For a country that boasts more than 3400 km of coastline, the beaches alone should be enough to warrant a journey to Vietnam. With infinite stretches of powdery sand, pristine azure water, tropical islands, coves, spectacular seascape and lagoons, it’s no wonder that a growing number of big-name players had staked their brand along this coastal line, which has been much-ignored until recent days. Travelers with a taste for luxury should find it spoiled for choice when embarking on a beach vacation to this region. Here is our top pick for luxury resorts at the best beaches in Vietnam.
Danang – InterContinental Peninsula Sun
The crystal azure water and its white sands are the topics in many of Vietnamese music, movies and literature. While its smaller neighbor Hoi An has received accolades (rightfully so) as a charming heritage city for decades, Danang has in recent years become a hopping holiday destination for locals and international travelers alike. With broad beaches, fantastic street food, and a growing collection of mega luxury resorts and fine restaurants, Danang deserves a second look against other “brand name” sun-and-surf destinations such as Hoi An, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.
To capitalize on this surge in tourism demand, IHG Hotels elevated the luxury travel scene in Danang by opening its InterContinental Danang Peninsula Sun Resort. This ultra-luxury beach resort is nestled in the heart of Son Tra Peninsula Nature Reserve with its own private beach overlooking beautiful South China Sea. Famed architect Bill Bensley reimagined Vietnamese design, history and mythology with his characteristic whimsy, creating a magical retreat over four levels—Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea – linked by a funicular train climbing its way through the forested slopes.
The accommodations itself are simply spectacular. Wedged between the lush mountain and the ocean, features 201 luxurious rooms, suites, penthouses and villas – all of which generously sized and luxuriously appointed with most boasting sweeping views of the sea. The InterContinental Peninsula Sun was recognized as “The Best Resorts in Asia” by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and among “Top 100 Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards in 2019.
While the resort is secluded and requires transportation to outside civilization, it is an ideal choice for those looking to indulge in the lap of luxury and simply relax on the resort grounds equipped with the finest facilities one can expect in a ultra-luxury beach resort. With Danang City just 20 minutes by car, those seeking an occasional night out is easy peasy. And since Hoi An is just 45 minutes away, The InterContinental Pensinusla Sun can be combined with a few nights stay in Hoi An’s UNESCO Old Town. This offers a two-in-one holiday experience spanning a myriad of culture, vibrant nightlife and blissful beach escape.
The InterContinental Pensinusla Sun is featured on our 11-Day Luxurious Vietnam program, a private luxury Vietnam tour featuring the country’s top spots.
Hoi An – The Four Seasons Nam Hai
China Beach is one of the most alluring stretches of sand in the country, and it happens to be just beyond the town of Hoi An. Once a major trading port, this ancient city features a grand mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European architecture. The influences, both indigenous and foreign, have combined to produce this unique heritage site, reflected in its well-preserved ancient buildings, lantern-lid streets and coffee shops. Today, its cultural pulse and cosmopolitan vibes have attracted many visitors, making it one of the nation’s most wealthy towns, a culinary mecca and one of Vietnam’s most important tourism centers.
Built in 2006, the Nam Hai resort & spa is as iconic as its location on Vietnam’s China Beach. Located close to the ancient trading port of Hoi An, the resort has re-invigorated Vietnam’s luxury hotel scene. The architecture is contemporary with design focused on aesthetic, while the interiors are filled with dark wood furniture, slate floors and sleek amenities.
The indulgent French-colonial style villas with ocean view balance western comfort with eastern sense of Zen. Effortless elegance is found inside each villa with tented beds, showers in private gardens and wall of glass that opens onto private terrace. Understated sophistication is found outside with reflecting ponds and three gorgeous swimming pools, which cascade down the length of the resort, from the reception area down to the East sea.
Nam Hai resort is opulent, tranquil, unequivocally sophisticated and a destination on its own.
The Nam Hai is featured on our Luxurious Vietnam tour boasting an ultra-luxury tour of Vietnam covering Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Halong Bay & Hanoi.
Phu Quoc – JW Marriott Emerald Bay
An undiscovered gem, Phu Quoc, the largest and most beautiful island of Vietnam, is an almost unknown destination. Blessed with white sandy beaches, over 31,000 hectares of virgin forest, coral gardens and varieties of wild species, Phu Quoc in recent days has become more aware of its tourist potential and is rapidly being morphed from a sleepy island backwater to a must-visit beach escape, destined to be the next Phuket.
Though not yet a full-blown tourist attraction like Phuket and Bali, plenty of activities will keep you busy here, including scuba diving, renting motorbikes to explore the area, tours on land and by sea, sampling local tastes, or simply frock licking on the pristine beaches.
The JW Marriott – Emerald Bay Resort & Spa in Phu Quoc is the latest in the Bensley Collection from the renowned Harvard-educated American designer Bill Bensley, a project in which he may have stretched the boundaries of his imagination, even by his own extraordinary standards. It’s Phu Quoc’s newest (and only) luxury five-star international resort, and trust us when we say you’ve never seen anything like it. The resort is designed to pay homage to the fictional historic Lamarck University, named after the important French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, founded in 1880 and which lasted till 1940.
Facing the platinum sands of Khem beach on the southern tip of the Phu Quoc island, the resort is designed with a whimsical ambiance that is utterly unique. The architecture was built upon the resort’s fictional history. From the ‘original’ Chinese market street, Rue de Lamarck, to the faux Victorian library and Art Deco departments (‘converted’ into bedrooms, suites and villas), the architectural details make the backstory a reality. The cocktail bar, for instance, is located in what’s pretended was the chemistry department; the gym and other activities are run out of the former department of phys ed. The accommodation focuses on university departments: zoology, oncology, astronomy, herpetology, ornithology, and so on. All of the 244 rooms and suites are extraordinary in their individuality, all staying true to its theme; most feature breathtaking views of the bay.
If you are looking for a unique experience, and not just a luxury place to stay, look no further than the JW Marriott Emerald Bay Phu Quoc.
The JW Marriott – Phu Quoc is featured on our Phu Quoc Island Getaway, offering an off-the-beaten-path beach escape for discerning couples and families.
Mui Ne – Anantara Resort & Spa
22 Kilometers away from the bustling port city of Phan Thiet, famous for its production of nước mắm (fish sauce), Mui Ne is one of southern Vietnam’s popular beach destinations. This once sleepy fishing town has turned into a water sports mecca, most notably for kitesurfing. With its rolling sand dunes, smooth water, a clean beach and swaying palm trees, many travelers to Mui Ne insist that it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.
Despite the number of beachside resorts that have grown up around this fishing village, Mui Ne has managed to hold onto its individual charm.
Situated along the beautiful sands of the Mui Ne Beach, the Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is a calming blend of Vietnamese hospitality and culture, creating a setting of pure serenity and peace. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the urban lifestyle, this resort is a tropical haven that basks pleasantly in the exotic surroundings of one of the most pristine beaches in all of Southeast Asia,
Guests are treated to a world of wonder during their stay at this elegant oasis that fuses both Vietnamese traditions and details with modern levels of comfort, which when accompanied by a level of service only the Anantara group can provide, creates a haven of sheer bliss for all to enjoy.
For a comprehensive array of private luxury Vietnam Tours & Vacation Packages, be sure to check out our Vietnam packages page.
