InterContinental Nha Trang – Vietnam
Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Han Sen Hau
Overlooking the turquoise waters of Nha Trang Bay, the InterContinental Nha Trang is a beachfront hotel that seamlessly blends modern luxury with warm Vietnamese hospitality. All rooms have private sea-facing balconies, yet the property is right in the middle of the city’s action. With direct, two-and-a-half-hour flights from Kuala Lumpur (and many other international airports), it’s an easy beach getaway.
Location – InterContinental Nha Trang
InterContinental Nha Trang’s address is ideal for beach lovers. With Nha Trang bay on its doorstep, guests only need to cross the road to find their toes in the sand. The long stretch of beach is vibrant, with activity throughout the day. The crowd is refreshing, as many parts of Southeast Asia often only see foreigners taking advantage of the sun and the sea. Frequently, locals in this part of the world avoid the sun. Not here, though. The whole community is out having fun, splashing, relaxing, playing sports, dancing or walking their dogs. And what a wonderful strip to do it on.
It’s an easy-walking beach with flat sand and a double boardwalk following it – one on the beach side and one on the street side, with a strip of trees providing shade in between. InterContinental Nha Trang has its own beach club with several chairs and umbrellas set up for guests. There’s a crew with drinks and towel service, too.
Right in the heart of Tran Phu, the “Golden Street”, InterContinental Nha Trang is surrounded by shops, restaurants and entertainment. It’s alive with action from morning until evening. If you want a good beach holiday with some shopping, eating, spa visits and good times thrown in, it’s all within walking distance from the hotel.
Besides the obvious seaside appeal, Nha Trang is popular as a hop-off point for diving and snorkelling adventures to Hon Mun Island and other gems. Guests can also visit the Nha Trang Cathedral, Po Nagar Cham Towers and ancient temples overlooking the city, unwind in mud baths at Thap Ba Hot Springs, ride the Vinpearl Cable Car across the sea, and indulge in fresh seafood at the Nha Trang Night Market.
Rooms & Suites
InterContinental Nha Trang’s 279 rooms and 56 suites all have balconies, some facing the sea and others facing the city. You get the facilities of a globally recognised 5-star brand, such as international power outlets, high-speed WiFi connection, well-equipped 24-hour gym, pool, full business facilities, restaurants, bars, concierge service, and club lounge benefits, but the feel of an ocean resort. If you’re working while travelling, it’s a highly appealing choice.
The brand’s signature posturepedic mattresses with pillow tops ensure a sound sleep. Black-out curtains shut out the sun for a sleep-in, or leave the blinds open and wake up to a magical sunrise from the sea-facing rooms. Grab a cup of espresso from your in-room machine using Gimoka compostable pods, a nicely balanced, lighter-style brew. Head to the balcony, and you have the ingredients for a perfect morning.
The shower is instantly hot and high-pressured. There’s only one sink in the bathroom, but there is a bathtub, aromatic Byredo products in reusable pumps, and a toilet privatised with frosted glass. Thick, wooden sliding doors allow you to open up the space or completely close it off.
Cupboards provide sufficient space to hang clothes and store bags, but there’s also an additional bag bench. Safes are big enough to fit laptops and are intuitive to use. Light switches are not labelled, but they generally seem to make sense.
Club InterContinental Nha Trang
I always opt for a club lounge experience when available. I’ll take the calmer environment and made-to-order dishes over a busy buffet any day. Club InterContinental Nha Trang delivers on all accounts. Firstly, the views are simply stunning. On a corner lot on the 18th floor of the hotel, guests are treated to incredibly beautiful panoramas of the sea, islands and beach below. It’s such a serene start to the day, looking out to the horizon.
Breakfast at Club InterContinental Nha Trang
Breakfast is a quality selection of made-to-order items supported by a continental spread. I’m appreciative of the healthy choices, including a Bali Smoothie Bowl and a Vegan Oaxacan Bowl. Han Sen spices up his morning with Mexican-style Ranchero Eggs, Chicken Pho, Steamed Beef and Carrot with Baguette, and Wok-fried Rice Noodles featuring local seafood.
The accompanying smorgasbord is also of superb quality. There’s an assortment of freshly pressed juices, including spinach greens and a bunch of fruit juices. Yoghurt, granola, Bircher muesli, pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, salads, and fruits are for immediate grabbing. It’s not just your standard melon and commercial cereal, either—there are cherries, an assortment of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
Non-alcoholic beverages and a helpful service crew are available from 6 am to 10 pm. On the morning shift, Nga helps us print plane tickets, offers suggestions for what to see, and even makes a hair salon booking, confirming the price and payment method and writing down the directions and details before I depart.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is served for Club InterContinental Nha Trang guests between 2 and 4 pm daily. It’s a three-tiered set consisting of international savouries, Vietnamese flavours and Western flavours. The crowning top holds fresh spring rolls, smoked salmon sandwiches and mushroom wraps. The middle tier is a colourful collection of steamed layered cake, banana cake, and mango and sago sweet soup. Lastly, the bottom plate presents scones with jam and cream, pistachio cream brulee, coconut pralines and red dragon fruit tarts. It’s a well-balanced platter, and everything is super fresh.
Evening Cocktails
From 5:30 – 7:30 pm, the evening cocktail draws guests back to the hotel. Ideal refreshment after a day of exploration or a prelude to a night out, canapes, wine, beer, mocktails and cocktails are served. Cheese, small bites, cold cuts, salads and fruit are spread over the buffet counter, and hot canapes such as grilled beef, prawns and spinach ravioli are delivered directly to the table. Bao, our bartender, highly recommends the Nha Trang Beach cocktail, which is made with Bacardi rum, blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and a little lime juice. He says it both looks and tastes like the sea. There are a few Chilean wines, prosecco and classic cocktails to further extend the fun.
As with most club lounges, there’s a dress code. The shoe code of no slippers is sometimes hard to comply with if you’ve just come for a beach holiday, but the staff are prepared! They have shoes for you to borrow in a range of sizes. Han Sen thinks they’re nice enough to purchase a pair for himself.
Facilities, Restaurants & Bars
We’re on a whirlwind tour of Vietnam’s central coast, so don’t have the pleasure of too much time at the hotel. However, there is a lovely pool area on the second floor that looks out over the tops of swaying palms and further beyond to the sea. The fitness room is furnished with a high-quality Technogym range, and there’s a spa somewhere on the level, too. As mentioned, we don’t have time to dine in at the hotel, but Café Cookbook provides a buffet breakfast and all-day dining, while The Lobby Bar and Aqualine Bar are ready to quench your thirst with some light food to go with.
InterContinental Nha Trang Review
InterContinental Nha Trang is an excellent choice for enjoying the beach and the action of the beautiful bay, as well as entertainment, dining, and shopping along Golden Street. Standards and provisions are 5-star international quality, and service is genuinely hospitable and warm. Direct flights to Kuala Lumpur make it a good starting or ending point to explore Vietnam’s beautiful central coast.
Reasons to stay at InterContinental Nha Trang: fabulous location across from the beach; sea view rooms with balconies; international service and facilities make it an ideal choice for combining work and leisure; highly recommend signing up for Club InterContinental benefits; wonderful service team.
InterContinental Nha Trang
32-34 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang
Khánh Hòa 300202, Vietnam
@intercontinental_nhatrang
[email protected]
+84 258 3887777
Link to InterContinental Nha Trang on Google Maps
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I Vietnam is great vacation spot.