Exploring the Best of Vietnam and Cambodia

Designed by "staritect" du jour Bill Bensley and inspired by the Hanoi Opera House, the new Capella Hanoi will incorporate the capital's historic and opulent colonial-era architecture. Located within Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district, the property is comprised of 47 palatial-style guest rooms, lavishly decorated in contrasting dark and light tones with lashings of color, signature of Bensley's aesthetic.

This richly historic 358-room French colonial masterpiece opened in 1901 and is one of Vietnam's finest hotels, with luxuriously appointed rooms, attentive staff and gracious service. It is ideally located in central Hanoi and houses a beautiful interior garden. Excellent French cuisine is served at Le Beaulieu, and Hanoi specialties are offered at Spice Garden. The hotel has a well-equipped fitness center with cardio machines and weights, as well as a swimming pool and spa offering massage treatments. All of the guest rooms have broadband Internet access and are decorated in an opulent, neo-classical style.

The best way to explore the vast karst-strewn waters of Halong Bay is aboard a private junk cruise, which allows you to spend two or three days discovering the area from the comfort of your own luxury cabin, with a crew at your service and superb onboard dining. You'll spend your nights moored in a quiet area of the bay and your days cruising the waters observing the spectacular scenery, as well as visiting local fishing villages, kayaking and swimming. What better way to enjoy Halong Bay than sipping a cold drink on the deck of your own private junk as the sun goes down?

Designed by "staritect" du jour Bill Bensley and inspired by the Hanoi Opera House, the new Capella Hanoi will incorporate the capital's historic and opulent colonial-era architecture. Located within Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district, the property is comprised of 47 palatial-style guest rooms, lavishly decorated in contrasting dark and light tones with lashings of color, signature of Bensley's aesthetic.

This richly historic 358-room French colonial masterpiece opened in 1901 and is one of Vietnam's finest hotels, with luxuriously appointed rooms, attentive staff and gracious service. It is ideally located in central Hanoi and houses a beautiful interior garden. Excellent French cuisine is served at Le Beaulieu, and Hanoi specialties are offered at Spice Garden. The hotel has a well-equipped fitness center with cardio machines and weights, as well as a swimming pool and spa offering massage treatments. All of the guest rooms have broadband Internet access and are decorated in an opulent, neo-classical style.

Nestled amongst the tribal villages in the rolling, green valley of Mai Chau you will find the remote Mai Chau Lodge. This entirely unique approach to cultural exploration and relaxation combined will satiate every one of your senses and adventurous expectations. A fantastic blend of modern comfort, breathtaking natural beauty, rich history and culture, will leave you with lasting memories of your stay in Vietnam. Your Mai Chau experience is sure to be memorable and action packed, with a full range of activities - from swimming to kayaking, to cycling and rock climbing - you will not have a dull moment during your stay. The Mai Chau Lodge offers guests comfortable accommodation with a choice of mountain or valley views, along with access to all of the hotel’s impressive facilities. Rooms are tastefully designed with a focus on textiles and traditional furnishings and are equipped with Western style bedding. High ceilings and large windows enhance your space giving the room a peaceful and uplifting feel. 

Bringing a touch of luxury to remote Son La, Muong Thanh Luxury Son La is a contemporary hotel with modern furnishings. Spacious rooms are dressed in elegant dark wood, navy, and beige furnishings with large windows for ample sunlight and mountain and lake views. Ensuite bathrooms are also spacious and feature pale marble tiling and bathtubs. Hotel facilities and amenities include a 24-hour front desk, indoor pool, hot tub, on-site ATM, restaurant, fitness centre, bar, lounge, and complimentary WIFI throughout the property.

The Muong Thanh Hotel is a familiar, western-style oasis in the midst of a beautiful, yet remote and foreign landscape, a welcome comfort to travelers. The 4-star hotel is located in the colorful center of  in Dien Bien Phu. The newly upgraded hotel is equipped with two restaurants, a spa, swimming pool, bar, discotheque, sports facilities and tourism center.  Centrally located, guests can explore the surrounding sites including the famous, historic battlefields and restaurants to try some of the local specialties with ease.  Guests may expect comfortable, spacious, clean and well-furnished rooms along with professional and warm service. 

Sapa is a verdant, mountainous town located in northern Vietnam known for its rich ecological and cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the Chinese border. With picturesque rice terraces and forested hills surrounding the town — and the Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, located nearby — a stay in Sapa will leave visitors feeling like they’ve escaped to an old-world settlement that dates back to the colonial era of French Indochina. The Hotel de la Coupole Sapa, a luxury hotel that fuses design elements of elegant French colonial style with the colorful touches of native hill tribes, stands as the only five-star international hotel in Sapa. The Hotel de la Coupole features 249 accommodations, an on-site shopping mall, and a selection of bars and restaurants. Other amenities include air conditioning and heating (more sought-after than one might think in a mountain climate famed for occasional “four-season days”), numerous meeting and banquet rooms, and a Spa and Fitness Center complete with a sauna and massage parlor. And for those wishing to venture out and explore the surrounding mountains, waterways, and lush slopes, local guides are easily hired, and transportation is conveniently arranged either through the hotel or by local means.

Guests traveling between Hanoi and Lao Cai can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience through Northern Vietnam aboard a luxurious overnight express train. Premium sleeping cabins feature wood-paneled and equipped with air conditioning and reading lights. 

Nestled in the romantic Muong Hoa valley among majestic mountains and moss-green rice terrace plots lies Pao's Sapa Leisure Hotel. This modern hotel of 223 rooms seamlessly blends the Sapa cultural heritage with high-class accommodations and stunning vistas. Rooms start at 98 square feet and all feature balconies with views of the surrounding mountains and rice terraces. Air conditioning, LCD television, and complimentary Wi-Fi are standard, while upgraded rooms include full bathtubs. Suites offer additional space and king-size beds, and the 515 square feet of the expansive Presidential Pao's Suite is fitted with two bedrooms, a living room, and an inviting Jacuzzi. The hotel's A Linh Restaurant starts the day with a buffet breakfast and ends with a selection of genuine local dishes. There is also the Lobby Lounge, which serves Western dishes, and the MK Rooftop Bar where guests can enjoy colorful cocktails and Asian-inspired light bites. The on-site Fitness Center is well-equipped for cardio and strength training; it also includes a swimming pool on the second floor that looks out across the mountains of Sapa through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Located 18 kilometers from the town of Sapa, Topas enjoys an idyllic mountaintop location with stunning views over Sapa Valley. Its 25 individual lodges offer double or twin occupancy, and come with traditional thatched roofs and hot water. Amenities are kept to a minimum to ensure the hotel does not generate too much waste. The restaurant specialises in hearty Vietnamese fare and is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, on a buffet or set menu basis. The lounge offers drinks, books and games.

Located approximately five miles from the famed Angkor Wat, Amansara is sleek, stylish and superbly private. Formerly the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, the grounds were originally laid out in 1962 and designed to embrace both modern design and the rich artistic legacy of Cambodia. This tranquil oasis is surrounded by beautiful gardens and includes a curved slate swimming pool. The 24 suites are decorated in a classic Indochinese palette of cool gray, pristine white, dark timber and ivory, and all include a private courtyard and soothing water features; 12 suites are equipped with private swimming pools. The Roof Garden, shaded by trees, is the ideal venue for relaxing by candlelight with cocktails, or for invigorating morning yoga sessions. The Spa, which has four treatment rooms, focuses on therapeutic Cambodian techniques using organic products. Every suite has access to its own remork and driver. On the 2007 Zagat Survey list of the world’s best hotels, Amansara was ranked number two for service.

This traditional Khmer-styled hotel is located close to Angkor Wat, offering 62 spacious rooms and suites. Each are equipped with satellite flat-screen televisions, DVD players, Wi-Fi connectivity and a freeform terrazza bathtub. The rooms and suites are decorated with jewel-toned silk and bamboo furnishings with a floor-to-ceiling window. La Residence offers two on-site restaurants serving Khmer and barbecue cuisines, and a bar and lounge overlooking the pool and garden. Other facilities include the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 listed Kong Kea Spa, two shopping boutiques, a fitness center and a large outdoor swimming pool. La Residence d’Angkor is approximately 20 minutes from the nearest airport.

A grand, historic hotel, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor opened its doors in the early 1930s. It is located on the main road to Angkor Wat and was planned so that it aligns on a north-south axis with Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Now sensitively restored, the hotel’s classic style coupled with its renewed modernity complement the grandeur of Angkor Wat. The hotel has 119 guest rooms and suites, each tastefully appointed with Art Deco-styled furnishings and Cambodian objets d’art. Guest services include the Raffles Spa, a fitness center, and tennis court. Elegant dining options range from the formal restaurant 1932, to the Café d’Angkor, to the wide selection of cocktails at the famed Elephant Bar.

The acclaimed architect Bill Bensley has worked his magic on this gorgeous hotel, creating an altogether contemporary space with Angkorian-inspired designs throughout. As well as looking the part, Shinta Mani Angkor enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Siem Reap, tucked away down a quiet, leafy road in the city’s famous old French quarter. The position is ideal for touring the town, enjoying the splendid array of Asian-French dining options and of course, taking a trip to Siem Reap’s prized possession: Angkor Wat. The temple complex is only a 15-minute tuk-tuk or car ride away from the hotel, and other nearby attractions include the National Museum, night market and the Royal Gardens. The range of rooms at Shinta Mani have a distinctly boutique feel to them, with quaint, artistic references to the ancient history of Cambodia sitting alongside a wide range of facilitates making this a relaxing and comfortable place to stay. Away from the rooms, guests can take a dip in the inviting garden-side pool, ease their aching muscles in the hotel’s spa, or enjoy one of their many swanky restaurants and bars spread across the hotel and surrounding area.