Vietnam Beach Resorts

[Cruiser Elite]

Looking for a destination for XMAS this year so thought I might seek info re Vietnam Beach Resorts - 5* / direct access to beach / good pool complex / walking distance out front gate to significant local city / town with multiple restaurant alternatives (Really cannot stomach the 'we have you captive' all inclusive type places). Quite open to fly into HAN or SGN - would appreciate any advice.

 

[hummel]

What about flying onwards to Danang? That's where most of the resorts are...

I haven't stayed at Nam Hai but always heard good things.

Man I miss Vietnam/Hoi An

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sorry yes happy to fly into Da Nang also. Hoi An resorts kinda stand alone are they not?

 

[kpc]

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...ei=XRb8VLh_5LqZBYSHgJAP&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

 

[amaroo]

The Nam Hai is brilliant. We've enjoyed two stays for a total of 3 weeks - a very special place Luxury Hoi An Hotel in Vietnam | The Nam Hai Hoi An Beach Resort | GHM

Pool villas are the way to go.

 

[a330j]

Nha Trang is another alternative. More heavily populated than the area around Da Nang, where the resorts are quite a way from Da Nang town. The resorts in Da Nang are laid out for kms along the beachfront but there is nothing around them (I think they fit your 'we have you captive' criteria). Need a taxi or courtesy bus from the resort to get into town. Plenty of good restaurants and pubs in Nha Trang. Need to fly into Cam Rahn Airport (spell?) about 30 minutes drive to Nha Trang from HAN or SGN. Hotels will pick you up.

 

[LadyC]

Danang is good but as pointed out previously, most resorts are a little out of town. Still plenty to do as Hoi An is a gorgeous town about 30 minutes away. Golf, spa, day trips, motorcycling and lots of delicious food. I was there a few years ago in January. It was a little cool for the pool for my standards but still nice weather. We stayed at Fusion Maia which we enjoyed. They had 2 free Spa treatments per person per day which was great! Not sure whether they still offer that now.

 

[puppysparkes]

Nha Trang has everything you need. While it's not a resort the Novotel is surprisingly excellent. The Sherton is also quite good. Highly recommend the sailing club for meals but there are many cheap options all along the beach front. Vinpearl land is interesting for a day trip. We're heading back to Vietnam again in October for a month. Nha Trang will get another visit from us.

 

[RB]

The Nam Hai is brilliant. We've enjoyed two stays for a total of 3 weeks - a very special place Luxury Hoi An Hotel in Vietnam | The Nam Hai Hoi An Beach Resort | GHM

Pool villas are the way to go.

Seeing those photos makes me really appreciate that I went there 15 years ago rather than now. I guess you can say that about a lot of destinations in the world

 

[Pushka]

Hoi Ann. Victoria Resort.



Amazing thunderstorm in the middle of their kite festival.



Vin Pearl. Na Trang?





The only issue for Christmas is that it will be cool.

 

[mooingchicken]

Na Trang to me seemed a little like the gold coast of vietnam. Beaches are nice ect but very touristy, you may be mistaken for thinking your in russia. A lot of menu's are in vietnamese or russian. Full of clubs and/pubs and very westnised I would not recommend it for a relaxing holiday. Good if you like the nightlife. The Beach party goes on till 3am ect.
My pick would be Hoi Ann. a nice little french influenced vietnamese town. The resorts are a little out of town but you can hire scooters, get taxis or all the hotels/resorts have free shuttle busses into town which are every 30 mins from memory. The food here was a great mix of local and international (resorts did half decent western food). And there is a really good pizza place in town. aswell as a lot of local food places and markets. Hoi An is also full of tailors, if you want clothes and shoes made. $90 for a suit from memory. bussniess shirts $15-25 shoes 20-60 depending on size and material (ie leather RM William style boots were 60).

I havent been to Nam Hai so cant comment on that.

 

[mooingchicken]

Also consider Phu Quoc. its got a good beach (not sure about 5* resorts, a few were proposed and going to be built when I was there in 2012/13) but there are quiet decent beachfron hotels/resorts still. Up until a few years ago, there was no cars on the island, its changed a bit now (ie going to be full of tourists in a few years time) the airport is massive and brand new and way oversized for i think 3 or 4 flights a day it recieves? so the planning is there. the town itself it a typical vietnam town, nothing overly exciting about the town area itself. good food markets (seafood). And a fair mix of restrauants along the main road where the resorts are. Again we just hired scooters are rode around alot of the island away from the beach is rainforest type. a few quiet private beaches around if you go for a drive. Good boat trips for snorkling ect, and seeing other islands. Think they also run fishing charters if your into that

 

[burmans]

Also consider Phu Quoc. its got a good beach (not sure about 5* resorts, a few were proposed and going to be built when I was there in 2012/13) but there are quiet decent beachfron hotels/resorts still. Up until a few years ago, there was no cars on the island, its changed a bit now (ie going to be full of tourists in a few years time) the airport is massive and brand new and way oversized for i think 3 or 4 flights a day it recieves? so the planning is there. the town itself it a typical vietnam town, nothing overly exciting about the town area itself. good food markets (seafood). And a fair mix of restrauants along the main road where the resorts are. Again we just hired scooters are rode around alot of the island away from the beach is rainforest type. a few quiet private beaches around if you go for a drive. Good boat trips for snorkling ect, and seeing other islands. Think they also run fishing charters if your into that

Agree on Phu Quoc, weather probably best, and yes there are some 4/5 star resorts.

 

[meloz]

Hon Tre Island possibly?

Phu Quoc has been set to be the next big thing for the last 30 years. Personally I don't think it's going to happen and quietly I hope it dosen't.

Meloz

 

[romney]

Hoi An is a great spot, but a bit cold to get in the water when we were there in January a couple of years ago. Kids got in though!

Phu Quoc was a lot better weather, but probably a bit less "nice". Great beaches and we had a fantastic day out fishing/snorkelling. I don't remember many western restaurants (we ate at the night markets) but maybe they are based at the resorts.

 

[Mark3000]

We stayed at Vin Pearl about 5 years ago. Lots of Russians smoking everywhere. The quality of everything was unfortunately no where near as nice as similarly priced resorts in Bali or Thailand. I won't be going back and would much prefer Malaysia, Bali or Thailand to Vin Pearl.

There are a few gorgeous Six Senses in Vietnam I would love to try though. They tend to be isolated and expensive

 

[burmans]

Phu Quoc has been set to be the next big thing for the last 30 years. Personally I don't think it's going to happen and quietly I hope it dosen't.

Quietly agrees!

 

[Pushka]

We stayed at Vin Pearl about 5 years ago. Lots of Russians smoking everywhere. The quality of everything was unfortunately no where near as nice as similarly priced resorts in Bali or Thailand. I won't be going back and would much prefer Malaysia, Bali or Thailand to Vin Pearl.

There are a few gorgeous Six Senses in Vietnam I would love to try though. They tend to be isolated and expensive

Russians own the place. And that was our experience too. Gorgeous pools. On checkout they tried charging two ladies for a spoon. They replied they only ever had one spoon and had been sharing. Yet it was our 35th wedding anniversary and they supplied a lovely free cake, plates, excellent cake knife and spoons. We left it on the outside table when we were finished and the cutlery stayed there for days. And the service in a couple of the eating areas was so bad we used to help ourselves.

 

[mooingchicken]

Hoi An is a great spot, but a bit cold to get in the water when we were there in January a couple of years ago. Kids got in though!

Phu Quoc was a lot better weather, but probably a bit less "nice". Great beaches and we had a fantastic day out fishing/snorkelling. I don't remember many western restaurants (we ate at the night markets) but maybe they are based at the resorts.

To be honest i didnt actually make it to the beach in Hoi An either dispite staying right on it, was a little cold and were just busy doing other things (this was xmas/new year time aswell) and part of the reason was knew I was going to other warmer beaches later on in the trip. Phu Quoc also was the only place which didnt have smog from memory. But i think Hoi An wasnt to bad. Hanoi was probably the worst for it, just a haze.

There is a few along the main road where all the resorts are sorry i made mistake with date was there (2013/14 not 12/13) there was a Indian, Pizza/seafood/BBQ, a cafe style place which did a good western breakfast. (this was all less than 5 minutes walk from where I stayed (Thien Thanh Resort), We saw others but dont know how good they were. Food markets was probably the best though.
If you have enough time to travel around I would probably do both as they are quiet different. I spend about 4 night at each place

Hoi An has a lot of shopping, and probably better international food. It has a few mountain temples (maybe an 1/2-1 hour away?). We spent most of the time there seeing stuff and shopping. Ie probably more of a range of things to do. And the shopping will keep the girls busy if you are taking them.
For me Phu Quoc was the more relaxed place though. Town was a little dirtier and less things to see and do but I liked that after doing so much at other places before. But weather was warmer, good beach, beers by the pool. wouldnt be a bad way to spend an xmas

 

[amaroo]

Depending how long you'll be staying, if you do stay at The Nam Hai or Hoi An ... I can recommend a couple of day trips;

My Son my son vietnam

Hue hue vietnam

We did both (arranged by Nam Hai), bloody brilliant!