Departures United Kingdom Summer 2021

DEPARTURES TRAVEL KEYS,

DEPARTURES TRAVEL KEYS, PLEASE! 26 The idyllic terrace at a Rice Paddy villa Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô Land of Plenty From idyllic island to plush metropolitan landing pads, a raft of openings perfectly frames the arresting beauty and charm of Vietnam. by Lee Cobaj A bird’s-eye view of Zannier Bãi San Hô and its pristine private beach DAZZLING MOUNTAINS, a spectacular coastline, enigmatic cities, rich culture, incredible food – and a Covid-19 success story – few destinations could be more appealing to the post-pandemic traveller than Vietnam. Adding to the allure is a score of new luxe hotels that have sprung up across the country while the borders have been closed. “Opening a resort in the midst of a pandemic was certainly a challenge. However, it has made the opening even more rewarding – I am incredibly proud of everything the team has achieved,” says hotelier Arnaud Zannier of his latest project Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô (zannierhotels.com), which recently opened on a palm-painted peninsula in Phu Yen province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Haloed by 98 FROM TOP: FREDERIK WISSINK, WING CHAN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: © AZERAI (2), FREDERIK WISSINK Right: poolside at Azerai Ke Ga Bay; below, from left: locally inspired flourishes in a Zannier villa; a palm-fringed promenade at Azerai Ke Ga Bay Maia Quy Nhon’s softly-softly spa focuses on balance and self-healing and the restaurant draws on local flavours and ingredients hectares of tropical gardens, untouched jungle and lime-green paddy fields, with views overlooking the baby-blue South China Sea, the property is a reimagining of Vietnam’s bountiful cultural heritage. “I spent months travelling around the country to get inspiration and fully immerse myself in the history and culture. The soul of Vietnam is reflected in all aspects of the hotel from the design and architecture to the cuisine and experiential activities,” says Zannier. The result is a collection of pool villas – some in the hills, some in the fields, others by the beach – that beautifully echo the homes of the Eden, Cham and Rade tribes. Elsewhere, there are three restaurants and two bars, a watersports centre, a yoga studio, tennis courts and a seven-room spa, all seamlessly woven into the landscape. Further up the coast, wellnessfocused Maia Resorts has opened in peaceful Quy Nhon (maiaresorts.com), with 60 serene villas mere steps from the beach. The softly-softly spa focuses on balance and self-healing and the restaurant draws on local flavours and ingredients, with banh mi baguettes with charcuterie for breakfast and oodles of fresh seafood for lunch and dinner. To get there you might catch a ride on The Vietage, a new custom-designed train carriage from Anantara hotels. All wooden floors, rattan screens, show-stopping views and gourmet cuisine, it rolls over six leisurely hours from Da Nang to the group’s beach resort in Quy Nhon (but anyone can book a seat). Similarly tranquil pursuits await on the south coast at the Azerai Ke Ga Bay (azerai.com), an elegant oceanfront retreat that forms part of a new portfolio of hotels from Adrian Zecha of Aman Resorts fame. Set among five kilometres of secluded shore backed by dragonfruit farms, it has 46 whitewashed villas and suites ringed by private gardens, as well as a beachfront swimming pool and an indulgent spa offering locally inspired treatments. And for those big-city kicks there’s the spectacular Capella Hanoi (capellahotels.com), which opened on the edges of Hoàn Kiêm ´ Lake in the city’s Old Quarter in December 2020. From an actors’ residence to a brothel to an army depot, this historic building has now been transformed into a suitably theatrical hotel by DEPARTURES 27