Luxury wellness and plant based dining in central Vietnam

We never miss the opportunity to visit Hoi An and Danang as they are two of our favourite destinations in Vietnam, whilst the fact that they are just 30km apart makes it perfect to combine them as part of the same trip. From the picturesque streets and UNESCO heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town to the long sandy coastline of Danang, the area offers a combination of culture, cuisine and relaxation that keeps drawing us back. During our recent trip we were guests at two luxury wellness resorts that each offered their own unique approaches to wellness which we embraced with open arms. Their locations were equally as unique, with one of them being set on the riverside in Hoi An, and the other located in beachfront Danang making for the perfect experiential and destination combination.

Riverside luxury at Namia River Retreat

Namia River Retreat opened during 2024 and we were excited to finally have the opportunity to visit and experience their approach to integrated wellness, whilst also enjoying their enviable riverside location just a short walk from the lantern-lined streets of Hoi An.

The relaxing welcome lounge and welcoming staff created the perfect first impression, whilst our buggy ride through immaculate gardens to our modern and stylish River Pool Villa further elevated our excitement. The villa was simply stunning and designed in a style that we truly resonated with, we were confident that our home for the next few days was going to be memorable, making it difficult to venture much further than our luxury villa. During our stay, the expansive deck with riverfront infinity pool was our ‘go-to’ spot for relaxing when we weren’t sleeping, eating or being guided through our Namia wellbeing journey.

Transformative wellbeing at Namia River Retreat

Wellbeing is at the heart of the Namia wellness journey and this became crystal clear during our stay. Lumina Spa is where the magic happens and that magic starts in the tranquil welcome lounge which boasts even more of those mesmerising river views. Each day, we were steamed, scrubbed and washed in one of their herbal hammams for 30 minutes, before selecting a 60 minute traditional therapy from the extensive and impressive menu. All treatments and therapies were inspired by Vietnamese herbal traditions, whilst respecting cultural healing practices that have been passed down for many generations.

From watching our herbal scrubs prepared in the apothecary, to the herbal teas that we enjoyed at the culmination of each session, the attention to detail was of the highest standard. The consultants and therapists were attentive and thorough which further enhanced our wellness journey and memorable experience at Lumina Spa. In addition to our delightful spa treatments and therapies, the packed activity calender offered wellness focussed classes including tai chi, mindful walking and yoga, whilst cultural experiences including bicycle tours to the old town, lantern lighting rituals and alter offerings allowed us to fully embrace our time at Namia River Retreat.

Creative vegan options at Namia River Retreat

Guests dining at Namia River Retreat can select from two restaurants, The Merchant and The Fisherman, which each have separate menus and different vibes. We experienced both during our stay, enjoying daily breakfast each day at The Merchant with our lunches and dinners taken in both locations. We’ve always been drawn to the flavours and fresh herbs that are omnipresent in Vietnamese cuisine making it one of our favourites, the culinary team at Namia managed to celebrate those familiar flavours whilst also elevating them for a luxury resort environment.

As vegan travellers, we are always grateful when there is a genuine understanding of plant-based dining and that was certainly the case at Namia. From the vibrant and healthy Green Garden Gazpachos to the Seasonal Garden Platter with freshly baked herb flatbread and lotus seed hummus, and from veganised versions of local favourites such as banh xeo and banh mi, we enjoyed the creative vegan options that were available at both The Merchant and The Fisherman during our stay at Namia River Retreat.

Beachfront luxury at TIA Wellness Resort

With its beachfront location on the dramatic coast of Danang, a selection of luxuriously appointed and elegant pool villas, and their pioneering Wellness Inclusive concept, it’s easy to understand why the award-winning TIA Wellness Resort is considered to be one of the leading options for a luxury wellness experience.

Starting life as Fusion Maia in 2008, they introduced the first ever Spa Inclusive concept in Vietnam, which over the years has seen relaunch under their very own TIA brand which continues to develop and expand on their impressive integrated wellness offering. Being able to start every day with the golden sand under our feet and the invigorating ocean breeze preparing us for what lay ahead was one of the many highlights of our stay at TIA Wellness Resort, with the innovative and extensive treatments and the nutritious and simply delicious plant-based cuisine being the others.

Wellness inclusive at TIA Wellness Resort

The signature Wellness Inclusive concept at TIA Wellness Resort is thoughtfully curated and delivered by a highly trained team of therapists who will guide you through your wellness journey. The treatment rooms, yoga studios, surrounding gardens and spa pool created a sense of calm, preparing us for our multiple daily wellness sessions. We were able to select one retreat therapy and two wellness treatments each day of our stay, from the expansive menu that offered everything from massages and manicures, to facials and body scrubs. This allowed a holistic approach to wellness that included spa therapies and treatments, alongside refined beauty treatments and pampering throughout our stay.

An additional daily programme of activities, yoga and breathwork classes were delivered by instructors that truly cared, which further enhanced our time in the spa. Our wellness experience at TIA Wellness Resort was most certainly spa-centric, but the final piece of the ‘wellness jigsaw’ was the creative, nourishing and simply delicious plant-based cuisine that we enjoyed immensely.

Nourishing plant-based cuisine at TIA Wellness Resort

The approach to healthy dining and plant-based cuisine at TIA Wellness Resort was very impressive. Their decision to develop an incredible range of plant-based dishes created the perfect synergy between the spa and the dining room. All too often, the wellness concept is not truly embraced within the culinary offering, but that’s certainly not the case at TIA. Our ‘Retreat Inclusive’ reservation included a plant-based meal plan that was thoughtful, creative and wholesome. We were able to choose from vegan options on the breakfast à la carte menu in addition to the extensive selection to be found on the vegan buffet. Whilst for lunch and dinner we followed the plan which saw us enjoy three courses of plant-based delights for lunch and two courses of lighter dishes for dinner to support easy digestion and restful sleep.

Healthy and nutritionally balanced dishes were always at the fore, whilst indulgent desserts such as raw cheesecake, chocolate tofu mousse and salted peanut butter bars added that element of extravagance and excitement. For guests not dining from the plant-based meal plan, there was an excellent array of vegan dishes on all menus making the vegan dining experience at TIA Wellness Resort simply sublime.

The approach to integrated wellness at both of these luxury resorts on the central Vietnam coast is truly impressive, with extensive and unique treatments, therapies and activities available at each of them. Their unique riverside Hoi An, and beachfront Danang locations, further enhance the overall experience, increasing the sense of peace and tranquility that is essential during a wellness retreat. With luxuriously appointed pool villas that provided the perfect escape at the end of every day and plant-based and vegan cuisine that is creative, delicious and nourishing, our latest vegan luxury wellness journey was simply sublime.