Here Library - A wooden home by the river with a library

What a gem of a place! A tranquil paradise hidden in a non-touristy small city. It was the perfect stop on the way to Chau Doc to get the boat to Phnom Penh. Dao the host is absolutely lovely and a really calming, welcoming and engaging host. Dao went above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable, from serving a delicious lunch cooked by her mother (as there are not many restaurants open around lunch), to even taking me on a scooter ride through the rice fields and to the markets. I only wish I could have stayed longer. The room had good aircon and a collapsable mosquito net. It’s a short walk into town along the river. The library full of books had anything you could hope to read and Dao and her family run a small cafe downstairs so you can buy coffee or beer and chill out by the river with a book. Dao even helped me by posting some keys to my last homestay (that I had accidentally brought with me) for me. Truly a gem!

Nothing! If you have mobility issues you might struggle getting to the room. Other than that, perfection.

Stedet er en ting men Em DAO som har stedet , hun er et fantastiske menneske som kan hjælpe dig med alt , jeg blev straks venner med hende

Ikke noget alt var super godt men husk man skal kunne forstå at sætte sig ind i deres dagligdag her så får man en bedre oplevelse og forståelse

Je n'aime pas partager mes super plans !! mais c'est un super plan, avec un logement entier, balcon à la chambre au 1er étage, vue, ambiance locale, accueil, attentions diverses, tout ce que je cherchais dans cet homestay. Contact et service de Dao et famille .... on correspond encore !!! Ville hors tourisme, "Il n'y a rien à voir !!" donc c'est le Vietnam authentique et il y a tout à voir ! Contacts surprenants hors du commun avec les locaux, au marché, promenade vélo, moto, etc ...Chez Dao (elle parle anglais, et d'agréables soirées discussions), papa, maman à la cuisine, on se sent invité, pas voyageur. Sur 2 mois de vagabondage dans le Mekong, c'est un souvenir hors du commun. etc etc etc ..... Vu logement entier et mon grand âge et taille !! il faut accepter la salle de bain en bas. !!!

rien

Dao’s dad built a quirky wooden building where a sawmill used to be, in past days when houses used to overhang the river, a tidal Mekong tributary for rice barges, There’s a riverside promenade. On the ground floor is a reading room, open during the day to the community. There is a good wet room. Upstairs is a large space with a big bed and a smaller one. As the building is not fully sealed there are mosquito nets. We used insect repellent, had no problems anywhere. Air Con works well. It’s lovely to sit out day or night, on the upper floor balcony with its hammock and comfortable seating. Dao's dad built the furniture: he did the whole place with skill & love. Along the promenade, then across the bridge is a vibrant local market (far enough away not to cause disturbance). It sells farmers’ surplus, carried on bikes or motorbikes. The Mekong is famously fertile. Dao’s hospitality is wonderful, hard to put into words how gentle, how resourceful and how wise she is. We were delighted to meet her mum and dad. I had an exciting e-scooter trip out of town: a friend of Dao’s drove expertly. At 75, I’d been on a motorbike just twice. I spent 3p on a short ferry trip to an island in the main river. I strolled, meeting friendly people unused to tourists. Google translate did the talking; I was given a bag of refreshing fruit right off a tree.

Nothing! My wife needed antibiotics. Dao came along to the pharmacy without hesitation. She also arranged a good airport driver. Can Tho airport proved a low stress experience.

We loved everything about Here Library, especially Dao and her family. 🥰 They are warm and welcoming and Dao, who speaks excellent English, looks after you incredibly well to ensure that you really enjoy your stay. The food they prepared was delicious and they helped us to try new things, including a variety of unusual fruits. The balcony is delightful and such a fantastic space to watch the river life. Yes, there is some river noise at night but you can enjoy it or wear earplugs. The location was perfect for us and enhanced our stay. I really cannot say enough good things about staying here. We absolutely loved every minute. 🥰❤️🥰

L’accueil, la gentillesse des hôtes, la qualité de la prestation

Rien

Dao cared for us so well that we felt very much at home - most genuine homestay ever! Lovely home cooking from Dao’s mother. Room is really much larger, apartment size. With lovely local furniture pieces. All the various ideas suggested by Dao - including one morning walking to the market for our breakfast. Highlight of our six weeks in Vietnam

All good

Đào nous a accueilli chaleureusement 🥰 Elle nous a proposé dès notre arrivée de se joindre à elle et ses amis pour admirer le coucher de soleil à la réserve naturelle Bang Lang Stork. Sa maman nous a ensuite fait goûter ses fruits confits et le lendemain elle nous a même offert le déjeuner, c’était vraiment délicieux. Le lieu est très agréable, au bord de la rivière. Je recommande vivement de venir séjourner chez Đào si vous passez par ici !

It’s the most authentic homestay I’ve ever experienced. It’s also the story of a young daughter who witnessed her father struggling with a change that nearly cost him his lifelong career as a carpenter. Together, they transformed their home into a homestay infused with the spirit of the Mekong, built upon what they already had and what the father knew best. I loved listening to the waves against the embankment, feeling the wind as it swept across the river and over my face, watching merchant ships travel up and down the water, and seeing rice barges wait for low tide so they could pass under the bridges and continue their journey. What surprised me most was the small library where neighborhood children could come to borrow books—especially meaningful in a place without a bookstore within 20 kilometers. I was deeply moved by the stories the homestay seemed to hold within its walls. Thanks to Dao, the carpenter’s daughter, who spent time showing me around and sharing the stories of this place and its people.

A Unique and Heartwarming Experience, Thanks to Dou and Her Family Staying at this homestay was a truly special experience, and it’s all thanks to our wonderful host, Dou, and her lovely family. From the moment we arrived, Dou welcomed us warmly and took care of us throughout our entire stay. She even guided us on a local tour, recommended excellent places to eat, and brought us to a wonderful massage spot. We were two couples – my husband and I, and our son with his girlfriend. My husband and I stayed in the main house, which includes a dining area, library, and bathroom on the ground floor. Upstairs, there’s a cozy bedroom with air conditioning and a spacious seating area with a balcony overlooking the river. The house is tastefully decorated with delicate aesthetics and great attention to detail. Our son and his girlfriend stayed in a nearby room above the family house. That space is more modern in style, yet just as charming. We stayed for two nights and had a magical early-morning trip to the nearby floating market to watch the sunrise – a truly unforgettable experience. Even after we left, Dou continued to assist us – helping us order special items we had seen at her place and arranging two drivers to take us to our next destination. Dou speaks excellent English and is the heart and soul of this place. She made our stay not only comfortable but genuinely meaningful. The only downside is the noise of boats passing along the river – but surprisingly, we got used to it quickly and it didn’t take away from the experience. A special mention to Dou’s mother, a fantastic cook, who surprised us with a delicious homemade dinner after our trip, and even prepared sandwiches and snacks for us to take when we left – without us asking. If you’re looking for an authentic, warm, and unforgettable experience, this is the perfect place.

Wonderful book-filled house with tons of character. You can watch the rice barges sail past and relax. Very cool host.

The host Dao and her family are very kind people, the welcome us with a glass of homemade dried kumquat juice and a homemade lunch which was very tasty. The house is super authentic with unique wooden furniture, and our 4-year old daughter loves the books in the library. If you need a place to escape from city life, here library is a great choice. We have used their bathroom and confirmed it is with hot water 🚿

The noise from the neighbourhood is inherent to the area, this is charming but could be a problem if you are a light sleeper. To experience the local life, we should accept this.

Lovely location by the river, not busy but central. Riverside restaurants two or three minutes walk away. Our host Dao was accommodating, friendly and hospitable with her excellent coffee/fruit juices next door. Her family made us feel welcomed, Really enjoyable stay in a large unconventional placing.

Liked it a lot,

The apartment in front of the river is incredible and a very relaxing place, and Dao made us feel at home! Thanks for everything, we'll definitely be back.

I stayed for 3 nights in the “pastel scheme” room. I loved it because is cosy, feminine, comfortable with the river view, have a big bathroom assigned. The owners have a second room, above the library/cafe ( very quiet tho) which is more like 2 big rooms linked, in a rustic, traditional style. The whole place is build, decorated very tastefully. I think that’s because the owners are wood crafters, masters really and they have an eye for interior design. Amazing place and atmosphere and I wanted to stay longer.

Everything was brilliant.

Fantastic! The wooden house is gorgeous! The space, the library the ambient the atmosphere, i felt such safe and serene, all are such exceptional that I regret to have booked only one night. Well, I will come back for sure!

Incredibly unique and lovely place with a host (Dao) who is always helpful. We loved the fact the hotel faces onto a walkway along one of the tributaries of the Mekong. It can get a little noisy with the river traffic but my family never had an issue with the noise when we were sleeping. And the river traffic just adds to the feel that you are in the middle of the local life. As mentioned previously, the host, Dao, was extremely helpful and responsive to all of our requests. She went out of her way to make sure we were able to do our laundry our last night at the hotel and even offered to scooter us to the laundromat. We wish we had more time to stay and chat with Dao but our schedule was pretty packed during our stay.

There's no hot water available but this isn't a big issue because the heat in the Mekong delta means that a cold shower is preferred :)

Great place close to the river, relaxed and quit Great hospitality but the host and the locals Totally recommend it!

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The Here Library is an extraordinary place, very singular in the city, with a fine choosen design. The host Dao is very friendly and helpful and you never have to worry about your food. Higly recommended.

The location is so nice, but the hosts are made this stay incredible. Know what you are getting here - it's not luxurious, but if you like waking up by the river with a breeze, in a library with an adjacent cafe in a small ward of Cần Thơ, this is perfect. The host, Đào is very gracious and her mother is an incredible cook if you enjoy traditional Vietnamese meals. Đào was also kind enough to bring me along with a group she was going with to a nearby apple orchard. We picked and ate monkey apples and fresh coconut. The Library part of the name is not just a marketing gimmick. You are staying above an actual library open to the public with many books to read in Vietnamese. Young people come here to study, read, play games, and hang out. Đào also runs the cafe, Barnana, next door. It gets busy in the evenings and afternoon, but it's always peaceful. If you speak Vietnamese, you may make some friends here with people who come everyday that play card games and lotto over tea, cacao, coffee, and snacks.

I don't have any problems sleeping, but if you are a light sleeper, be careful. This is adjacent to the river and some loud boats come by in the morning after 6 am. The air conditioning is not up to normal western hotel standards and you may be hot during midday, but if you're okay with those things, I would come here everyday if I lived nearby.

Incredibly cute place, a little library with a bedroom above. Classic Airbnb territory. Wonderful host - we were her first Western guests. The view over the river is spectacular. It's a wooden house with shutters perhaps reminiscent of the Mediterranean. AC, plenty of power points, modern bathroom and the host's cafe next door can provide plenty of cute drinks. Lots of eateries nearby. Local kids love the library and were keen to try out their English.

My only downside was the very thin futon was challenging with my back. River traffic was noisy, you may need earplugs if you are sensitive to sound when sleeping. Mosquito repellant is recommended if they bother you - there is a net provided, it's a good idea to use it. This is totally normal but it's worth being prepared.