tram Strip is an excellent value-for-money option in the Ho Tram area. The grounds are attractive, the amenities are modern and plentiful, the rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, and the dining options are numerous and delicious (though some are a bit pricy). On top of it all, the customer service is top-notch, with a staff who is consistently friendly, helpful, proactive, and professional.

The Grounds

The grounds at The Grand are beautiful - modern in design and architecture, and everything is well-kept and clean. The pool area contains four infinity pools: two of them geared towards children (shallow water), and the other two geared towards adults (one is along the beachfront, and the other is attached to the pool bar). Water is clean, lounge chairs are ample, and greenery and flowers are abundant. During our stay (March 2015), the hotel was likely only half-full, so it is possible that the grounds might feel too crowded if the resort was operating at full capacity.

Also of note, as of 14 March 2015, part of the pool/beach area had been damaged due to bad weather. The hotel is working to restore, though the "finish" date is unknown. The affected area is sectioned off, though, and was not distracting or detracting from the overall beauty of the grounds. The beach directly in front of the resort is kept clean, and the view is stunning. However, the beach beyond the perimeter of the resort is not walkable - it is not clean, it's quite deserted, and some aggressive stray dogs were on the loose.

Amenities

+ The Casino - The casino is small in size, with a small variety of games. On the other hand, it is clean and not too smoky, and the staff are professional and friendly. Players can enjoy free drinks (only Tiger and Heineken beer, though). Unfortunately, the rewards program is not a standard casino rewards program and does not encourage customers to return. For example, because we booked our room on Agoda.com, management told us our casino points would not count during the entire trip.

+ The Spa - The spa offers a wide variety of services (massage, body scrubs & wraps, facials, manucures/pedicures, among others), and the staff is professional and welcoming. The facilities are pristine and certainly encourage relaxation. The steam and sauna rooms are extra perks for those who take part in any spa services. Prices are high, though reasonable for a resort atmosphere. Casino Rewards members receive a 50% coupon on their first spa visit.

+ Fitness Center - The Grand has a standard fitness center, nothing special, but does provide the standard variety of equipment. Everything is clean, and machines are new and modern.

+ Putt Putt Golf - Included in almost every guest package, the putt-putt golf course is fun and a medium-level challenge, perfect for all ages.

+ Beach Activities - Free activities for all guests include yoga classes, Tai-chi classes, Petanque equipment, Aqua fitness, and soccer and volleyball on the beach. Guest can enjoy additional activities (for a fee) including kite surfing and wind surfing, kayaking, surfboard rentals, stand up paddle boarding, and body boarding.

+ Club 9 - Club 9 is a nightclub, with a DJ, dancers, table service, and a full bar. The atmosphere was clean, and the service was professional, but the club was nearly empty on a Saturday night. No guests were dancing, and only a few tables were filled.

+ Game Center - The game center is small with a few arcade games for kids.

+ Kids & Teen Corner - An area with games and activities for children and childcare services. We did not use this facility, but it did look clean and professional.

The Rooms

Vietnomnomnom stayed in a King Oceanview room at a rate of USD150 per night. This rate also included buffet breakfast for two, putt-putt golf for two, and bus transportation to and from Ho Chi Minh City. The room was impressive - large, modern, clean, with an incredible view of the beach. The bathroom was also large with sectioned off shower and toilet rooms, and a whirlpool tub. The bedding was exceptional - extremely high-quality, soft bedding, and a comfortable Western-style mattress.

Dining & Bars

+ Brasserie Bistro - The Brasserie is an upscale French style bistro, offering a diverse menu of seafood, land fare, salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. Though high in price, the food is delicious, and the wine selection is impressive.

+ Ju Bao Xuan - Ju Bao Xuan is an upscale Chinese restaurant. The food quality is exceptional, the staff is professional, and the ambiance is lovely with a view overlooking the ocean. Highly recommend the suckling pig and the crispy Peking duck. Prices are high, but reflect the ambiance and the quality of food and service.

+ Ginger - Ginger is the location of the buffet breakfast every morning. The restaurant is clean and displays a nice view of the pool and deck area. The buffet is substantial - with a wide variety of Asian and Western options, and a salad bar, and a bakery bar. The buffet does not stand out as one of the best in Asia, but it is high-quality and satisfactory.

+ Infinity - Infinity is a roof top dining experience, serving Vietnamese and Western dishes. We did not try this restaurant.

+ 8 Dragons - 8 Dragons is the restaurant located inside the casino, serving dishes from all over East and Southeast Asia. We did not dine at this restaurant.

+ Nam Nam Express - Nam Nam Express is an affordable, cafeteria-style option for dining at the Grand. The restaurant serves a variety of Vietnamese and Asian dishes. We did not eat here.

+ Ca Phe Le Monde - This cafe serves coffee, dessert, ice cream, and a full food menu (Western and Vietnamese options). The savory food is good, though not great, and the coffee is tasty and well-prepared. We did not try the dessert, and the ice cream is Baskin Robbins brand.

+ Pool Bar - The pool bar is standard - with a substantial variety of drink options and a professional staff. Added bonus - half of the bar is "swim up," so guests can enjoy their drinks from the pool. The bar also has a full food menu. On Saturday, the bar began running out of many food and drink options, which was a bit disappointing.

+ Khoi Barbeque - Khoi is a casual barbeque restaurant situated among the pools with a nice view of the deck and beach areas. We did not dine here.

+ Sports Bar - The Sports Bar did not stand out as special or unique in any way, but did have a nice bar selection and a food menu. This bar is small (off of the lobby) and has TVs showing a variety of sports networks.

Customer Service & Management

The Grand certainly stands out in Vietnam for having top-notch customer service and a professional, friendly set of staff. All staff members were not only friendly, but also proactive in helping us with anything we needed. The resort is large with a huge capacity, but the customer service was consistently good. That being said, the hotel was likely only half-full, so hopefully the quality and service would remain top-notch at full capacity. Also, the beachfront restoration/construction, though not completely distracting, was a bit disappointing. The staff was unable to tell us when the beachfront would be fully restored.

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