Four Seasons Nam Hai, Central Vietnam

rooms

The hotel comprises 100 sleek villas, including eight family villas and 40 pool villas that range from one to five bedrooms in size and have butler service. There are also 52 one-bedroom villas, ideal for couples and solo travellers. All have been discreetly arranged to offer unencumbered sea views and beach breezes, while the architecture is inspired by phong thuy (feng shui) principles.

Inside, total luxury awaits. There are raised six-poster beds and bedside bathtubs – so you can see the sea from all angles – as well as lavish sitting rooms that open onto neat little gardens. Rooms are decked out with contemporary artwork and local antiques, gossamer drapes and sumptuous silks.

The family villas are ideal for two adults and two children under 12, with an extra en-suite children’s bedroom, complete with a desk, television, gaming console and board games. There are also mini robes and clothes hangers for youngsters. At the back of the villa, the main family bathroom opens onto a private garden with an outdoor rain shower.

All villas feature outdoor garden showers, and for those seeking extra privacy, some have additional private grounds, a swimming pool and direct access to Ha My Beach.

facilities & activities

You’ll find all the facilities you’d expect from a Four Seasons hotel, including three palm-fringed infinity pools, flanked by loungers and immaculate lawns. The Family Pool is heated year-round making it ideal for children, while the Lap Pool and Olympic Pool are both adults-only. The fitness centre is kitted out with Life Fitness cardio and strength-training machines, and there are also four tennis courts, badminton and basketball courts. Aching muscles can later be eased in the steam room and sauna.

For water babies, complimentary sailing and kayaking are available on tap, while high-octane watersports such as jet skiing, water skiing and knee boarding will appeal to those looking for an adrenaline rush. Your culinary whims can be indulged at the hotel’s newly launched Nam Hai Cooking Academy, which offers one to seven-day courses focusing on everything from fresh noodle making to trips to the Tra Que vegetable village.

Set alongside a large lotus-dotted pond, the revamped spa features eight “floating” treatment pavilions and “crystal sound” – said to be the harmonic intonation of nature – is used in all treatments. Other facilities include a library and boutique. Bikes are available to pedal through the tropical gardens, while a ten-minute drive takes you to two championship golf courses.

dining

You have plenty of choice – with two restaurants (both with children’s menus), two bars and in-villa dining to choose from. Cafe Nam Hai is the main restaurant, and has a modern Asian vibe thanks to its open kitchen, high ceilings and contemporary furnishings. Open for breakfast and dinner, the morning buffet includes both Western and local options, such as fresh fruit, baguettes and cao lau, a fiery dish of noodles, pork, croutons and herbs.

For lunch or dinner, try La Sen, a more laid-back restaurant set beneath palm trees with ocean views. Daytime choices include stone-baked pizzas, local fishermen’s catch and banana flower salad. After sunset, feast on fresh Vietnamese delights to the sound of traditional music drifting on the air.

Chill out with a cocktail at the brand new Beach Bar, which has both covered and open terraces and a resident DJ. Cocktails are made with seasonal fruits, Vietnamese spices and herbs from the resort’s herb garden, and it also serves beautifully-presented Asian tapas. Or for something that feels a little swankier, head to The Bar, a stylish, lantern-lit setting serving a decent range of wines, beers, malts and cocktails such as the signature Rock Star.

family

The fantastic new Choun Choun Kids Club has an emphasis on daily activities designed to immerse children in local culture. This includes Vietnamese lessons, visits to the resort’s organic farm, Hoi An lantern making plus coconut and shell art. The hotel’s redesign has also included a new outdoor wading pool and sandbox play area for little ones.

Child-friendly touches include welcome snacks, children’s menus and child-sized bathrobes and slippers, as well as complimentary baby and children's toiletries. Families looking to stay together should book one of the eight family villas, which feature interconnecting rooms. Cots, prams, high chairs and pool toys can also be arranged at no extra cost.

The concierge is on hand to make a reservations for a family dinner, or for outing suggestions and to help arrange a babysitter, which can be organised with 24 hours notice for an hourly fee.

location

The resort opens onto a tranquil 1km stretch of Ha My beach on Vietnam's central coast. Its proximity to the enchanting city of Hoi An is one of its major assets. You can explore the ancient trading port – famed for its tailors, colonial architecture and fairytale lanterns – before relaxing in your luxury beach villa a 15-minute drive later. The dynamic city of Da Nang with its international airport and fire-breathing dragon bridge is also just 30km north.

The Nam Hai is also perfectly placed for day trips to the ancient Hindu temples of My Son Sanctuary (an hour’s drive) and the imperial city of Hue (three hours’ drive). Its stellar beach setting is suited for both relaxing breaks and for trying out watersports in the sea just beyond your window, from sailing to wakeboarding.