Escape the hustle and bustle of Vietnam and immerse yourself in nature on Phu Quoc Island, where you can find the ultimate eco-friendly hotel nestled along the beachfront.
The ethos behind Mango May Resort is to create something close to nature and staying in a naturally built bungalow on a secluded part of Phu Quoc Island exudes this ideal.
This eco-friendly environment is not a just a façade but is at the heart of the creation of Mango Bay Resort. From the building of the site, maintenance of the land and daily workings, careful consideration has been made to ensure that Mango Bay Resort is as eco-friendly as possible.
Built using locally sourced materials and working with the land instead of against it, there was minimal loss to the natural landscape and thousands of trees have since been planted to give back to the land. The resort’s care has also extended to the reef surrounding its shores, with discouragement of fishing in the area to aid reef rehabilitation and a monthly clean-up of the entire 10 hectares of property.
Bungalows
The bungalows exude effortless minimalism, offering you a modern but tranquil take on traditionally made cabins. The natural air flow and light allow for minimal use of electricity and you can wash away the day under a waterfall shower heated by solar.
Your bungalow will be cleaned daily while you enjoy the spoils of a delicious buffet breakfast with linen and towels changed only on request to save water. Purified drinking water is provided without any sight of a plastic water bottle and boiled water is brought in a flask to your room to enjoy your cup of caffeine. Interestingly, instead of a traditional minibar, a cooling box is provided as an eco-friendly alternative.
To truly appreciate the ambiance there is no phone or television in the bungalows but various board games, books and movies available to fill your evenings if you feel so inclined.
Activities
Mango Bay is the perfect place to relax and unwind, however, if you’re seeking more of a thrill there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied during your stay.
You will be spoiled for choice of daily activities offered on the island including complimentary yoga and tai chi classes, snorkelling with equipment provided, kayaks, paddle boards, body boards, badminton, volleyball, kite making classes and children’s beach toys.
Explore more of Phu Quoc with private snorkelling, diving or island tours which can be arranged at reception.
Vegetable Garden
Take a wander through the vegetable garden and observe the local produce, grown to supplement the Mango Bay Restaurant using organic and pesticide free methods. There is even a small pepper farm, to experience the famous local commodity without leaving the comfort of the resort.
Wellness Centre
There is no better way to relax than receiving a massage accompanied by the sea breeze and sounds of waves breaking in the distance. All spa products are made with 100% natural botanical ingredients.
Supporting the Local Community
An emphasis is made to give back to the local Phu Quoc community by employing 80% local staff and using local suppliers for 85% of purchases for the resort. All staff members are paid above the local wage with social security, given four months of free English lessons, accommodation and a crèche for their children.
Wildlife at Risk
Along with the community Mango Bay Resort supports Wildlife at Risk (WAR) to conserve the biodiversity of Phu Quoc Island. Working together with this non-profit organisation since 2006, WAR is dedicated to combating illegal wildlife trade and conserving endangered wild life and their habitats through biodiversity surveys, repopulating native species, communication events and publications.
Behind the Scenes
Energy and water conservation methods along with recycling and waste systems operate behind the scenes to ensure that the resort is self-sufficient and sustainable.
Energy Conservation
Natural air circulation and fans (no air con)
Minimal use of fuel powered vehicles and equipment
Energy efficient appliances
Use of natural light during the day
Switching off lights when not in use
Low wattage light bulbs
Air drying linen
Water Conservation
Pump and treat fresh water from local wells
Low water use toilets
Table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
Use of photo-remediation to naturally treat waste water
Recycling and waste
Composting organic matter
Limiting paper based marketing
Recycling paper and glass
Septic tanks for waste
Buying fresh local produce and in bulk to reduce packaging
Zero Waste
The Mango Bay Resort has adapted numerous Zero Waste methods to maintain a sustainable system within the resort. However what stood out to me personally were the bamboo straws that were made on the premises, each unique without uniformity. The bamboo straw creation and regular sterilisation processes are complex, but the dedication to maintaining these practices contribute to Mango Bay’s commitment to sustainability.
I thoroughly enjoyed our experience at the Mango Bay Resort and it was hard to drag myself away. Whilst I was invited to review Mango Bay, I was thoroughly impressed at the lengths taken to ensure a true eco-friendly resort and I would wholeheartedly recommend the resort to friends, family and the Litterless Living Tribe.