VIETNAM `


FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE NAM HAI, HOI AN An abundance of tropical greenery and a long white-sand strip of private beach set the stage for this glorious beachside bolthole. Its 100 villas span 11 categories and are hidden among lush gardens and fragrant frangipani trees. A three-bedroom Ocean-View Villa EQOGU YKVJ C UJCTGF NQWPIG RTKXCVG KPƂPKV[ RQQN CPF VJG HTKGPFNKGUV butler service. Oriental-style bedrooms feature stylish dark wood and outdoor rain showers, marble baths and furnished terraces. At VJG EGPVTG QH VJG TGUQTV VJTGG KPƂPKV[ RQQNU ECUECFG FQYP XCTKQWU levels of landscaped gardens, fringed by coconut palms. Two restaurants – Cafe Nam Hai and La Sen – provide


Vietnamese and international fare. Alternatively, clients can try making their own at the on-site Cooking Academy. Nearby Hoi An might entice you out of resort, but there’s also plenty of reasons to stay: take to the ocean to play on one of the property’s many water toys; try all variants of yoga in the new yoga pavilion; or head next FQQT VQ 6JG 0CO *CKoU ETQYP LGYGN GKIJV ƃQCVKPI VTGCVOGPV TQQOU RGTEJGF QXGT C ECTR CPF NQVWU ƂNNGF RQPF VJCV OCMG WR YJCV KU consistently voted as one of Four Seasons’ best spas. BOOK IT: A three-bedroom Ocean-View Pool Villa starts from $2,705 per night excluding tax and service charge. FOURSEASONS.COM/HOIAN


Watching the boats come back in is a must-see spectacle, I’m told, as I bob, bleary-eyed, in another of Jack’s boats the following morning


anchovies and shrimp, and – on good days – tuna and small shark. Watching the boats come back in is a must- see spectacle, I’m told, as I bob, bleary-eyed, in another of Jack’s boats the following morning. At 5am, it’s perhaps the only time Vietnam in June is cool, and I clutch a mug of ginger tea as I wait for the sun to rise. 7i ÃÌ  «iÀviVÌ ÃÌiÃà >à > yiiÌ v L>Ìà appear on the horizon, a disc of burnt orange emerging from two peaks on Cham Islands. Rigged with large light bulbs and traditional bamboo baskets, the ships look almost pirate- like, but the weary locals on board send friendly Ü>Ûið 7i vÜ Ìi Ì Ìi À} wÃ >ÀiÌ] ÜiÀi Ìi wÃiÀi½Ã ÜÛià >Ài Ü>Ì} to take over the daily ritual in an impressive show of team effort. They clean, sort and sell the wÃ] >}}}  ÃÀ ÛVià >` V>Ìi}ÀÃ} the product into coloured containers with remarkable speed, while the men play cards over a hard-earned beer. Back on the boat, breakfast is served: fresh sea bass caught just hours before, grilled lightly over hot coals and drizzled with a healthy spritz v i ÕVi° Ì>i > LÌi° Ì Ü>à Þ wÀÃÌ Ìi in Vietnam, though hopefully not my last.


BOOK IT: Qatar Airways offers up to four connections per week from Heathrow and Gatwick to Da Nang. Economy-class tickets start from £671. Business-class tickets start from £3,919. QATARAIRWAYS.COM


88 ASPIRE SEPTEMBER 2019


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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