Three resorts. One coastline. And a decision that matters more than you’d think — because Ho Tram isn’t like Nha Trang or Phu Quoc where you can walk from your hotel to a dozen restaurants. Here, your resort IS your trip.
I’ve sent guests to all three. Some come back raving. Some come back wishing they’d picked differently. Here’s the honest breakdown — what each resort actually delivers, who should book where, and the stuff the brochures won’t tell you.
For context: Ho Tram is about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh Airport — and that’s about to change dramatically with the new expressway that just broke ground.
At a Glance
| Melia Ho Tram | Angsana Ho Tram | Grand Ho Tram Strip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Family resort, polished | Boutique, couples-oriented | Big, loud, entertainment complex |
| Rooms | 152 rooms + 88 pool villas | ~200 rooms + suites | 500+ rooms across 3 hotels |
| Beach | Private, clean, wide | Private, quieter | Long stretch, shared across hotels |
| Pool | Massive main pool + villa pools | Lagoon-style, more intimate | Multiple pools across properties |
| Dining | 3 restaurants, solid breakfast | 2 restaurants, more refined | 10+ restaurants, food court |
| Casino | No | No | Yes — biggest in Vietnam |
| Golf | No | No | Yes — The Bluffs, 18-hole links |
| Best for | Families, groups, pool lovers | Couples, honeymooners | Gamblers, golfers, big groups |
| Kids club | Yes — solid | Limited | Yes — at Holiday Inn Resort |
| Price range | $$ – $$$ | $$$ – $$$$ | $ – $$$$ (varies by hotel) |
Melia Ho Tram — The Family Favorite
If you’ve got kids, stop reading and book Melia. Seriously. It’s the one our family guests consistently love.
The main pool is enormous — the kind where kids spend six hours and forget the iPad exists. There’s a proper kids’ club with activities, not just a corner with some crayons. The beach is clean and the water is calm enough for swimming most days. And the 88 private pool villas mean you can put the kids to bed and still have your own evening.
Breakfast is solid — not life-changing, but the kind of buffet where everyone finds something. Pho station, egg station, pastries, fruit, the usual. Lunch and dinner at the resort are fine but overpriced for what you get. If you’re staying more than 3 nights, you’ll want to venture out — having your own transfer arranged makes that easier since Grab is unreliable here.
The downside: it can feel crowded on weekends when Saigon families drive down. And if you’re a couple without kids looking for peace and quiet, you might feel like you’re at a very nice daycare. Not the resort’s fault — it’s just what it’s optimized for.
Angsana Ho Tram — The Quiet One
Angsana is the opposite of Melia in almost every way. Smaller. Quieter. More adult. Part of the Banyan Tree group, so the service standards are higher — staff remember your name, your coffee order, which pool lounger you like.
The pool area has a lagoon feel — winding, with pockets of privacy instead of one massive rectangle. The beach here is arguably the best of the three: less foot traffic, more natural, better for long walks. If your idea of a beach vacation is a book, a cocktail, and nobody under the age of 12 within earshot, this is your spot.
The trade-off? Less to do on-site. Two restaurants (both good, but you’ll cycle through the menus in 3-4 days). No kids’ club to speak of. No casino, no golf. You’re here to relax, and that’s basically the entire value proposition. For some people that’s perfect. For others, by day 3 they’re Googling “things to do in Ho Tram.”
The Grand Ho Tram Strip — The Everything Resort
The Grand is hard to describe because it’s not really one resort — it’s a complex with three hotels (InterContinental Grand, Holiday Inn Resort, and Ixora), a casino, a golf course, a convention center, and enough restaurants to eat somewhere different every night for two weeks.
If you want quiet romance, do NOT book here. This is a destination resort in the Vegas sense — big, busy, built for scale. The casino is the main draw. It’s the only place in Vietnam where locals can legally gamble (pilot program), so weekends get lively. The Bluffs golf course is legitimately world-class — a links-style course on coastal dunes that’s hosted international tournaments.
Room quality varies massively depending on which hotel you’re in. InterContinental is five-star, Holiday Inn Resort is solid mid-range, Ixora is more like serviced apartments. Read the fine print on which hotel your booking is actually for — I’ve had guests show up expecting InterContinental and get Holiday Inn because they didn’t check.
The beach is fine but shared across thousands of guests. On a busy weekend, don’t expect a pristine empty shoreline. The pools help spread the crowd, but this isn’t a “secluded beach escape” — it’s an entertainment complex that happens to be on a beach.
The One-Sentence Version
- Melia: Best all-rounder for families. Book a pool villa if you can — the upgrade is worth it.
- Angsana: Best for couples who want to do absolutely nothing for 4 days. Bring books.
- Grand Ho Tram: Best for casino, golf, or if you want 10 restaurant options. But check WHICH hotel you’re booking.
One Thing Nobody Tells You
Ho Tram resorts are isolated from each other. Melia, Angsana, and The Grand are not within walking distance — they’re spread across several kilometers of coastline. If you’re at Angsana and want to check out the Grand’s casino, you need a car. The resort can call a taxi, but it won’t be instant. Better to arrange a private driver if you’re planning to hop between resorts or explore outside.
The Short Version
Family with kids → Melia. Couple wanting quiet → Angsana. You want to gamble or play golf → Grand Ho Tram. Simple as that.
All three are solid resorts. None are bad choices. But picking the wrong one for your trip type is the difference between “best vacation ever” and “nice, but I wish we’d stayed somewhere else.”
Need a transfer from the airport? We handle this route daily — contact us with your resort name, flight details, and group size. WhatsApp: +84 70 6666 520.
Also check: How to Get from Ho Chi Minh Airport to Ho Tram | New Expressway Just Broke Ground.
