Best Luxury Hotels in Vietnam

Where the Old Town meets the New, the Lotte Hotel and Evian Spa is found at the top section of a 65 storey complex. Its height affords excellent views to the 318 bedrooms and suites, with interiors by HBA and Wilson Associates. Tim Ho Wan is the hotel’s lauded restaurant, the first Michelin starred Dimsum house in Vietnam, plus there’s Grill 63 and Pharaoh`s Bar & Upper. Those of all ages can stay active in the swimming pool, in the yoga room, at the indoor golf range, on the basketball court, on the jogging track, at the kids play centre and via a 24-hour gym.

A Neo-Classical exterior houses this former railway hotel that’s been a longtime favourite with iconic celebrities — Charlie Chaplin honeymooned here. Part of the city’s French Quarter, it’s filled with ceiling fans, attentive staff wearing traditional silk garb, hardwood floors and striking furnishings. Several restaurants serve French, Italian and local fine fare. Bedrooms are located in two wings, one offering a more modernised style, the other with a vintage leaning. Outside, there’s a swimming pool, bar, restaurant and terrace with a tropical feel. Upgrade to Club Level for a private lounge and butler service.

Want to swim in a stunning glass-walled rooftop pool? Book a stay at the Grand Mercure in Hanoi. Guests can also enjoy the top-floor views of city landmarks from a rooftop bar. Here, contemporary design blends with Vietnamese culture. Dine on soul food and Asian fusion dishes at the Signature restaurant, or load up your plate at the international buffet of LỘC-Ally, open all day. And take some time out at the spa, with traditional massages and a full range of treatments such as reflexology, a steam room and an ofuro bath.

Perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway, this Mövenpick Resort has rattan cabana love seats beside the infinity pool, a spa, ocean-view balcony suites, in-bar swing seats for two and a decadent daily chocolate hour. It’s found on the west coast, on a private stretch of Ong Lang beach, with 305 rooms accessed via external always for a tropical feel. The resort also features a golf course, five outdoor swimming pools, two eateries, watersports amenities, fitness and yoga classes and a kids’ club.

Just over half a mile from the attractions of Vinpearl Land and Vinpearl Discovery Wonderworld, this hotel is beside a beach, a golf course and an old forest. It has an almost Floridian style, with a grand white exterior, pillars and tiled roofs. While inside, it’s modern and airy. This resort has three bars serving drinks and snacks, two international buffet restaurants and one a la carte restaurant. Offering privacy for families, Vinpearl Discovery Wonderworld offers large villas (up to four bedrooms), movies on the beach, alfresco barbecues, connected paths for walks or cycling and a kids’ club.

375 pool villas accommodate guests at this expansive resort on a private stretch of Khem Beach. Some have up to four bedrooms, with ample living spaces and all are thatched, with luxe five-star furnishings and floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, for an outside-in living experience. The decor has a fashionable boho edge, with accents of bright colour on a mostly neutral palette. There’s a spa, fitness centre, infinity pool and separate kids’ pool with water slides, as well as a club for children from 3 to 12 years old. Dining choices at New World include an airy Lounge cafe with cream sofa seating, a woodfired grill, a thatched pool bar and the international Bay Kitchen.

Stay in one of the Regent Hotel’s stylish villas or suites and you can enjoy butler service, meals cooked by a private chef, high-end minibar treats and your own pool. There’s a breezy, modern and very upmarket vibe in this recently opened hotel, which was thoughtfully designed by the BLINK Group. Guests can eat in the all-day Rice Kitchen, sample Japanese-French fusion cuisine at the signature restaurant Oku and feast on Mediterranean and seafood dishes in the beachfront Ocean Club. Fu Bar, on the rooftop, has live jazz accompanying cocktails beside the infinity pool and Bar Jade, the Regent’s speakeasy is the place to linger after dark.

Architect Bill Bensley designed this unusual property, with wrought-iron balconies, enormous bronzed statues, high curved ceilings and a fan-shaped infinity pool. The interiors are an eclectic mix of bright colours, contemporary furnishings, hand-painted walls, colonial style and antique French grandeur. The JW Marriott occupies a private, pristine section of Bai Khem Beach and there are three outdoor pools. Guests can dine in five restaurants and cafes and book treatments at the Alice in Wonderland-themed spa, while younger visitors are entertained in the kids’ club. This five-star hotel is just under half an hour from the airport and town of Duong Dong.

Located on the mountainside within the lush tropical jungle of Mai Chau, the Avana Retreat reflects the culture and craftsmanship of the local area and its people. The resort comprises 36-villa style properties, all of which have all been designed to suite the local climate and ensure the utmost in comfort for guests. And with four infinity pools, natural springs, and a stunning waterfall at its heart, there is a tranquil and natural ambience. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities including use of the Spa yoga, trekking, cycling and local cultural experiences. Dining at the Avana is an indulgent, fresh and innovative experience as the restaurants here support local, seasonal produce to create one-of-a-kind menus. The charming Green Chili Restaurant offers guests a more sophisticated experience whilst the Cloud Pool Bar has a more relaxed vibe – the perfect place to unwind with a signature cocktail or glass of wine.

Sleep in an overwater bungalow at the Six Senses Resort. Each of its private residences has either a terrace or garden and a plunge pool, with locations beside the beach, on the mountainside and between the giant boulders – as well as suspended over the sea. Some even have dining rooms, Bose sound systems and a wine cellar. You can dine in restaurants by the rocks, by the bay, by the pool, or in a wine cave, practice yoga, work out at a jungle gym circuit, measure your health with a smart-tech-led wellness programme, and book locally-inspired therapeutic treatments.

Accessible only by sea (a 15-minute speedboat ride from the mainland), L’Alya Ninh Van Bay offers an authentic slice of Vietnamese luxury living. A lagoon-style seaside infinity pool is flanked by giant boulders, indigenous to the area. Low-rise rustic buildings have thatched roofs, the bar area has swings so you can feel a gentle breeze as you sip on a cocktail. And there’s verdant tropical planting all around, giving an added sense of leafy seclusion. The menus change frequently to incorporate the freshest ingredients and meals can be taken on the west-facing deck, for a ringside view as the sun sets.

Book into one of 37 eco-friendly villas and soak in Vietnamese heritage among a backdrop of handcrafted decor. Sign up for a wellness programme at the Jungle Spa, dine at Sen restaurant, drink at the elevated bar – Sen Deck – with 360-degree views, or enjoy a post-hike barbecue beside the nearby stream. Ingredients come from the onsite organic garden and local producers, including a nearby fish farm. Villas have up to three bedrooms, some are right on the beach, others in the seclusion of the rainforest, many have private pools and all offer a private dining service.