Another very early start and after a short flight and we’ve arrived at Nha Trang airport for the beach part of our holiday. After 30 minutes winding alongside the mountains with glimpse of the seas we reached Nha Trang. It was very built up and touristy and could almost have been anywhere. Perhaps great for a bit of nightlife as but not much else! We were looking for a peaceful relaxing retreat in stunning surroundings…and luckily we were staying at the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and it lived up to all expectations.
Accessed by a 30 minute speedboat ride from the mainland you really feel a million miles away from the rest of the world. In fact the hotel even operates on a different time zone (an hour ahead of the mainland). You feel yourself relax almost immediately; and the toughest decision of the day is what to have for lunch, which spa treatment to have, what cocktail to try next and whether to opt for the snorkelling trip or the diving! The dining is fantastic too – freshly caught fish, vegetables from their own organic garden, all cooked to perfection!
The rooms are true Six Senses style – huge and very chic rustic in keeping with the natural surroundings and all with a private pool and butler service. The beaches are stunning – clear water, white sands against a backdrop of stunning jungle. Each villa comes equipped with a bike which is a fun way to explore the island and there are some great treks if you are feeling more adventurous. There is plenty to do here and we had 3 nights but could easily stay for quite a few more!
A short flight took us to Hoi An for the next part of our holiday and for another completely different experience. Hoi An is a fascinating traditional Vietnamese town and UNESCO world heritage site with narrow lanes bordered by traditional style buildings – you feel like you have stepped back in time by a hundred years. We stayed at the Life Resort which without a doubt is the most central place to be located with lovely spacious rooms and great facilities. It borders the river and the main town is within a very easy 5 minute walk (or cyclo ride which has to be done at least once) and it is a fascinating place to wander around. At night it is transformed as all the shops and streets are lit up with bright lights and lanterns – even the river comes to life with floating statues and bright colours.
The city is renowned for its exceptional tailoring and with so many to choose from it is a great place to have some new dresses or suits made up if you have the time. They are very quick and most of the shops only take a couple of days to do this.
If you are staying in the centre of town then 2 or 3 nights would be ideal. We had 4 nights so went to visit the beach one day – which was beautiful and not at all as expected. It is only a 15 minutes taxi ride which sets you back approx US$5. Therefore if you didn’t fancy being in the hustle and bustle of the town you could easily spend a few days on the beach and catch a taxi into town. However, one of the pluses was the amount of amazing restaurants that you have on your doorstep – some overlooking the river, some on the streets…ideal for people watching and seeing the world go by!
