The group curates a lush, local experience for guests through Vietnamese oil paintings and structures reminiscent of Indochine architecture
Independently owned and operated by Vietnamese hotelier Pham Van Hien, The Anam Group still feels somewhat like an anomaly on the list of top luxury resorts in Vietnam – like much of Southeast Asia, the country has become a hotspot for international hotel chains. With two sprawling properties along Vietnam’s stunning southern coastline, the hotel group certainly seems to lean into the ethos of local charm with a luxury twist at every opportunity.
A view of the beach from The Anam Cam Ranh. Photo: Handout
Located about three hours east of Ho Chi Minh City, The Anam’s newest property in Mui Ne earned promising reviews upon opening in 2023 for presenting elevated design, luxurious spa offerings and delicious Vietnamese classics under one roof. Upon stepping onto the resort’s palm tree-lined grounds, I find it delivers on many of those promises while merging the region’s natural beauty with colonial heritage. A long freshwater pool at the front of the resort stretches back as far as the eye can see before meeting the shoreline beach at the horizon. The building’s towering verandas are reminiscent of Vietnam’s finest Indochine-style architecture.
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The Anam Mui Ne. Photo: Handout
Beyond the lobby vantage point, what immediately catches my attention is the expansive art collection on display throughout the resort. Oil paintings by Vietnamese artists adorn all the walls, from the lobby up to the 127 rooms and suites, while charming little statues and other ceramics – proudly made by the Cham community indigenous to the nearby region of Phan Rang – give the resort not only a sense of place, but also purpose. I’m told all the paintings are available for sale, imbuing The Anam Mui Ne with a pleasantly unexpected gallery vibe and the feel of a museum.
The lobby of Anam Mui Ne. Photo: Handout
The relatively understated spa belies the impressive range of treatments on offer, from manicures and pedicures to full-body scrub-downs. I spend a good chunk of my stay trying out as many as I can, from The Anam’s signature massage to a singing bowl therapy session – which leaves me in a truly meditative state, not a single thought going through my head as it rings with recurring vibrations. As for the purported benefits to one’s immune system and circulation, I can only hope I walk away with those, too.
The Anam Mui Ne offers singing bowl therapy as one of its treatments. Photo: Handout
The Anam’s flagship property in Cam Ranh, which I view as the less-touristy alternative to Da Nang, is located a three-hour drive north of Mui Ne and a half-hour drive away from Nha Trang, a popular destination in its own right. Though I’m told the Cam Ranh peninsula averages over 300 sunny days per year, I don’t happen to land on one of them. Upon seeing all the lush greenery and the generous spread of private and public pools across the resort, though, the rain on my arrival day doesn’t even register.
The garden view villa at The Anam Cam Ranh. Photo: Handout
