Located just an hour’s flight away from Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang is an up-and-coming beach destination in Vietnam to keep on your radar.

If the bustling energy of the likes of Phuket or even HCM isn’t your thing, consider this slightly lesser-known Vietnamese slice of paradise. It’s got everything you need for the perfect weekend escape: delicious local cuisine, refreshingly un-touristy vibes, all while being surrounded by plenty of beautiful beaches.

In short, it’s great if you want a weekend getaway that actually feels like a getaway.  

It’s a stone’s throw away from Cam Ranh’s airport

Barely 15 minutes away from Cam Ranh’s airport, overlooking 300metres of Long Beach’s impossibly beautiful sands and turquoise water is one of Nha Trang’s newest 5* luxury resort, The Anam. This colonial-inspired beachfront oasis is among the first of many multi-million dollar resorts opening on the island.

If you’re looking to skip town for a quick weekend recharge in Nha Trang, the resort’s beachfront location is actually perfect. It took us only about ten minutes to get from the airport, which is great especially if you’re cutting it close for that Sunday evening flight back home before the work week like we did.

Luxurious and spacious rooms with beautiful views of the ocean

With beautifully manicured gardens and plenty of lush foliage (get this: there’s apparently over 3000 palm trees on its premises), The Anam is truly a tropical paradise. All these greenery is accented by its colonial-inspired decor in the resort space that also extends to its rooms and villas.

Spacious, luxurious, the rooms are all brilliantly designed so that most of them are sea-facing. Hinting at both Vietnamese and contemporary influences, its sleek and modern aesthetic is refreshingly complemented with dark wood furniture complemented with its muted white linens, accented by vibrant artworks by local Nha Trang residents to spruce it up.

There are a variety of villas and rooms, depending on what your room needs are. Families with kids can opt for their luxe 3bedroom villa, which faces the sea, has its own spa and even has an adjoining pool you can dip in as well.

In all, the entire resort has a very spa-like feel, no doubt thanks to its Indochine-inspired interiors – which will leave you feeling incredibly renewed and refreshed at the end of your stay.

Great restaurant and bars serving delicious continental, Western, Vietnamese and Asian cuisines

There are 3 restaurants and two bars at The Anam – so rest assured, even if you choose to spend your entire stay in the resort, dining doesn’t get dull. Indochine, its poolside restaurant, has a colonial charm to it, with sumptuous buffet spreads that offer everything from Western, Vietnamese, continental and Asian bites.

Indulge in authentic home-style Vietnamese cooking at weekly Mama’s Cooking special

We especially loved their weekly Mama’s Cooking special, where moms of the resorts’ staffs are invited to cook up a scrumptious storm of home-style Vietnamese cooking. With delicious Vietnamese classics like bò nướng lá lốt (grilled beef in betel leaf) and bánh xèo (crispy Vietnamese pancake), every morsel oozed with flavour and that unmistakable homely touch.

There’s also the beach-facing Sports Bar, treats guests to a delightful free-flow happy hour from 5 pm to 6 pm – which, incidentally, also coincides with the beautiful Cam Ranh sunset. As you enjoy your tipples, keep your little ones entertained with the dartboard and plenty of board games the bar has to offer. There’s also the stylish Saigon Bar, which is a sweet spot for afternoon tea, cocktails and live music.

In the mood for romance? Enjoy a private candlelit dinner under the stars.

Come dusk, the resort sets the mood for romance with its romantic candlelit dinner under the stars. With great food and great vino, it’s a pretty sweet experience (if you don’t mind being the occasional love bites courtesy of Cam Ranh’s mozzie population.) The sounds of the waves crashing, the warm glow from the candles and the great food… they all definitely make up for it.

Cruise around the island on a Vespa…

This might be the highlight of my trip. The Vespa tour, which is a great way to explore Nha Trang’s best attractions as well as soak up the local atmosphere, is available in a half-day or a full-day, depending on how much ground you’d like to cover.

Taking you through Nha Trang’s must-see spots which include the Po Nagar (a hillside temple), the home and galleries of talented local craft makers, a Nha Trang-style bread factory (truly an experience!) and more, it’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the city much like the other locals cruising around on their scooters.

… And enjoy a sunrise yoga session by the beach or melt your stresses away at their Balinese-inspired spa.

Surprise, surprise – we managed to pry ourselves away from the comforting duvets in my villa and made it down to the hotel’s sunrise yoga by the beach. Conducted by its full-time in-house yoga instructor, namaste-ing to the rising golden sun never felt more sublime.

And is a weekend getaway complete with a spa session to knead away all the knots and tensions? The resort’s Sri Mara Spa is the first dedicated Balinese spa in Nha Trang. Sprawling over 400 square metres of the resort ground with stunning tropical beach views, the calming 10-room spa embraces Balinese spiritual healing, holistic spa and wellness, which ties in nicely into the resorts’ Indochine philosophy. All its therapists have been trained in the art of Balinese massage and generations-old Balinese health treatments.

Somehow, it’s managed to be both a luxury 5* resort, while being lovely for families with kids.

The best way to describe The Anam is how chilled and laidback it is. With its kids’ club, a water sports centre, movie theatre, and gorgeous pools and close proximity to the beach, it’s a fantastic resort for families. Your kids will be entertained for hours frolicking in the sand or playing in the club.

It’s also a great destination if you want a vacation that feels like a vacation – you know, that eat, sleep, beach, sightsee, and repeat life. It’s not located in the heart of in Nha Trang’s ‘nightlife scene’, which gives you a sense of that private beach escape.

If a luxurious private beach holiday is what you’re after, this beachfront oasis certainly comes recommended in our books.

OVERALL…

Who is it for: Families with kids, Couples, Honeymooners, Retirees

Great for: A beach vacation, wellness retreats, weekend getaway

Best bits: Delightfully spacious and luxurious rooms, delicious dining options, close proximity to the airport, private beach

Sarah Khan

Photos: The Anam