TIA Wellness Resort’s New Wellness-Focused Menu at Ocean Bistro Celebrates Sea and Soul

DA NANG, Vietnam - From Probiotic Power Bowls to Prawn Spring Rolls, Pho to Pulled “Pork” Mushroom Burgers, the new all day dining menu at TIA Wellness Resort’s Ocean Bistro balances creative plant-based cuisine with fresh ocean-caught bounty, while staying true to an overall culinary wellness philosophy that prioritises nutritious, flavorful and real food.

The revamped menu, which launched this month, is a complete overhaul of the previous offering, with new menu items accounting for 80% of the menu.

Each dish is given a wellness rating on the menu under the resort’s ‘Eat Light, Feel Bright’ philosophy, so guests can make informed decisions when choosing their meal. The scale ranges from 1-10, with most dishes scoring under five.

Lighter dishes include a number of the plant-based and seafood options, such as the Probiotic Power Bowl in the new Vitality Bowls section, a gut-nourishing blend of tempeh, brown rice, beets, cauliflower, rocket, pickled capsicum, cabbage, walnuts and cucumber pickles; and Banh Mi Chay, a vegan version of Banh Mi that uses a mushroom pate and sauteed shiitakes, among other vegetables.

“We believe that wellness is about balance and not about being restrictive,” explained Ramon Imper, general manager of TIA Wellness Resort. “With that in mind, we also offer more indulgent menu items that still use the best ingredients and whole foods.”

Examples of dishes that fall on the higher end of the scale include artisan beef burgers.

The new menu also balances western additions, such as the creative power burgers including a Prawn Charcoal Burger and a selection of pasta dishes, along with local Vietnamese favorites. The Soulful Noodles selection includes Cao Lau, in a pork or plant-based version.

“All our soulful Vietnamese noodle dishes are available in plant-based options,” added Ramon. “When designing our menus it was important to us that those who follow a plant-based diet were able to taste the traditional and famous flavors of Vietnam. We have put a lot of thought and effort into our vegan offerings.”

A range of tapas style dishes, ideal for sharing, have been added from the Wholesome Bites section of the menu to Seafood Nibbles, with choices like calamari and scallops. There is also an Elemental Grill section including lobster and squid.

Sweet endings include a Coconut Sundae with coconut nice cream and fresh tropical fruits, and a Salted Peanut Butter Bar. All dishes have no added sugar and instead draw their sweetness from natural sources.

Prices range from VND 95,000 – VND 890,000 with the average cost of dinner for two at VND 1,400,000.

There are a range of new set menus, including one featuring Vietnamese favorites, and new ocean-inspired special daily dishes.

TIA Wellness Resort was also recognized this month in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards as the #6 Best Destination Spa Resorts in the world.

Situated along the picturesque coastline of Da Nang, TIA Wellness Resort offers all-encompassing wellness, rather than just relaxation, out of a resort stay. The oceanfront oasis has a tailored wellbeing approach, based on each guest’s needs. Holistic offerings range from wellness-inclusive stays, with two treatments included per night, to creating personalized retreat programs inclusive of wellness cuisine.

For more information visit: https://tiawellnessresort.com/

TIA Wellness Resort Launches New Health Elixir Menu For Increased Wellbeing

Da Nang, VIETNAM – Resorts may revamp their drink menus from time-to-time but few undertake a complete overhaul like TIA Wellness Resort has. Using science-based research and looking at several essential pillars of health – vitamins, proteins, gut health, and stress reduction – the TIA team have created a menu where every drink packs a wellbeing punch.

From microbiome-focused elixirs like Matcha Soda with spirulina, to collagen peptide boosters such as Collagen Colada, a blend of coconut, pineapple and collagen, along with mind calming offerings like Lavender Reishi Latte, there are drink options for all moods and mindsets.

“We’ve crafted an extensive beverage selection where each drink is like an internal spa treatment,” explained TIA Wellness Resort’s general manager, Ramon Imper.

Two dozen new smoothies, juices, elixirs, and cafe-style drinks have been designed for the menu. The first category, Vitamin and Nutrient Juice Blends, was created with immunity, energy and replenishment in mind. Examples include Blueberry, Apple, Lemon, Honey & Acai to combat fatigue, and Cucumber, Kale, Green Apple, Celery, Lime, Ginger and Spirulina for an alkalizing and energizing refreshment.

Gut Health Elixirs include Apple Cider Vinegar Lemonade for a tangy digestive fix and Peppermint Soda which also incorporates pea flower for a drink that is calming for the stomach. Protein-packed smoothies each contain 20 grams of protein per drink and use gluten-free protein powders made from all natural ingredients such as green peas, chickpeas, lentils, sweet potato, seeds and green beans. The powders are incorporated into flavorful drinks like a smoothie of Mango, Cashew Butter, Turmeric, and Almond Milk.

Collagen enhanced beverages include 15 grams of collagen. Drink options include cozy sips like a Collagen Chai Latte with coconut milk, dates, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and collagen. Mind calming drinks look to reishi mushrooms, recognized for their ability to reduce anxiety and improve mood, and ashwagandha, which has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. TIA’s Beetroot Moon Milk is an infusion of beetroot powder, ashwagandha root, almond milk and honey.

“Our gut is known as our second brain. There’s a strong connection between the two,” explained Ramon. “Just as the food we eat impacts the connection, so does what we drink.”

“With every sip, why not opt for something that will enhance your wellbeing?” he added. That’s what we hope our guests will do. It’s an easy and delicious way to help improve our health.”

Along with the health-enriched blends, and as more guests opt for non-alcoholic drinks, the mocktail menu has also been reimagined.

The new drink menu is available to all guests with drinks ranging in price from VND 105,000 – VND 180,000 (approx USD 4-7) each. A selection of drinks are also being incorporated in the menu for TIA’s Body & Mind Cleanse, one of the resort’s private retreats.

Body & Mind Cleanse, launched last year, is a retreat that is offered year round and embraces nourishing raw food cuisine, detox therapies, and holistic wellbeing practices from sound healing to private yoga sessions so guests can detox and release toxins from the body, while also improving vitality. A key element of the new package is intermittent fasting, a practice where all the food consumed in a day is eaten during an eight-hour window. When the fast is broken guests follow a plant-based raw food and drink meal plan.

“Our new beverage offerings are one more way we can help our guests on their wellness journey,” added Ramon.

For more information visit: https://tiawellnessresort.com/

Ambassador Cruise Launches Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise in Famed Halong Bay

HALONG BAY, Vietnam — Ambassador Cruise has launched a luxurious new day cruise that makes the most of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay’s limestone karst-studded waters and key attractions such as Sung Sot Cave and Titov Island.

With a remarkable two-level dining space, open-air sundeck affording 360-degree views of the bay’s limestone karst-studded waters, the leading cruise operator’s new 99-passenger capacity vessel named “Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise – By Ambassador Cruise” will bring its fleet to a total of four vessels.

Cruisers get up close and personal with three of Halong Bay’s most spectacular attractions as part of the seven-hour cruise itinerary. The itinerary checks out the bay’s largest and most compelling cave, Sung Sot, home to myriad stalactites in all sorts of unique forms. Via a kayak or bamboo boat rowed by a local, passengers enter and exit stunning Luon Cave’ self-contained lake, surrounded by towering cliffs and lush vegetation, through a 100-metre long limestone arch. Afterwards cruisers visit picturesque Titov Island, swimming at its crescent moon-shaped beach and ascending some 450 steps to reach its peak and soak up panoramic views of the bay.

The day cruise has a prime focus on culinary excellence, underpinned by a premium lunch buffet, vibrant Vietnamese cooking demonstration and exquisite afternoon tea service.

The extensive lunch buffet showcases a diverse array of Asian and European cuisines including locally sourced seafood, beef, tuna, and other delicacies. Featuring nearly 30 dishes, the buffet’s highlights include US steak with grilled seasonal veggies, smoked tuna with green tea, hot and sour steamed mussels, crispy deep-fried prawns with chilli rock salt, stir-fried glass noodles with crab, and caramelised cinnamon pork shoulder. A seafood tower is also served to each table.

As the vessel glides through Halong Bay’s majestic limestone formations on its return to Halong International Cruise Port, the chefs stage the Vietnamese cooking demonstration and serve the elegant afternoon tea replete with fine pastries.

“As our premium day cruise experience, Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise – By Ambassador Cruise will see Ambassador welcome a new dawn with even more bucket-list worthy experiences,” said Nguyen Hong Nhat, General Director of Asia Premier Cruises Corporation, which owns Ambassador Cruise. “The itinerary will guide you through Halong Bay’s most spectacular locations with excellent Vietnamese cuisine and top-notch service.”

The cruise’s current itinerary, on offer during Vietnam’s winter and spring, begins with a 9am check-in at Halong International Cruise Port before transferring to the vessel. Guests disembark at the port at 4.30pm.

Since launching its first vessel in 2021, Ambassador Cruise has made a name for itself as the leading luxury cruise operator on Halong Bay. It operates three other vessels; Ambassador I, Ambassador II and Ambassador Signature. Guests choose from a variety of journeys including overnight cruises of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, day cruises, and dinner cruises. The overnight and dinner cruises offer a “Floating Dinner” experience on their 360-degree sundecks. Ambassador Cruise is also introducing an exclusive dining experience in a private cave 40 kilometres from Halong Bay.

For more information about Ambassador Cruise or to make a booking, visit ambassadorcruise.com, email info@ambassadorcruise.com or call +84 1900 3045.

Meliá Elevates Luxury on Phu Quoc
Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc launches The Level Villas

HO CHI MINH CITY - Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc is introducing another level of luxury on Vietnam’s most captivating island with the rollout of The Level Villas, a new luxury villa category where guests are treated to a range of exclusive privileges, services and facilities, including their own private beach.

As the latest Meliá property to launch Meliá Hotels International’s elevated service category, The Level, Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc has transformed 95 of its upscale three-bedroom villas into The Level Villas. Fifty-six of the villas are beachfront, stretching along the island’s famously powdery sands and clear waters; the remaining 39 villas offer sea and lake views. All feature their own private pool.

In-villa services include a curated pillow menu, a Bluetooth speaker system, a premium selection of coffee and teas, floral arrangements, welcome amenities and daily turndown service.

Melia Vinpearl Phu Quoc Sunset

The Level Clubhouse beats at the heart of The Level Villas. Exclusively for The Level guests, this dedicated oceanfront venue offers a refined breakfast experience in an intimate, private setting. With an à la carte menu featuring a fusion of local dishes such as pho and Asian and Western cuisine, it provides an elevated alternative to the hotel’s main buffet restaurant. Throughout the day, guests can indulge in complimentary refreshments and gourmet treats. There is also a dedicated concierge to curate personalized outings and arrange a private check-in and check-out.

Come late afternoon there’s a cocktail hour from 5-6:30pm where premium drinks are paired with light bites. Guests can also book a The Level meeting room free-of-charge for one hour during their stay.

A Level Villa – Private Pool

While The Level guests can use any of the hotel’s facilities, they also have their own pool in front of The Level Clubhouse, where they can take a dip or relax in Bali-style day beds and sun loungers, as well as a private beach exclusive to them.

The Level guests are granted an exclusive 20% privilege on all dining and beverage experiences across the resort’s distinguished restaurants and bars, as well as treatments at the YHI Spa, elevating every moment of their stay. Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc has several dining options including Cape Nao, serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine; Case Nostra, Italian gourmet; and Doki Doki, a Japanese restaurant that makes the most of freshly-caught seafood.

At the tranquil YHI Spa, The Level guests can use the fitness center at no additional charge and can enjoy a complimentary YHI Spa Water Ritual during their stay.

Prices for The Level start from VND 19,000,000 for The Level 3-bedroom Lake View Villa and VND 21,000,000 for The Level 3-bedroom Oceanfront Villa per night.

https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/vietnam/phu-quoc/melia-vinpearl-phu-quoc/the-level

The Anam Mui Ne’s Old-World Bar By The Beach Launches Unique Menu

MUI NE, Vietnam – A charming new bar at The Anam Mui Ne, an Indochine-era inspired resort in Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, has introduced an exciting menu replete with imaginative cocktails, homemade kombucha, tapas and ‘smoothie bowls’.

The 1.2 hectare resort recently opened the new Saigon Bar, in homage to the intimate Saigon bars of yesteryear on some of the resort’s most inspiring ground overlooking Mui Ne beach.

Saigon Bar’s extensive drinks menu includes a broad spectrum of spirits, beers, wines, soju beverages, signature cocktails, martinis, gin cocktails and sour cocktails.

Signature cocktails include ‘Mother River’ comprising Song Cai dry gin, DOM Benedictine, dill, clarified lemon juice and maple syrup, and ‘Tikki Passion’ made up of Vietnamese Rum Sampan 54°, Flor de Cana white rum, Kraken rum, pineapple juice, clarified lemon juice, orgeat syrup, cinnamon syrup and cinnamon powder.

Classic cocktails with a twist include, for example, ‘The Anam Negroni’ with Vietnamese AT gin, strawberry infused Campari and Dolin vermouth red.The Herbal Spritz with De Bortoli sparkling wine, St-Germain elderflower, soda water is among the selection of Spritz cocktails. The espresso martini, ‘Smokey Garden Gin’ with Vietnamese AT gin, Dolin vermouth white, DOM Benedictine, angostura bitter, fresh mint, soda water and smoked apple tree bark, and ‘Pisco Sour’ featuring Pisco Demonio de los Andes, lime juice, syrup and egg white, are among the most popular martinis, gin cocktails and sour cocktails respectively.

Bar-goers select their own fruit for their mojitos, daiquiris, and margaritas such as mixed berries, strawberry and red dragon fruit.

The bar’s shelves are lined with all sorts of boutique spirits from Vietnam and around the world, such as Ho Chi Minh City-based Lady Trieu’s craft gins including ‘Dalat Flowerbomb’, ‘Mekong Delta Dry’, ‘Hoi An Spice Road’ and ‘Sapa Citrus Tea’.

The menu brims with all sorts of non-alcoholic beverages such as Vietnamese coffee, Italian coffee, hot chocolate, milk shakes, loose green and black leaf teas, freshly squeezed juices, and home-made iced teas. Watermelon-, passion fruit-, berry-, and turmeric and ginger-flavoured kombucha is concocted on the resort’s grounds. Kombucha is believed to offer all sorts of health benefits ranging from controlling cholesterol and boosting the immune system to cleaning the liver.

In addition to ‘smoothie bowls’ packed with different fruits, the bar also serves tapas including the likes of a cheese board, deep fried crab spring rolls, grilled half sundried calamari, salted and spicy crispy pork skin, and deep fried potato wedges with parmesan cheese. The selection of desserts includes ‘Signature Chocolate Bliss’, a moist mousse cake made from Valrhona chocolate with black cherry coulis and red fruit salsa, and ‘Dragon Fruit Cheesecake’, with a cream cheese dragon fruit baked cheesecake accompanied by chocolate, mint and raspberry sorbet.

Adjacent to the resort’s 266sqm saltwater infinity swimming pool and immaculate lawn, Saigon Bar is situated at the other end of the beach to Lang Viet Restaurant & Bar, bookending the resort’s best view over the waterfront.

Softly lit with caged lanterns and candles, the bar is fashioned from hardwood sourced from sustainably cultivated forests in Vietnam’s Nam Dinh province and bedecked with customized encaustic tiles, evoking an atmosphere of old-world elegance.

Fronted by a grey cobble-stone terrace with a handful of outdoor wooden bar tables flanked by rattan stools, Saigon Bar’s interior is home to cozy rattan chairs clustered in semi-circles and a bar featuring woodwork that took craftspeople months to complete.

Greenery cascades down the bar’s exterior from wooden plant boxes fastened to a balcony above.

For further information or to make a booking, visit.theanam.com, email info.mn@theanam.com or reservations.mn@theanam.com, or telephone +(84) 252 628 4868

About The Anam Group 

After the auspicious debut of The Anam Cam Ranh in 2017, the independently owned and operated The Anam Group celebrated the grand opening of its second property, The Anam Mui Ne, in January 2023.

With “Indochine Charm” and “Modern Luxury” as its watchwords, the group blends colonial-era aesthetics and attentive Vietnamese service with modern comforts and convenience. “The Anam” today is a reference to another name, “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era.

The Anam Cam Ranh overlooks 300 metres of beachfront on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula, which averages more than 300 sunny days per year. The luxurious five-star resort boasts 77 villas and 136 rooms and suites. The Anam Cam Ranh features a French-inspired fine dining restaurant, all-day dining restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant and bar, a classical bar, a beach club, in-room dining, a 10 treatment-room spa, indoor and outdoor movie theatres, three capacious swimming pools, ballroom, conference rooms, recreation and fitness centre, a tennis court, yoga room and deck, kids club, putting green, gift shop and more.

Like its predecessor The Anam Cam Ranh, The Anam Mui Ne’s design is also an echo out of Vietnam’s Indochine era. Situated in southern Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, the 1.2 hectare beachfront resort affords spectacular ocean vistas and features 127 elegant rooms and suites, including seven 142sqm suites with private pools and a 122sqm presidential suite with an extra room for the bodyguards. Its dining landscape comprises an all-day dining restaurant and grill, beachside restaurant and bar, and lobby bar. A five-treatment room spa, two vast swimming pools, a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club and gift shop are among the resort’s host of world-class facilities.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Launches Exclusive New Culinary Series ‘Rendez-vous’ will spotlight Michelin-starred French Chef Arnaud Dunand on May 17-18

HANOI, Vietnam – Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the iconic 123-year-old luxury hotel in Vietnam’s capital, is set to launch a new dining series that brings together Metropole’s award-winning culinary team with some of the best chefs from around the world.

The quarterly ‘Rendez-vous’ series, hosted in the hotel’s modern French fine-dining restaurant Le Beaulieu, will spotlight Michelin-star guest chefs working in tandem with Le Beaulieu’s Chef de Cuisine Charles Degrendele to produce one-of-a-kind gastronomic experiences.

The series kicks off May 17-18 with two exclusive dinners featuring French Chef Arnaud Sauthier, who holds 1 Michelin star for his acclaimed Maison Dunand in Bangkok. Chef Arnaud formerly helmed the 2-Michelin-star French restaurant Le Normandie at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

Chefs Charles and Arnaud will each create three unique dishes drawing on their individual culinary philosophies to produce a distinctive 6-course set dinner. The meal is priced at VND 4 million++ per person or VND 6.5 million++ with exclusive wine pairing. Accor Plus members receive an exclusive 15% off.

The Michelin Guide, in its review of Maison Dunand, writes that Chef Arnaud welcomes guests “into a home designed like the Alpine chalets of the Savoie region in France. … The French contemporary tasting menu is inspired by his alpine origins, childhood trips to Brittany and his glittering international culinary journey. Expect too an excellent wine cellar with good representation for Alsace and Savoie.”

Metropole Hanoi’s Chef Charles was born and raised in Marseille, France, where he developed an early passion for food that has taken him on a remarkable culinary odyssey. From the serene countryside of Provence to Michelin-starred kitchens and the vibrant streets of Tokyo, his culinary philosophy revolves around respecting ingredients and showcasing their true essence.

With his sustainable, innovative and simple approach, Chef Charles brings a fresh and sophisticated perspective to modern French cuisine.

The 5-Star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has elevated its fine dining over the past year with the appointment of several luminaries of international cuisine, including Director of Culinary Remi Van Peteghem, who brought to the hotel three decades of culinary experience including with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants; Chef Charles at Le Beaulieu; and Executive Pastry Chef Stephane Prost, a fine chocolate specialist who has worked in Michelin-star restaurants at 5-Star hotels, as well as in resorts, palaces and luxury pastry shops worldwide.

For more information or to make a booking for the ‘Rendez-vous’ dining series, please call 0243 826 6919 (ext. 8200), email Bang.Au@sofitel.com or visit www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/.

ABOUT SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE HANOI

A prominent fixture in the heart of Hanoi since 1901, the Hotel Metropole Hanoi has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events and a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travelers such as playwrights, ambassadors and heads of state. The recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service, this legendary landmark has contributed to the richness of local heritage.

The hotel includes 358 rooms that are divided into two wings – the historical Heritage Wing and the neo-classical Opera Wing. There are three legendary suites that are named after famous residents and visitors to the hotel (Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham).

The Metropole restaurants and bars are all famous dining venues, each offering a different exotic experience: Le Beaulieu has the best French fare in this corner of the world; Spice Garden offers elevated Vietnamese cuisine with a contemporary twist; angelina is Hanoi’s bespoke bar-lounge-restaurant; La Terrasse brings Parisian-style to the sidewalks of Hanoi; Le Club Bar treats guests to its famous afternoon high tea and cool jazz performances; and, finally, Bamboo Bar brings poolside lounging to the next level.

ABOUT SOFITEL LEGEND

A pioneer of French luxury hospitality since 1964, Sofitel today embodies heartfelt and committed luxury, with a French zest. Alongside its 120 elegant and unique properties, the brand inaugurated in 2009 a collection of emblematic hotels under the Sofitel Legend banner: unrivalled luxury addresses with a legendary heritage and highly personalised service. Each stay is timeless, offering sumptuous surroundings, renowned restaurants and modern comforts for an inspiring luxury experience. Noble, rare and soulful, Sofitel Legend hotels captivate with their architectural beauty, breathtaking views and mesmerizing ambience.

Sofitel Legend now comprises 6 hotels, each more magnificent than the last, set within beautiful and culturally-rich destinations around the world: Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an.

Sofitel Legend is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,500 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.

sofitel.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com

Korean Offerings Add Flair to Culinary Constellation at Laguna Lang Co Leading integrated resort expands diverse array of flavours for golfers and guests

LANG CO, Vietnam – Laguna Lang Co’s vivid constellation of dining stars has just been enhanced by an upgrading of the Korean cuisine at the resort.

A skilled chef with a strong track record of creating authentic Korean food has been appointed to impart expertise. This input is sure to be appreciated by Korean golfers seeking an authentic taste of home, with numbers surging at the integrated project’s championship layout, a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design.

Other dining options at Laguna Lang Co encompass a range of cuisines including Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian, and more

The integrated project in Central Vietnam encompasses a wealth of alluring flavours across its two award-winning resorts — Banyan Tree Lang Co, and Angsana Lang Co — as well as its acclaimed golf course where another enticing accommodation option, Laguna Parkside Residences, is just steps from the 18th hole.

Cuisines on offer include Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Mediterranean, Italian, and many more. Now, with the heightened focus on Korea, golfers and other guests can sample delicious cuisine as presented by a chef with experience of working at top Korean restaurants around the globe.

“The new chef is bringing another dimension to the dining options for golfers and other guests,” said Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co. “Korea is a huge market for us. Indeed, it has become the leading source market for Vietnam as a whole. We realized that we had to up our culinary game to keep our Korean guests happy. And the fact that guests of every nationality can now enjoy truly delicious Korean food means that it is a win-win situation for everyone.”

The upgraded Korean cuisine is far from the only culinary initiative keeping golf guests well fed and happy at Laguna Golf Lang Co. The recent introduction of an “on-course” menu means that golfers can order from a range of gourmet snacks and light meals that can be delivered to them during play. Options range from filled banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) to Korean stir fried beef belly and bibimbap (a classic Korean mixed rice dish).

“Whether you are out on the course or relaxing in our clubhouse Golf Café, you are not going to go hungry!” added Banks.

Guests at Laguna Lang Co can savour exquisite cuisine along with sumptuous luxury accommodations

The recent developments on the culinary front are enhancing Laguna Lang Co’s already strong reputation as a world-class dining destination. There are a total of ten dining and lounge outlets across the integrated property. These include the beachfront Azura, where Mediterranean cuisine and fresh seafood can be savoured to the soundtrack of gently lapping waves; The Water Court, a place to sample authentic Vietnamese cuisine; and Saffron, Banyan Tree’s signature Thai restaurant which, at Lang Co, is perched on a hilltop with stunning sea views.

Guests can also enjoy a range of customised culinary experiences, encompassing everything from romantic in-villa dining to candlelit meals on the pristine 3-kilometre-long beach alongside Laguna Lang Co.

Makeover Rejuvenates The Anam Spa 

CAM RANH, Vietnam – A refurbishment at The Anam Cam Ranh has opened the door to a new sensory garden, yoga studio, beauty salon and reflexology path as complements to its 10-treatment-room spa and spa villas.

The sensory garden features big-bellied vase water fountains in reflecting ponds, Instagram-worthy seating areas including swing chairs and a herb garden brimming with the likes of rosemary, mint, lemongrass and aloe vera.

A new 16-metre-long reflexology path, designed to lower blood pressure, stimulate reflex points, relieve stress and boost energy, winds its way through the lush garden totalling 179sqm.

The second floor of the spa, once home to a beauty salon, is now a new 57sqm yoga studio that hosts sunrise yoga, private yoga and children’s yoga classes with resident yogi Umesh. An adjacent outdoor yoga deck affords vistas of Long Beach.

A new beauty salon has been added to the spa’s ground floor and includes manicure and pedicure chairs and equipment as well as hair washing, drying and styling services.

The spa’s interior has been brightened with a lick of paint, vibrant new artworks and other décor updates such as new cushions and herbal tea ceramics.

“Health and wellbeing is more significant than ever to travellers in a post-COVID world,” The Anam Group’s group spa director Le Thi Lua said. “Our resort’s extensive spa makeover includes a tranquil, whimsical garden, ensuring spa-goers truly feel a world away.”

Set on 400 square metres of hillside land, the spacious and luxuriously appointed spa villas are suited for guests seeking holistic wellbeing. Each of the two exclusive spa villas features comprehensive spa facilities including a dedicated treatment room, a 36-metre private plunge pool, a steam room, a sauna, and a bathtub and Jacuzzi for up to two guests per villa.

Half-day and full-day wellness experiences are on offer for guests staying at the spa villas, as well as for in-house guests and day visitors. Priced at VND 6,000,000 (USD 257.50) per person and VND 11,000,000 per couple (USD 472), the four-hour half-day journey includes a 30-minute body scrub, 30-minute natural mud wrap, 90-minute signature body massage, 60-minute facial treatment with Sothys Paris products, detoxifying herb bath and wholesome snacks and beverages.

Priced at VND 9,000,000 per person (USD 386) and VND 17,000,000 (USD 730) per couple, the eight-hour full-day journey comprises a 30-minute body scrub, 30-minute natural mud wrap, 90-minute signature body massage, detoxifying herb bath, wholesome poolside lunch and beverages, a 90-minute facial treatment with Sothys Paris products, and a deluxe manicure and pedicure.

To contact The Anam or to make a booking, please visit www.theanam.com or email info.cr@theanam.com

About The Anam Group 

After the auspicious debut of The Anam Cam Ranh in 2017, the independently owned and operated The Anam Group celebrated the grand opening of its second property, The Anam Mui Ne, in January 2023.

With “Indochine Charm” and “Modern Luxury” as its watchwords, the group blends colonial-era aesthetics and attentive Vietnamese service with modern comforts and convenience. “The Anam” today is a reference to another name, “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era.

The Anam Cam Ranh overlooks 300 metres of beachfront on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula, which averages more than 300 sunny days per year. The luxurious five-star resort boasts 77 villas and 136 rooms and suites. The Anam Cam Ranh features a French-inspired fine dining restaurant, all-day dining restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant and bar, a classical bar, a beach club, in-room dining, a 10 treatment-room spa, indoor and outdoor movie theatres, three capacious swimming pools, ballroom, conference rooms, recreation and fitness centre, a tennis court, yoga room and deck, kids club, putting green, gift shop and more.

Like its predecessor The Anam Cam Ranh, The Anam Mui Ne’s design is also an echo out of Vietnam’s Indochine era. Situated in southern Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, the 1.2 hectare beachfront resort affords spectacular ocean vistas and features 127 elegant rooms and suites, including seven 142sqm suites with private pools and a 122sqm presidential suite with an extra room for the bodyguards. Its dining landscape comprises an all-day dining restaurant and grill, beachside restaurant and bar, and lobby bar. A five-treatment room spa, two vast swimming pools, a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club and gift shop are among the resort’s host of world-class f

Bolstered Air Links Key to Helping Golf Tourism Soar in Central Vietnam Relaunched Tokyo-Danang route the latest in a long line of infrastructure boosts for the region

DANANG, VIETNAM – New and reestablished air links with important markets including Japan, Korea, India, and China will allow golf tourism to take flight again in Central Vietnam.

That’s the view from the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) — a freshly rebooted destination marketing organization that links the region’s best signature golf courses.

Danang International Airport is currently Vietnam’s third busiest aviation hub. And it’s gearing up for a bumper period ahead as Central Vietnam reasserts its reputation as a hub for golf and rolls out the red carpet for visitors travelling from Japan, China, India, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia: its current roster of international destinations.

In late March, national carrier Vietnam Airlines resumed its popular route between Danang and Tokyo, Japan’s capital. The coming months, meanwhile, will witness a ramping up of services between Danang and tier-one Chinese cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

These developments come hot on the heels of other major route launches and resumptions.

New routes launched so far in 2023 include services linking Danang with Taipei in Taiwan and Macau. Other relaunched links include one between Danang and Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Last year, meanwhile, low-cost carrier Vietjet Air launched new routes from Danang to Singapore, Busan in South Korea, and major Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

“With its range of clubs and off-course attractions, central Vietnam is a truly world-class golf hub. The fact that it’s better connected than ever with the rest of the region can only be good news for the destination,” said Gary Dixon, general manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, one of the driving forces in the VGC and home to a championship layout masterminded by 2023 European Ryder Cup team captain Luke Donald.

With high-quality golf combined with incredible beaches and luxury accommodations like the award-winning properties at Laguna Lang Co —resorts Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co, and the Laguna Park Villas private residences — Central Vietnam is arguably Vietnam’s hub for golf tourism. It offers a range of attractions, including the heritage sites in history-steeped Hoi An and the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hill: a 150-metre-long pedestrian bridge that is one of Asia’s most photographed landmarks.

Its myriad attributes are complemented by world-class infrastructure that includes Danang International Airport, which links Danang with direct flights to 25 regional destinations and 8 destinations within Vietnam.

Clubs in the area are reporting brisk business as golf travel returns with a vengeance. Banner events such as the Danang International Fireworks Festival—a two-month-long jamboree encompassing firework performances and cultural celebrations that returns in June after a two-year hiatus— are also helping to elevate the destination and tempt back international visitors.

“Central Vietnam is ready to welcome back the world,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf & Destination Marketing at Laguna Lang Co, home to an award-winning Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design. “Markets such as Korea and Japan have traditionally been huge for us and we are delighted to see travel ramping up from these countries and other destinations including giants like China and India, the two most populous countries on the planet. These air links will contribute to opening more opportunities, boosting the economy, and promoting trade and tourism.”

Located where the jungle meets the ocean, Laguna Golf Lang Co is one of the most visually appealing clubs in Asia

Laguna Golf Lang Co Retains EarthCheck “Gold” Status
Green accolade part of broad sustainability push at Laguna Lang Co

LANG CO, Vietnam — Laguna Lang Co has restated its credentials as one of Vietnam’s most sustainable large-scale projects by retaining its EarthCheck “Gold Certification” for 2022.

One of Asia’s most far-reaching integrated resorts, Laguna Lang Co encompasses award-winning hotels Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co, as well as Laguna Golf Lang Co — a signature design by UK legend Sir Nick Faldo.

Located in a part of Vietnam renowned for its pristine nature, Laguna Lang Co prides itself on having a strong focus on sustainability.

Notable initiatives include a moratorium on single-use plastics and its “edible golf course” planted with rice fields and tended by water buffalos.

Green innovations include installing a family of water buffalo as “bio-mowers” on the golf course

EarthCheck is regarded as the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. And the retention of Gold status is another key indicator of a successful wider sustainability push by Laguna Lang Co.

“Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and we are fortunate enough to have one of its most visually stunning sites,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf and Destination Marketing at Laguna Lang Co. “Our resort can be viewed as an escape to nature and we are determined to do everything in our power to preserve its unique qualities.”

Green innovations include installing a family of water buffalo as “bio-mowers” on the golf course

The resort has completely eradicated the use of single-use plastics in almost all aspects of its operations. Laguna Lang Co has finalized the installation of its own water bottling plant to allow the resort to completely eliminate plastic water bottles and utilize reusable glass bottles.

Other key green initiatives at the resort include a tree-planting program aimed at increasing tree cover for local unused land and providing a new income source for underprivileged communities in Lang Co. The species — Melaleuca quinquenervia — is efficient in oil production and brings higher economic returns than traditional indigenous tree varieties.

Additional programs feeding into the EarthCheck accolade include trash collecting activities, sponsorship of underprivileged youths through the resort’s Seedlings Mentorship Program, and sustainability workshops in local communities conducted by Laguna Lang Co Sustainability Officers.

The resort is also focused on its successful “Greater Good Grant” initiative. Launched in 2020, the program offers sustainability projects around Vietnam access to eco grants. With the initiative ongoing, the resort is encouraging applicants to come forward and take advantage of financial support that will help them build a better future.

“To continue to keep EarthCheck Gold Certificate status and achieve a higher EarthCheck certificate in the future, we need to work hard and pay more attention to protect the environment and community,” added Calver. “We are passionate about being an industry-leader for sustainability here in Vietnam. We need to deliver a clean, safe, prosperous, and healthy destination for travellers to visit, live, work, and play at our resort.”