Luxury escapes in Vietnam for your next exotic getaway

A 15-minute drive north of charming Hoi An, Four Seasons Resort the Nam Hai is set among 35 hectares of lush tropical gardens. Designed according to ancient Feng Shui principles, it’s inspired by wind and water, with three swimming pools and aquatic features dotted around the property.

Rooms here are split-level so you can sleep separate from the living areas, and you’ll get that ancient Hoi An vibe with traditional touches like a pagoda-style roof and polished wood floors. Choose an Ocean View Villa if you’re into spending afternoons on the daybed of your private outdoor terrace overlooking the shimmering sea.

If you’ve come with friends or family, check into the two-bedroom option with a separate dining pavilion—the whole brood will stay entertained in your own heated infinity pool hidden within tropical gardens. When the splashes turn to talks of food, book a table at La Sen beachfront restaurant and share regional favourites like juicy, fall-off-the-bone suckling pig.

Travelling into Hoi An to visit tiny temples, quirky art galleries and colonial French homes is one of the top things to do in Vietnam. Though you might just want to stay put and learn local traditions like lantern-making or conical hat embroidery from the comfort of your villa. When you want to relax, join a complimentary yoga class with a local Zen master, then book yourself a Nam Hai Vietnamese massage (it applies a mint and ginger-infused antioxidant paste) in one of eight lakeside treatment villas.

Silk Path Boutique Hanoi provides a luxurious base for exploring one of the top places to visit in Vietnam: the ancient capital. Get your bearings from the comfort of a daybed on the nineth-floor roof terrace with far-reaching views across the sparkling Hoan Kiem Lake. Or for a different vista, choose a room with picture windows over the labyrinthine Old Quarter. Upgrade for a freestanding bath made for soaks after days weaving in and out of the city’s bustling side streets.

A chat with the friendly 24-hour concierge team will help you design your ideal itinerary, perhaps including an eye-opening trip to the Hoa Lo Prison Memorial, a 10-minute walk away. Kick-start the morning at Restaurant La Cour beforehand for a breakfast feast of local classics like fragrant chicken or beef phở in a rich broth sprinkled with aromatic coriander.

When you come ‘home’ after your wanderings, appreciate the silence of your suite away from the buzzing streets—soothing neutral tones and polished wood floors only add to the sense of calm. Surf through Netflix on your TV, or head back downstairs to finish your evening on a sweet note with moreish chocolate-filled spring rolls from the hotel restaurant.

Moments from the Grand Opera House in Hanoi’s fascinating French Quarter, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is a landmark building in itself and a stellar stopping point on your Vietnam trip. This colonial-style hotel first opened in 1901, and today it gives visitors a chance to step back in time.

Choose from rooms in the original Metropole Wing, with suites named after previous famous guests like Charlie Chaplin, or cross the inner courtyard’s palm tree-lined garden and pool to the 1930s Opera Wing to revel in antique French décor with lustrous Vietnamese accents.

Decide on which on-site restaurant to visit for dinner while sipping a vermouth cocktail à la Graham Greene—another former visitor to the hotel. Drinks are in the Bamboo Bar, which sits atop an old Vietnam War bunker. Still having trouble choosing? Consider Le Beaulieu Restaurant for fine French dishes like seared foie gras followed by butter-roasted Atlantic turbot. Or mix things up at Spices Garden Restaurant with sharing plates of bánh xèo, a crispy savoury pancake named after the sizzling sound it makes when served.

As for exploring, the hotel is in the ideal location for strolling this upmarket part of town. You can easily pop into charming bookstores, independent galleries and boutique shops to round out your days.

A 30-minute drive from Nha Trang city, The Anam Villas Nha Trang is based on the philosophy of ‘Indochine Charm, Modern Luxury’. You’ll find more than 300 metres of unobstructed beach access at this colonial-style resort, and you’re welcome to pop into the Water Sports Centre to plan a kayaking or snorkelling adventure. To keep the fun going even on those rare rainy days, the Anam even offers a 3D cinema—the first resort in Vietnam to have one!

Choose an Ocean Front Premium Room and you can savour breakfast on your personal veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Or for complete exclusivity, book into a Sea View Villa for direct access to the waves through lush, manicured gardens. Should you feel like socialising, you can drink in both beers and views across the ocean and jungle at the resort’s low-key Beach Club.

And if you’re in the mood for a livelier night, take advantage of happy hour cocktails at Saigon Bar overtop one of The Anam’s three swimming pools. More the early-to-bed, early-to-rise type? Practise your meditative breathing at sunrise yoga on the lawn or take in a morning Balinese massage at the spa.

The Indochine puts on regular themed buffet dinners, meaning you can indulge in everything from seafood barbecue fare to local Vietnamese, or whisk yourself away for fine French dining at The Colonial. It’s worth spending Friday nights at Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar when the mothers of five staff members are invited into the kitchen to create their own favourite homestyle dishes.

Facing the Thu Bon River, Anantara Hoi An Resort is a serene oasis a little over a kilometre from the centre of enchanting Hoi An. Lose yourself in the winding streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site while getting fitted by some of the most well-known tailors in the country. The hotel’s complimentary bikes mean you can easily ride back into town at a later date to pick up your custom-fitted suit or one-of-a-kind dress.

Step out onto the balcony of your guest room—some featuring a swing chair to chill out on—where you can gaze over garden or river views. For extra space, select a villa with a separate living room, thoughtfully decorated in silks and original images by local photographer Rehahn. Rest for a bit, then head out for a traditional Vietnamese four-hand massage at Anantara Spa, where two therapists rhythmically work to relieve stresses and tensions.

Explore the rest of the landscaped grounds as the day fades, then hop on a sunset river cruise from the resort’s private jetty. You can splash out on private dining inside a waterside pavilion or book a table at Art Space for modern bistro cuisine, like grilled lobster with wok-fried morning glory blossoms or tender pigeon with a tangy beetroot jus. If you’re inspired by the local food, spend a day at Spice Spoons learning how to make classic dishes like herby ground beef wrapped in betel leaf.

Hôtel des Arts Saigon is in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City, meaning it’s close to famous Vietnam tourist spots with a French twist like the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the 19th-century Central Post Office. Glide through the antique halls of this boutique accommodation, admiring sleek white marble surfaces with accents of green jade, luxurious textiles and intricately laid wood floors.

Join the city’s ‘it’ crowd at the hotel’s rooftop bar, where you’ll get comfy on a soft sofa beside the infinity pool. When you’re hungry, head next door to the Social Club Restaurant and dine on fancy European dishes like crusted turbot fillet with a clam truffle emulsion as the city lights sparkle below. Or for something more casual, you can tuck into shared plates inspired by Asian street food at Saigon Kitchen—a popular favourite is the sugar cane prawn.

On your return to your room, sink straight into your king-size bed and wrap up in Egyptian cotton sheets. Or if you’ve gone for an upgrade, plan your next night out in bustling Bùi Viện from your clawfoot bathtub. In the morning, open the heavy drapes and let the daylight stream into your room from wall-to-wall windows, then indulge in a traditional Vietnamese coffee made with sweet condensed milk at Café des Beaux-Arts before heading out for the day.

Occupying the top floors of the Times Square Building in Ho Chi Minh’s District 1, The Reverie Saigon is in the centre of this motorbike-filled city. It’s a masterclass in Italian-inspired opulence: think polished marble flooring, gold-leaf accents and velvety carpets at every turn.

In your elegant guest room, unpack your suitcase in your feature walk-in closet, then reward yourself with an icy drink from your complimentary minibar or settle in for a well-earned nap in 400-thread count Frette linen. Your chaise seat is the spot for gazing across the city and the Saigon River, though you might prefer to grab a sun lounger beside the hotel’s open-air pool.

Visit the luxurious spa for classic treatments that combine traditional Vietnamese cupping therapy with Asian-inspired stretching techniques. Continue the pampering at The Long @ Times Square’s gelato bar, where you can choose from 32 flavours like unique purple sticky rice or much-loved tiramisu.

For dinner, swing by the Royal Pavilion to take in some of the country’s tastiest Hong Kong-inspired cuisine in a regal red-and-gold setting. Savour timeless recipes like braised bird’s nest soup, honey-glazed barbecued pork or sticky-sweet mango pudding. Alternatively, go for the full Italian experience at R&J with drool-worthy dishes like homemade tortellini pasta made from scratch with Italian flour and stuffed with a delectable combination of free-range rabbit and wild mushrooms.

Accessible only by boat, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is a secluded boutique retreat 20 minutes by water from Nha Trang. Its bayside setting feels like you’re on a remote island, with the resort’s villas nestled among dramatic rock formations.

The rooms here channel rustic vibes but don’t skimp on comfort; pick a Hill Top Pool Villa for your own plunge pool and mountain views, or step straight into the water from your thatched-roof Water Pool Villa after soaking up some rays on your private sundeck.

After a tour around Nha Trang to see the White Buddha and Ponagar Tower Temple, head to the Six Senses Spa for a customised detox programme in one of the calming treatment pavilions. The green coffee wrap will leave your skin supple and soft, or you can sink into a decadent bath of milk and honey, followed by a soothing cup of ginger tea.

Come dinner, grab a waterfront deck chair at Dining By The Bay for conversation-sparking fusion dishes like stir-fried Tonkin jasmine flowers. Or head to signature restaurant Dining By The Rocks for a four-course menu showcasing premium local produce like zingy citrusy sea bass fresh off the line or 12-hour-roasted pork belly that will fall apart under your knife.