Just Different”

We didn’t want to leave after 2 nights stay. We stumbled upon the Nguyen Shack via the Legal Nomads blog, which raved about it - and rightly so. Our two nights there were far too short and totally idyllic. It's not luxury accommodation, but our triple bungalow had everything needed: fridge, bathroom, mosquito nets, a fan, and of course a lovely view over the river and rice paddies. The Shack is small, with only five bedrooms, so it's a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. The tours are good too. Persuaded by Maxime, who runs the Shack with his partner Theu (the owner and founder) we ended up doing all three. The first was a chilled-out afternoon boat tour along the river, driven by the wonderful Phong - boatman and handyman around the place. The second was the morning floating and land market tour, which was fascinating, and it was great to wander around the land market with no other tourists and also no hassle from the traders. Lastly, we went on Maxime's morning bike tour, which took in various local industries including the rice wine factory, rice factory, a pottery, a blacksmith, as well as the local primary school and the local pagoda. You can also just take the bikes for a potter around the countryside should you wish. We ate all our meals at the Shack, accompanied by delicious fresh fruit shakes. Fruit, water, coffee and tea are all complementary, which is a lovely touch. Meanwhile we had fun playing with the Shack's pets - yes, as other reviews have noted, the dogs, cat and adorable pig are free to roam around, but we didn't feel this was a problem. In the Nguyen Shack, Theu's created a beautiful place to retreat, see the Mekong, and meet some of the lovely local people. Very highly recommended

the best experience you'll have in vietnam!”

nguyen shack will provide you with the best memories of your vietnam trip. the staff, tsu and maxime are fantastic. they are very welcoming and will also help you book any ongoing travel needs. all the following is included free - river tour by boat, cai rang floating market tour by boat, villages tour by bicycle along the river, cloths washing done for you, wifi, breakfast, bottled water. we stayed for three nights and days and the total we spent on everything (exluding room hire) was less than - including alchohol! we would recommend to anyone a stay at nguyen shack - the best time we had in vietnam. do yourself a favour - book now. you can also check out our movies of our stay at nguyen shack on youtube - just search under heathmc.

Relaxing stay surrounded by nature”

Our stay at the Nguyen Shack was the most memorable of our two-week trip to Vietnam. If you are looking for a home stay along the Mekong River where traditional Vietnamese values still abound, then I highly recommend staying at the Nguyen Shack near Can Tho. The bungalows are comfortable, and offer a breath-taking view of the countryside along the Mekong River. The friendly, attentive staff took care of all our needs, including taxi and bus reservations for our next Vietnamese destination. One could not ask for better hosts during our stay. Eloi and Kim went out of their way to offer us great service, great meals, and great advice and information about local customs and Vietnam in general. We had a great time and hope to see them both again in a not-too-distant future. There are various excursions available when staying at the Nguyen Shack, and we recommend them all.

Fabulous time in a wonderful location”

we had a wonderful stay at nguyen shack during our 3 month trip to south east asia. theu the owner and her boyfriend maxim were perfect hosts and the food was great. the shack is set in a quiet area surrounded by orchards and paddy fields. included in the room rate was an evening boat trip with a beautiful sunset and a morning boat trip to the floating market which you arrive at before boat loads of tourists which was good. maxim took us on a cycle tour of local village which was really interesting and informative. when not on a trip we relaxed on our verandah watching the butterflies and all theu and maxim's pets which include pigs, ducks, rabbits, dogs and a kitten. would definitely recommend nguyen shack over anywhere else we stayed in the mekong delta area.

Excellent service, a perfect place to stay in Can Tho”

Our plan was originally one day in Can Tho. However, because of Shack Nguyen, we extended our stay to 2 days. The staffs were superb, cannot ask for any service better than this. So greatful for the wonderful team of people at Shack Nguyen. Because of these people, this place actually gives a long lasting impression on our trip. We actually enjoy this stay better than the next stop at a five star resort in Phu Quoc. The room was clean. Shack Nguyen provides a calm, comfortable place to stay, a truly "feeling like home" place. Highly recommended! Will definitely come back to this place when we come back to Vietnam next time.

Experience countryside and wilderness in Mekong”

geting there is easy: take a taxi from can tho. 6-9 usd. ask the driver to call your host, and she will come to carry your bags. she's very kind and a great cook aswell. activities are all day long: every morning the small boat from the hotel, take tourist to the floating market in cai rang, guided biking tours in the nearby villages. you will listen the stories of the places, visit families, rice factories, rice fields ....afternoon, boat trip on chanels, sunset.... the place is ideal for relaxing in a very quiet area, and for those who want action. sunsets from the shack are wounderful. the fruits and all activities are complementary. it's an experience you don't have to miss.

Just one word....Amazing”

After being in Bangkok, Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, this place and the performance of the lovely lady who owns it, offered everything we were looking for. Back to nature, no scooters and no overkill of commercial activities. We've enjoyed the hospitality and the inside view on life in the Mekong that the owner offered us. When we ever visit Vietnam again we already know where we will stay...Nguyen Shack- Mekong River Homestay!

Fantastic homestay with lovely people”

when i booked nguyen shack - mekong river homestay my family and myself didn't really know what to expect from this place/location but what a surprise: this homestay was one of the best experience we had in south of vietnam. the cottages are nice and clean, the owners friendly and helpful, the food provided in the little restaurant very tasty and the boat & bike trips very interesting! little "minus" the shower/water didn't really get warm - but we didn't mind because of the warm/even hot weather.

PERFECT”

I stayed this hotel already 2times, I really enjoyed at Nguyen Shack and lovely stuff. Pretty fer from central Can Tho but you can enjoy in there, 4 kind of tour, free rent a bicycle, hummock, nature, animls delicious food with Mekong river.

Great Stay”

I spent two nights in Nguyen Shack Can Tho, I booked the dorm but as there was nobody there they gave a private room! The place is a bit far from the city but it is right next to the river so you can start the tours to the Floating Market right from the guest house. The staff was really friendly and they really like to talk as most of them want to improve their english, it is a good way to get to know more about Vietnam. They have a safe in the rooms.

Exceptional”

We loved our time at Nguyen Shack. Staff is so friendly and helpful. Such a peaceful place to sit or lay in a hammock, listen to the birds and frogs, watch the sunset with bats and fireflies swooping by. Only complaint would be the restaurant is just mediocre and you're far enough from town that you likely will eat there for every meal. Feels like maybe its an attempt to westernize the food--no spice or much flavor. Still--this place is a gem and we will recommend to any future friends going to Can Tho.

The nicest place to stay on whole Vietnam!”

Without overestimation we can say that this was one of the nicest places we have ever been to and by far the most relaxing accomandation we saw during our four weeks in Vietnam! Theu, the owner of this guesthouse, is so welcoming and friendly. Breakfast, fresh water and delicous fruits from the fridge as well as three trips are complimentary: A boat cruise in the afternoon to see the local live, an early morning cruise to the floating market of Cai Rang, that we really enjoyed, and finally a bicycleride through the village which was our favorite. You can go on the Trips as often as you like. People in the village were just amazingly friendly and welcoming. We stopped at nearly 10 different places and talked with Theu about life in Vietnam and its changes within the last years. What I forgot to mention Theu is a wonderful cook. The menu is not to long but has exactly the right length to try different delicous meals. The bungalows were built in 2012 so everything is in perfect condition. Of course it is life with the nature but why would you come to visit Vietnam and the Mekong-Delta if you would not enjoy that. We were so sad when we had to leave and would recommend this place from the bottom of our hearts.

Exceptional”

Having been to the Mekong Delta several times, I have to say my time at Nguyen Shack has been my favourite. The bungalows are built in the style of Southern Vietnamese countryside houses, with wooden walls, thatched roofs, large beds covered with mosquito nets and surrounded by nature (papaya, melons, jackfruits, you name it!). We went on the morning floating market tour, the bike tour, and the food tour, all of which were excellent and let us taste a little morsel of authentic Vietnamese life. I also have to give a shout out to the staff - they were all very friendly and very helpful and were a joy to chat to!

You have to stayhere”

We booked this homestay and were pleasantly surprised. We were greeted by two friendly dogs and a baby pig. Our bags were driven by motorbike to the shack and we walked the easy path to the homestay. If you had to wheel /carry your bags to the homestay it wouldnt be a problem. Maxim and Tao were excellent hosts. We were looked after like family. The food here is excellent and I even cooked black pepper crab one night for everyone. They have three tours that you can do at minimal cost and with their local knowledge its very good. You dont follow the hoardes of tourists around Can Tho. Take Maxims bike tour around the area...excellent!The accomodation is right on the river - this has been rebuilt and is great. Of all our stays in Southern Vietnam this had to be the highlight. Dont go there expecting 5 star accomodation. It is a homestay. If you want to see how the locals live and work around the mekong then this is the place to go. Its a short taxi ride from the bus station if you catch a bus (use FUTA - 120,000VND) from Ho Chi Minh. Stay Here!

beautiful and relaxing but out of the way”

The Nguyen Shack was a lovely and relaxing place to spend a few nights in Can Tho. The bountiful breakfast with generous hours (7-12!) was particularly nice. The staff was kind enough to give us a room upgrade, as one of the bungalows was empty when we arrived. The room had a beautiful view of the waterway and fields. A few drawbacks - because the Shack is far outside of the main town, you are reliant upon their tours for sightseeing and food for dinner. The meals are reasonable, but the tours are definitely more expensive than you could find elsewhere ($12 per person for morning 2 1/2 hours to the floating and land market, $10 per person for afternoon cycling tour, $6 per person for evening sunset cruise). The taxi to the town is about 160k dong. The staff were extremely kind to us when we were there, and they maintain a jovial atmosphere in the main eating area, where cats and travellers and dogs and staff all mingle for hours in the evening.

Best place ever ”

Sincerely my favorite place to stay in Vietnam. It is perfectly located a bit outside of town, surrounded by plantations and right on the side of the river. Although the rooms and facilities are very simple (expect slightly hard bedding and not so hot shower), it was comfortable enough and great value for money. The restaurant offers pretty good and inexpensive food. Breakfast is included and coffee, tea and water are for free. They offer interesting and inexpensive tours. We tried the floating market and sunset tours, and both were worth the money. You can also use their bicycles for free, or try fish massage and fishing. The best part for the end: every single staff member was amazing, some of the kindest and most fun people I have ever met. They made us feel right at home and we were sad to leave them behind after only 2 days. Definitely recommend this place and can't wait to visit the Nguyen Shack in Ninh Binh!

Brilliant and authentic hotel”

the rooms - shacks are very comfortable and their decoration ideal. you are in the jungle and you feel its purity in combination with the hospitality provided by the manager-owner who really loves her job. she welcomes you with fresh fruits and coconuts and she provides free snacks and coffees. the food is fantastic. internet is provided in the main shack (lobby-restaurant). the visitor is next to the river. there is a tour by boat in the river in the afternoon and another tour in the floating market of mekong delta early in the morning. later you can attend a bike tour and visit a local school, a rise factory, a pagoda where orphans are hosted and other very interesting places. the tours are free! staying in this hotel it was the best experience for us in vietnam. if you miss it, you will not understand the hospitality and the spirit of the country. many congratulations to the manager.

Oh wow, what a surprise”

As a travel writer I've had the privilege of staying in some of the swankiest and most renowned hotels in the world, but seldom (ever?) have I been as impressed as I have been during my visit at Nguyen in the Mekong Delta. Without a doubt it has been one of my most memorable experiences while travelling through Asia, and I am really grateful for that. Nguyen was fully booked for some of the nights I planned on spending in the Delta and so I opted for Minh Tin Homestay around the corner from there for the first two nights. The contrast couldn't be greater. There were lots of things I loved about my stay at Nguyen - the cool location, the views of the river from my hanmock, the authentic accommodation, hanging out with other travellers. But what really sets this stay apart from others is the staff. Especially Kai and Peter are two of the most caring, kindest souls I have ever come across during my travels. Both made such a huge effort to ensure my stay was as happy as it could be, constantly going way beyond "the extra mile" to make things easy and enjoyable for me. This homestay was admittedly 2x more expensive than my other one in the Delta but 20x more memorable. I cannot wait to return.

Great little get away on the Delta”

If you want a true experience of life on the Mekong Delta and you don't mind a bit of a rustic feel then book a room at the Nguyen Shack. We stayed two nights there. The first morning we were up at 5:00 to catch the small boat from the Shack to the floating market, traveling down canals while the sun came up. We spent around 2 hours there. we returned to have a wonderful breakfast and then road bikes through the village stopping along the way learning about the locals and their life along the Mekong. In the evening just before dusk we traveled by boat once again down the little canals seeing the people begin their evening activities. The Shack rooms are very nice, bungalows type. Although they say they have air con, they only have fans. Watch how much food you order, she cooks for a crowd! We ordered 3 dishes to share and could barely get through two of them. Wonderful way to spend a couple of days. Quite, relaxing.

Enjoyable”

This is my second time back to Nguyen Shack. I really enjoyed it again. It is peaceful, relaxing and has some great activities on offer. Last time I was there with my husband and kids and we had a quad bungalow over the bridge which was very spacious. This time I was there with a friend in a triple room near the restaurant. The room and balcony were lovely but we found it a bit small for 2 friends and would recommend spending the extra for a quad if sharing with a friend and you want your own bathroom. The triple would be fine for a couple after their own bathroom. Meals were quite nice but the meals with noodles were a disappointment as they appeared to be 2-minute noodles. Last time we were there there was lots of commentary throughout the floating market trip. This time was not so great as basically there was little to no commentary either at the floating market or when we were walking around the land market.