Explore central Vietnam’s rich history at Azerai La Residence, Hue

Azerai Unveils New Experiences Menu as International Travelers Return to Vietnam

Experiential travel is taking off again, after people spent the past two years largely confined to their homes. Vietnam’s international borders have fully reopened and travelers are back, seeking out distinctive and transformative experiences.

With this in mind, Azerai recently launched a special menu of more than 40 new and thoughtfully redefined experiences at each of the brand’s three resorts in Vietnam, including Azerai La Residence, Hue in the former imperial capital; Azerai Can Tho in the Mekong Delta; and Azerai Ke Ga Bay, which is located 180km east of Ho Chi Minh City on a white sand beach.

“Nobody knows our backyard better than we do,” said Henry Gray, Executive Director at Azerai Resorts. ”Each of the experiences on this menu is a reflection of what captures the ‘essence of place’ better than any other means imaginable.”

From cycling tours in the lush Mekong Delta to windsurfing on Vietnam’s southeastern coast and historical excursions in the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty—and much more—Azerai’s new experiences menu features a range of day trips, on-site activities and journeys into the local communities surrounding the resorts.

The experiences range from the cultural to the adventurous to the spiritual. Particularly well represented on the new experiences menu are culinary activities that showcase the breadth of Vietnam’s world-famous cuisine and tap into the country’s local and regional food traditions.

At Azerai La Residence, Hue, longtime popular dining menus such as the “Imperial Dinner” and “Colonial Dinner” are now complemented by a host of new offerings, including the “Aroma of Vietnam Cooking Class,” in which guests learn how to prepare Vietnamese culinary favorites, and “Exploring Hue Cuisine,” a dining experience that spotlights famous central Vietnam dishes.

Dine aboard Azerai La Residence, Hue’s elegant 55-foot river boat

The resort’s new elegant 55-foot (17-meter) cruise boat also offers a “Private Dinner Cruise” on the Perfume River serving fine Vietnamese and Western cuisine as the boat moves past picturesque natural scenery and historic local landmarks.

At Azerai Can Tho, “Romance Under the Banyan Tree” features a lantern-lit, five-course meal for two. The “Breakfast Cruise to Cai Rang Floating Market” includes a choice of Vietnamese or Western breakfast, followed by a visit to the bustling Mekong Delta floating market, and concludes with an on-shore excursion to a traditional noodle-making factory.

Take a sunset cruise in the Mekong Delta at Azerai Can Tho

Other culinary options at Azerai Can Tho include “Hidden Dinner by a Villa Pool,” “Secret Romantic Dinner by the River,” and “Picnic by the River.”

And at Azerai Ke Ga Bay, a different kind of culinary experience awaits: The “Monastery and Iconic Fruit of Binh Thuan” includes stops at an exotic dragon fruit farm, the culturally rich Ta Cu Mountain, and local salt fields. The culinary team at Azerai Ke Ga Bay is renowned for crafting an array of local delicacies with a focus on plentiful offerings from the sea.

Play a round of golf at the Greg Norman-designed PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet at Azerai Ke Ga Bay

Azerai Ke Ga Bay has also launched a special golf package with PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, whose two new championship-level golf courses were designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman. “Tee Off Time” includes a two-night stay in a Deluxe Suite with a garden view at Azerai Ke Ga Bay, daily breakfast for two, and 18 holes of golf for two adults (including green fee, caddy fee, shared buggy and roundtrip transfers to and from the golf course).

Visit local sand dunes at Azerai Ke Ga Bay

Other experiences at Azerai Ke Ga Bay include a guided tour of the nearby historic, 1899-built colonial French lighthouse, a fishing trip in the sea, and an excursion to local sand dunes.

Vietnam has announced the end of all pandemic-related travel restrictions. Travelers are no longer required to submit proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. The latest conditions for entry into Vietnam should be confirmed with the nearest Vietnamese consulate and/or through a booking agent to ensure compatibility.

More information on applying for an e-visa can be found at ​​https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/. Citizens of 13 countries qualify for visa exemptions and can visit for up to 15 days regardless of passport type and entry purpose.

For the full experiences menu at Azerai, please visit www.azerai.com/experiences.

Tee Time: Azerai Ke Ga Bay Introduces Golf Packages at New PGA NovaWorld. Resort set for Nov. 12 reopening, following the easing of COVID-related restrictions

Two new championship-level golf courses designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman are opening this year in southeastern Vietnam, and Azerai Ke Ga Bay is ready to help guests hit the fairways.

The secluded 46-key resort, which sits on a pristine five-kilometer stretch of white sand overlooking the East Sea, is set to reopen on Nov. 12 following the easing of COVID-related restrictions in Vietnam.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay, located only 30 minutes by car from the new PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, just down the beautiful coastline, has introduced a special package—the first of several planned—that includes 18 holes of golf, along with other benefits at the resort.

The Norman-designed courses feature 36 total holes. The 18-hole PGA Ocean Course opened in April 2021 as one of the longest tracks in Vietnam, at 7,400 yards (par 72), and plays along the picturesque Phan Thiet Bay. The second 18-hole course is scheduled to debut later this year.

The new “Tee Off Time” golf package at Azerai Ke Ga Bay features a two-night stay in a Deluxe Suite with a garden view, daily breakfast for two persons, and a golf round of 18 holes for two adults (including green fee, caddy fee, shared buggy and roundtrip transfers to and from the golf course) on the PGA Ocean Course.

The package also includes a priority upgrade to a higher room category (depending on availability), daily afternoon tea from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, and complimentary Wifi throughout the resort, among other perks.

PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet is home to a spacious, 4,000-square-meter clubhouse selling food and beverages (including alcohol), as well as golf equipment and apparel. The golf complex is part of the larger $5-billion (USD) NovaWorld Phan Thiet development, which includes a theme park and water park, a 7,000-seat indoor arena, a 3,500-seat tennis arena, and more, spread over an area of 1,000 hectares.

Located 180km east of Ho Chi Minh City (a 3.5-hour drive by car), Azerai Ke Ga Bay opened in November 2020 as part of legendary hotelier Adrian Zecha’s portfolio and offers a combination of suites and private-pool suites.

Since March 2020, Azerai Resorts has implemented stricter health and hygiene measures at all of its properties, including temperature screenings at check-in, hand sanitizers in all public areas, increased cleaning frequencies in rooms and public areas, and more. Azerai will continue to operate with the highest possible safety standards and follow the latest guidelines from local health and government authorities.

ABOUT AZERAI

Azerai is a new story and brand of resorts offering guests simple elegance, refined design, and discreet and attentive service in places of unique beauty and cultural interest. The brand was formed by hotelier Adrian Zecha, and the name is derived from Zecha’s initials and the latter part of a Persian word, caravanserai, which references the storied old inns of the Middle East.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay marks the brand’s first beach resort, and follows Azerai La Residence, Hue, a historic city resort overlooking the Perfume River in Vietnam’s former imperial capital, and Azerai Can Tho, a peaceful retreat set on a lush islet in the Mekong Delta.