Luxury resort offers Wes Anderson-level whimsy on Vietnam’s coast

1 week ago 5

Soaring views from the clever Bill Bensley-designed “Non-La” (Vietnamese hat) tables astatine Citron Restaurant.

The hotel

InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam

Check-in

We’ve arrived astatine Heaven. And no, I’m not being hyperbolic. The Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort’s stately entranceway – besides the highest constituent of the resort, if you spot wherever I’m going – is named Heaven. Things driblet disconnected sharply from present (don’t panic, determination is nary “Hell”). The property’s utmost gradient requires usage of a 130-metre-long cablegram car, the “Nam Tram”. The funicular resembles a accepted handbasket boat, and ferries guests crossed 4 levels, breached up into Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea. A caller refurbishment has seen the motorboat of the Mi Sol Spa, caller outrageously beauteous four-bedroom villas, and an upgraded nine lounge.

All luxury villas connection privateness and seclusion.

The look

There is simply a batch of crushed to screen here. The 189-room edifice cascades down the chaotic jungle-blanketed slopes of Son Tra Mountain, commonly Monkey Mountain, portion of a pristine quality reserve with a stress-melting turquoise East Sea aspect. The resort’s lush gardens are tended to by 150 unit who we’re told walk astir days conscionable ferociously “cutting things back”. It’s 700-metre backstage achromatic soil beach, Bai Bac Bay – exclusive to guests – gets truthful blistery during days, you request sandals conscionable to sprint from sunbed to water. That’s each to accidental the determination unsocial could capable rooms, but the edifice – dreamt up by American designer and interiors guru Bill Bensley – is simply a masterpiece of Wes Anderson-level proportions. No nook oregon cranny is near blank successful this ambitious French- and Vietnamese-inspired plan undertaking. The blizzard of artworks, lavish materials, imposing spaces, ornate finishes and region-inspired customized furnishings are each calling cards of the eccentric designer, who’s clocked up awesome edifice plan credits crossed the world, including the Capella Hanoi. Quirky details similar the “non-la” (Vietnamese hat) tables astatine Citron Restaurant are par for the course.

The room

Epic sunset views from the Sun Peninsula Residences.

Our two-bedroom Sun Peninsula Residence Villa is dispersed crossed 800 quadrate metres, and features 2 expansive pavilions, each with its ain ample infinity excavation – 1 with a communal surviving area, butler’s room and chic surviving room. Bedrooms diagnostic ample walk-in robes, luxe amenities and heavy tubs. It’s palatial. Bensley’s interaction is everywhere; successful the bedrooms, a customized mock leopard safari rug stands retired among respective quirky furnishings and artworks, including a procession of brass birds that enactment 1 wall, lone detectable if you hap to look up. Rare red-shanked douc monkeys patrol the villa, providing plentifulness of amusement arsenic you chill disconnected successful the pool, and those balcony views are axenic sunset fantasies.

Food + drink

La Maison 1888 is the resort’s upmarket French restaurant.

Take your prime of 5 eye-catching onsite restaurants, from a beachside grill and loungy open-air cocktail barroom (Barefoot and Long Bar), to a coveted French good diner helmed by Michelin-starred cook Pierre Gagnaire (La Maison 1888). The second is exceptional; a dependable procession of artful dishes and matching wines, gathering to a crescendo of Kogoshima beef, lightly smoked and served with bulb fondue and a drum-shaped timbale of comte macaroni. As a villa guest, we tin besides entree the swish Club InterContinental Club Lounge, with regular breakfast, day tea, sundowners and canapes. Breakfast is simply a highlight, with made-to-order lobster omelette, pho and extended buffet options.

Lounging astir astatine beachside haunt, Long Bar.

Out + about

The spot is close, though not wrong walking distance, to galore of Central Vietnam’s astir captivating attractions, including the famed 67-metre Lady Buddha, Da Nang City, and Hoi An Ancient Town, with complimentary regular shuttles to the latter. Beeline to Banh mi Phuong for Hoi An’s celebrated crusty pork rolls, oregon linger after-dark for Klook’s Hoi An Secret Cocktail Experience ($78; klook.com/en-AU), wherever you’ll uncover the neighbourhood’s champion hidden drinking spots and larn to marque your ain pho-inspired cocktail.

The caller Bill Bensley-designed 4 chamber villa.

The verdict

With whimsical more-is-more design, and a level of luxury and work to rival the world’s champion hotels, this is simply a enactment that lives up to its premium terms tag.

The essentials

Intercontinental Da Nang, Tho Quang, Hai Chau District, Da Nang. Rooms from $US450 ($680) a night; a two-bedroom Sun Peninsula Villa from $US3100 ($4690) a night, not including taxes and work charges. Phone: +84 236 3938 888. Wheelchair accessible rooms available; braille connected lifts and successful nationalist areas. See danang.intercontinental.com

The people retired of five

★★★★★

Seven-hundred metres of bone-white beach, exclusive to guests.

Highlight

Villa guests are assigned a dedicated host, connected manus to buggy you crossed the grounds, and assistance with reservations, tours and requests.

Lowlight

Only aft departing bash we larn the edifice has its ain karaoke lounge. Devo.

The writer stayed arsenic a impermanent of Intercontinental Da Nang, with formation enactment from Vietjet. See danang.intercontinental.com; vietjetair.com

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