It’s not just street eats, tailored suits and discounted beachside villas that are attracting an increasing number of Australian travellers to Vietnam – luxury, wellness and sustainability are also at the fore of many of the latest travel options.
Travel Weekly recently visited Vietnam on a mini 7-night break, with a whistlestop trip to the always-hectic Ho Chi Minh City before heading to Hoi An for five nights. There we had booked in villa with pool – upgraded to three-bedrooms – at Wyndham Hoi An Royal Beachfront Resort, and booked privately through Luxury Escapes, for our own mid-year getaway.
Our small three-person family unit enjoyed the amenities of pool and beach and exclusive lounge for guests of the 71 villas, planning our days around the half board which included full breakfasts and either an expansive buffet lunch or dinner around our day trips. There is also a 497-key hotel, but despite the 1200 or so guests, it never felt crowded. It is just one of an array of similar hotels along the beachside strip, in addition to traditional hotels and town, plus plenty of local homestays.
Family journeys, via free hotel shuttle, were to the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An with its markets and tailors, or cruising Old Town shops, cafes and restaurants and returning via cheap Grab (Vietnam’s equivalent of Uber) or cab.
A step up
While we were happy with our digs, jaws dropped when we visited Namia River Retreat on its own islet, before heading to dinner on the Merchant River Cruise, both owned by HG Holdings with a variety of wellness options operated at the retreat by Lumina Wellbeing.
The luxury dining cruise experience, only launched in May, brings an entirely modern dimension to Vietnamese food with its views of the Thu Bon River beyond the tributary that meanders through nearby UNESCO-listed Hoi An. The Spice Route Journey on the Water tour drifts gently downstream along the river, past fisherman in spindly boats or retrieving catch from vast nets along the banks, sliding by riverside villages and quiet islets, with the glowing sky of Hoi An and its lantern boats and local summers holidaymakers in the distance.
We enjoyed traditional music on deck before a dinner that offers sometimes familiar sounding dishes with a fresh spin. The five-course degustation ranged from mini banh mi to dry-aged roast duck, swimming in a delicious reduction, that had us licking out lips long after. There was also a double-clarified beef consommé with local beef tenderloin, inspired by traditional pho and butter-poached tropical local rock lobster paired with a crispy, panko-crusted bone marrow and beef tendon croquette. The only thing fully familar was a dessert of cheesecake with bright mango coulis and a hint of nori.
In the 18 months that Namia River Retreat has opened its doors, the first wellness-inclusive resort with all private pool villas in Hoi An has captured the attention of the world’s media, garnering some significant coverage and plaudits. Nestled on the Cồn Ba Xã Islet in Hoi An, the retreat’s wellness-inclusive therapies are inspired by Vietnamese herbology.
What else is new?
Another new option from the same group is Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges, set to open later this year, which is set along the Son River by the limestone peaks of Phong Nha–Ke Bang a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world’s largest cave system including the legendary Son Doong caves.
Developed in alignment with IFC’s Building Resilience Index (BRI), the retreat features elevated bamboo bridges rising above historic flood levels, glamping structures engineered to adapt to water movement, and architecture shaped from reclaimed timber and ventilated platforms.
The 30 eco tented lodges are nestled across the terrain in clusters, each framed by a canopy of indigenous planting selected for resilience, biodiversity, and beauty.
“Sustainability and wellbeing come hand in hand; and at Auko, our alignment is to bring a regenerative hospitality model with wellbeing at the core of everything we do. For the land, and for the people who visit it,” says Michelle Ford, founder of Lumina Wellbeing, wellness hospitality operator of Auko.
Family friendly
Also recently launched is Intrepid’s Vietnam Premium Family Holiday, launched in May, with a nine-day itinerary including a stay at a net-zero carbon-focused premium property on the outskirts of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, halfway between Da Nang and Hanoi.
The retreat operates entirely on solar energy, and its elevated walkways between bungalows are designed to minimise impact on the surrounding natural environment. Departures start in December 2026, in the northern winter where temperatures range from a pleasant 22C-25C.
Maybe next time…
Get out of town
While not to everyone’s tastes, Ba Na Hills has to be seen to be believed. Located in the Trường Sơn Mountains of Hòa Vang district, under an hour’s drive west of Da Nang, it was originally a hill station where French colonists escaped the summer heat in the early 1900s. Said to be named as a contraction of the French word for banana, or a local god, it is now a hugely popular local tourist attraction during the country’s summer break.
Sun World Ba Na Hills is owned by Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest companies, and features a wonderfully weird array of attractions such as the Golden Bridge (Cầu Vàng), a total of seven cable cars, a “French village” including a faux castle housing a Mercure hotel, plus a replica Notre Dame Cathedral, and the three-storey Bana Brew House, opened in 2024 and home to Sun KraftBeer. It also features a Fantasy Park, vast gardens, mini coaster, giant Buddha and the Linh Ung Pagoda, plus a Michelin-listed restaurant.
Currently under construction is a new 2,500-room, 5-star hotel, with direct cable car, and extensions to the resort which will include a multipurpose performance complex, indoor themed garden and convention centre.
Into the sea
Just offshore from Hoi An, Vietnam’s Cham Islands are emerging as an easy add-on for Australians seeking beaches, snorkelling and nature, offering a quieter alternative to the country’s busier beach destinations.
Located around 15 kilometres off the coast from Hoi An, the UNESCO-listed island group is known for its crystal-clear waters, coral reefs and relaxed fishing villages. Day trips and overnight stays allow visitors to snorkel, dive and explore protected marine areas, while hiking trails and local seafood add to the appeal.
The islands are easily reached by speedboat from Hoi An or nearby Da Nang, making them an attractive addition to a broader central Vietnam itinerary.
With Australian demand for Vietnam continuing to grow, it offers travel advisors another compelling option for clients looking to combine culture, beach time and eco-tourism in one holiday.
