The Best Eco-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Central Vietnam

On the banks of the Perfume River in Hue is where you’ll find the Hue Eco Lodge. Each thatched villa lies at the end of a pathway lined with leafy banana plants and bird of paradise flowers. The double, triple or connecting villas feature a deep wooden bath tub which is perfect for post-sightseeing soaks as well as an outdoor shower on the terrace. Dine on organic vegetables grown in the hotel’s gardens down at the restaurant, or catch your own lunch with a fisherman on one of the sustainable tours.

This is a true eco-conscious hideaway hidden among the rice paddy fields of Hoi An. Blending style with green thinking, the roomy suites are created from local stone, bamboo and rattan. The sustainable features don’t end there, as within your suite you’ll find refillable water bottles, recycling bins, a shopping tote and palm sun hat to use during your stay. Don’t forget to take your sun hat with you when you lounge around the rooftop pool or use the hotel’s vintage Jeep to whisk you off to the beach.

Nature lovers will want to book into this beach retreat in Da Nang. Warm wooden floors and green velvet cushions give a natural touch to the twin, double or family suites. If you want to relax you can go for a swim in the solar-powered rooftop pool or take a seat on your flower-filled balcony. The Eco Green Bistro Café serves up fresh dishes such as shrimp and avocado salad with a zesty lime vinaigrette.

If you want to get away from it all, book into the Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa in Hue. The sustainable resort is set on the edge of a lagoon and has a rich forest as its backdrop. Elegant villas with king-sized beds are dotted around the mountainside or perched on stilts in the water. Everyone has a chance to relax, even kids at the dedicated children’s spa.

Take a 10-minute boat ride across Van Phong Bay to the porcelain-white sands of Whale Island. Among the swaying coconut palms, you’ll find 10 fan-cooled thatched huts complete with toiletries, slippers and fluffy towels. Robinson Crusoe never had these perks. Finish your castaway experience by hiking the island on foot, snorkelling in the reefs or making a splash while windsurfing.

Experience traditional village life and stay with the Co Tu people in the mountains of Truong Son. They have built five bespoke two-room moongs (bungalows), which are available for travellers. These fan-cooled villas raised on stilts come with vaulted ceilings, silk furnishings and an ensuite. Trek to the Youi hot spring, listen to the elders sing songs at the Guol house and dine on pork and sticky rice cooked in bamboo.

The untouched island of Binh Lap is filled with swaying palms, powdery white sand and rich coral reefs. It is also where you’ll find Villa Dao Hoa Vang. Find dorms and beach huts beneath the trees or sleep in one of its tents on the beach. Explore nearby villages, join hiking trails or pull on your snorkel and discover the coral reefs.

The towering limestone cliffs of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park form the backdrop to this picturesque peanut farm. Book into one of the domed wooden farm rooms, panelled with upcycled pine wood pallets, or if you’re in a group, choose one of the tiled Vietnamese farmhouses, which can be found at the base of the mountain or hugging the riverbank. Go fishing, swimming, biking and kayaking, or try your hand at farming and join the gardening team.

Go back to nature and stay in Cat Tien National Park. Safari-style tents built on reclaimed wooden bases sit side-by-side with wooden lodges under the forest canopy. The 16 rooms are designed to have minimal impact on the surroundings and the lodge also makes a donation to the park for every guest that stays. Its Hornbill Bar is loved for its Vietnamese dishes and the fact that it’s also the perfect spot for bird watching.