Luxurious Vietnamese resorts with pristine beaches & private pools are best way to experience the Far East

Scottish Sun

a day ago

This destination full of Far Eastern promise is worth a visit
GOLD STAR Luxurious Vietnamese resorts with pristine beaches & private pools are best way to experience the Far East
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IF you're a fan of hit TV show Race Across the World, then you'll be well acquainted with the mayhem of Vietnam.
It has featured in a couple of the travel series and watching its magic unfold on screen is the very reason I decided to make it my next trip.
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Amazing vista from Banyan Tree room
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The stunning Lang Co resort
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Gwen and Gill enjoy boat trip in Hoi An
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Vietnam is a destination full of Far Eastern promise
I am also a huge fan of the Far East and it didn't take much to convince me that Vietnam — as the continent's rising star — was worth a visit.
So I convinced one of my closest friends Gwen to join me on this adventure.
We started off in the north in Hanoi having flown in from Edinburgh with the brilliant Qatar airways via Doha, enjoying their fabulous service and food enroute, see left for more on this experience.
Nothing quite prepares you for the assault on the senses that is Hanoi — and the nerve-jangling challenge of crossing the road. Any road.
It's a wonderfully chaotic city which is home to 6.5million people, all of whom seem to own a motorbike or moped.
We stayed in the Old Quarter characterised by alleys packed with shops.
But first we had to master the money — 35,000 Vietnamese Dong to the pound means changing a few hundred pounds made us instant millionaires. Bingo!
We had opted to 'ease into' Vietnamese life by spending three nights in Hanoi to acclimatise and then a night in Halong Bay! But soon we were craving relaxation and the race was on to get to the beach.
Next stop was Da Nang on the central coast and the resort of Lang Co around an hour from the Imperial city of Hue and two hours from the historic town of Hoi An so perfect for chilling interspersed with sight-seeing.
Our first four nights were spent at the amazing Angsana resort and the next four at the luxurious Banyan Tree resort next door.
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The Banyan Group ethos focuses very much on the environment and supporting local communities through employment while also giving back through education and engagement, which all adds to the good-time vibe.
Where Angsana was made for families — Banyan Tree was made for blissful seclusion and tranquillity.
The beauty of Lang Co is its pure seclusion and both Angsana and Banyan Tree are the only occupants of one of the longest and most pristine beaches I've seen.
Angsana was full of families due to a special holiday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, which was celebrated up and down the country with parades and cities bedecked with the Vietnamese red flag with gold star.
Our beachfront pool suite had instant access to the beach — and a private pool.
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Fab fish dish at Water Court restaurant
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Gill and Gwen soak up the sun
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Hoi An becomes magical with the river glowing from the dozens of lantern boats
It was huge, with separate sitting and dining areas — not that we used it given the numerous incredible dining options.
Moomba — an international restaurant on the beach — offers amazing fish dishes, while the Rice Bar and the Rice Bowl offer tasty Japanese and Asian cuisine.
As you'd expect for a family hotel there were numerous options to entertain the kids, games room, table tennis, kayaking and a weekly foam party.
During our stay we took a day-trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hue, on the banks of the beautifully named Perfume River, to visit the Imperial City.
You really need a full day to cram in as much as you can. We spent a mesmerising morning at the elaborate Imperial Citadel and admired the Vietnamese tourists who hire fancy dress to feel part of the royal occasion.
Then we headed to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and finished off with a visit to the tomb of Khai Dinh which was specially built for the 12th Emperor who designed it himself and allegedly made the locals pay for it through hiked taxes.
After four nights at Angsana it was time to move to the bordering 5H Banyan Tree resort, which features individual Water Villas, each with their own infinity pool and personal butler.
The villas effortlessly melt into the perfectly manicured hillside with breathtaking views over the bay and the beach. There are also lagoon and beach villas.
Our room was on the mountainside which meant a bit of a walk up and down quite a steep hill. But who needs to walk when staff whizz about on golf carts to make sure you get to where you need to be without being a sweaty mess.
Although the endless food and drink meant getting the step count up was absolutely necessary.
GO: VIETNAM
GETTING THERE: Flights with Qatar Airways from Edinburgh to Hanoi cost £648pp in economy and £3,356pp in business. See qatarairways.com.
STAYING THERE: A night at the 5H Banyan Tree Lang Co is from £221 for a lagoon pool villa. Book a minimum of four nights and enjoy a 25 per cent discount. See banyantree.com/vietnam/lang-co. Rooms at the 5H Angsana Lang Co are from £94 per night. Enjoy complimentary breakfast, early check-in/late check-out, and a cultural experience in the 'Travel more. Live more' promotion. See angsana.com/vietnam/lang-co.
The rooms are huge and bright and the free-standing bath looking out over the sea made it feel like I was drifting on it.
Incense aromas are changed daily and the nightly turndown service always comes with a little treat. Now that's what I call over and above.
The restaurant options at Banyan Tree, too, are divine. Our first night took us to the Thai restaurant Saffron where we were treated to a conveyor belt of the most delicious dishes.
Water Court is a fine dining version of traditional Vietnamese food, while Azura is a nod to Italian food with pizza, pasta and burgers. And by day breakfast at the Water Court was a real highlight. A struggle to walk away from in fact, especially when you can help yourself to Bellinis and Bloody Marys!
There were endless healthy eating options, full on cooked breakfasts or even pancakes and chocolate fountains — you are on holiday after all.
Like Angsana, where Banyan Tree guests can dine and visit and vice-versa, there are a host of activities to keep you moving. And for relaxation the spa featured self-contained pavilions with a treatment menu so long you could almost nod off reading it.
We had to tear ourselves away from all the luxury and take another day trip to the spellbinding ancient city of Hoi An with its lantern-lit streets, riverside setting and quirky shops.
It's well known for its tailors and you can have anything you fancy knocked up in a couple of days — or even a matter of hours.
By night Hoi An becomes magical with the river glowing from the dozens of lantern boats slowly drifting by the town.
It's a two-hour trip to Hoi An from Lang Co which makes it a long day. But boy it's worth it.
In fact, boy Vietnam is worth it! It's a destination full of Far Eastern promise.
In fact I'd go as far as to give it… a gold star!