The Glam Juxtaposition of a Stay at Hoiana

UPON ARRIVING at Hoiana, the first thing you notice is the sheer vastness of it all. The central lobby—bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows—acts as a sort-of grand crossroads. To the left: New World Hoiana Beach Resort, sleek and streamlined. To the right: Hoiana Hotel & Suites, flanked by decorative lagoons and trimmed in a subtly elegant style. And also: the bright, gilded gates of the casino. Despite this initial razzle-dazzle, the resort has an easy-going ambience that draws you in from the get-go.

It takes a full day to soak it all in. Vietnam’s first fully integrated resort, Hoiana Resort & Golf, as the complex is officially known, stretches along four kilometres of Central Vietnam’s coastline, encompassing more than 1,200 rooms, four distinct hotels, a world-ranked championship golf course (Hoiana Shores Golf Club), a scattering of infinity-edge swimming pools, and more than 20 restaurants and bars. While adults can test their luck at a poker table, kids can dive into cooking classes and outdoor games at kids’ club PLAY—or one of those multiple pools.

Yet, for all its novelty and sprawl, Hoiana fosters a sense of place, delivering the comforts of a tropical escape—palm-fringed beaches, sunny terraces, the scent of the sea breeze, the sound of waves at dawn— plus the history behind this stretch of coast. You’re within close reach of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary, with its Champa ruins dating back to the 4th century. So, while you could spend your entire vacation within Hoiana, it’s also a perfectly placed gateway to the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam.

During my stay, I found this integrated resort to be a well-orchestrated ecosystem that anticipated my needs before I knew them, and gave me a bounty of ways to spend my time. Across this vast playground, I could do sunrise tai chi, hire a water scooter, visit a handful of different spas, or join a biking tour. I could eat noodles one mealtime and burgers the next. And despite the size of the place, everything was easy to get to, with free shuttles within the resort and to and from Hoi An town, Da Nang city and Da Nang airport.

Hoiana is very much a choose-your-own-adventure resort, where any type of traveller can design the stay they want. With that in mind, here are some of the standout features of this all-encompassing leisure destination.

EACH OF HOIANA’S four hotels offers a distinct atmosphere, where you can create your own personally tailored experience. Since I was coming with a small group of friends, our pick for this trip was the New World Hoiana Beach Resort (doubles from US$212), a 330-room ocean-facing hotel that gives you a choice of rooms and suites. Ours was a spacious, modern room with a private balcony. Whether for solo travel or family trips, this seemed to us the resort’s most versatile property. Finished recently, in 2023, it also felt current and fresh.

A big perk of staying in this part of the resort was complimentary all-day access to Quang Nam House Lounge & Bar—a design-forward space offering all-day refreshments, evening cocktails, and a quiet place to unwind away from the buzz. With comfortable seating, floor-to-ceiling windows, and gently attentive staff, it quickly became our go-to for a mid-afternoon coffee or pre-dinner aperitif. The free afternoon coconut macaroons were a standout and kept us coming back, after people with more self-control might have had their fill.

We also had the chance to tour some rooms in the Hoiana Hotel & Suites (doubles from US$293) side. Here, the suites come with wraparound balconies, panoramic views, and personal butler service. The modern take on luxury and attention to detail give this property a touch of romance that makes it ideal for a couple’s trip. It was also in the same building as The Edge, a rooftop restaurant with a sleek infinity pool and some of the resort’s most elevated dining experiences.

Nearby is Hoiana Residences(doubles from US$130), with one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, perfect for extended stays and multigenerational visitors. And finally, there’s New World Hoiana Hotel (doubles from US$127), a large property, with 476 guest rooms, that’s suited to groups and business travellers.

I KNEW WHEN I checked in that dining at Hoiana would be a highlight of my trip. Across more than 20 restaurants and bars, you can really get a little bit of everything—Sichuan spice, handmade Italian pasta, super-fresh Vietnamese seafood. From noodle shops to open-fire grill restaurants and private tasting menus, the offerings are pretty comprehensive.

One standout is Blend, located at New World Hoiana Beach Resort. Modelled after an Asian market, it serves Chinese, Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian cuisines in a sleek, open-kitchen setting. It also hosts the resort’s expansive breakfast buffet—and in Vietnam, breakfast is practically a competitive sport. Guests have dozens of regional and Western dishes to choose from, a full-service coffee bar, fresh fruits, smoothies, and an impressive spread of pastries.

The hotel concierge pointed us to Charred, a poolside charcoal grill serving Asian-inflected steaks, and Osteria, where we enjoyed rustic Italian dishes and… another steak (they even made us an off-menu side of macaroni and cheese). Come lunchtimes, we faced the dilemma of whether to try something new or return to our favourites, like noodle shop Mien and San Xi Lou, a Hong Kong dim sum import. Most evenings ended at Nox Beach Club or with a nightcap at the Beach Pool Bar.

BEYOND DINING, Hoiana shines in entertainment and family-friendly fun. As Vietnam’s first fully integrated resort, it has been specifically designed for all ages. The kids’ club, PLAY, is one of the country’s largest, with activities like crafts, games, and even gardening. When we peeked in, they were doing a cooking class. Families can also enjoy splash zones, water slides, cyclo rides, and beach games. Or parents can drop the kids off and hit Downtime Renew spa for a massage.

Of course, if you’re into golf, no visit is complete without teeing off at Hoiana Shores Golf Club, a par-71, 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Ranked among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the world, it’s Vietnam’s first authentic links course open to the public—and easily one of the most scenic fairways in this part of the world.

FOR GLOBAL TRAVELLERS, Central Vietnam is often referred to as a gateway to the country’s cultural heartland—rich in history, heritage, and tradition. For me, visiting the region gave me a new appreciation not only for its layered heritage, but also for how seamlessly Hoiana integrates culture into the vacation experience.

The resort itself offers curated cultural programming—like lantern-making and cooking classes—but it also makes it easy to discover the real thing, with guided excursions and transfers to key tourism sites.

There’s the city of Hoi An, a major Southeast Asian trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries, and today a wellpreserved town known for its wooden merchant houses, mossy shophouses, tailors, and yellow-painted façades. A little farther inland, there’s My Son Sanctuary, a complex of ancient Hindu temple ruins nestled in the jungle, dating back to the Champa Kingdom, spanning the 4th through 13th centuries.

Both Hoi An’s glowing lantern-lined streets and the ancient Hindu temple ruins of My Son Sanctuary are just a short shuttle ride away from Hoiana, offering easy access to Vietnam’s spiritual and cultural roots.

After a day wandering old-town alleys or ancient temples, it’s nice to return to Hoiana’s modern comforts. A couple of days here can be packed with just the right balance of history, wellness, gastronomy, beach action and pool time. Whether you come looking for adventure or relaxation, Hoiana gives you ample options for both—and everything in between.

BOOK YOUR STAY AT HOIANA HOTEL & SUITES VIA BOOKING.COM

BOOK YOUR STAY AT NEW WORLD HOIANA BEACH RESORT VIA BOOKING.COM

Images courtesy of Hoiana Hotels & Resorts.

Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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