If you’re dreaming of the ultimate hedonistic honeymoon, we list the best of the best for honeymoon destinations in Vietnam. Any of the luxury resorts below are also great to celebrate wedding anniversaries or vow renewals.
The term “honeymoon” sprouted sometime in the 1500s, and meant the wavering affection (honey) of a married couple was analogous to the periodic phases of the moon. Later, the term came to mean the span of time after the wedding signifying the “indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newlywed couple.” Again, the moon referred to the marriage’s predilection to be “no sooner full than it begins to wane.”
Etymologically a half bittersweet, half cynical term, the word grew into its more optimistic counterpart during the Belle Epoque, the 40-year period in European history characterized by the burst of artistic endeavors, scientific discoveries and new technology.
The modern interpretation has come to mean plunking down serious cash for an exotic heaven-on-earth where you’re treated like Saudi royalty. So why not choose the best of the best, in one of most affordable honeymoon destinations on earth? Vietnam’s rich flora, kind smiles and great food make it a great choice to spend the sweetest epoch of your marriage.
1. Ana Mandara Dalat
Who is it for: The couple; fans of woodland solitude and cool weather
Why it’s an ideal honeymoon spot: This is as authentic as it gets in Dalat. While the city has its fair share of kitsch (eerie swan paddle boats, anyone?), Ana Mandara has managed to hold on with dear life to the most romantic aspects of the 1930s, when weary French officials retreated to the pine-covered highlands for some seriously meditative R&R.
Since these were personal villas, each room has its own unique furniture setup, layout and ambiance. The wooden floors, antiquated furniture and canopied beds makes your dwelling feel like a secret forest cabin you and your lover are using to escape from the tumultuous world outside. Except instead of broken plumbing and wild animals you get a heated pool, clawfoot bathtub, rain shower and panoramic views of a colorful Franco-Vietnamese city.
How long should I stay: Three days and two nights should be enough time to explore the grounds and try the excellent breakfast buffet, get a massage at La Cochinchine spa, and head down and explore the city center.
Offers: Being the city of fatalistic lovers (most of Dalat’s lore ends in a Romeo and Juliet scenario), much of Dalat is geared towards honeymooners. Ana Mandara is no exception, and offers a really well put together package that includes one night in a Villa Room, daily breakfast, round-trip airport transfers, a city tour by vintage car, a candle-lit dinner, an hour long body massage.
2. Six Senses Con Dao
Who is it for: Anyone who can afford it
Why it’s an ideal honeymoon spot: This is Brad and Angelina’s turf (well… they stayed there once in 2011, but it was big news in the tabloids). It’s a 45-minute flight by charter flight that takes you directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao Island, where a Mercedes van picks you up and drops you off at Six Senses.
You are taken to what might arguably be one of the best beaches in Vietnam. The sand is flat, firm and stretches out for a few kilometers. The water is beautiful and snorkel-worthy. The private villas all come with an infinity pool and butler. Movies are projected nightly in the open air, the F&B is excellent and the service is meticulously geared towards pleasing literally every need. Understandable considering you’re paying around VND 12 million per room. But for that you get stuff like a pre-check-in checklist offering anything you might need on the house, from razors to nail clippers to scented pillows to snorkeling gear, and even the type of music you want playing upon entering your private villa for the first time.
The island is nice, and you can visit a prison (not very romantic but fascinating nonetheless), snorkel or dive in the clear waters (this is Vietnam’s best diving spot), hike for hours at a national park, or rent a catamaran and languidly paddle about the sea. But keep in mind shis is the kind of place where you indulge in the ambiance of the resort, have fun with your large bed and politely ask your smiling butler to get you those nail clippers.
How long should you stay: you’re spending a few hundred just on the charter flight there, so might as well stay three or four nights before you head back. This is a premier honeymoon destination – you’re going to want to stay as much as you can reasonably afford.
3. Princess d'Annam
Who is it for: Honeymooners with kids; boutique hotel lovers
Why it’s an ideal honeymoon spot: Not too far from Phan Thiet, Princess is a 3-5 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, making it the closest beachfront resort on the list. The hotel is sleek, private and remote. You get your own villa, 24-hour service and some pretty sites: the East Sea, canyons, dunes and a nearby village where you can get some local fruit and coffee for cheap.
Princess has an excellent kids club, and provides adults some decent entertainment like cooking classes, football, fishing, karaoke, surfing and other fun diversions. If you’re tugging along some little ones for the “familymoon,” Princess is probably the best option on the list.
How long should you stay: Three to four nights should do it. It’s a small, relatively secluded area, so you might want to make some taxi trips to Phan Thiet to check out the city, or just explore the surrounding area. The resort is very well-constructed, well-maintained and quite beautiful overall, and should do well if you only stay there the entire time.
4. Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang
Who is it for: Beachfront lovers; couples who want to be close to the action
Why it’s an ideal spot for a honeymoon, a wedding anniversary or a vow renowal trip: Don’t confuse this one for Ana Mandara Dalat mentioned earlier – it’s quite different in style. This one is for the beach lovers who don’t want to stray too far from the busiest coastal city in Vietnam. It’s also the only resort actually situated on the beach in Nha Trang, instead of sitting across the road.
It’s a great hideaway, despite its proximity to the city. The noise levels are sufficiently low, and the gardens, the dedicated beachfront and the sleek pools all magnify the serenity. Ana also features one of the best breakfasts you’ll find in the region. If you’re the fancy-dinner-by-the-pier type, the resort can set up a table at the end of long wooden pier, which is quite nice when the starts begin to show face.
On a side note, the resort is managed by Six Senses, known for their world-class spa facilities. Do yourself a favor and visit the spa if you’re staying here.
How long should you stay: Two or three nights should be sufficient if you’re just there for the resort. If you want to explore Nha Trang – and the city has a good deal of landmarks and restaurants to discover – you may want to opt for up to a week. With a voucher or 3rd party site, you can get each night for under VND 5 million for lower end rooms and around twice that for more luxurious options.
Offers: The Six Senses website is featuring a honeymoon package for three nights that includes airport transfer, a bottle of sparkling wine, chocolate and tea, fresh fruit on arrival, and a departure gift. You also get your room set-up for the honeymoon, a sunset cruise for two complete with champagne on the deck, a 50-minute massage in a couple room, and a three course dinner on the beach, with the option to create your own signature menu.
5. The Nam Hai
Who is it for: Luxury-minded older crowd not into loud partying, but still looking for something sleek and sexy to slip into
Why it’s an ideal honeymoon spot: The Nam Hai has five bubbles on TripAdvisor. And that’s with over 1,200 reviews. It’s difficult not to rehash what’s already been said. But based on our time there, here’s a few relatively objective observations: the rooms are very well decorated. Sleek, sensual and with a nice view of the beach meters away. Lounging by the pools is idyllic, and the beach sand is spotless. It is easily one of the best hotel in Vietnam.
Service in general is top class, as is the steep price. Every private villa gets a butler who obliges your every whim. Little details like staff using electric buggies and bicycles to lessen the noise and pollution of the resort push The Nam Hai over the edge and into veritable 5-star territory. They’re genuinely inclined to give you a world-class treatment.
On a side note, the resort is close to Hoi An, a quaint city that’s quite romantic. It’s 15 minutes by car and worth a stroll through. How long should you stay: At least two nights. If you can expend for more, go for it. Two nights to a week is best.
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