Namia River Retreat – Wellness Inclusive Resort, Hoi An
Words: Louise Miller
Photos: Monica Tindall
Secluded from the hustle and bustle of Hoi An, amidst the lush landscapes of the tranquil Cồn Ba Xã Islet in the Thu Bon River, lies Namia River Retreat. This brand new wellness hotel promises a combination of luxury, well-being and serenity drawing inspiration from local flavours, traditions, and nature. This is our home for the start of the new year. After the festive excess of the previous weeks and with resolutions for a healthier and more mindful 2025, we could not be more excited to embark on a wholesome journey.
We arrive a mere two weeks after the hotel’s opening. Although in its very early stages, Namia River Retreat’s heart and soul are very much alive, evident from the first of many warm smiles we receive from each staff member who greets us. There is a palpable sense of unity and pride amongst the lovely people who work here – pride not only in the exceptional service they provide but also in the local knowledge that inspires everything they do.
Namia River Retreat Private Pool Villas Hoi An
Our private villa exudes a sense of calm. Although the sky is overcast and rain seems imminent, natural light still manages to pour in through the expansive windowed doors that run along the entire width of the open-plan bedroom, framing views of our private pool and the river beyond. The villas lie on parallel banks of the islet, all offering views of the waterway. We are on the nipa palm side, where the gentle flow of the narrower branch of the Thu Bon river is punctuated by colourful cup boats quietly floating past us.
The warm and natural tones of the room’s decor enhance its peaceful ambience. The room is open-plan, featuring bed, bath and living spaces. The latter is a cosy seating area, perfect for relaxing while enjoying the array of goodies in the room. There’s a selection of teas, locally produced coffees and delicious snacks (Mon always says you can predict the quality of a stay by the snacks provided). We hang out here in the evenings, enjoying the instantly soothing anti-inflammatory tea that we choose as one of the options available for the turndown service.
A real standout feature for me is the spacious sunken bath that lies flush to the window at the end of the bed. And if a lengthy evening soak wasn’t indulgent enough, you can further accentuate the luxury of the tub by swivelling the room’s central TV panel 180 degrees from the seating area, thereby creating a bathtime cinema experience!
The bed feels enormous and incredibly comfortable. These days, a full night’s sleep feels like a true luxury, and here, I manage to drift off without a hitch. If I could pinpoint one single key ingredient to my uninterrupted sleep, I would pay dearly to bottle it up and take it home with me. Unfortunately, though, it’s never just about the bed but the combination of thoughtful details, like the soothing sleep tea, the indulgent spa treatments, and the blackout curtains, that align to induce the kind of deep, elusive slumber I’ve been craving.
The ensuite washroom features twin sinks and ample closet space with twin closets separated by a dressing table. The waffle bathrobes and towels are luxuriously oversized, and the toiletries, with their fresh, herbaceous scents, bring the spa to our room. The only downside is that I love the powerful rain shower so much that it’s hard to tear myself away from it.
There are so many thoughtful details throughout the room, such as the floor-level motion sensor lighting around the bed, the bedside international sockets, ideal for overnight charging, the large top-opening safe that’s big enough for two laptops and more and, of course, the thoughtful gifts left at turn-down, which add a special personal touch to the experience.
Lumina Wellbeing Hoi An
The wellness package at Namia River Retreat includes a daily 90-minute wellness journey for each person every night of the stay. Eager to take advantage of this, Monica and I head to the spa sporting waffle gowns and bamboo sandals for our first treatment.
We soon learn that the Lumina Wellbeing’s treatments are rooted in local knowledge. After intensive consultations with Vietnamese practitioners, a comprehensive program using methods and ingredients passed down through generations has been designed.
The process begins with a warm welcome over a ginger and lemongrass tea as we complete a short survey and explain preferences in terms of focus and degree of pressure. We both opt for a Vietnamese Massage, a full body massage that focuses on relieving tension by incorporating traditional kneading techniques with a healing ginger and herb oil. The first step though, is a foot bath in which a bouquet of fresh herbs is added to hot water and followed by a gentle scrub with a blend of oil, Himalayan rock salt and spices.
The second step is a mugwort moxa stick burning ritual said to stimulate the flow of qi and improve circulation. Our masseuses burn the sticks close to our faces, radiating quite an intense heat. This is clearly not for everyone – Monica feels a little anxious about inhaling smoke, but I find the process quite soothing.
Once the massage is underway, I discover within seconds that my masseuse is highly skilled, intuitively finding and focusing on tension knots that I didn’t even know were there. Although the pressure was absolutely perfect, I appreciate being asked if I needed any adjustment. The treatment leaves me feeling completely relaxed from head to toe.
On day two, we choose Acupressure Therapy. We begin once again with cups of delicious sweet ginger tea as we are shown the Dien Chan tools that will be used in the massage. Resembling medieval instruments of torture, I feel nervous until our hostess uses them on our arms to demonstrate the effect, which is invigorating rather than painful.
Again, our masseuses effortlessly find the pressure points and focus where needed to unknot the tension. At one point, I felt my masseuse kneel on the back of my legs, using her knees and whole body weight to work on my hamstrings – I didn’t want it to end!
For our third treatment, we opt for a combination of Facial Reflexology and the Vietnamese Massage we enjoyed on day one. This pairing strikes a good balance of relaxing, muscle and tension soothing strokes on the body with the more invigorating treatment with the Dien Chan tools on the face, head and neck.
Afterwards, as we sit in the spa lounge, sipping our ginger tea and nibbling on irresistible candied ginger and turmeric pieces while gazing out at the Thu Bon River, Monica and I agree—this is a kind of luxury we both need more of in our lives!
Breakfast at Namia River Retreat
The Merchant restaurant is the venue for the hotel’s impressive breakfast buffet. Just past the entrance, two oval stations beckon. The first displays a medley of nuts, seeds, dried fruits and granola, complemented by a range of jams, honey and peanut butter. Beyond this, the second station features cold cuts and cheese from a local producer specialising in high-quality Vietnamese ingredients made using traditional French methods. There is pâté, saucisson sec, fresh sausages, and more. To accompany these, there is a tempting assortment of pickles, whole grain mustard, artichoke hearts and an array of fresh vegetables, quail eggs and leafy greens.
The real highlights of the breakfast options are undoubtedly the iconic Vietnamese dishes. You can start your day with flavourful mini Bánh Mi and aromatic Phở, and in addition to the standard egg station, you can order a Bánh Xèo, a crispy Vietnamese rice pancake made with rice flour, turmeric and coconut cream. For the uninitiated, these are truly delicious and assembled by placing the pancake on lettuce, garnishing with fresh herbs and pickles, and wrapping and dipping into a sweet chilli sauce.
And it wouldn’t really be Vietnam without the signature coffees! I’ve been a fan of the traditional Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk for many years and didn’t imagine that the pleasure of starting my day with one of these could be topped. I was wrong! Each of my three breakfasts at Namia River Retreat brings a different contender for the favourite coffee spot. Very hard to do justice to the Egg Coffee, imagine a marriage of crème brulée and espresso: it’s rich, sweet but not too sweet, kind of custard-like, and so much better than this description! The Coconut Coffee is cold, delicate and super refreshing, and the Salt Coffee strikes a perfect balance between the subtle saltiness and sweetness of condensed milk. They are all truly excellent so make sure you try all of them!
We also have a delightful dinner at The Merchant one evening. Serving fresh Vietnamese flavours, beautifully plated , it’s worth a visit even if you’re not staying in the hotel. Find the dinner menu and our dining experience at The Merchant here.
The Fisherman
The tranquil river-themed restaurant is our venue for lunch. Inspired by the idyllic life by the river and ingredients from the nearby Cham Islands, the menu brings together a myriad of fresh seafood and wild herbs, creating imaginative dishes of perfectly balanced and wonderful Vietnamese flavours.
Every detail of the restaurant’s decor exudes the tranquillity of the river on which it stands: the gentle blue tones of the curved inner walls, the latticed undulating ceiling evocative of a fishing net; the stunning fish mosaic tiled wall and abundant, clever use of thick wood throughout.
We begin lunch with Tuna Ceviche (VND 250,000), a combination of delicate cubes of raw fish flavoured with calamansi, sawleaf, chilli oil and peanuts. Paper thin cassava chips serve as spoons for the delicious mixture – we are off to a great start!
Lollo Lettuce (VND 250,000) provides further freshness. The salad combines the lettuce with mint, feta, cherry tomatoes and, a first for us, pickled grapes that pack a heavy punch of tartness – we love them!
Our main course, Grilled Seabass (VND 350,000), is expertly cooked, the fish retaining a succulent, almost meaty texture beneath a flavourful and crispy skin and served with an aromatic lemongrass, chilli, garlic and green peppercorn sauce.
We conclude our meal with Grilled and Chilled Watermelon (VND 160,000 VND), which, combined with mint leaves, passionfruit, sake granita and shiso, provides a super refreshing and flavourful finale.
Experiences at Namia River Retreat
The experiences at Namia River Retreat embody the three core stories that define the resort’s spirit; Crafted With Nature, Life By the River, and Ritual of Light. These inspirations influence everything here, from the design to the food to every thoughtfully curated activity. Even the shuttle service between the retreat and town is a boat ride along the Thu Bon River, a testament to the resort’s deep connection with its natural surroundings.
On our first day, Monica and I take part in the lantern ritual, releasing pretty lanterns onto the lotus pond while focusing on our intentions for 2025. It’s a cathartic, uplifting experience that perfectly captures the retreat’s spirit.
Other experiences on offer include a guided bike tour, a sundown river cruise, a photography walking tour and opportunities to explore Hoi An countryside and neighbouring villages by Vespa. Each activity offers a unique way to connect with the region’s beauty, culture and people.
Reasons to stay at Namia River Retreat: extremely comfortable and stylish private pool villas, excellent food and beverage, outstanding service and all-inclusive traditional Vietnamese therapies, unique curated experiences and a commitment to local heritage and nature that is evident in all that they do.
Namia River Retreat
232 Tran Nhan Tong, Cam Chau Ward,
Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
+84 (0) 235 3969 888
[email protected]
Link to Namia River Retreat on Google Maps
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