Namia River Retreat

Namia River Retreat

: A place for transformation

: An inspiring experience

: A serene sanctuary offering ancient therapeutic remedies and healing wisdom to achieve inner harmony

Introduction

A Stay at Namia means entering a haven of healing traditions, mindful tranquility, and profound cultural connections. Our visit was characterized by special reset and delightful rejuvenated moments as we stepped into this amazing oasis located on a peaceful islet overlooking the Thu Bon River, and a short bike ride from the UNESCO Heritage Town of Hoi An.

Rosette Media Overall Rating : 9/10

As we embraced this anticipated journey of inner peace and rejuvenation, we wanted to truly uncover the true meaning of serenity, of nature, of total mindfulness, and of complete wellness. This amazing resort, focused on wellness, offers an absolute novel travel experience on Vietnam's central coast, where each visit encompasses traditional Vietnamese spa treatments, daily wellness practices, and cultural experiences by this peaceful, serene river.

As we were greeted at the airport, we eagerly awaited our 40-minute drive from Danang Airport, and as we entered the welcome reception area, we could literally absorb the relaxation vibe omnipresent throughout the entire retreat ensemble. The hospitality accorded was spot-on, and attentiveness was a trait amongst all the staff that looked after us., throughout our entire 3-day stay.

Quynh, our personal host concierge for the stay, took us through the paces and explained the various amenities as she brought us around on the resort and personal villa tour, providing specific details towards the meal arrangements, the activities at the resort, the sunset cruise itinerary...simple details that make our stay more memorable and definitely very personal, and at the call of my phone and Whatsapp/Zalo messaging - this gives me the flexibility to contact Quynh at any time, with any query that I have, including my planned trip to the city of Hoi An, and the river shuttles between Namia and the city.

Villa Perspective - Nipa Pool Villa

Namia River Retreat sets a new standard for luxury with 60 expansive, well-equipped villas, each offering a private pool for ultimate privacy and peace. We stayed in a Nipa Pool Villa, a true representation and inspiration created from a Nipah-Palm inspired design, complete with the right demure color intonation and soothing ambience derived from the use of woody materials, bamboo, nature at it's best! Environment sustainability at it's finest!

Our Nipa Pool Villa has a private expanse of 148 sqm combining both indoor, private pool & terrace, complete with a tropical garden and nipa forest view. Essentialy an open-plan bedroom with a sunken bathtub that overlooks the pool, it contains a private en-suite bathroom and an outdoor terrace that leads to the pool lounger. Facilities include wireless internet, air conditioning, tea & coffee facilities, mini bar, safety box, telephone, television, hairdryer, vanity, indoor and outdoor shower and sunken bathtub, and bamboo bicycles.

The 60 pool villas at Namia serve as private havens, drawing inspiration from the native nipa palm forest which dot along the entire design of this relaxing Retreat. Featuring natural textures, indoor-outdoor living spaces, and sunken bathtubs overlooking private pools, each villa reflects the calm rhythm of the river that runs along the side of Namia.

I adore the design of the pool, which fits perfectly next to the bench chairs and offers a view of the expansive villa pool, situated just outside my bedroom. I quickly adjusted as I immersed my aching bones in the soothing waters, which eased the tension of my weary body after a demanding week. This experience brought me a profound sense of restoration and rejuvenation, accompanied by the sounds of birds and the tranquility that dispelled my worries.

From morning swims to night-time soaks, Namia’s design seamlessly blends nature with retreat. The resort's highlight is a 180-degree heated pool overlooking the Thu Bon River, complete with waterfall hydrotherapy, reflexology jets, and floating lounges, truly a remarkable architectural wonder, a partnership between T3 Architects and Kanopea Architecture Studio. T3 Architects, located in Saigon, was selected for its proficiency in sustainable design, a key feature in this Namia resort project.

Food and Beverage

Namia’s two restaurants - The Merchant and The Fisherman - offer contemporary Vietnamese cuisine, local seafood, and sustainably sourced ingredients, all complemented by panoramic river views. Merchants serves more local Vietnamese fare whereas The Fisherman dabbles in more seafood, grills and western fare, and we explored both, to get a complete Food and Beverage experience emanating from the Namia concept.

Led by Chef Thu Lê, a native of Hoi An who embodies the culinary knowledge passed down through generations, Namia’s kitchens pay tribute to the land and its stories. Guests can delight in plant-focused dishes made from seasonal, foraged herbs, participate in Vietnamese coffee workshops, or enjoy sustainable wines on the riverside terrace.

Room Service - Breakfast

We can choose to have room-service, basically Breakfast delivered to our villa as part of our room package and we did just that and ordered a menu of yummy Hoi-An vietnamese delectables and had the breakfast crew bring them into our villa, just so personal and wonderful, and superbly done up nicely, warm and hot, with aromatic coffee and tea! Impeccable!

The Merchant

An energetic all-day dining experience offering genuine Vietnamese cuisine, influenced by the historic trading port and diverse merchants from the East and West. Additionally, one can purchase locally sourced spices, coffee, or unique handicrafts from The Market display.

Over 2 lunches, we dived straight into the local Hoi An delight, the Bò Cuốn Lá Lốt (an Organic Beef dish In Betel Leaves) - essentially a grilled organic beef wrapped in betel leaves, persimmon hot sauce, organic herbs and roasted peanuts; we also had the Bánh Canh Cua (a Shellfish Bisque) that was tastefully executed with a tasty Crab from Cham Islands, slipper lobster and coconut milk, thick and yummy!

We knew we had to sample another special creation from the kitchen, so we ordered the

Vịt Quay Cam Sành, aka the Namia River Duck - a piece of Crown breast, leg sausage, tamarind & citrus jus, just nice to fill our hungry stomachs. We also chose the Gà Nướng Sả - an interesting name for the Spatchcock Lemongrass Chicken, which was prepared with Turmeric, fresh tea leaves & burnt lemon - I like this a lot, truly bursting with flavor and so tender!

Along came the Thịt Kho Tộ, which is a earthern bowl of Claypot Braised Pork Belly, comprising of eggplant, banana blossom, crispy onion and black pepper, another local favourite and typical of this region. The Bò Bít Tết otherwise knows as the Rib Eye Roll Steak was done to close perfection as a medium well dish with green peppercorn sauce and beef jus, all lovely lunch dishes accompanied by the local white rice variant or Cơm Gạo ST25, fragrant yet fluffly!

We knew we were in for a treat when I saw the Chè Dưỡng Nhan, which is considered a Traditional Beauty Soup in Vietnam; filled with gingko, lotus, peach resin, goji, chia, longan; this chilled honeyed soup was the perfect end to an already exciting meal!

The Fisherman

A full-day relaxed dining experience exclusively for hotel guests, drawing inspiration from the fishermen and local seafood markets of Hoi An, so one can indulge in fresh seafood and wild herbs from the stunning Cham Islands. They have reimagined traditional flavors, drawing inspiration from the tranquil river life, fishing communities, and the subtle Japanese influences present in Hoi An.

Their menu honor the area's rich culinary heritage while emphasizing sustainability., as the restaurant works closely with local farmers to source seasonal ingredients, minimize waste, and avoid the use of plastics. All guests to the Fisherman can truly relish a relaxed dining experience that highlights the region's fresh flavors and their commitment to environmental responsibility.

For dinner, we had the Cá Chẽm Nướng or Grilled Seabass that came with lemongrass, chili, garlic and green peppercorn sauce, along with a regular Pho Bo (which is not in the menu, but they managed to do a superb version of it), along with Sò Quạt Nướng which is actually a Grilled Horn Scallop that was grilled to perfection with yuzu vinaigrette, radish, cucumber and shiso - so delicious! We then ordered a Mỳ Ý Nghêu which is a Vongole Linguine with clams, garlic and parsley.

Dessert fare was amazing with Kem Các Loại or Seasonal Ice Cream, and we ordered vanilla and chocolate as the main flavours. Accompanying this dish was the most amazing dessert that I have taken this decade, the Dưa Hấu Nướng otherwise knows as the Grilled & Chilled Watermelon and this was so fascinating, with the watermelon nicely grilled with that toasted lingering forward taste combined with mint, passionfruit, sake granita and shiso.

(Rosette Media Rating at 9.5/10 for their Grilled & Chilled Watermelon)

Mindfulness and Wellness

One can enhance their Namia stay with extra mindful experiences, such as beginning the day with a Vietnamese Duong Sinh—a soothing practice of breath and movement—or participating in a Silent Walking Meditation inspired by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, encouraging a connection with nature and immersion in tranquility, or even arrange for a yoga session, or use the well-equipped gym as part of your Wellness stay.

The signature rituals at Lumina Spa and Wellbeing are inspired by ancient Vietnamese traditions, including Xông Hơi herbal steam therapy, moxa sticks, and the unique practice of Diện Chẩn, a type of Vietnamese facial reflexology created by Professor Bùi Quốc Châu.

Guests can enjoy traditional Southern Vietnamese Herbology wellness therapies that utilize fresh, local herbs for healing. Each guest is offered a 90-minute wellness journey per person per room night stay to rejuvenate their mind, body, and soul, so typically you will enjoy a wellness spa regime daily for the entirety of your stay at Namia, and this is truly brilliant! I never had this sort of wellness program planned for me, throughout my stays in many resorts all across Asia Pacific and Europe.

Our spa and wellness experience begins with a herbal remedy prescriptiom crafted in Namia's in-house apothecary, followed by a 30-minute herbal hammam and a 60-minute treatment. The therapist will crush and mix a gentle herb exfoliation with a custom blend of mugwort, licorice, angelica, frest perilla and green tea leaves to improve circulation as she washed away my aches from my feet, as part of the commencement part of the wellness regime.

This is followed by the usage of a natural paste that is applied with a light massage with angelica, licorice powder and perilla leaves, cleaning my feet in the process. The wellness treatment is typified by a full body massage, after they taken note of the parts of my head, body, legs and feet that require more attention, focusing on tension relief in the body, incorporating traditional kneading techniques with a healing oil blend and mugwort moxa stick.

Drawing from the healing knowledge of Vietnamese herbology (Thuốc Nam), Namia redefines wellbeing for the modern traveler, providing curated wellness pathways inspired by native botanicals, ancient rituals, and mindful hospitality. Guests are encouraged to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the environment, and rediscover the art of deep rest.

Before the commencement of our wellness regime, we had the Anti-inflammatory Herbal Tea, which is a circulation-boosting tea witlAsian flowers, longan, licorice and ginger. After our treatment, we savoured the Sleeping-enhancing Herbal Tea, where we sipped on a tea of chrysanthemum, lotus seed, passion flower, preparing for restorative sleep for the evening.

Additional therapies on the menu include Vietnamese massage, cupping, and acupressure to further enrich the wellness experience. Each guest can select from two complimentary wellness pathways during their stay: the Deep Rest Pathway for stress relief, improved sleep, and mental clarity; or the Body Balance Pathway to alleviate tension, enhance circulation, and reduce inflammation.

To end the day, guests can indulge in an in-room ritual of a relaxing mugwort and cajeput bath soak, promoting deep relaxation as they unwind from a day of healing. One can also partake of a Signature treatment that feature Dien Chan facial reflexology techniques to harmonize the body's energy.

Moments to Remember : Activities - within Namia

Namia invites guests to align with the day's natural rhythm. One can commence your morning regime with a sunrise bicycle ride through the countryside, or participate in a Dưỡng Sinh (Vietnamese t’ai chi) session by the pool.

Sunset Riverboat Cruise (and cocktails)

One can then further explore Hoi An’s iconic nipa palm forests by paddle boat, relax with sunset riverboat cocktails (which is what we did and so mesmerising the experience, so local, so indulging and cultural), and also can take part in the evening Ritual of Lights by releasing a floating lantern.

Each day also features mindful activities like yoga, meditation, and in-room evening rituals, such as a mugwort and cajeput bath soak or a herbal tea ceremony to help one ease into rest, relaxation and sleep.

Activities - outside of Namia

In the enchanting city of Hoi An, visitors can stroll through lively streets decorated with colourful facades and lanterns, relax in cozy cafes serving authentic Vietnamese coffee, and observe local artists capturing the essence of everyday Vietnamese life on canvas. Tourism thrives year-round in Hoi An, where a rich cultural atmosphere envelops you as you explore the maze of shops, restaurants, and cafes offering true Vietnamese cuisine and local delightful street food.

Namia’s dedication to wellness goes beyond the guest experience. With environmentally conscious practices, local hiring, and strong community involvement, this luxury wellness-inclusive resort seeks to redefine travel, benefiting not only the traveler but also the land and its people.

Accolades

We appreciate the following members of the Namia team for their kind assistance and hospitality during our recent stay : Donna Campbell, Tam from Finance and the Manager on Duty, Quynh - our lovely host and concierge, Phat - concierge, Duy - the Front office manager, Trinh, Lan, Dung and Ngan, Lam, Hoa, Hong from both the Merchant and Fisherman restaurants, An at the Sunset cruise team and Hug on the villa buggy.

Address

Namia River Retreat

232 Tran Nhan Tong, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

+84 (0) 235 3969 888

hello@namiariverretreat.com

https://namiariverretreat.com/