Previously known as The Nam Hai and long regarded as one of the finest hotels in Vietnam, this sultry seaside resort joined the Four Seasons hotel group at the end of 2016. Stepping into the open-air lobby which overlooks the cobalt-blue South China Sea will have you picking your jaw up off the floor. Greystone, pagoda-style roofs, palm trees strung with jewel-colored lanterns and reflective pools celebrate traditional Vietnamese temple architecture. The surrounding tropical foliage is tended by 100 gardeners.
The hotel is just outside of the historic town of Hoi An and is 30 minutes by car from Da Nang International Airport (DAD). This city has grown exponentially in the past few years.
Aside from the incredible beach, there are no less than three glittering swimming pools to choose from, pick your spot, lie back and enjoy the sunglass cleaning service, cold towels, and ice-cream which are delivered to your lounger periodically.
If you prefer to stay active, there are plenty of complimentary activities to choose from, including sunrise power walking, beach tai chi, stability yoga and rice field cycling, as well as a number of paid explorations of the local area. Or you could try out the tennis, badminton, and squash courts, the well-equipped watersports center, or the splendid Heart of the Earth Spa, which offers restorative massages and facials to help thwart jet lag and sunburn. As you would expect from the Four Seasons, the staff are superb.
As I entered the tree-lined driveway, I could immediately tell I was in for a special stay. At the covered entranceway, there were two bellmen waiting to welcome us to The Nam Hai. They quickly whisked me out of the car and into the open-air lobby pavilion for check-in. We were also offered some chilled towels, a welcome drink, and some snacks while we checked in. Before long, we had our key in hand and were escorted to a golf cart to drive us to Villa.
Room
There are no regular rooms at this property; the entry-level accommodation is a free-standing villa. The base-level villas are all the same size, though they differ in their views and locations within the resort. My one-bedroom oceanview villa was near the hotel’s main attractions. I didn’t have to walk too far to get anywhere on the property. Others may want a bit more privacy, though every villa is, by definition, private.
Before entering my room, we noticed two bikes in the entryway. The bellman explained that these were for my use during the stay. Once I got inside the 861-square-foot pavilion, I was wowed by the unique design. The room was multi-tiered the desk was basically built into one of the many steps. The highlight was definitely the supremely comfortable signature Four Seasons bed. This bed is literally what dreams are made of.
Near the bed was the sitting area with a couch. There were plenty of bedside universal power outlets too. There was another small sofa by the desk, which perfectly complemented the recessed gold-plated bathtub. Right near the bathtub was the well-stocked minibar and a safe. The room was tastefully decorated — my favorite touches included a bonsai tree and an aromatherapy device.
As with most other Four Seasons rooms, the bathroom was spectacular. There were two individual vanities, as well as two closets with built-in luggage racks.
There was an indoor shower and water closet just past the sinks. Toiletries were in reusable containers making it impossible to identify the brand. There was also an outdoor shower that mirrored the design of the room.
I had expansive views of the East Vietnam Sea. There were two daybeds on the porch, but it got quite buggy there, so we mostly enjoyed the view from inside.
Amenities
If you want to relax, there’s plenty for you at the Four Seasons Nam Hai.
The centerpiece of the resort is the three pools, each with a different vibe and temperature. The heated family pool is the farthest from the beach and has plenty of chaise lounges.
The next pool is the 48-yard lap pool. It’s shaped like a thin rectangle with two lanes, ideal for aquatic exercise. This pool proved to be the quietest of the three.
Last, the adults-only pool is the largest and closest to the beach. There were plenty of chaise lounges around the perimeter. I spent one afternoon there, but the pool isn’t heated, so it’s not the place to relax in the water.
Below the adults-only pool is the world-renowned beach. The sand was super soft, and it was incredibly quiet and private. There were just eight sets of chaise lounges set up for guests, as well as a volleyball court. Unfortunately, the water was choppy when we visited, so we didn’t get a chance to catch a wave.
Near the entrance to the hotel are the fitness center and four hard tennis courts available on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s also a basketball and badminton court.
The gym was well equipped with three Technogym treadmills, two ellipticals, two bikes, a rower, weight machines, and free weights. The locker rooms had a few showers, as well as a small-but-powerful steam room and sauna.
Kids
There is a fully staffed kids club with a variety of daily activities.
The Nam Hai prides itself on serving local, organic foods, and that ethos comes to life in the hotel’s garden. It was being tilled all day long and was open for visitors. I loved walking through the garden and enjoying the aromas of lemongrass and basil. Restaurant menus indicated which dishes had components from the garden.
The hotel’s spa is located on a massive lotus pond. It’s absolutely stunning and the treatments were great. The hotel also has lots of outdoor activities, which are listed in a weekly schedule.
Service
Service is what sets this hotel apart. Everyone I interacted with was incredibly hospitable and caring. Every employee greeted us with a genuine “Hello, how’s your day going?” By the second day, our breakfast waiter, knew my drink preferences and meal orders.
My room was cleaned twice daily, and the housekeeping staff never once disturbed us. They coordinated with the restaurant and pool staff to ensure that we were out of the room before cleaning.
The pool staff was similarly friendly. They’d set up pool chairs and umbrellas whenever you wanted and kept checking back to adjust the umbrella for maximum shade.
The Four Seasons Hoi An, Nam Hai is without a doubt one of the best places to stay in all of Vietnam. The villas are tastefully designed and the food is delicious. If you’re looking to relax, you’ll love the three pools and calming spa. Above all, the personalized service was the highlight of our stay.
After four nights at the resort, I sampled almost all of the food options. The hotel has two restaurants, both located beside the main pool area.
CAFE NAM HAI
The Western one, Cafe Nam Hai, is open daily for breakfast and dinner.
Start your day with local breakfast favorites such as fresh honeycomb and finish your evening with tandoori delicacies and contemporary European cuisine, surrounded by intricately carved screens. Breakfast was included with my stay, and was served from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Food was presented as a combination of buffet and a la carte. The buffet was well-stocked and featured a wide international assortment of dishes.
There was a fruit bar, waffle and pancake station, dumpling bar, create your own pho station, soup station, cereal, and honey area, salad bar, prepared Asian food bar, a bread wall, and finally, some charcuterie smoked salmon, and a cheese bar.
Everything I sampled was incredible. The highlight was definitely the pastries; you could easily taste the French influence in the croissants. They had even Indian breakfast from the a la carte menu.
Cafe Nam Hai also serves a Western and Indian dinner menu. You can choose from both menus, and again, everything I tried was great.
The beach bar
With elevated tapas and tiki cocktails inspired by Vietnam’s central coast, the new hangout is the perfect place to enjoy the silky sands of Ha My Beach. The bar serves drinks through the daylight hours, and I enjoyed sundowners there one afternoon. Lunch will come to you if you’re sitting poolside.
You may feel limited by the food options, but there are a bunch of themed dinners throughout the week to add more variety. For instance, one night La Sen was converted into a really cool and authentic-looking food market with stalls. Another night, Cafe Nam Hai turned into an outdoor barbecue extravaganza.
