Review / We review Amanoi, Aman’s luxury resort in Vietnam – where there is no shortage of adventures

The Japanese word komoberi translates to “sunshine filtering through leaves”. As the sun rises at 5.16am over Vinh Hy Bay hills, the residence at which we are staying – in Amanoi, Aman’s luxury resort in Vietnam – is dappled in sunlight, in a way which brings komoberi to mind.

“Golden hour” light casts strong shadows through iron-barred sliding doors, and however clichéd it may seem, the only thing you will hear are bird songs. You cannot escape the reality that you are in the middle of nature and it is embracing you … firmly. Aman is the Sanskrit word for “peace” and noi is the Vietnamese word for “place” after all.

Imagined and realised by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects in Kuala Lumpur and his team, the design is inspired by Vietnamese village architecture, however the Zen element of Japanese aesthetics is not lost here.

The flight from Hong Kong to Cam Ranh international Airport near the city of Nha Trang took about 2 hours – Amanoi is the closest Aman property to Hong Kong. Another 70 minutes in a minivan with seats resembling massage chairs, propped with cool wet towels, peanuts, dried mango and water, took us all the way through winding coastal roads towards Nui Chua National Park. We were treated to a glorious sunset that set the ocean aflame as we made our way to the destination.

There were no bells and whistles when we turned off the main road into Amanoi’s 100-acre grounds. A simple sign with its name was the only indication of the resort ahead. Groomed hedges led a white paved road to the entrance where our host – with a line-up of smiling butlers clad in white – awaited us at the Central Pavilion of this luxury facility.

It was already dark when we arrived and the tall grey columns that lined the huge corridor of steps towards the lobby entrance glowed in warm candlelight and soft lighting. There is no denying that this sight of the hotel was designed to impress. “It’s even more beautiful during the day when you can actually see the hills,” said Amanoi’s communication director, as we reached the first platform devoid of any external walls to give an unobstructed view of the wooded hills outside. Another turn up a flight of stairs brought us to the Main Restaurant where we were to enjoy our first dinner in Vietnam.

We stayed at their 5-bedroom residence at a rate of US$5,800 a night excluding taxes and fees, which came with a separate, communal living and outdoor dining area with infinity pool on a timber sun deck that occupied 1,000 square metres (10,764 square feet). Throughout our stay, Dur – our very own butler and buggy driver – tended to our every whim and need 24/7.