With Three Infinity Pools and Thousands of Coconut Trees, This All-Villa Resort Is the Perfect Place to Do Nothing

Stay Here For

A toes-in-the-sand pause from Vietnam’s high-octane cities—here, serenity comes with sea views and silk-draped daybeds.

Breathe. After braving the roar of motorbikes in Hanoi or the selfie-clicking crowds at the temples of Hội An, arriving at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam feels like slipping into a quieter frequency.

As soon as you step inside this perfectly manicured beachfront bubble, any lingering sightseeing ambitions seem to melt away. Here, along a half-mile sweep of golden sand just south of Đà Nẵng, frangipani blossoms perfume the air, gem-colored lanterns bob lazily beneath towering palms and well-dressed guests drift between the beach, pools and breezy restaurants in a blissed-out haze.

Dotted around the resort’s sprawling gardens, the 100 villas are built in a style that echoes traditional central Vietnamese houses with their terra-cotta-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls. Inside, they feel like temples to deep relaxation, with raised four-poster beds draped in billowing silk and, in the bathroom, soaking tubs softly lit with candles every evening.

While the vibe is undeniably romantic, families are warmly welcomed. An expansive kids club, a family pool and a long list of complimentary activities (from junior cooking classes to lantern-building workshops) make this one of Vietnam’s most family-friendly resorts. And when the urge to explore does kick in, cultural heavyweights like Hội An’s Old Town and the crumbling Mỹ Sơn temple ruins are just a short drive away.

But you could also spend your entire stay doing very little, and that would be just fine. Wake up with an outdoor shower in your villa’s private garden, then linger over breakfast, sipping sweet Vietnamese iced coffees for as long as you like. From there, the only real decision is which palm-lined pool to lounge beside, which beachfront hammock you sprawl out on, or whether to carve out time for a treatment at the spa facing a lotus pond, where quartz-crystal singing bowls and chi-balancing bodywork will bring you back into harmony with nature.

For a dose of action, there are free kayaks and bodyboards to ride the gentle waves, or you could join a Vietnamese cooking class or CrossFit boot camp.

Or not. At this unapologetically laid-back hideaway, no one’s keeping score.

The Essentials

The Location

You may be reluctant to head out, but some of central Vietnam’s best sights are within easy reach. A complimentary shuttle can drop you off near the lantern-lined alleys of Hội An’s Old Town in about 15 minutes (don’t forget to pick up one of the resort’s booklets, filled with insider tips), while the ancient tombs and temples of Huế sit about two and a half hours away. Transfers to and from Da Nang International Airport (DAD), the closest international hub, take around 30 minutes.

The Bars and Restaurants

You can easily eat all meals at the resort, alternating between the three restaurants and the bar (with a full menu), and never have to venture into Hội An, if you’d like. The kitchens all serve up excellent pho and pork-stuffed spring rolls, of course, but if you’re after a break from the usual Vietnamese suspects, this is the place to do it. Kick off the day with Café Nam Hai’s mango-topped French toast or truffle scrambled eggs (and a parsley-green detox juice for balance), and order Lá Sen’s lobster brioche or veggie-forward quinoa bowl as a light lunch you can eat right at your chaise longue or inside the restaurant’s breezy pavilion. That’ll leave you with plenty of space for the main events: a sake-fueled omakase dinner at the 16-seater NAYUU, or royal-worthy Indian fare at Café Nam Hai, where you won’t want to miss the slide-off-the-bone lamb vindaloo.

The Room

The villas, which open to private gardens, provide breezy, intimate comforts and an expansive and indulgent guest experience.

Discreetly set at angles around sandy coconut groves, the resort’s 100 Indochine-chic villas deliver privacy and space in spades. Some offer up to five bedrooms, but even the entry-level single-bedroom villas feel indulgent, with vaulted ceilings made of palm leaves, a central raised bed platform enclosed by silk curtains, cushy daybeds for lounging on the terrace, lacquer-detailed furniture and open-plan bathrooms that spill into lush enclosed gardens with outdoor rain showers. Splurge on a pool villa if you prefer to splash around in private.

The Standout Feature

Rather than scattering the resort’s three generous infinity pools throughout the grounds, they’ve been aligned for a dramatic and centering effect.

The pools cascade down three levels from the breezy lobby pavilion before seeming to melt into the glittering sea. Surrounded by swaying palms, babbling water features and linen-draped cabanas, the pools are why many guests rarely leave the resort at all.

The Time to Go

Central Vietnam sees the most sunshine during its dry season, which usually lasts from April to August. Monsoon rains (and their accompanying typhoons) often hit the heaviest between October and December.

The Vibe

Retreat into the shade for a refreshing poolside drink made with coconuts harvested from the resort’s own trees.

What guests are wearing: Wicker hats, lots of linen and floaty floral dresses that suit the steamy climate and carefree romance of the setting.

The in-room amenity you’re taking home: The Four Seasons’ leather-trimmed wicker beach bag you’ll find in your room’s wardrobe. It’s yours to use during your stay and available for sale in the lobby boutique.

The essential poolside order: Coconut juice, straight up or mixed into a tropical cocktail, comes directly from fruit plucked fresh from one of the resort’s 4,500 coconut trees.

What’s happening at sunset: During the “Goodnight Kiss to the Earth” ritual that happens every evening, guests gather to float glowing paper lanterns on the spa’s lotus pond, sending their desires and well-wishes drifting across the water.

The resort’s best-kept secret: Tucked away amid the pool villas, you’ll find a sunshine-yellow temple that was part of the fishing village that once stood here. During religious holidays, locals still come here to pray.

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