Jiva Hoa Lu Retreat

What reviewers say

Excerpts from public Google reviews. They are the reviewers’ opinions, not ours, and we have not verified them.

• ★ 5a month ago

  What a hidden gem in the middle of Ninh Binh's stunning landscapes! From the moment we arrived at Jiva Hoa Lu Retreat, we were warmly welcomed and shown to our stunning villa, beautifully designed. The entire property is breathtaking, nestled among karst mountains, with gardeners and staff working daily to keep everything picture-perfect. You truly feel like you're in an oasis of tranquility. The staff were very attentive, while not everyone spoke fluent English, they all went out of their way to help and greeted us with genuine warmth every single day. Our villa was fantastic, and housekeeping did an outstanding job. Everything was spot on, and the turndown service was a lovely touch. Breakfast was excellent with plenty of variety to choose from. Getting to the nearby village was easy thanks to their convenient buggy service, and there's so much to explore in the surrounding area. A huge thank you to the entire team for making our stay so memorable. We left feeling completely refreshed and can't recommend this retreat highly enough!

• ★ 52 months ago

  We had the most exceptional stay at Jiva Hoa Lu for my birthday. My boyfriend booked 2 nights for us and it was the perfect relaxing getaway from start to finish. The hotel itself is stunning; the pool was absolutely beautiful, the room was luxurious and peaceful, and having complimentary bikes included made it so easy and fun to explore the local area. What really made our stay unforgettable was the incredible staff. Louis, Maya, Pinky and Tracy at reception could not have done more for us. They were so warm, attentive and full of fantastic local recommendations, always going above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. They even decorated our room for my birthday, which was such a thoughtful and lovely touch. We also had a 90-minute spa treatment and it was one of the best massages we’ve ever had. Therapists Trinl and Lê Nhâñ were so attentive and relaxing throughout the experience. They even noticed my partner had mosquito bites and kindly arranged for bug cream to be delivered to the spa for us to take afterwards; such amazing attention to detail and care. The massage itself was excellent and left us feeling completely relaxed. We honestly couldn’t recommend this hotel more highly and will be recommending it to everyone visiting Ninh Binh. A truly special stay!

• ★ 52 months ago

  I wish I had stayed here at Jiva Hoa Lu Retreat longer! The resort facilities, room, food, amenities were incredible, but what was most meaningful were the staff. The chat function on the app was very convenient and they were so responsive, it made it feel like we were very well taken care of no matter what hour of the day. They arranged for boogie transfers to and from the resort which was excellent, and my parents loved the included bike rentals. The rooms were clean, beautifully designed, with strong A/C. Very special shout out to Maya and Louis from Guest Relations, who absolutely went ABOVE AND BEYOND to help me organize a special occasion for my girlfriend from weeks before arriving to minutes before the plan! I also spoke with Cuong via email from weeks before who was such incredible help. They coordinated with my photographer and made everything so smooth, and were in contact with me constantly, answering my many questions, even delivering an ironer and iron board because we needed it for the event! Also very special shout out to Mrs. Nhâm from Housekeeping and two other kind, talented female workers (unfortunately didn’t get their names) who did such a gorgeous job in decoration of the room with flowers, designs, and balloons. They’re such artists! The folks I mentioned above and other staff here are exceptional at their job and deserve all the praise and accolades. I will definitely be recommending friends and family to visit this special place and these special people. Thank you all for a memorable experience. Would love to come back when I get the chance.

• ★ 53 weeks ago

  Wow wow wow! First, thank you to all the staff in the hotel and especially to Annie for the best hospitality and service we got. The hotel has also an App that you can use for asking questions and asking for help from the staff. Everything was just perfect- the location was 4 min drive from the center - not a problem, because there is a Grab/ texi/ service of the hotel. The room was amazing, comfortable bed, amazing shower. Breakfast was perfect- they have a lot of options and also have a very good coffee. The pool - the picture talking by themselves. And the most amazing thing - The yoga class I had. Wow wow! The yoga class included in the price of the hotel and the best I ever had. Highly recommended!!!

• ★ 54 months ago

  Wonderful stay at the hotel! The scenery and surroundings are beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. The breakfast was excellent with a great variety of delicious options. I would especially like to thank Maya and Finn for their outstanding service. They were incredibly friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, which made our stay even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this hotel and would definitel

• ★ 3a month ago

  My husband and I recently stayed at Jiva for 3 nights in an Oasis Deluxe room. We were really excited for our stay after seeing the photos online, however we left feeling slightly disappointed. For the premium price this hotel charges, unfortunately the service and experience did not live up to our expectations. Pros - great check-in from Pinky who was extremely welcoming, warm and professional - Annie is a true asset to Jiva. She remembered us personally and every day took the time to speak to us, provide recommendations and assist in any way possible. She was incredibly professional, bubbly and speaks great English - The grounds and pool are absolutely beautiful and a real selling point of this resort - Fantastic location only a short cycle ride from beautiful rice fields and Tam Coc - Evening turndown service with snacks was much appreciated and a nice touch Cons - The resort app is a great idea in principle however I often sent messages and waited hours for a response, or didn’t get a response at all. I had much better service from other hotels in Vietnam who used WhatsApp for communication - The “Pool Bar” is not a bar at all. There is a menu on the app and food is delivered but options are extremely limited, mostly western food and very overpriced. I would recommend going into Tam Coc instead. - The gym is very small with limited equipment and extremely hot with poor AC. Glass bottles in the gym are also a serious safety hazard - The complementary bikes are good to have however many of them are old, rusty, with faulty breaks and in need of an upgrade. Bikes from low end hostels in Tam Coc appeared to be of better quality! - The rooms are not soundproof at all. We were woken many times in the night due to shouting from the neighbouring rooms, toilets flushing and furniture being moved around on the balcony above - The room is very bare, with no decoration and very dark - Many staff are cold and look like they do not want to be there. Check out was disappointing with no one asking how our stay was, and instead just asking us to pay our bill We will definitely be back to Tam Coc, but would be hesitant to return to or recommend Jiva as the service currently stands.

• ★ 3a month ago

  Jiva Resort is an absolutely stunning place. The setting is exceptional — the architecture, the gardens, and the overall atmosphere create a truly unique experience. It is a property full of charm and potential, a place where you immediately want to slow down and enjoy your stay. However, we were quite disappointed by the level of service, which unfortunately does not yet match the standards expected from a 5-star hotel. The main issue was communication: many members of the staff speak very little English, which made it surprisingly difficult to get basic information, whether about the hotel, recommendations, or things to do in the surrounding area. We also felt that the team lacked proper hospitality training. For example, by the pool, after ordering cocktails and then ordering more drinks later, the previous glasses and our lunch plates remained on the table for the entire afternoon. When we asked a staff member if they could clear the table, they simply smiled and walked away — apparently because they had not understood what we were asking. The staff is kind and always smiling, but in a hotel of this category, kindness alone is unfortunately not enough. Guests expect attention to detail, anticipation of their needs, and a more professional level of service. It is a shame because the resort itself is truly exceptional and has everything needed to offer an unforgettable experience. With better staff training and improved communication, it could easily become an outstanding 5-star destination. We still have wonderful memories of the place and sincerely hope the service will improve in the future.

• ★ 0a month ago

  Nice hotel but the restaurant lets it down. Breakfast was nice but lunch by the pool and dinner were poor. Service in the restaurant was not up to the standards of a 5* hotel.