This hip escape, where you can order a turmeric latte or flute of Taittinger, a bullet coffee or bottle of Merlot, where you can perform warrior pose in a perfect mandala drawn in the sand or wallow on a sunbed gorging on burgers, is the least prescriptive, most flexible retreat imaginable. Come for a full-body detox, or just to soak up vitamin D beside the infinity pool against a backdrop of sparkling sea.
On the surface, this is a bright, modern beach break with tranquil bamboo-lined walkways, private villas – each with its own pool and courtyard – and two restaurants, the Ocean Bistro and the Dining Room, serving sensational food, with cocktails in the Art Lounge for afters. These factors alone make it a worthwhile stop on any Vietnam jaunt. But dig deeper and its serene, nurturing spa is good reason to book in for at least a week.
You can dip in and out of the wondrous wellness on a daily basis. The focus is, simply, to slow down, and the ethos is gentle: listen to yourself and decide how much or how little you want to do. Go full-on vegan, take part in the daily rolling roster of yoga and meditation classes, or simply eat well and relax. Regardless of its outer-world projection of millennials bobbing on giant inflatables, here you are softly nudged inwards – towards letting go, opening your heart and acting mindfully – without really noticing the shift.
A natural-living message, with each day themed around a different colour relating to the chakras, flows through your entire stay. The flowers in the spa, pre-treatment juice shots, bespoke massage oils and yoga classes change every 24 hours to support the day’s doctrine, whether that’s improving your physical, mental and spiritual health, or bolstering your connection to nature or your heart.
