Anantara Hoi An Resort, Boutique Riverside Hotel
Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Han Sen Hau
“Oh, so pretty!” seems the phrase of the day at Anantara Hoi An Resort. It’s summer, and the flowers are in full bloom. It’s a beautiful time for the resort as the gardens are lush, and the rooftops are covered with giant bougainvillea.
You might think that such serene grounds would be isolated from the action of Hoi An’s tourist district, yet the Ancient Town is only steps away. On our doorstep, there is a cacophony of cafes, tailors, spas, laundry services, bars and boutiques of all kinds. Stay left out of the hotel, and with a direct walk down the block, you’re in Hoi An’s Central Market. On the other side of the market is the famous pedestrian and cycling street in Ancient Town. It’s only a 15-minute drive to the beach and less than 10 minutes to gorgeously green rice fields.
Anantara Hoi An Resort – Riverside Luxury
The luxury boutique property, Anantara Hoi An Resort, sits on the banks of Thu Bon River. It has the benefits of being an older building in that the grounds are expansive, and the building retains old-school charm. As mentioned, the landscaping is exquisite, with flowers bursting with colour. Flowers are in the gardens, on the rooves and lining the river – pink, white, yellow and purple – a rainbow of blooms.
The grounds consist of 92 rooms, three restaurants, a spa, a tailor, a fitness room and a pool. The property is in the process of upgrading and the pool is in the final stages when we arrive. The rooms have been renewed with a fresh coat of paint, and a brand-new spa is next on the agenda.
Anantara Hoi An Resort Suites
Our Deluxe River View Suite begins with a patio cooled by a ceiling fan, dual daybeds, and a garden of snake plants overlooking the river. It’s an attractive spot for morning coffee, and I enjoy writing out here, occasionally distracted by the boats and cycles gliding by.
Split-level inside, the bedroom is elevated from the living room, which contains a lounge, coffee table, and workbench. The raised bedroom features incredibly comfortable bedding, a wardrobe, and a mini-bar. Power points are the country’s standard, but reception has a couple of adaptors you can borrow. Of note is the La Folliet coffee machine—not the ubiquitous Nespresso, thank goodness. Instead, a local company with compostable pods delivers a tasty brew.
The bathroom is light and bright, with frosted glass windows and a sunken bathtub. Both handheld and rain shower heads offer high-pressure and instant hot water. Bath products smell heavenly and are in reusable pumps. Amenities are packaged in paper, promoting wood for toothbrushes and razor handles. Water is in refillable glass bottles, too. We appreciate the sustainability efforts. A sensor turns a gentle nightlight on when we enter the bathroom, a discreet and helpful inclusion.
Unexpected Inclusions – Anantara Hoi An Resort Spa
Anantara Hoi An Resort is undergoing some renovations during our stay (complete by the time you read this). They’re at the other end of the resort near the pool area, so we don’t hear the work. Still, the hotel offers all guests a meal or a spa treatment for the inconvenience. We jump at the chance for a spa session and have no regrets. Ngoc warmly greets us with a cold towel, a cool drink and a questionnaire. Once our preferences are confirmed, we change into puffy disposable underwear, slippers and a gown in the changing area before being escorted to our treatment rooms.
The session begins with a footbath and a light spritz of cooling peppermint oil. Then, face down on a long comfortable bed, my therapist Yen places a cool pillow under my ankles, relieving pressure on my lower back. Her strokes are long and deep, and she manages to work out the knots in my back and shoulders – no easy feat. I drift off into oblivion, completely surrendering to Yen’s expertise. The full body treatment ends with a magical head massage, breathing ritual, and finally, a ringing of a sound bowl that brings me back to earth slowly.
Dressed again and back in the reception, Ngoc asks for feedback on the session and pours some hot ginger and cinnamon tea. There’s also shaved candied ginger, which is a lovely, spicy, sweet conclusion. Even with the spa building on the agenda for an upgrade, the software is exceptional.
Restaurants & Bars
Alternatively, guests could enjoy dinner as a complimentary meal, a small token from the hotel thanking guests for their patience with the renovations. Whether or not you take the meal voucher, Anantara Hoi An Resort is worth exploring for its food and beverage outlets. It has three restaurants and bars: art space, Lanterns and Hoi An Riverside.
art space
The first is a casual, all-day dining café, restaurant and bar. An art gallery and eatery, art space’s walls are bright with contemporary paintings and mixed media. It spills onto the sidewalk with an outdoor terrace, allowing for air-conditioned comfort or people-watching with the alfresco setting.
The menu is a good mix of international favourites, with wood-fired pizza and cocktails a highlight. They have a complete vegan menu, too. We grab a quick bite between picking up clothes from the tailor and heading out to explore the town in the evening. We’re delighted with the velvety, smooth, and luxuriously thick Da Lat Cauliflower Soup (VND 210 000). The veg is enlivened with feta, Ly Son garlic confit, croutons, roasted sunflower seeds and chive oil. The Warm Risoni (VND 350 000) is another excellent meat-free choice with char-grilled eggplant, sweet potato, capsicum, rocket, goat’s cheese and pesto sauce. The two latter ingredients really give the dish flavour – it is best to mix them in to coat the tiny pasta pieces well. Lastly, the Hoi An Chicken Rice (VND 320 000) is a fresh and healthy plate of turmeric rice, ringed by poached and shredded free-range chicken with ram leaves, pickled veggies and house-made pate. Soy and chilli sauces on the side allow us to season to personal preference.
Lanterns
Lanterns is the place for brekkie. It’s on the first floor overlooking the river and cooled by floor and ceiling fans. It’s a lovely place to observe the river come alive. Breakfast consists of a full buffet with eggs made a la minute and live banh mi and pho stations. We try a Hue soup, which looks deceptively spicy but is not. It’s a rich broth with rice noodles and slices of beef – absolutely delicious. We also enjoy banh mi – crusty baguette holding pork slices, pate and pickled veggies.
I appreciate all of the healthy options. There are a multitude of tropical fruits, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and excellent home-made granola (too many places get this wrong by folding in commercial cereals and flour into the mix. There’s none of that here – just whole grains of oats, nuts and dried fruit.). There’s also green pennywort juice, kombucha, lemon water, veggie juices, skim milk, dairy alternatives and a gluten-free section. Those who prefer to indulge in the morning won’t be disappointed either with a multitude of pastries, waffles, pancakes, cheese, cold cuts, bacon (crispy and soft) and hot western and local breakfast recipes.
Hoi An Riverside
Lastly, Hoi An Riverside is Anantara’s signature restaurant by the river. The best time to visit is early evening before the sun sets. It’s magical watching the waterways come alive with boats, each uniquely decked out with colourful lights and lanterns, transferring the tourist crowd to the Ancient Town. Here, you’ll find many Vietnamese recipes from across the country, all prepared with the freshest ingredients and plated beautifully. Check out this article on Hoi An Riverside for some of the must-tries on the menu.
The Vietage by Anantara
Hoi An is only the beginning of our trip. We’re heading down the coast for a lovely 10-day journey. Having flown into Danang, we’ll fly out of Cam Ranh. Both airports have direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, so it makes a perfect six-to-12-day getaway. The Vietage by Anantara makes the journey something to look forward to just as much as the destination. Anantara runs two luxury carriages on the trains between Danang and Quy Nhon and Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. The journey is full-service, with meals, beverages and even a massage delivered by the team. Depending on which leg you run, either a three-course meal or afternoon tea, both with free-flow alcoholic beverages, is included. More on that tomorrow!
Anantara Hoi An Resort Review
Anantara Hoi An Resort offers a unique blend of tranquillity and adventure. You can relax in the hotel’s luxurious surroundings or explore the vibrant town of Hoi An, which is all within easy reach. Whether seeking a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a luxurious escape, Anantara Hoi An caters to all and guarantees an unforgettable stay.
Reasons to stay at Anantara Hoi An Resort: a fantastic location that is within walking distance to Hoi An’s main attractions yet set on beautiful, peaceful, riverside landscaped grounds; lovely staff; gorgeous gardens; comfortable rooms; good brekkie.
Anantara Hoi An Resort- Luxury Boutique Riverside Hotel
1 Pham Hong Thai Street, Hoi An City
Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
www.anantara.com/en/hoi-an
Anantara Hoi An on Google Maps
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