Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.
Describe the hotel in three words: Riverside zen oasis.
What’s the deal?
Eco, sustainable, luxury spa, and wellness—throw these ultra-hot travel keywords together and you will get Namia River Retreat, the latest wellness-inclusive resort to open just outside of the UNESCO Heritage Town of Hoi An, Vietnam.
A stunning (and sprawling) 60-villa property along the Thu Bon river, Namia River Retreat is approximately 45 minutes from Da Nang International Airport by car and 10 minutes by bike from Hoi An Ancient Town, where it offers a dreamy, quiet, and zen-like oasis for guests to find inner peace and serenity through Vietnamese-inspired cultural journeys and wellness treatments.
All of the private villas—both Thu Bon river- and Nipa palm-forest-facing—start at a spacious 148 square metres with an open-plan bedroom, sunken bathtub, en-suite bathroom with a vanity station and shower, and a giant outdoor pool replete with sun loungers. A place to experience the Vietnamese riverside way of life, guests also have access to daily cultural experiences (including sunrise bamboo bicycle trails, mindful tai chi by the pool, silent walking tours, sunset cruise, lantern rituals, and more), plus 90-minute daily wellness journeys at the Lumina Spa.
When you’re not enjoying your private pool villa or getting pampered at the spa, Namia River Retreat also has a main pool with 180-degree river views, indoor and outdoor kids’ play zones, babysitting services upon request, complimentary bicycles for rental, a blessing tree, a yoga studio, and a fully equipped gym to get your sweat on. Up for some sightseeing? A complimentary shuttle boat (with space for 25) leaves from Namia River Retreat to Hoi An Ancient Town every hour or so, or hop on one of the hotel bikes for a leisurely cycle into town.
The best room?
Namia River Retreat’s one-and-only Honeymoon Pool Villa takes the cake with a total of 300 square metres of living space, which encompasses an open-plan bedroom with a four-poster king-sized bed, private en-suite spa room with its own Jacuzzi, and an outdoor private pool with 180 degrees of river views. All this is in addition to the open-air lounge, river dining sala, and sun loungers, of course. When it comes to choosing between other river- or forest-facing villas, we highly recommend the river-facing ones so you can watch the local life unfold—be it half-submerged fishermen getting their daily catch, curious (and be warned, peeping) tourists drifting by in wooden or basket boats, and exotic birds and butterflies fluttering in and out of view.
Did they greet you by name at check-in?
Yes—everyone, from the reception to the restaurants and the spa, was super friendly and greeted us personably by name. Also, to ensure an authentic experience, most of the staff are hyper-local and live within 20 kilometres from the resort, alongside a few international faces.
Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?
Our check-in took place at the “lobby,” a cosy and airy space with not a traditional check-in counter in sight. Instead, we were invited to sit down and relax with cold towels and chilled jasmine green tea while the team swiftly checked us in.
Meanwhile, the minibars in each villa are also complimentary and stocked with still and sparkling water, soft drinks, and juices—alongside a large selection of local teas and coffees, plus glass jars of cashews, dried mango slices, and savoury crackers.
Private butler for every room?
Yes, guests have access to a personal “Hoi An Host” through a WhatsApp chat, who is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about Namia River Retreat’s schedule of cultural activities, restaurant and spa menus, facilities, and even where to find the best tailors and restaurants in town. On a few occasions, there was a slight delay in reaching our host, but this could be resolved by contacting the reception by phone or in-person.
Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?
In the rooms, the thread count is a smooth and comfy 300, to be exact.
Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?
Although it can get slightly breezy in Hoi An during the winter months (December to February), heated floors are not needed at all. While there are no separate bidets here either, there is a bidet shower (a.k.a. handheld bidet or bidet sprayer).
Are the toiletries full-sized?
Yes—toiletries are provided in eco-friendly, large-sized ceramic bottles with pumps, ensuring that they are refillable and sustainable. In fact, the entire property champions sustainability with a low-carbon footprint design. For example, Namia River Retreat uses bamboo sticks and mangroves to preserve the natural riverbanks, energy-efficient lighting, and natural materials for packaging. Its design also takes inspiration from the fishermen and local countryside of Hoi An to offer an authentic experience of life on the river, through interior design accents showcasing the work of local artisans such as woodcarvers, potters, and weavers.
Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?
Compared to some other villas with private pools (that should really be called plunge pools), the private pools at Namia River Retreat are massive by comparison. You can easily fit up to six people comfortably and/or swim laps in them if you feel so inclined.
Lumina Spa is as gorgeous as they come with its curvy bamboo structure and signature spiral staircase. Inside, there’s a river-facing welcome area, two traditional apothecaries (for mixing your custom hammam scrubs), eight herbal steam rooms, two relaxation lounges, and 10 treatment rooms (four for singles and six for doubles). Guests can choose from four signature treatments inspired by Southern Herbology (Thuoc Nam)—Vietnamese massage, facial reflexology, cupping, or Vietnamese acupressure massage using what slightly resembles torture tools but are, in fact, less painful than they look. Each treatment can be 60 minutes long (with a 30-minute hammam beforehand) or swapped to 90 minutes (sans hammam), and the outdoor cold plunge pool and sauna facing the river will also be functional soon, we’re told.
As for the gym, located behind the yoga studio (both of which have floor-to-ceiling windows to let natural light in), you will find everything you need to get your pump on with new Technogym equipment and weight-lifting machines. However, the emphasis at Namia River Retreat is more on slow, mindful, and low-impact movement versus high-intensity, vein-popping exercise.
Is the restaurant worth its salt?
With two restaurants on-site, guests won’t go hungry; there are seafood options galore at The Fisherman (exclusive to in-house guests), plus an elevated taste of Hoi An at The Merchant (open to the public). Breakfast is an impressive spread of cold cuts, salads, fruits, local sausages, homemade yoghurt, banh mi, and pho noodles—plus eggs and coffee to order.
For lunch and dinner, we highly recommend trying the tuna and salmon ceviche at The Fisherman, the Namia river duck in tamarind and citrus jus, and the spatchcock lemongrass chicken with turmeric, fresh tea leaves, and burnt lemon at The Merchant.
Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?
Yes and no. With Hoi An Ancient Town getting very crowded at night with relentless swarms of tourists on water and on land, spending the evening at Namia River Retreat is a welcome respite.
Its menu of wine, beer, juices, smoothies, homemade kombucha, locally inspired cocktails, and mocktails sure packs a punch, with many signature drinks to try using local ingredients. Highlights include the Vietnamese Glutinous Corn Sticky Rice “Xôi Bắp” (Sampan 43-infused glutinous rice and sesame, sugar syrup, black walnut bitter, and cream) and the Cao Lau Noodles “Cao Lầu” (Vena whiskey infused with char siu sauce, lemon, and soy sauce.)
It’s a perfect way to enjoy the starry night sky—be it on the open-air terraces of The Merchant, The Fisherman, or in your own private pool villa—but if you’re looking for a livelier environment, heading off-property would probably be your best bet.
Would you buy the hotel if you could?
Yes, in a heartbeat. From Namia River Retreat’s eco-conscious design and giant pool villas to its quiet, calm, and nourishing spa and wellness offerings, this would be the perfect place to escape from our big-city lifestyles every now and again. It’s a place where one can truly relax and return to our true and authentic selves, right by the riverside.
Score: 8.5
What Our Score Means:
1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.
4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.
7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.
9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?
All images courtesy of Namia River Retreat.
