Thinking of where to go in Vietnam? Read along as we discover a world of fun, relaxation and unspoilt nature across two Vietnam beach resorts along the south-central coastal towns of Phan Thiet and Cam Ranh for a Vietnam holiday to remember.
Phan Thiet
A Vietnam beach resort that feels like home
At dusk, two hours after departing Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, our hotel-arranged private car pulled up to a greenery-flanked foyer. There’s something about a resort that feels like an elevated version of home, and Radisson Resort Phan Thiet is just that and more. It has Mediterranean-meets-Scandinavian architecture, earthy tones and textured interiors that instantly calmed my senses. Not to mention, warm hospitality from the staff throughout our stay.
Opened in 2022, this Vietnam boutique beach resort has a cosy ambience that echoes its quaint fishing village heritage. That’s despite having plenty of on-property amenities such as a restaurant (with a beautiful private dining hall), bar, outdoor pool, lovely spa, gym, yoga pavilion offering daily morning classes, and a playground for little ones.
That sense of intimacy extends to the 76 rooms, suites and villas, each offering sea or garden views. I loved my one-bedroom villa. It had a living room, ensuite bedroom and even a private garden with a freestanding bathtub (ask the staff to prepare a bath for you!). The highlight? Full-height sliding doors overlooking the ocean. These, through my patio, led directly to the white sandy beach literally just steps away. As I drifted off to the sounds of crashing waves that night, I was perfectly happy to be never leaving.
Exploring Phan Thiet by jeep!
But leave I did, because adventures were calling. Beyond being a great place for water sports and beach activities, Phan Thiet also has ancient temples, bustling markets, safaris and fishing villages. Plus, landscapes of natural sand dunes and lush mountains all within kilometres of the resort.
To get to them all, hop on one of the Radisson’s neon-coloured, open-air jeeps. Each jeep tour, customised by the hotel, can take you through the best sights in town, and with an English-speaking guide. Our row of bright yellow, red, green and baby blue jeeps turned some serious heads on the road. It was so much fun cruising the streets with wind tousling our hair as I soaked in every sound, smell and piece of scenery.
Magnificent natural wonders
Our first stop on this Vietnam holiday was the Fairy Stream, in the nearby Mui Ne beach town. It’s a gentle stream that flows through towering limestone formations and rock cliffs in shades of red, orange, and pink. Some have likened it to the Grand Canyon – it’s certainly a nature photographer’s dream. I felt in awe of this natural geological marvel as I strolled through the ankle-deep waters (you can do the full route in about two hours) with echoes of waterfalls and birds chirping away.
A leisurely Vietnamese lunch was next. We sampled local fresh seafood, spring rolls, grilled meats and tons of fruits. The area is particularly famous for its dragon fruit and there’s even a giant statue in town dedicated to it! We then made a pit stop at Soho Coffee, for amazing Vietnamese coffee and views overlooking a fishing village with little round basket boats spinning in the glistening ocean.
Vietnam holiday highlight – Mui Ne’s famous sand dunes
Refuelled, we arrived at the highlight of the day: Mui Ne’s legendary sand dunes. It was a sight to behold. The undulating landscape has been sculpted by nature over millions of years, and stretches as far as the eyes can see, with peaks and valleys unlike anything else found in Southeast Asia. I felt like I was on the set of Dune! Well, I certainly had to channel my inner Chani for the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) ride to come. As I held on to my driver for dear life, we zoomed up and down steep sandy terrains for some heart-pumping fun. Adrenaline junkies can even drive one themselves!
What makes Mui Ne’s sand dunes unique is that they come in two varieties – white and red. We ended the day with a visit to the nearby red sand dunes, with their breathtaking backdrop of crimson and orange. Some sandboarded down the slopes while we took in the beautiful sunset.
Cam Ranh
Cultural gems along the coast
On our third day, we bid Phan Thiet farewell and set off up north to our next home, the Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh. The upper-upscale Radisson Blu brand is known for its stylish and elegant hotels with inspiring environments. For those seeking a full holiday experience of Vietnam’s south-central coast, it’s definitely worth including both resorts on your itinerary. Transport between the two can be arranged by the hotel, a three-hour drive that allows you to check out some wonderful cultural sights.
At the top of the list is Ninh Thuan province’s Bau Truc. It’s one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia. Here, lovely ladies of the Chăm indigenous group have been shaping clay with their bare hands for centuries, using traditional techniques like firing with wood and straw passed down through generations. You can try your hands at making one. Otherwise, shop the array of jars, pots, pans, kettles, statues and more as souvenirs.
The nearby Po Klong Garai Temple Tower is a 13th-century Hindu Cham religious temple that towers atop Trau Hill. Also worth visiting is the Ba Moi Vineyard, a local vineyard that harvests both fruit grapes and wine-making grapes for its own wines.
A gorgeous Vietnam beach resort with everything
Excitement bubbled up as we entered the spectacular Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh. Its double-height lobby decked in shades of blue opens up to a wow-worthy elongated infinity pool. Flanked by palm trees and cabanas, it seemingly extends past rows of villas and manicured lawns right into the azure waters of Bai Dai Beach.
The five-star Vietnam beach resort is equally impressive in scale. There are 292 hotel rooms, suites and villas, plus amenities from six restaurants and bars, to the top-notch ESC Spa (with a Himalayan salt chamber!) and spaces for the grandest weddings and events.
Feeling sporty? The concierge can arrange activities for you like kayaking, cycling, yoga, tai chi, tennis, badminton and volleyball. It’s no wonder, I was told, that many families (especially from Korea and Russia, which have direct flights to Cam Ranh International Airport just 10 minutes away) love to stay here for weeks at a time.
I certainly could in my amazingly spacious one-bedroom villa. It had its own pantry and dining area, a living room fitted with a sectional sofa, and an ensuite bedroom opening up to a private outdoor infinity pool. The bathroom was massive too, with a double shower and freestanding bathtub. Throughout, nautical accents and pops of colour lent a sprightly charm. Families would love the two-bedroom villas, with even more space for splashing and running around.
At sunset, there’s no better place to be than the hotel’s beach club Waves. There, enjoy a glass or three of tropical cocktails against magnificent views. Or, for special events, the hotel can put together a buffet display serving up fresh seafood, meats grilled on the spot and desserts (we couldn’t get enough of the grilled banana sticky rice), all accompanied by a live band and soft ocean breezes.
A Vietnam holiday into the wild
Like Phan Thiet, the Cam Ranh beach resort in Vietnam also offers jeep tours. And bright and early on our final morning, we hopped on one to head to the Kong Forest. A lush jungle nestled 300 metres above sea level, it’s named after the 2005 film King Kong, part of which was filmed here.
This paradise for thrill seekers includes activities such as ziplining through the trees to rafting down rivers and exploring rugged trails on ATVs. Alongside experienced guides, I soared from platform to platform – seven of them, each offering unique views of the forest – and drove my own ATV through narrow, rugged trails. Kong Forest even has a beautiful riverside restaurant so you can refuel before continuing on.
As the day – and our Vietnam holiday – drew to a close, we treated our tired muscles to a soothing massage back at the resort’s otherworldly ESC Spa. There, each treatment room is a standalone seashell-shaped pod inspired by basket boats. Then, we enjoyed a final dinner at the hotel’s award-winning Blu Lobster. It serves up modern Vietnamese fusion on a picturesque spot overlooking the beach. As we indulged in Vietnamese sausages, grilled lobsters and boneless seabass with stir-fried noodles, I felt completely relaxed and rejuvenated, already plotting my return.
Radisson Resort Phan Thiet | reservation.radissonphanthiet@radisson.com
Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh | info-radissonblucamranh@radisson.com
For bookings and more info, visit radissonhotels.com.
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This article first appeared in the June 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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