VIETNAM
BANYAN TREE LANG˘ CÔ
Nestled in a unique crescent bay framed by a three-kilometre beach in central Vietnam, this resort aims to instantly rejuvenate your physical and spiritual well-being. With 32 awe-inspiring lagoon pool villas and 17 beach pool villas that integrate clay-tiled pitched roofs, open courtyards, and wood rafter ceilings, the interior also boasts beautiful paintings, pottery, and furniture with traditional Vietnamese motifs such as the lotus, lacquer, and silk embroidery. Guests can also take to an award-winning spa or 18-hole champion golf course. For the experience of a lifetime, head to the nearby mountains and UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Hue and Hoi An cities. Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province. Tel: +84 54 3695 888. www.banyantree.com
MAISON D’HANOI BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Just a stone’s throw from Hanoi’s beloved old quarter (which is always filled with attractive handicraft shops, silk traders, oil painting galleries as well as traditional pubs and restaurants), this trendy boutique hotel’s Asian Art Deco façade is truly attention-grabbing. Inside, 42 fabulous guestrooms and elegant suites come together in a compelling modern classic-meets-traditional Vietnamese style that is highly evocative, providing the guests with a charming glimpse of Hanoi’s illustrious French colonial past. Think embossed wallpapers and carved screens, fresh flowers and lush bedding of distinctive Vietnamese patterns, with now-prerequisite iPhone music docks for that millennial touch. 49 Lãn Ông, Hàng Đào, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: +84 4 3923 4999. www.hanovahotel.com
HOTEL DE L’OPERA
This hotel is anything but understated. Its striking French modern style covers the entire plush surroundings here, including the 107 guestrooms remarkable for their teal and purple swirl motifs seen on the walls, deep pink furniture, and bathrooms adorned with kaleidoscopic mosaics, among others. Elsewhere, the Café Lautrec, named after legendary painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, possesses a strong joie de vivre; and the elegant La Fée Verte Bar – originally an absinthe’s old nickname – is sought-after for its wide variety of absinthes, of course. 29 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel: +84 4 6282 5555. www.hoteldelopera.com
INTERCONTINENTAL DANANG SUN PENINSULA RESORT
Perched atop the mythical Monkey Mountain in Son Tra Peninsula, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula is cleverly divided into four different levels – ‘Heaven’, ‘Sky’, ‘Earth’ and ‘Sea’ – all linked by a funicular train climbing its way through the pristine forested slopes. Check into one of the 197 rooms, suites, penthouses or villas built with balconies that jut out from the mountainsides, proffering dramatic views of verdant landscapes and the nearby seas. The resort’s acclaimed Citron Restaurant also has private dining booths – suspended 100 metres above sea level – where you can enjoy both the magnificent sunset and sumptuous local fare served here. Bai Bac, Son Tra Peninsula, Danang. Tel: + 84 (0) 511 393 8888. www.danang.intercontinental.com or e-mail reservations@icdanang.com