Life's a beach
The Australian Women's Weekly|July 2023
Vietnam is renowned for its rich history, buzzing cities, natural beauty and unique cuisine. But it’s also becoming an alluring destination for luxury resort stays.
GENEVIEVE GANNON
Life's a beach

I’m in a minivan, speeding past southern Vietnam’s vast sugarcane fields and the pleasures that draw so many travellers to this beautiful land: ancient temples, vibrant markets and steaming pho served at roadside noodle houses. But for now, I’m leaving them behind to delve into the country’s more luxurious offerings. The sparkling beauty of Vietnam’s winding cerulean coastline has made it a Mecca for beach resorts, and that’s where I’m heading for some recreation and relaxation.

My first stop is Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort. Just two hours from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the Mediterranean-inspired resort has a reputation for luxury. I’d landed in HCMC just 12 hours earlier, and even though the flying time is a relatively civilised eight hours from Sydney, the prospect of a post-flight pampering is always welcome. So, I’m delighted when my host guides me to the YHI Spa, where a traditional Vietnamese oil massage is on offer. Set among idyllic still water and lush greenery, the spa is a haven. All is silent except for the slap of koi fish in the nearby pond, and my stress quickly melts away.

Generally, I prefer sightseeing and hiking holidays to sunbathing and relaxing, but the sunlight is dancing on the ocean and as I drink a cocktail at the beach-front level pool, I reconsider my allegiance. My host has arranged dinner under the stars at Muôi, Meliá’s modern Vietnamese restaurant, where the very best spicy, tangy, peanut-y, chilli fresh elements of Vietnamese cuisine are on offer.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLYView all
Hitting a nerve
The Australian Women's Weekly

Hitting a nerve

Regulating the vagus nerve with its links to depression, anxiety, arthritis and diabetes - could aid physical and mental wellbeing.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Take me to the river
The Australian Women's Weekly

Take me to the river

With a slew of new schedules and excursions to explore, the latest river cruises promise to give you experiences and sights you won’t see on the ocean.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
The last act
The Australian Women's Weekly

The last act

When family patriarch Tom Edwards passes away, his children must come together to build his coffin in four days, otherwise they will lose their inheritance. Can they put their sibling rivalry aside?

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN
The Australian Women's Weekly

MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN

When Alexei Navalny died in a brutal Arctic prison, Vladimir Putin thought he had triumphed over his most formidable opponent. Until three courageous women - Alexei's mother, wife and daughter - took up his fight for freedom.

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
The wines and lines mums
The Australian Women's Weekly

The wines and lines mums

Once only associated with glamorous A-listers, cocaine is now prevalent with the soccer-mum set - as likely to be imbibed at a school fundraiser as a nightclub. The Weekly looks inside this illegal, addictive, rising trend.

time-read
10 mins  |
July 2024
Jenny Liddle-Bob.Lucy McDonald.Sasha Green - Why don't you know their names?
The Australian Women's Weekly

Jenny Liddle-Bob.Lucy McDonald.Sasha Green - Why don't you know their names?

Indigenous women are being murdered at frightening rates, their deaths often left uninvestigated and widely unreported. Here The Weekly meets families who are battling grief and desperate for solutions.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2024
Growing happiness
The Australian Women's Weekly

Growing happiness

Through drought flood and heartbreak, Jenny Jennr's sunflowers bloom with hope, sunshine and joy

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
"Thank God we make each other laugh"
The Australian Women's Weekly

"Thank God we make each other laugh"

A shared sense of humour has seen Aussie comedy couple Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall conquer the world. But what does life look like when the cameras go down:

time-read
7 mins  |
July 2024
Winter baking with apples and pears
The Australian Women's Weekly

Winter baking with apples and pears

Celebrate the season of Australian apples and pears with these sweet bakes that will keep the midwinter blues away.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2024
Budget dinner winners
The Australian Women's Weekly

Budget dinner winners

Looking for some thrifty inspiration for weeknight dinners? Try our tasty line-up of low-cost recipes that are bound to please everyone at the table.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024