Vietnam Off Script: Finding Luxury in the Quiet Places

It’s a strong set list and one that deserves to be listened to time and again, but if it starts to tire, Vietnam has a whole B-side that most people never hear. It’s full of quiet places where nature takes the lead, rivers announce themselves with sound long before they appear, and where the hardest choice is whether to keep walking or sit for another cup of tea.

The surprise? You don’t need to give up comfort to find these places. Some of Vietnam’s most remarkable hotels are hidden far from the usual routes. This is Vietnam for those who prefer a single perfect martini at sunset over a checklist of sights.

Mai Chau & Pu Luong

Everyone goes to Hanoi because, well, it's a sensation. But three hours from the buzzing capital lie these twin valleys that somehow nobody talks about. The landscape is every bit as dramatic—those same impossibly green rice terraces tumbling down hillsides—but you'll be sharing them with water buffalo and farmers, not Instagram tours.

Avana Retreat gets it exactly right: just 36 villas tucked among actual waterfalls and bamboo forests, with a pool bar that looks out over valleys most travellers don't even know exist. No playlist, just birds. No crowds at breakfast, just mist rolling through at dawn. It's the Vietnam you imagined before you arrived.

Phú Yên

A hidden gem, this section of coast nestled between Da Nang and Nha Trang—two places everyone knows—called Phú Yên. And somehow, despite being right in the middle, hardly anyone goes there. Which means you get long stretches of empty beach, fishing villages going about their business, and that increasingly rare feeling of actually discovering somewhere new.

Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô spread its villas across three different settings—some in rice paddies, some in the jungle, others right on the beach. They're not trying to make a statement; they're just blending into what's already there.

Bai Tu Long Bay

Look, Halong Bay is stunning. It's also super popular with many boats circling the towering karsts. Just next door, you will find the same beauty but with fewer crowds.

Bai Tu Long Bay, has the exact same geology—those surreal limestone pillars rising out of emerald water—but a fraction of the visitors. Heritage Line's new route on the Violet takes full advantage, with only six suites and a crew that knows every hidden cove and empty beach. You'll kayak into places where the only sound is your paddle hitting water. You'll swim in lagoons that feel genuinely private. And at sunset, you'll have a cocktail on deck without another boat in sight. It's what everyone thinks they're getting when they book Halong Bay, but actually get here instead.

Hoi An

Ok, this might not seem like a hidden gem. But, hear us out. Hoi An’s Old Town glows with lanterns and centuries-old facades, but the lanes can get crowded and the historic quarter busy with tourists. Outside the centre, along a quiet river bend, Namia River Retreat offers a slower rhythm.

From here, the town is still accessible—tailors setting up shop, markets clattering to life, streets glowing with early light—but it’s just as easy to stay back. Villas open onto water where dragonflies hover, gardens stay still in the heat of the afternoon, and dinner can be taken beside the river or on a private terrace. Rather than escape Hoi An, it reframes it: the intensity of the Old Town balanced by a place to step away.

“It’s only a short bicycle ride from Hoi An, or you can arrive by the resort’s boat along the Thu Bon River. A real highlight for me was visiting the Japanese Bridge and learning about its history from our private guide. After exploring the town, you can unwind in your private pool (every villa has one!) or enjoy your complimentary 90-minute spa treatment — one per guest, per day.” James Hart, Senior Asia Travel Specialist.

Sapa

Deep in the mountainous highlands, near the Vietnam/China border, lies a region that offers clear air and breathtaking views – Sapa. Most people do Sapa wrong: they book a hotel in town, do a half-day trek to the nearest village, take photos, and leave. They miss the entire point.

Topas Ecolodge sits way up on a ridge, miles from town, with views that just... keep going. From here, you trek properly—full days walking between villages, learning the history, understanding the culture, stopping for tea in people's homes, crossing rope bridges and getting genuinely tired.

“At the end of the day, you come back and take refuge in the lodge’s outstanding infinity pools, two wonderful restaurants, a spa, and stunning villas with private pools. A huge bonus is that it’s also based on great sustainability values and is involved with local village projects.” Jeff Roberts, Senior Asia Travel Specialist.

Go down to Sapa town for the Saturday night love market—it's a real tradition, not a tourist show, and absolutely worth it. But sleeping up at Topas means you're actually in the landscape, not just looking at it from a hotel window. That's the difference between visiting and experiencing.

Con Dao

For now, Con Dao still feels like a secret. Development is quietly underway, but much of the island remains blissfully unspoiled: jungly interiors, quiet beaches where you can walk for miles without seeing a soul, fishing villages that seem untouched by time.

Amid this setting, Six Senses Con Dao delivers true, world-class luxury. Villas are your own sanctuary by the ocean, service anticipates your needs before you even ask, and the design is so refined that every corner feels intentional. Step just beyond, and wander the town and its traditional markets, visit the local historical museum, its humbling prison sites, or help at the local turtle hatchery.

“For me travel is about creating memories, and the Six Senses Con Dao delivers this in spades! It was the most magical place I visited in Vietnam and is designed to reflect a Vietnamese fishing village. Waking up at 5am to release 97 baby turtles into the ocean on their 1.9km private, white sand beach before the sun rose will be something I will never forget. There is life outside the hotel too with private cultural or historical tours, perfect to understand their colonial past.” James Hart, Senior Asia Travel Specialist.