The Big Six: Beach retreats in Vietnam
Private pools, pampering spas, and isolated villas
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Your support makes all the difference.Amanoi, Vinh Hy Bay
The opening of Amanoi this month saw Vietnam's star ascend a little higher. Situated on the quiet curve of Vinh Hy Bay, with the wilds of Nui Chua National Park rising behind, it's the first property in the Socalist Republic by luxury hotel group Aman Resorts. The look inside is textbook Aman: there are 31 individual pavilions, some with views of the South China Sea, others with private pools, but all with the same polished, contemporary finish. A spa and hilltop restaurant round off the indulgence.
Amanoi, Vinh Hy Bay (00 800 2255 2626; amanresorts.com). Doubles start at US$866 (£577), without breakfast.
The Nam Hai, Hoi An
The pristine sweep of Ha My beach would be reason enough to check-in to The Nam Hai. But the resort also boasts a prime position just outside Hoi An, with its lantern-lit streets and atmospheric merchants' houses, making it one of the most sought-after spots on the central coast. The resort itself isn't bad either. There are 100 villas, arranged in crescents around the bay. Most have a pool, but the communal one is a beauty too: flowing down over three tiers to the sea.
The Nam Hai, Hoi An (00 84 510 394 0000; thenamhai.com). Doubles start at US$633 (£422), including breakfast.
Banyan Tree, Lang Co
Banyan Tree recently opened this all-villa resort amid a string of fishing villages in the Lang Co region. The Singaporean group has big plans for the development, known as Laguna Lang Co, with a second Angsana hotel already open next door and space for a further six properties earmarked for the same site. Thankfully, the Banyan Tree resort still feels very intimate, with guests able to sequester themselves away in their private villa, with views of the sea or the Truong Son Mountains.
Banyan Tree, Lang Co (00 84 54 3695 888; banyantree.com). Doubles start at US$529 (£353), including breakfast.
Ana Mandara, Hue
This resort stands on a fine finger of sand known as Thuan An beach, a short drive from the cultural highlights of Hue. It's the perfect spot for those who want to combine mornings exploring the old imperial capital, with afternoons on the beach. Come nightfall, there are two restaurants to choose from: the sea-facing Lagoon Restaurant; and the more-formal Hue Flavors, which specialises in local fare. Later, crash in one of the spacious suites, which come with an accessible price tag.
Ana Mandara Hue, Thuan An (00 84 54 398 3333; epikurean.ws). Doubles start at US$116 (£77), including breakfast.
Six Senses, Con Dao
The Con Dao archipelago lies offshore from Ho Chi Minh City, in the far south of Vietnam. Though their isolation makes them tricky to reach, they reward intrepid travellers with forested hills, scenic bays and coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. The first five-star resort to make the journey across from the mainland comes from Six Senses. Its all-villa hotel on the island of Con Son, is best visited between May to October, when turtles come to hatch, or from February to July when the waters are clearest for diving.
Six Senses, Con Dao (00 84 64 3831 222; sixsenses.com). Doubles start at US$680 (£453), including breakfast.
Fusion Maia, Danang
Pampering is given primacy at Fusion Maia, where all-inclusive spa treatments come as part of the package. Located on the coast close to Danang, it provides a serene reprieve from the modern, thriving city on its doorstep, with a range of villas angled towards the pool, spa or sea. Interiors are understated but luxurious, with caramel-coloured furnishings and deep dark-wood beds. Outside, each has a private pool and pretty courtyard, bedded with tropical plants.
Fusion Maia, Danang (00 84 511 3967 999; bit.ly/FusionDanang). Doubles start at US$450 (£300), including breakfast.
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