By a small fishing village overlooking a lagoon 60kms north of Danang and 40kms south of Hue. Both Hue and Danang have airports. Hue airport is closed for upgrade until December 2013. Transfers from Danang airport cost around US$50. There are no major towns nearby the resort but there's plenty of local life. Bach Ma National Park is also close by.
Review
Central Vietnam has become very enamoured of luxury resorts over the past few years and locally owned and run Vedana Resort is one of the newest arrivals on the scene.
Its newness and the intensity of competition with Hue and Danang means that, with rooms starting from around US$100 for now at least, it represents excellent value for money.
Photo:
The setting is beautiful and Vedana is Vietnam's first resort to build villas over the sea like those you might find in the Maldives and elsewhere. Problem is that while being over the water is always nice, you won't be swimming in the lagoon. Close to shore, the water is more brown than Maldivian or Thai azure.
The views are still amazing - especially at sunrise - but don't expect the colours and swimming that other over water villas offer elsewhere.
To compensate, Vedana's pool offerings are generous. 10 out of 30 villas have their own good sized splash pools. The main resort pool is also large for a resort of this size - getting close to 40 metres in length. It's perfect both for laps or quietly cooling off.
In addition to the lagoon villas, the resort offers a range of villas on land overlooking the bay.
There are 5 villa types. At the top end, there's a family pool villa (1) which consists of 2 large rooms and a pool on stilts over the lagoon and 2 other large pool villas that include 2 large bedrooms, pool and grounds. These are perfect for families or couples sharing.
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Each villa is fitted out in a style similar to luxury resorts throughout the region with some obligatory local touches. Cavernous bathrooms are larger and more luxurious than the family homes of the local fishermen living a stones throw from the resort gates.
In addition to the indoor shower and bath, there outdoor showers.
All villas also have large decks with views across the lagoon.
Resort facilities are also extensive and include six spa rooms in stilted villas, one restaurant and the pool already mentioned.
Photo: Mark Bowyer
The grounds are vast and guests are encouraged to make use of the free bicycles to navigate the flat paths between the lobby, rooms, restaurants and pool. It's a nice touch. Those disinclined to cycle can use one of the resort's electric buggies.
The landed villas are the price leaders and for my money are just as nice as the stilted lagoon villas.
Vedana Resort is great place to take some time out from Vietnam travels to recharge the batteries. It's remote from the main tourism offerings of the area. Hue (40 minutes away), can be easily visited for a day trip. But if you have an interest in history, Hue deserves more time.
It's best to use Vedana Resort as a break from the tourist trail and relax here confining yourself to cycling in the immediate surrounds or visiting Bach Ma National Park.
There are some nice short cycling trips through nearby villages and there are likely some more adventurous rides into the national park as well. The resort is still developing these options and the available bicycles at this stage are not up to long cycling expeditions.
Staff are incredibly pleasant and helpful but there are still some language and training gaps to be addressed.
Brief
Lagoon views, some pool villas, wifi, restaurant, spa, low quality bicycles.
There are no comments yet.