Days 132 & 133: Ninh Van Bay

Another day bed
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Gone upmarket for two nights as we’ve a voucher for accommodation from Jo & Jamie, who won it on their honeymoon whilst at a sister resort last year. All in we pay only $100 transfer fee plus a couple of more expensive (but really good) meals, having been cheap enough to take some market bought Diet Coke with us for the ‘room’! Usual price is somewhere around $800 per night (ouch). At a guess the pick up from the $30 a night Le Suisse was a first for them!

To quote Lonely Planet on the resort:

This place dosen't really exist ......

Draughty Lounge
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“This place doesn’t really exist – except in an alternate reality populated by European royalty, film stars and the otherwise rich and secretive. Occupying a secluded beach at the end of a dense jungle covered peninsular north of Nha Trang, there are no roads to the secure home of Evason Hideaway and Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara. Access is strictly restricted to guests only, via a half hour ride on the resort’s speedboat from a landing point 14kms north of Nha Trang. The resort even has its own time zone – setting the clocks an hour ahead in an effort to encourage guests to enjoy the sunrise. The traditionally inspired architecture and the dirt tracks between buildings give the illusion of a jungle village – albeit one where every dwelling is an elegant two storey villa, each with its own swimming pool and round the clock butler service. As you would hope for the price, the facilities and attention to detail are superb, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the setting is simply magical.”

Goodbye sweet luxury
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In truth that might under sell it, it’s just an incredible place. The villas alone are spectacular with so much space and more loungers, day beds, beds, recliners and chairs than we actually could get round using in only 2 days. Being shown round the our beach villa by Thoy (our butler) we had to try hard not to grin too much and give the game away that this isn’t our usual level of accommodation.

First afternoon was a little overcast but the rest of the time was sunny and warm, so we spent most of our time just sitting reading by the pool. Only made it into the pool once as it was freezing! I’m guessing that if it were a little warmer (say 30C instead of 25C) it would (a) be more inviting and (b) heat up a little more; but as it was, a quick 5 min dip was more than enough before running through the villa for a hot shower in the enclosed back yard (a little weird at first showering outdoors).

Ninh Van Bay
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In the spirit of paying as little as possible for this place it was fortunate that our first night happened to be the guest & host get together with a couple of hours of free beer and wine.

All good things must come to an end so after a very hearty breakfast on Saturday morning it’s off to more modest lodgings at about 1/20^th of the price in Ho Chi Minh.

Thanks J&J – looking forward to moving those sleepers already!