The first phase of the multi-billion-dollar Hoiana Resort and Golf in Da Nang already boasts three hotels, an 18-hole course and a casino. Here’s why this rising destination is drawing visitors
Tourists dreaming of a getaway to Vietnam may call to mind its bustling capital Hanoi in the north, the serene beauty of Halong Bay in the northeast or the vibrant street life of Ho Chi Minh City in the country’s south. Look to the midpoint of Vietnam, however, and travellers will find a coastal gem on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia.
Da Nang International Airport connects the world to the largest city in central Vietnam, home to several Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Hue, the My Son ruins and the Old Town of Hoi An.
Once a major port, Hoi An still boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage. Located south of the airport, a further 15-minute drive takes you to Hoiana Resort and Golf, an ongoing US$4 billion ($5.35 billion) development project spanning 1,000 ha of beachfront land.
Touted as Vietnam’s pre-eminent luxury integrated resort, the stunning 4km beachfront complex houses three luxury hotels managed by Hong Kong’s Rosewood Hotel Group.
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First, the Hoiana Hotel & Suites counts 141 spacious suites over 16 storeys, with room sizes starting at 70 sq m. Opened in 2020, the property’s most luxurious offering is its three sprawling Sky Pool Suites. At a sprawling 215 sq m, the suites include separate bedrooms and living rooms, spacious sun terraces, private pools and full ocean views.
The lobby of the suites-only hotel is fronted by The Terrace, an open kitchen-style restaurant offering international a la carte dining, while the tower is topped off by The Edge — not affiliated to this paper — a rooftop lounge and bar with unblocked views of the South China Sea.
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Aside, the resort’s New World Hoiana Hotel has been welcoming guests since July 2022. Its 476 guestrooms balance comfort and convenience, and all rooms come with balconies. New World Hoiana boasts a family pool and a 24-hour fitness centre behind its spacious lobby — offering similar but separate facilities from the Hoiana Hotel & Suites’ high-rise infinity pool and gym.
Guests are bound to enjoy breakfast at Aroma, New World Hoiana’s 324-seater allday restaurant, which overlooks the family pool on the ground floor. Indoor and alfresco dining will also be available at Charred, the hotel’s upcoming 124-seater poolside grill.
Completing the resort’s current trio of properties is Hoiana Residences, home to 270 luxurious apartments in various configurations. Solo travellers or couples may opt for the 49-53 sq m studio room, while larger groups may prefer the one-, two- or three-bedroom residences, with the largest room offering 169 sq m of space. The two largest room types come fully furnished and equipped with an oven, refrigerator, washer and dryer.
With an adjoining lobby to New World Hoiana, guests at the Residences are welcome to use its facilities. At the foot of the Residences are a 24-hour Korean-style minimart and the Ylang Ylang Spa, the resort’s second after the Tranquility Lounge atop Hoiana Hotel & Suites.
Golfing and gaming
With Da Nang attracting a golfing clientele — particularly from South Korea — Hoiana is perhaps most well-known for its golf course.
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The Hoiana Shores Golf Club is an 18-hole links course, characterised by sandy coastland. The championship golf course marks American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr’s first foray into Vietnam.
Closer to home, the 84-year-old’s firm also designed the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden Course, as well as the Palm and Lake Courses at the former Raffles Country Club.
“The golfing profile of Vietnam probably has risen faster than any country on earth,” reads a description on Jones’ company webpage. “Hoiana Shores is one of the reasons why.”
Stretching to 71 par across 7,000 yards, Hoiana Shores and its designers acknowledge the “challenging” nature of its course, with unusually large greens and spirited winds offering a taste of the Irish links.
To bring what Jones’ architects call “soft links” to Vietnam’s tropical climate, the designers employed special strands of drought-tolerant turfgrass, guaranteeing “firm and fast” play.
On the green, each hole is marked not by a flag but by a red lantern, a nod to the lights that dot the Old Town of Hoi An by night.
Hoiana Shores was recognised as the Best Golf Course in Vietnam 2022 by the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards and Asian Golf Awards. It also placed 15th among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia, a ranking jointly awarded by Golf Travel Korea and Golf Travel China in July 2022.
Marking the start and end of each flight is the compound’s 6,000 sq m clubhouse, home to Shores Cafe and 1552 Bistro.
The resort’s other star is undoubtedly the Hoiana Casino. Featuring more than 140 gaming tables and over 300 slot machines and electronic table games, avid gamers will be keen to know about the resort’s four-tier loyalty programme.
Launched in January, the Hoiana Premier Rewards promises a slew of benefits from dining to accommodation and even golf.
The most exclusive tier is the by-invite-only Infinite, which promises a personal host on the gaming floor and complimentary room upgrades, valet parking, limousine services and more, subject to rated play at the casino.
Along with an upcoming beach club, VIP pool and New World Hoiana Beach Resort, these facilities form just Phase 1 of the resort’s master plan, coming in at over a quarter of its US$4 billion investment sum.
Hoiana’s full glory is set to be gradually unveiled across seven phases with a completion target of 2030, making this Da Nang destination a hot-ticket venue in the heart of Vietnam.
