The Nam Hai

I’m so fired up about my upcoming trip to Vietnam and Cambodia this December, I can hardly stand it. While researching places to visit, I stumbled across this paradisal resort near Hoi An which boasts 100 striking villas along the palm-fringed sands of White China Beach. The Nam Hai might just have to be a stop on my Southeast Asian journey. Have you been to Vietnam? I’d love to hear some of your recommendations!

(images via here and here)

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56 Comments

  1. Natalie wrote:

    Wow! absolutely breahtaking. love how its all lit up at night! http://www.fashionifancy.com

    10.15.12
    Reply
  2. Victrollia wrote:

    Beautiful! honestly….wtf, I’m so jealous

    10.15.12
    Reply
  3. Tabetha wrote:

    How stunning! Love the clean lines & drama– just beautiful

    http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/

    10.15.12
    Reply
  4. Benita wrote:

    YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

    For my thesis about fashion blogs I need your opinion. I would greatly appreciate if you could fill out my short questionnaire!

    http://ww2.unipark.de/uc/mhlheim_University_of_St__Gallen/1d15/

    Thank you so much!
    Benita

    10.15.12
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  5. I’ve never been, I would love to!

    My daily outfits in http://cravinngforbarneys.com

    10.15.12
    Reply
  6. ohhhh! this looks gorgeous! You definitely need to stop by 😉 xo, Alma
    http://www.soulofashopper.com

    10.15.12
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  7. rachael wrote:

    ooh what made you choose to go there?

    rachael

    10.15.12
    Reply
  8. We’re going to VN in Nov/Dec too and have been looking for tours. Basically we want to travel from Ho Chi Minh to the north. Apparently Sapa is beautiful. It’s a nice village. You must look up “Anh Do does Vietnam” He is an Aussie/Vietnamese comedian. It’s a mini series that aired last night on Channel 7! It’ll definately give you ideas of where to go. I only got to watch the final show.

    Good luck!
    Anne
    (ps. I’m viet and unfortunately I don’t know much about VN either.)
    http://frothandcloth.com

    10.15.12
    Reply
  9. Veronique wrote:

    This look incredible, you should definitely visit it during yourtrip!

    Xx
    http://Www.pretpenser.com

    10.15.12
    Reply
  10. wwoooww amazing place!!!

    http://thestelstyle.com/

    10.15.12
    Reply
  11. Gabrielle wrote:

    Wow! Need a holiday!!!!!!!!

    10.15.12
    Reply
  12. Holy cow, what a stunning hotel! And what a beautiful beach! I was wondering about Vietnam as a travel destination, this place screams go go go!(^^)!
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimonoxl

    10.15.12
    Reply
  13. maggie wrote:

    Holy cow! I’m going to Vietnam/Cambodia (+Laos/Thailand) for a month in December TOO! I’d love to hear what you’ve come up with and any tips I should be in the know about….that hotel looks incredible.

    10.15.12
    Reply
  14. Reptilia wrote:

    What a place!! Want to be there right now!

    http://www.justreptilia.com

    xx

    10.15.12
    Reply
  15. style-xyz wrote:

    looks so awesome! you are going to have great holiday! 🙂
    xx

    10.15.12
    Reply
  16. Nomadic D wrote:

    Vietnam is actually at the top of my list of dream vacation spots, everything I’ve heard about it is that it is breathtakingly beautiful. So jealous you’re going, but on the other hand I know you’re going to give us amazing tips… right?

    http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/

    10.15.12
    Reply
  17. My sister and her boyfriend are traveling around the world and just spent a bunch of time in Cambodia and Vietnam. Some posts on their time are:

    http://sisterdisco.com/2012/09/25/cambodia/
    http://sisterdisco.com/2012/10/02/vietnam/
    http://sisterdisco.com/2012/10/09/food-swings/

    They also shared their favorite travel apps http://sisterdisco.com/2012/09/20/a-little-help-from-our-friend-iphone/

    Enjoy!
    ~Lauren

    10.15.12
    Reply
  18. Luana wrote:

    Really beautiful !!
    I loved the pictures <3
    I'm posting accessories from Los Angeles on my blog!
    Take a look!

    http://www.thegavlaks.com

    10.15.12
    Reply
  19. Not So Gentle Reader wrote:

    Looks lovely! I have always wanted to visit that part of the world.

    May I ask what you do for a living that allows you to travel so extensively? I would change careers in a heartbeat if I could find one that would allow me to travel the way you do.

    10.15.12
    Reply
  20. Soledad wrote:

    Well… I have been to Nam Hai!!! Email me if you´d like more info. I do have tips on how to plan a 5 star trip – what to book and what to avoid!!!
    I´ll be more than happy to fill you in.
    Am really jealous now!
    Soledad

    10.15.12
    Reply
  21. Malin wrote:

    All I really can say is: eat Pho Bo. And if you happen to include Ho Chi Minh in your tour, you should try the Pho 2000 outlet near Ben Tanh market. They had Bill Clinton visiting years ago and still serve proudly pho bo under his steady glance 😉

    10.15.12
    Reply
  22. marisa wrote:

    http://marisachan.blogspot.com/search/label/vietnam

    go to the secret garden restaurant in hoi an. it’s delicious and they always have live local music; we thought it was a real hidden gem.

    10.15.12
    Reply
  23. Michela wrote:

    I just finished a 5 month tour of SEAsia and Vietnam was my favourite country that I visited! Hoi An was probably my favourite city, followed closely by Nha Trang and Sapa. Go to Kim Nung’s in Hoi An and get the chicken claypot- best thing I ate in Vietnam! If you have any questions- let me know!

    10.15.12
    Reply
  24. Ana wrote:

    Hoi An is a truly amazing town and I would recommend a day or overnight trip to Cham Islands as well. Chicken sandwich at 3 dragons restaurant was amazing.
    I would recommend taking the train from Da Nhang up to Hanoi…it’s not very luxurious but the views are spectacular and well worth it.
    Hanoi was a bit overwhelming at first but once we got used to it we really started to appreciate all the hidden secrets of the city. Of course Halong Bay is an absolute must.

    10.15.12
    Reply
  25. Tra wrote:

    Hi I’m Tra from Craftistas (http://member.ly/craftistas-craft-kits). I will be in Vietnam, too in December and and I am a Hanoi native. I would love to take you around to all the nooks and crannies that are the real charm of the city. And the food….you can’t go wrong with Vietnamese food. Doing a cooking class might not be a bad idea (they have a lot of that in Hoi An and you can also have cooking class on a Ha Long Bay cruise, too). Ha Long Bay is another place worth visiting. I’m so excited for you!! I’m truly a fan of your blog and would really love to help out/meet up there!!

    10.15.12
    Reply
  26. Nga wrote:

    Halong Bay was the best part of my trip last year. The views were unreal!

    10.15.12
    Reply
  27. Ilana C. wrote:

    I went to Vietnam this past summer, I was mainly in the southern part of the country. It is the most beautiful place in the world. My favorite places were Da Lat city, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc Island. Da Lat is a mountain city with some of the most amazing views I’ve ever seen, i went on an eight mile hike and at the top was astounded when i saw the 360 views of valleys, rivers, and jungles. I also enjoyed the best cup of hot chocolate ever at the top of the mountain. Nha Trang is a coastal more touristy city. There are various opportunities to go snorkeling and scuba diving in the coral reefs. Jumping off a boat into the bright turquoise water was a definite highlight of my trip. Phu Quoc island was also a highlight, i visited one of the top most beautiful beaches in the world, the white sand and blue water is worth the boat ride to the island. I visited a total of 8 cities in the southern region, if you need any names of hotels or resorts I’d be happy to help you out. I would do anything to go back to vietnam, I’m so jeaous!

    10.15.12
    Reply
  28. Sarah wrote:

    Such an amazing place!!!! had the best time with @micandchriseyewear

    10.15.12
    Reply
  29. ellie wrote:

    I went to Vietnam earlier this year, it was amazing, and Hoi An was probably my favorite city. Be sure to check out the restaurant “Streets” while you’re there. The restaurant is a program that takes adolescents that are either homeless or from high risk areas and gives them restaurant training and experience so they can find employment in the many resorts around the area. Our server was the sweetest kid and we had a great time.
    http://streetsinternational.org/

    If you make it up to Hanoi my favorite part was the Bia Hoi / fresh beer, places around the city. Its a bit dodgy but you get to hang with vietnamese as they enjoy some beers on the way home from work. Its a great time sitting on a plastic stool watching the city go by.

    10.16.12
    Reply
  30. phuc wrote:

    the best time to visit Vietnam is from March to April, all the beaches look gorgeous under the sun. I’m afraid that during December it’s a bit cold n the Hoi An beach doesn’t look as beautiful as it is during summer time.

    10.16.12
    Reply
  31. Nadja wrote:

    oh.my.god. lucky you!!! i’m absolutely jealous!!!! never been to vietnam, wonder how the food there might be…?
    your pictures look like paradise! ENJOY!

    http://www.violetlfeur.com

    10.16.12
    Reply
  32. Stella wrote:

    OMG!!!!!!! what a beautiful house with beautiful surroundings. I also want to go to this place.

    10.16.12
    Reply
  33. Maria wrote:

    Vietnam is awesome but LAOS is incredible!

    10.16.12
    Reply
  34. Aydan wrote:

    I am heading to The Nam Hai in December, among of few other spots! It looks amazing I cant wait for my trip!
    cakestoclosets.blogspot.com

    10.16.12
    Reply
  35. Erica wrote:

    Wow, thank you everyone for your generous offers and suggestions. Keep them coming, please! Will definitely report back after my trip! xx

    10.16.12
    Reply
  36. Jessica wrote:

    Wow wow wow! I have never travelled, but if I was able to, I would definitely go here!
    Please go here… Take some pictures… I want to know if it meets up to its pictures 🙂

    The Lovelorn

    10.16.12
    Reply
  37. In this moment I really need to go to a place like that!..

    http://streetlounge.blogspot.de/

    10.17.12
    Reply
  38. Madeleine wrote:

    If you are going to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, this hotel is really really nice http://www.heritagesuiteshotel.com/ So much better than all the chain hotels that are just outside of the city, this one is in the city centre and very personal and cosy. If you like a bit of alternative not touristic tours; we did a cycling trip from Siem Reap to the Tonle Sap lake through the countryside. It was a long ride, but soo good! Meeting all the local people and seeing how they live.

    And if you are going to Ho Chi Minh, which I loved, the Insider Saigon Vespa tour is great http://www.vietnamvespaadventures.com/tours/hochiminh . They take you to all these local (crafts) markets and great neighbourhoods – I promise that you will not see any other tourist during the entire day.

    10.17.12
    Reply
  39. Beatrice wrote:

    I was in Vietnam over the summer, and I love it!! You should take the bike tour of Hoi An. I really like it, they take you around the area, and inside small villages. Also check out Hue, it’s beautiful. la Residence is great, I stayed there for a week, and the customer service is wonderful. They have their own private tour, and the service is wonderful. The hotel is wonderful, the best in Hue. I hope you will have a great trip! I know I did. PS don’t try the La Perfum drink at the hotel, trust me!

    10.17.12
    Reply
  40. Mollie wrote:

    I just got back from a week in Hoi an. It was fantastic! This resort is a bit north of the “ancient town” so make sure to rent a scooter for your cruising around and traveling to and from town.
    Go to Le Banyan http://www.lebanyanbar.com/ on the quite end of the beach for some good food and drinks.
    Eat at Morning Glory for some delicious dinners.
    There are millions of tailors that do a really good job of copying clothing you bring in. So if you have some favorite pieces that you want multiples of, they can do it! However, the items i had them make based off of pictures I brought in, didn’t turn out so well.
    You can also get sandals, boots, and other shoes made.
    Have a great time!

    10.17.12
    Reply
  41. Leah wrote:

    i went to the nam hai a few years ago. it’s insanely beautiful. you MUST go. you will definitely say……….WTF?!
    also, go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and stay at the Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    10.17.12
    Reply
  42. Corina wrote:

    I travelled through South east asia three years ago and it was amazing. I fell in love with Vietnam and Cambodia. I don’t know any resorts there, basically I’ve stayed in backpackers, but it was nice anyway. Hoi An is lovely with it’s quaint houses and shops.
    There’s a tiny island in the south of Vietnam called Phu Quoc. If you have time it’s definitely worth to visit. You shouldn’t miss Ho Chi Min city and Hanoi either. Both cities are impressive, although they’re completely different.

    10.18.12
    Reply
  43. Hoi An is absolutely beautiful! In the old town, near the river at the entrance to the wet markets there is a little intersection. On one side is the Banana Split cafe – best spring rolls and salads you will ever try! Across from here there is an amazing tailor – copies everything perfectly and has the best fabric selection – leathers, chiffons and a great range of prints – make sure you take a couple of your favourite pieces of clothing and they will replicate them immaculately! Also do a cooking class. So much fun – Hoi An was my favourite place in Vietnam by a mile. Also rent jetskis! x

    10.18.12
    Reply
  44. beatriz silva wrote:
    10.20.12
    Reply
  45. katloi wrote:

    Vietnam is amazing. Unfortunately women travelers have been the target of poisoning in South East Asia… Check it out and pass it along to female travelers.

    http://m.npr.org/news/front/163303716

    10.21.12
    Reply
  46. Nhu Quynh wrote:

    Im a Hcm city native and ive been to Hoi An. One of the most stunningly beautiful places ive ever been to. Its a breathtaking village-like town. The secret garden restaurant is a nice spot to come and have a meal. Hoi An is especially beautiful in the morning, though u can only shop by noon. At night, around 9 or 10, they turn off most of the light except for the center of the town. A walk along the Hoai River to the shopping streets, there are people singing folksongs, kids running around, red lantern everywhere. Its the most romantic ,peaceful place in the world. And u should not pass Da Lat, dont go on tour, go on ur own. Rent a old car or taxi, ask them to take u everywhere round the city, up the hills, look at them old villa, hills where they grow roses all year round. A trip like that is about 500.000 Vnd, which is about 25dollars for me. Be careful though, dont let em trick u and make u pay so much, below 50$ is reasonable. Ask the receptionist to recommend the taxi or cars. Ive been to Da Lat 3 or 4 times, and i always want to come back. Hue is also worth a trip, with the rainy weather, old citadel, beautiful river. Hope u have a nice trip.

    10.21.12
    Reply
  47. anna wrote:

    i LOVE your blog and as an expat currently in cambodia i’ve been trying hard to find the supplies here to make some of your stuff–im missing crafting!!

    anyway–i live in phnom penh so can give you recs about cambodia but as for vietnam–hanoi, halong bay and saigon are amazing. mui ne beach is full of tourists in thongs (men and women..eek!)
    BUT there is an absolutely amazing store in hoi an–i believe its called avana, its on one of the main streets and just has gorgeous drapey anthropologie-with-a-twist clothing at pretty affordable prices. you can’t even buy the stuff online so i would stock up. (otherwise i thought hoi an was overrated unless you want to get 29473 things tailored).

    enjoy!!

    anna

    10.22.12
    Reply
  48. anna wrote:

    oh! and also, northern vietnam has AMAZING handwoven textiles that im sure you could do really cool stuff with–i’ve been using mine as book covers on handbound books. you can find them all over but especially in hanoi/sapa.

    10.22.12
    Reply
  49. an thuy wrote:

    well, if you go in winter I would recommend you the island in the south ( book immediate you arrive there, if not there wont be any flightseats , not kidding!) the island is called PHU QUOC.

    and if you cant get enough of sea, you might be hear of NHA TRANG, but if you really keen on going there, then I would recommend you ONLY Vinpearl luxury, its so overcrowded in Nha Trang, that the beach is pretty dirty but at VInpearl Luxury it aint. ANYWAY, DA NANG has the cleanest seaside 🙂

    10.22.12
    Reply
  50. Mere wrote:

    I was just in vietnam for a month and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I traveled alone and am a 25 year old american girl! i was totally safe, and the culture and food and people are wonderful. I’m actually going back in December to work in a school because I fell so deeply in love with it there. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend doing an easy riders motorcycle tour.I went from hoi an to dalat, but if i had longer i would have gone all the way to Pho Quoc. My guide was Tuan and if you do decide to go, ask for him and his father if you go with a friend. It was the adventure of a lifetime. We stayed with family’s in rural villages, and saw the most beautiful countryside. DO! IT!!! seriously. Also, other favorite part of my trip was taking the train to SAPA and doing homestays in the rural villages. That’s where I’m going back to teach! id love to fill you in! if you have any questions send me an email :). also, i love your blog! Cheers!!!

    10.22.12
    Reply
  51. Leigh wrote:

    I live in Phnom Penh. Let me know if you have any questions!

    11.14.12
    Reply
  52. Shawn Merz wrote:

    Hello honestlywtf bloggers, I’m originally from Laguna Beach, California but live in DaNang, Vietnam literally down the street from the Nam Hai. It really is a beautiful hotel. I would love to send an e-mail of suggestions of things to do near Hoi An as well as Da Nang. I am actually chronicling my time here in Vietnam via blog…www.shawnmerz.com-shameless self promotion. I apologize.

    11.23.12
    Reply
  53. Camille wrote:

    I stayed at the Nam Hai two months ago and let me tell you, it was such a beautiful one-of-a-kind experience. Everything is top-notch, from the food, the people, the scenery — everything. Since the hotel is only 20 minutes away from the historical city of Hoi An (a UNESCO world heritage site) I would recommend you going during a full moon, since there is a huge festival with gorgeous hand-crafter lanterns and amazing food. Also, make sure to grab a bowl of mi quang (Quang-style noodles) and mi cao lau (a traditonal Hoi An dish). Have a great trip!

    9.16.13
    Reply