The Victoria Chau Doc Resort, Vietnam

A low-rise building in a classic style with 92 rooms, the Victoria Chau Doc is by far the best hotel in this region. Rooms are decorated in the French-Vietnamese style favoured by this group of hotels. Wooden floors and furnishings and pale fabrics complement well-placed local artefacts. Rooms are split between river and city views, with the river view rooms being slightly larger.

The Bassac Restaurant itself boasts excellent Vietnamese and European cuisine. Dine indoors or outdoors on the terrace, which has a particularly lovely view at sunrise. Enjoy an early morning breakfast accompanied by scenes of the river coming to life and the ever changing colours of the landscape at dawn.

There is a simple spa on the rooftop of the hotel, offering panoramic views of the river and its surrounds. In addition to the excellent restaurant and bar, the hotel also offers a swimming pool, fitness centre, billiards and even martial arts instruction.