The Merchant at Namia River Retreat, Hoi An
Words: Louise Miller
Photos: Monica Tindall
A short walk from our room through tranquil grounds and over a bamboo-lined bridge lies the Namia River Retreat’s Vietnamese-inspired restaurant, The Merchant. We are immediately struck by the warmth of the space’s nature-inspired features: the huge wood-carved panelling of the doorway; the pretty pebble and foliage framed lotus pond by the entrance; the earthy tones of the decor inside, and the stunning hand-painted river scenes on its tiled walls. It is obvious that of the three thematic stories that underpin the hotel’s ethos, the restaurant embodies ‘Crafted With Nature’.
Inspired by traditional Vietnamese cuisine, the chef’s menu showcases local flavours reflecting Hoi An’s trading history with a modern view. By sourcing seasonal ingredients locally, he celebrates the region’s heritage, fosters community ties, and promotes sustainability.
We are immediately intrigued by the signature cocktail menu. On reading some of their names, Hoi An Traditional Soup, Cao Lau Noodles and Hoi An Chicken Rice, I double check that I am not looking at the starters. With curiosity piqued, we tried the herbal tea cocktail “Mót” (VND 200,000), so named for the local Instagram-famed herbal tea gone viral. The cocktail blends this key ingredient with a Vietnamese spiced gin and tonic water, creating a super refreshing, elegant and citrusy beverage.
As we sip on the cocktails, we snack on the incredibly moreish popped sago crackers. Dusted with chilli salt, they are accompanied by a gently spiced pumpkin dip and are hard to stop eating!
We begin our meal with a trio of starters. Tra Que Tomatoes (VND 250,000) combines cherry and globe tomatoes with assorted herbs, sunflower seed pesto, cucumber and creamy local Da Lat burrata. Sapa Salmon Ceviche (VND 250,000) is a delicious combination of tasty raw fish, pomelo, fennel, coriander, and peanuts accompanied by cassava paper chips that we use for scooping. Completing the trio with one of the hot appetisers, we enjoy the Shellfish Bisque (VND 250,000) made with crab from Cham Island, slipper lobster and coconut. The soup provides a perfect balance of sweetness from the crustaceans and coconut with savoury and spicy notes and a luxurious, velvety texture.
For our main course, we opt for family-style sharing plates. Namia Roasted Duck (VND 750,000) features a perfectly pink crown breast with leg sausage and a tamarind and citrus jus that provides a tangy balance to the richness of the meat. Pork Belly Claypot (VND 420,000) is a hearty casserole of slow-cooked tender meat with eggplant and banana blossom. The flavours are robust and aromatic and tempt me back for additional servings. These two dishes are also available in individual-sized portions (VND 400,000 and VND 250,000 respectively). The dishes are partnered with red rice, Thrice Cooked Potato (VND 100,000) and super tasty Homemade Ferments and Pickles (VND 100, 000).
Reflecting the venue’s commitment to well-being and sustainability, the wines on offer at The Merchant are all organic and biodynamic, with no fewer than eight available by the glass. Monica’s selection of the Italian Foraderi, ”Lezèr” Vignetti delle Dolomiti (VND 350,000) strikes a great balance with the mains. Light ruby red in colour with red berry notes, it is a great mate to the meat dishes.
We were impressed to see such an extensive selection of local beverages that included beers, craft sakes, Vietnamese gins, rums and liqueurs in addition to homemade kombucha and plenty of imported spirits, cocktails and mocktails. There really is something for everyone!
With little room for more food, we choose what seems to be the lightest of the menu’s desserts (and also, we just love the name!). Traditional Beauty Soup (VND 160,000) is a chilled honey soup with gingko, lotus, peach resin, goji, longan berries and chia seeds. The flavours are delicate, not too sweet and leave us with a little hope that may just wake up a little more beautiful tomorrow.
Reasons to visit The Merchant, Hoi An: modern Vietnamese flavours; we especially loved the farm-to-table Namia Roasted Duck; creative cocktails; well-chosen wine list; stylish setting overlooking the river; warm hospitable service.
The Merchant
Vietnamese Restaurant – 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
The Merchant Opening Hours
Daily 6 am – 10 pm
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