Review: Azerai Ke Ga Bay in Vietnam dazzles with sunsets and style
Set the scene
Adrian Zecha, a foundation partner of Regent Hotels International and the legendary creator of Aman resorts (now simply branded Aman), launched his Singapore-headquartered standalone group Azerai in 2017 and the luxury accommodation world instantly took notice, hailing 'transformative experiences' and outstanding design to rival the original Aman resorts.
After a debut in Luang Prabang, Laos, Zecha chose Vietnam as the destination to consolidate his Azerai brand, with a colonial-style property in Hue, followed by Azerai Ke Ga Bay, formerly Princess D Annam Resort & Spa, a mecca for golfers. Unsurprisingly, considering Zecha's credentials, the immaculately refurbished and expanded property is now one of the country's leading beach retreats.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay lies on a stunning stretch of sand.
The location
On the southeast coast of Vietnam in Phan Thiet, Lam Dong province, Azerai Ke Ga Bay is set amid 4.5 hectares of gardens scented with ginger and exotic herbs. It's a beautiful estate centrally sited near dunes on a 5km-long stretch of white sand overlooking the East Sea. The property is about 200km northeast from Ho Chi Minh City, accessed by road and rail. The destination is renowned for its spectacular sunsets over the South China Sea and certainly rates up there with the best beach spreads of, say, Bali, Lombok and southern Thailand. To the east is Hon Ba Island with its 19th-century lighthouse built by the colonial French to aid navigation.
Private estate vibes at Azerai Ke Ga Bay.
The vibe
This is five-star territory, with immaculate service and an easy-breezy feel amid terraces, lawns and pavilions. There's an understated sense of fine interior design, with no flashy gold touches or designer bling. Expect glossy white surfaces and a soothing approach that's quietly comfortable and innately stylish. No strict dress code applies but elegantly casual beachwear is appropriate. During my visit, French and northern European guests are enjoying a southern hemisphere break, while many Australian travellers are covering itineraries with other regional destinations, including Thailand.
Expect light and bright surfaces.
I overhear guests praising the resort's sustainability choices, including solar panels and low-energy LED lighting. With little ones or teens in tow, it's reassuring that there are expertly staffed and equipped leisure options. Check the kids' club and a games room for table tennis and indoor activities; play pétanque or beach volleyball or dip in the property's two pools, nicely set in a peaceful enclave surrounded by fragrant frangipani trees. The entire estate feels boundless, heliconia bushes and banyan trees add jolts of colour and welcome shade, and there are ample spaces to relax and wander.
The room
A description of 'room' barely does justice to the accommodation. The 57-strong inventory choice here covers suites, villas and pavilions, all as comfy and classy as the categories suggest. Consider a pool villa, accommodating two adults and a child across 130 sqm of indoor space. There's a private courtyard with petite plunge pool and outdoor furniture. Natural stone, smooth pebbled surfaces and timbers have been locally sourced. Expect a pastel palette, soft rattan matting and organic textures across a flow-through design, smart bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, Vietnamese artworks and plenty of natural light. The bedding and pillows are luxuriously soft; laundry service is fast and efficient.
Space galore in the rooms.
The action
The beach is fun central. Complimentary activities abound, from body boarding and beach net fishing to pétanque, kite flying and beach volleyball. Use of some equipment, such as catamarans and kayaks, incurs a rental fee, and lessons can be booked for windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, plus enjoyable hands-on cooking classes.
Guests can take part in beach net fishing.
Food and drink
Unusually for this part of the world, menu items at Azerai Ke Ga Bay are labelled with dietary information, such as containing gluten, nuts or dairy, with alternative options available. Whether western style or Vietnamese staples, the dishes are consistently delicious. Breakfast on the alfresco Terrace, which has lovely sea views and runs on a leisurely timetable from 6.30am to 10am, is a standout, featuring faultless eggs benedict and crab cakes plus plenty of continental selections, freshly baked bread and pastries plus local specialties.
Drink in the sea views from the terrace.
I've heard it said that dining Vietnamese style is like "eating a garden" and it's true. Think: lemongrass, ginger, coriander, bird's-eye chillies, mint, basil and lime. It's fresh, yummy, and virtuous. A banh mì crunchy baguette roll is a great snack option for lunch, layered with chopped egg salad and a range of spicy condiments on the side. Or go for generously plump rice-paper rolls and chilli-speckled green mango salad.
There are cocktails and mocktails available, all very colourful and amply garnished, but the must-try local drink is a bright pink dragonfruit smoothie and there are tours of a nearby farm where this tropical fruit, packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, is grown. I'm told they even use dragonfruit as an exfoliant for the resort's wellness spa scrub treatments.
The dining is fresh and delicious.
Another food and beverage space is the slightly fancier Dining Room, with light but substantial menus. The sleek and comfy Living Room is a bar-style option for lolling about; I overhear two guests ordering Purple Lady cocktails (as luridly coloured as they sound) and debating that the venue should have been called The Drinking Room.
Alternative option
Amanoi, a member of the Aman portfolio originally conceived by Adrian Zecha in 2013, is set in Nui Chua National Park, overlooking Vinh Hy Bay 55km south of Cam Ranh regional airport. It's ultra-luxe, with tariffs to match, but provides an intriguing glimpse into the ethos and style that Zecha pioneered in the world of Asian resorts, a contribution still considered unrivalled. A more local option near Azerai Ke Ga Bay is family-friendly Sonata Resort & Spa on Tien Thanh Beach, highly rated by booking.com users.
What's hot
All the little details are immaculately considered. Team members speak better English than at other Vietnamese resorts I've sampled. And then there's The Azerai Spa where an Asian Wave Massage is sure to send you into a blissful reverie. Instead of a recorded soundtrack, expect the gentle sound of the ocean and smooth strokes as therapists apply fragrant oils. There are similarities to a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage in the wave technique, with elements of shiatsu, Thai and Swedish, but pressure and style can be adapted to guests' preferences.
Use of the steamroom and sauna is complimentary and the spa menu covers the expected facials, scrubs, hand and foot therapies, wraps and hair treatments, plus yoga, reflexology and meditation sessions are popular. The gym has high-tech cardiovascular and strength-training equipment (if you must).
The hotel spa is a haven of relaxation.
What's not
As a resort that straddles the divide between couples and families, and seems very popular with honeymooners, also be aware that there could be a preponderance of children during school holidays, so enquire when booking dates.
The verdict: 8.5/10
There are bigger and flashier beach resorts in south Vietnam but few with such a stunning beach setting, intuitive staff and a groovy sense of slightly retro modernist design across multiple accommodation categories. The estate is easy to walk around; meals are leisurely and there's an excellent afternoon tea service served from 3.30pm to 4.30pm plus in-room dining.
This is a place of generosity and goodwill, even down to the branded beach totes and plentiful bottled water in each room, free wi-fi, ample tea and coffee-making supplies, and excellent bath amenities. Definitely one for the 'must go back' files.
This writer was a guest of Azerai Ke Ga Bay.
Originally published as Review: Azerai Ke Ga Bay in Vietnam dazzles with sunsets and style
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