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Vietnam’s flurry of smart hideaway hotels, sleek boutiques and resplendent suites make it a serious contender in the global luxury holiday market. From a tucked-away treehouse on the outskirts of Da Nang to a glossy city stay in Ho Chi Minh, this is our pick of the best five-star escapes in Vietnam.
Best five-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
Caravelle Saigon
Built in 1959 and serving as a gathering spot for politicians, journalists and soldiers during the war to enjoy a rooftop drink, the Caravelle Saigon stands as one of the finest vintage hotels in Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant District 1. Its French-Vietnamese style is evident in gracefully curved balconies, a marker of its time hosting the offices of Air France along with the Australian and New Zealand embassies. Come for the history, stay for unparalleled views of the Saigon Opera House and Saigon River – plus suites and rooms that exude old-school luxury.
Hotel Majestic Saigon
With its French colonial architecture and sky-high riverside setting, Hotel Majestic Saigon would not look out of place on the Champs-Elysées. Built in 1925, this hotel housed espionage agents, visiting dignitaries, celebrities, royalty and famed authors with the same elegance that’s continuing to wine-and-dine guests today: think multiple restaurants and bars, high ceilings, palatial marble bathrooms, and a romantic lobby with dignified stained-glass windows and lofty chandeliers.
Best five-star hotels in Cam Ranh
Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh
After a family stay? Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh, a sprawling palm tree-lined oasis, will delight with the Little Birds Club for kids and teens, a 10-metre-high rope park and children’s swimming pool. While the kids are busy, big kids can unwind at Swiss Village, featuring a beer house, café and nightclub. Perched on 17 kilometres of sandy beachfront, it’s no surprise that every room, villa, suite and studio boasts uninterrupted views of turquoise waters.
Radisson Blu Resort, Cam Ranh
This 292-room Cam Ranh beachfront haven may be vast, but it offers exceptional personal service and an abundance of understated elegance. Lush, landscaped grounds extend to pristine white sands and the Executive Lounge on the 13th floor – the only one of its kind in the area – presents unrivalled panoramic views of Cam Ranh Bay. Adults will delight in Blu Lobster, a waterfront luxury eatery serving up succulent seafood, while children will be thrilled by the newest attraction: a cascading rainforest water park.
Best five-star hotels in Hoi An
New World Hoiana Beach Resort
At New World Hoiana Beach Resort, one of four accommodation options within the integrated Hoiana Resort & Golf complex, beach lovers can bask in the four-kilometre coastline while golf enthusiasts test their skills on a world-class championship course. The real joy of this resort is the upscale NOX Beach Club, offering weekly pool parties across six incredible venues.
Shilla Monogram Quangnam Danang
Bright, elegant and with exclusive access to a private beach, Shilla Monogram Quangnam Danang seems to exist in a permanent state of tranquillity. In a rambling garden so serene it’s named the Therapy Garden, pathways wind beneath palm trees, while bamboo groves frame jacuzzis and four ocean-view pools. The standout Monogram Villa is vast, with dark wood furnishings, a rooftop infinity pool and four bedrooms spread across three levels.
Best five-star hotels in Hanoi
Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel
Conceptualised with the design-savvy traveller in mind, this urban-chic stay in the nation’s capital boasts 105 Art Deco rooms and suites, complemented by a grand marble lobby with elegant artwork and an intricate coffered ceiling. A transparent elevator soars along the building’s exterior, bringing guests to the rooftop infinity pool and expansive Ignite Sky Bar, which offers live music and panoramic views of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter.
Capella Hanoi
Tucked along the boulevard of Hoan Kiem Lake, this art nouveau marvel is a homage to the nearby Hanoi Opera House, with each room individually adorned with memorabilia honouring legendary artists, composers and performances. Designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley, the hotel boasts an indoor pool with mirrored ceilings and a lobby that exudes the opulence of the 1920s with lavish gold accents and velvet drapery. The Auriga Spa offers indulgent 24-karat gold facials and the onsite Japanese restaurant, Koki, is one of only three Michelin-starred restaurants in the city.
Best five-star hotels in Ho Tram
Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort
Wellness lies at the heart of this beachfront retreat where guests can embark on carefully curated four- or seven-step well-being packages that feature sunset bath rituals, mindfulness practices and nourishing cuisine. Indulgent treatments at the YHI SPA are complemented by a sauna, steam bath, and nail and hair salon, while villas boast meditation essentials, yoga gear, vitamin C showerheads and aromatic mists. Downtime at the resort can be spent wandering the Wellness Pathway, which winds through coconut palms and serene lakes, with eight thoughtfully designed stops to foster reflection and inner peace.
Best five-star hotels in Da Nang
Pullman Danang Beach Resort
All-inclusive beach escapes don’t get better than Pullman Danang Beach Resort. Located on the pristine sands of Bac My An Beach, this extraordinary retreat – perfectly positioned just 15 minutes from Da Nang International Airport – offers everything you might need for an unrivalled holiday. After days spent exploring Hoi An’s old town or greater Da Nang, return to breathtaking ocean views and a truly magnificent central pool.
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Carved within the vertical jungle of the Son Tra Mountain Nature Reserve, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort unfolds across four aptly named levels: Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea. Navigating the hillside is effortless thanks to a funicular railway that glides through the property, passing the signature infinity pool before descending to a private white-sand beach. Its opulent spa villas, nestled by a serene lagoon, are a standout with a private jacuzzi, sauna, outdoor shower and iconic monochrome aesthetic. Savour French masterpieces at La Maison 1888, the resort’s Michelin-starred restaurant, dished up by celebrated chef Christian Le Squer.
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Feature image: Pullman Danang Beach Resort.
