Luxury can be a cliché when describing hotels, resorts, travel destinations and experiences. These days it seems everyone has luxury in one form or another.
If luxury means sumptuous surroundings, exquisite design and furnishing, scintillating scenery, elegant accoutrements and delectable food, Vietnam’s Central Coast more than fits the bill.
Based on the country’s fourth largest city of Danang, this region – midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – the Central Coast is Asia’s newest and hottest tourism destination.
The 100-kilometre stretch of coastline between Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital, and Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient trading port, now attracts more than a million foreign tourists a year.
For good reason. Here, in a unique semi-tropical environment, you’ll find history, culture, food, scenery, beaches, shopping and world-class golf courses to please the most fastidious travellers.
A string of four and five-star hotels and resorts have sprung up along the 20-kilometre stretch of beachfront land between Danang and Hoi An, as well as further north near the fishing village of Lang Co.
Just south of Danang, where America’s first base was located during the Vietnam War, are idyllic properties facing the South China Sea (or East Sea as it is known in Vietnam), while Hoi An itself isn’t lacking in accommodation choices and has a hiuge selection of excellent restaurants, of which Mango Mango, facing the river near the taxi drop-off area, is one of the best.
Here is a selection of resort accommodation in this remarkable area:
BANYAN TREE LANG CO/ANGSANA LANG CO
This new 280-acre resort development comprises two hotels – the all-villa Banyan Tree and its sister Angsana resort – facing the beach on a beautiful bay of the East Sea.
Everything that Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has developed in Asia, the Middle East and is top tier and Laguna Lang Co is no exception. Eventually, seven hotels are planned for the 3km stretch of beach in xxxx Bay.
Banyan Tree Lang Co is an exquisite development of 49 pool villas, about half on the beachside of the property and the other half facing a man-made canal between the Banyan Tree headquarters and Angsana Lang Co.
Each of the villas features traditional Vietnamese architectural elements, finishes and furnishings. Sophisticated modern fittings and styling provide a luxurious setting that is ideal for couples.
Angsana Lang Co has 229 rooms and suites that are ideal for couples, families or groups. Each room or suite has mountain, lagoon or East Ssea views and Vietnamese decorative elements of bamboo, calligraphy, folk art and lanterns, the latter of which is famous in this part of Vietnam.
Laguna Lang Co’s 18-hole golf course, designed by modern great, Sir Nick Faldo, was named at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in November as best new course in Asia Pacific. It complements two other courses in the region, designed respectively by two other modern gold legends, Greg Norman and Colin Montgomerie.
www.banyantree.com www.langco.com and www.golfcoastvietnam.com
Breakfast any time, any place at Fusion Maia.
FUSION MAIA, DANANG
A few kilometres south of Danang, also facing the East Sea, Fusion Maia is a spa resort with the unique offering of inclusive spa treatments in the room rate. Nowhere else in Asia has such a package, making this a unique stay-and-relax resort at which you could spend your entire time if it were not for the wonderful attractions, food and culture close to the resort. In fact, the spa is the largest in Central Vietnam.
Fusion Maia is a simple, yet sophisticated design with pool villas and a large central pool area facing My Khe beach, named in 2011 by Forbes Magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
Among other in-house services is the availability of breakfast at any time of the day – in your room, in the breakfast area or even on the beach. Coupled with personal gust services for every room, no details have been forgotten.
Fusion Maia operates a shuttle to Hoi An, just 15 to 20 minutes away, allowing guests to experience one of Vietnam’s most historic ancient trading ports without forsaking everything the resort offers.
The two Danang golf courses – Montgomerie Links and Danang Golf Club – are both just 5-10 minutes drive away.
www.fusion-resorts.com
THE OCEAN VILLAS, DANANG
Self-contained pool villa accommodation with on-site restaurant and beach access doesn’t get any better than this in Vietnam.
The Ocean Villas is a sister property to Danang Golf Club. The two are linked together by an under-road cart path which allows visitors to be picked up by golf cart and whisked to the clubhouse within a few minutes and returned after the game.
General manager, Erik Billgren, says the location and style of the villas offers a “home away from home” experience, with all amenities for golf, dining and relaxation on site.
“It is unusual to find high quality accommodation like Ocean Villas as part of a world-class golf course, but we have it all – including easy access to World Heritage-listed Hoi An ancient town, the city of Danang, Marble Mountain and the area’s many other attractions.”
The two-storey villas come in configurations from one to seven bedrooms, the latter an exquisite luxurious facility situated right on the beachfront, which is ideal for large families or groups.
Stay-and-play rates are available for The Ocean Villas and Danang Golf Club.
www.theoceanvillas.com.vn
VICTORIA HOI AN BEACH RESORT & SPA
Situated on the sea a few kilometres from Hoi An, Victoria Hoi An Resort is a traditional Vietnamese-style boutique property on Cua Dai beach, just five kilometres from Hoi An ancient town.
Embracing local culture and surroundings, the resort replicates a traditional fishing village with small streets, water ponds and village houses with clay-tiled roofs. The L’Annam restaurant is reminiscent of a colonial-era hotel dining room in Hanoi or, as it was then known, Saigon. The 109 guest rooms are available in a variety of styles including Japanese, classic French and traditional Vietnamese with views over the ocean, river or garden. All rooms feature a balcony with sun lounges.
Vintage Citroen limousines and motorbikes with sidecars are available for personalised guest excursions away from the resort. A small spa centre is also on site.
www.victoriahotels.asia
Paul Myers
February 2nd, 2016
The article "Luxury on Vietnam’s Central Coast" was originally published on http://www.asiantravelmedia.com/luxury-vietnams-central-coast/
