Hold on to your sun hats as we show you a host of hotels, from Hue to Hoi An, that promise to up the indulgence on your next Southeast Asian adventure.
Over the past half-century, the pace of change in Vietnam has been blink-and-you’ll-miss-it. And nowhere is this more palpable than the country’s parade of ever-evolving, increasingly luxurious resorts, which range from all-inclusive spa hotels where treatments are on the house, to starry stays on secluded islands where you’ll share the beach with turtles.
The stylish Six Senses is the only hotel on Vietnam’s Con Dao archipelago – yet just 45 minutes (via scenic flight or speedboat) from Ho Chi Minh City. True to the brand’s away-from-it-all ethos, it backs onto jungle and the shores of a protected marine park where you can take part in turtle-release sessions. The design aims to reflect the feel of a traditional fishing village – but who are they kidding when the villas, built from locally sourced teak, each have their own private infinity pool? Still, you can play pretend while you’re on the island by venturing off on a local fishing experience, or going lighthouse trekking or island-hopping.
Far removed from city life (two hours from the capital Hanoi), earthy Tam Coc Garden ecolodge rests sleepily in Tam Coc, an area known as Halong Bay on Land because of its towering karst landscape surrounded by rice fields and rural splendour. On arrival, it’s like walking into a traditional Tonkinese village, the villas built using stone slabs, tiles, ceramic and bamboo for added authenticity. The activities intertwine with local life: take a bamboo basket-weaving class, learn to row a boat like a local fisherman (with your feet, that is), make coconut candies or take a traditional embroidery class. You’ll be saying xin chào in no time.
The coastal city of Nha Trang, with its necklace of 19 islands and sloping Chong Mountain, is the place to blend sun with sightseeing. So once you’ve ticked off the Champa Towers of Po Nagar and snorkelled along the coral reef, it’s back to five-star Amiana to hang beside the horseshoe-shaped infinity pool. It’s even got its own private beach, and rooms and villas provide further refuge, with hand-carved granite bathtubs, private balconies and views of the tropical gardens or the ocean. Nha Trang is also known for its healing mud baths, and Amiana is the only resort that offers these private mineral treatments overlooking the bay.
At Mia Resort, high-end rooms and villas overlook the East Sea on a secluded stretch of coast running south of Nha Trang. The beachfront residences are perfect for large groups or multi-generational getaways, as each villa has a private infinity pool, barbecue area, kitchenette and plenty of indoor and outdoor living space, so there’s little chance for arguments. Better still, there are three restaurants and a shared pool for all, plus the Xanh Spa for caviar-firming facials, hot-stone therapy and sunset yoga sessions. Staff will be happy to arrange a private chef, grocery deliveries, babysitting services and even cooking classes.
The first of its kind in Vietnam, Fusion Resort in Cam Ranh offers a spa-inclusive concept, where guests get two treatments per day as part of their stay. So not only do you get to bed down in ocean-view villas, with a private pool, terrace and hammock – and 180-degree ocean views – but you also get to choose from the likes of Thai massages, Himalayan reflexology and Indian head rubs, all included for free. Even the smallest suite has masses of cat-swinging space, a private garden, a terrace and a bathroom that features a custom-made floating tub. And you can also leave the alarm clock at home: a breakfast anywhere, anytime policy affords everyone a lie-in.
In keeping with its setting, 10 minutes outside Hue, Hotel Pilgrimage is rich in tradition and cultural heritage. It’s located in the tranquil countryside, surrounded by lily ponds and tropical flora and fauna, yet near enough to the city’s historical landmarks. It was once a village whose residents were masters in the art of handicrafts, and art still weaves its way through every room of this boutique resort. The highlight is a stay in the Vietnamese-style Pool House with its vaulted ceilings, wooden columns and intricately carved details. When you’re not kicking back at the two pools, take a private tour around Hue’s Imperial City on the banks of Perfume River, indulge in an East-meets-West spa treatment, or feast on nem lui (lemongrass skewers) at the city’s street-side restaurants.
This resort stands beside the Cau Hai lagoon, one of the largest in Vietnam, and in reach of the twin Unesco-listed cities of Hue and Hoi An. Nature is the highlight here: book an over-water villa on stilts to admire the water at sunset and the fishing boats bobbing on the lagoon. You can keep yourself busy with biking, kayaking and hanging at the infinity pool, or there’s also a free shuttle bus between the resort, Hue city centre and Canh Duong Beach. Try out the gratis daily yoga and tai chi classes before you go, though.
The port city of Phan Thiet is known for its harbour full of colourful boats and long coastline, all of which you can discover from Victoria Beach Resort. The hotel is made up of 57 thatched bungalows, resembling traditional Vietnamese country houses, all set among beautifully landscaped gardens. Fall asleep to the sound of waves breaking on the beach from the pool villas, or choose the family villas for groups of up to eight. Children will love horse rides on the resident pony, water sports, babysitting and the kids’ club – which means parents will be kept happy, too.
Imagine arriving in style at Avani Quy Nhon Resort after embarking on a luxurious railway adventure through the spectacular landscapes and coastlines of Central Vietnam aboard The Vietage train. It’s just one of the many activities the resort offers. On arrival, kids can pick up their AvaniKids Passport, packed with activities, and adults can head straight for the boho-luxe rooms and suites, each featuring a large private balcony with impressive views of the bay.
This hotel is the perfect base for exploring Phu Quoc – an island off the coast of Cambodia, in the far south of Vietnam, that’s home to hundreds of species of coral and fish. You can reach it by flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, and once there the resort lies on pristine Ong Lang beach, with activities such as biking and kayaking offered for free. Rooms are in wooden pitch-roofed bungalows: the Premier Beach Front Bungalow has the best location, just yards from the shoreline. There’s also a lovely infinity pool, a barefoot-style restaurant and nightly beach bonfires beside the sea.
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