David Ho pops over to Vietnam for a visit to Hoiana Resort & Golf integrated resort

Hoi An is the destination in Vietnam that even the Vietnamese themselves flock to for vacations. With its heritage town, beautiful beaches, great dining, and shopping, it seems to have it all as a tourism hotspot.

Just about 30 minutes from Hoi An Ancient Town, there is another place that seems to have it all – Hoiana Resort & Golf. Located along a stretch of white-sand coastline, the integrated resort promises luxury, relaxation, and adventure for all travellers.

The sprawling complex is comprised of four properties—New World Hoiana Beach Resort, New World Hoiana Hotel, Hoiana Hotel & Suites, and Hoiana Residences. Our stay for this trip was at New World Hoiana Beach Resort. The minute we draw the curtains back in our luxurious ocean view room, we are greeted with the dazzling sight of the horizon and a bird’s eye view of the resort’s sprawling grounds.

While it would be easy to just stay and soak up the view from the breezy balcony, there is much exploring we want to do. After an arrival lunch of Vietnamese classics at The Edge, one of 20 restaurants within the resort, I make my way to Hoiana Shores Golf Club. Designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., it offers a challenging but fun 18-hole course that has been dubbed by some as one of the best golfing experiences in Asia.

With ocean views and the Cham Islands as the backdrop, I get a putt-putt/miniature golf lesson from the instructor and quickly learned to land two consecutive holes in one. Whether you are a veteran at the sport or a complete beginner like myself, this is worth a visit if you are looking for a golfing experience.

If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other ways to keep yourself occupied during a stay at Hoiana. One could hit up the state-of-the-art gyms here, book a pickleball lesson with a trainer, or even visit the two casinos on the grounds filled with slot machines and live table games. But I’m more in the mood to chill out during my limited time here, so I opt for the sauna and jacuzzi at the Downtime Renew spa instead.

Now, a visit to a resort in the tropics is not complete without some time by the water on the cards. The resort offers direct access to the pristine beach, with activities like stand-up paddleboarding, surfing and beach cycling available. But I decide to spend my time at the resort’s many pools as research for this review instead. The most scenic is the infinity pool on the 16th floor of Hoiana Hotel & Suites, with an edge that looks like it spills into the ocean. This has become a bit of an Instagram hotspot, especially at sunrise or sunset.

I was also given the privilege of having access to Hide Out, a set of four exclusive beachfront pool houses that can each accommodate up to four guests in complete seclusion. If you are here with a group, this is the way to get that villa pool experience. To make it feel truly luxurious, each pool house comes with floating champagne and berries, with dedicated access to the beach facilities.

But my personal favourite pool can be found at Nox Beach Club, where one can easily stay from day to night. The gorgeous pool here connects to four restaurants, two bars, cabanas and a 2,700-square-meter play club to park the kids. During my stay, I had some excellent dinners there, namely at Osteria and Seafood Shack. Nightcap options are plentiful here too and I would recommend having a cocktail by the Beach Club Bar, with the pool all lit up and aglow under the starry night sky.   

Speaking of drinks, a cocktail at Quang Nam House Lounge & Bar is also a must do here. The two-floor lounge is tastefully decorated, and buzzy but never noisy. When I return warm and thirsty from a quick shopping trip to Hoi An Ancient Town using the resort’s shuttle buses, it feels like a real sanctuary to come here, cool down, and unwind over a tipple or two.

Before I know it, my stay draws to an end. For my last meal of this trip, I make a visit to Charred, a restaurant at Hoiana Residences. A quick tour of the residential side shows it to be just as lovely as the other properties that make up Hoiana Resort & Golf.

After a few days here, it’s easy to see how one might wish to return here as either a guest or even a permanent resident. Whatever it is, Hoiana Resort & Golf has it all for you under one roof.

Also see: #review: An escape into Balinese traditions at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape