Intercontinental Danang, Vietnam

Traditional Vietnamese design has been creatively combined with modern architectural flair by Bill Besnley, a famed architect who has created a retreat that inhabits four levels Heaven, Sky, Earth, and Sea – linked by a funicular train climbing its way through the forest slopes. Heaven level is home to the reception, and the Son Tra Rooms and Suites which are one level up in size to the Classic Rooms, located on Sky level. The Heavenly Suites boast an expansive 130 square metre indoor and outdoor living experience and the Penthouse Suites even have their own pools. For the ultimate setting right on the ocean, choose the Seaside Villas, either on the rocks or on the beach. We’d recommend upgrading to the  Club InterContinental rooms for luxurious indoor-outdoor living, first-rate amenities, exclusive access to a private beach and swimming pool. Every detail of your stay is looked into and enhanced with the assistance of a dedicated butler service. All of the rooms boast dramatic views and the interiors drape you in Vietnamese-inspired décor. The bold black and white colour palette forms a classic backdrop against which carefully placed splashes of colour emerge. All accommodation is equipped with lavish bathroom amenities, including a separate bathtub, rainforest shower and couple’s vanity sinks.

With its remote location you are most likely to dine in the resort where you are spoilt for choice – Citroen, the main restaurant in the resort, with spectacular views and unique private dining booths floating over the hillside, serves up a combination of regional Vietnamese specialities and Mediterranean dishes. La Maison 1888 is designed in the style of a French manion and with a three Michelin starred chef you can see why this is their signature restaurant. Start or end your evening at 1888 with a drink at Buffalo Bar. Located right on the beach the Long Bar and Barefoot restaurant serves up drinks and light meals in the day so you don’t even need to leave your lounger by the pool or beach and in the evening Seafood is on the menu.

This is the kind of place you can really unwind, especially in the Harnn spa with its holistic approach using Asian medicine and Naturopathy. Relax by the sea on the pristine and private 700m stretch of white sandy beach or lounge by one of the two swimming pools. If you can tear the children away from the beach Planet Trekkers kids club has plenty of activities to keep them amused and teenagers have their own activity centre.

For the more active among us there is plenty of water sports and local activities from walks in the surrounding jungle, cycle rides to Basket Boat lessons – these are round, basket-shaped boats used for fishing or as transport to larger anchored vessels, these basket boats remain an essential everyday tool for fishing villages in Vietnam. You can learn how to pilot one of these basket boats yourself. Beyond the resort Hoi An is a 40 minute shuttle ride away, a charming UNESCO Heritage town just waiting to be explored. A little further lies the beautiful Cham Islands and the ruins of My Son where there are ancient temples dating as far back as the fourth century.  A slightly longer drive (100 km) north takes you to the imperial city of Hué – the capital of Vietnam’s last dynasty, the Nguyen, until it fell in 1945. Set on the banks of the Perfume River, the city is full of temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas – definitely an option as a day tour from Intercontinental.