Home to world-class tailors, Vietnam’s best bánh mì, and a stunning monthly lantern festival, Há»i An is well worth a stay... and I know just the spot.
Easily one of the prettiest hotels in the city, Anantara Resort and Spa sits just outside the Unesco World Heritage site of Há»i An’s ancient town, and is a sanctuary in this lively foodie city — close enough to all the excitement but just far away enough to unwind.
Where is it?
Nestled along the Thu Bá»n River, 35km from the nearest airport in Da Nang, Anantara resort is located in Há»i An, on the east coast of Vietnam. The flight from Hanoi takes just over an hour, and then you can enjoy a picturesque three-hour drive from the popular, ancient city of Hue.
The hotel is located on a quiet street, perfectly placed a few minutes’ walk from where the city’s daily market begins. Visitors wanting to spend their Vietnamese dong can buy just about anything here, from local spices to shoes and handmade gifts. Turn right before the market and enter the Old Town, where there’s no shortage of coffee shops to savour — Vietnamese coffee is an absolute must — and Chinese temples, including Há»i An’s most sacred Quan Cong Temple, to visit. Follow the main roads lined with bicycles and food carts, or better yet, take a side street and get lost in a city that has so much to offer.
Style
The architecture of Anantara Hoi An is a reflection of Asian and French influences but with an al fresco twist. Bright pink flowers line the hotel’s rooftop as palm trees and other greenery fill the space between pale pink and coral buildings, creating a manicured jungle feel.
There are 94 rooms and suites across a split-level layout, which is a modern interpretation of Indochina’s colonial style. A pond filled with dozens of lily pads and a few fountains provides ambiance to the peaceful resort. Lantern-style lighting and cream-coloured archways and columns cover much of the walkways along the property. Wide, stone pathways at the centre of the resort wind south to meet the Thu Bá»n River.
Food & drink
There are three restaurants. Guests and visitors can enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea daily at Lanterns. The open-air restaurant is on the first floor of the resort and overlooks the river. Offerings include an array of international cuisine, from Vietnamese Pho to a doughnut wall.
In the evening, watch the world go by while enjoying traditional cuisine at Hoi An Riverside Restaurant. While guests can choose to sit inside, about a dozen dark wood tables partnered with woven chairs are situated al-fresco beneath a pergola looking out to the water. The menu includes à la carte options or a set family-style, both infusing modern dishes with Vietnamese flair. I highly recommend the green mango salad with dried beef, roasted duck with mango sauce, and stir-fry water spinach with garlic, better known as morning glory. For dessert, patrons can’t go wrong with the tropical Eton mess or pandan crème brûlée.
If the perfect wine pairing is of interest, there are more than 100 vintages to choose from. In 2020, Hoi An Riverside won an Award of Excellence from the Wine Spectator Awards and is the only restaurant in the city to have done so.
The third option is a marriage of art and food known as Art Space. It is one of Há»i An’s newest galleries and dining spots situated at the front of the resort against the main road so those passing by can pop in. The restaurant is not quite as homey as the rest of the property but curated art from local international Vietnam-based artists brings joy and warmth to the space. Menu highlights include handcrafted cocktails, woodfire pizza, locally made ice cream, and craft beers.
Which room?
The hotel has four room options, from deluxe balcony to the premium river-view suite.
If you can, go extra luxurious and opt for the premium river-view suite, which has an open-plan design with a living space, bedroom, and large bathroom. Before entering the room, take in views of the water on the porch’s shaded daybed. The room’s interior maintains the resort’s French colonial design with sliding double doors, high ceilings, and a mosaic-tiled bathroom. The spacious suite is modern and homey. A plush lounge area is a peaceful place to cosy up with a good book before bed or relax in silence following an afternoon by the pool. While mostly white in colour, the space is given a splash of vibrancy with a teal accent wall and aquamarine vases on side tables and shelves. Leaf details carved into the doors and woven on decorative pillows embellish the room while photography of Há»i An gives the space a local touch.
Facilities
Pool
Surrounded by palm trees and blue lounge chairs, the pool is the ideal respite after a day of exploring. If you feel you’ve had too much sun, situate yourself in the covered pool lounge area and order yourself a detoxing dragon smoothie.
Fitness Centre
I’m not one to work out on holiday but for those who are, there is a cosy fitness centre with weightlifting equipment, treadmills, and bikes.
Spa
Take a self-care afternoon and find your way to the spa. Whether it is an hour’s massage or a bespoke facial, the spa draws on local healing traditions and fresh ingredients, such as coconut and black sesame, to give guests a unique experience. Visitors can choose their own spa retreat, selecting from scrubs, massages, facials, and other beauty treatments.
Other activities
For anyone interested, Vietnamese culture classes in subjects such as lantern making, painting, and cooking are on offer. There is also an option to do a local food tour, which was one of the most memorable experiences I had in Vietnam.
