Asian charm with a Mediterranean mood greets guests at Vietnam’s Villa le Corail resort
Villa le Corail, A Gran Meliá Hotel is a stunning beachfront retreat with private villas, a Michelin-star chef and even some coral conservation thrown in
I never thought I’d confuse the South China Sea for the Mediterranean, but here we are, situated on a cosy strip of sand just outside the charming city of Nha Trang. Villa le Corail, A Gran Meliá Hotel – Spanish luxury hotel chain Gran Meliá’s first property in Asia – is Vietnam’s answer to a southern European escape.
Nestled in the shadows of palm trees and nearby Fairy Mountain and neighboured by the glistening blue waters of Nha Trang Bay, the hotel is a welcome sight especially at sunset hour, just in time for my arrival.
With its high staff-to-guest ratio and extremely walkable layout – buggy service is available, though you’ll rarely need it – the resort strikes the perfect balance between intimate and indulgent. Accommodations are shrouded in lush gardens for a sense of privacy, without giving away the sheer size and scale of what lies inside.
As it turns out, Spanish heritage meets Southeast Asian surroundings at every corner of this all-villa sanctuary, just a comfortable 15-minute drive away from the truly authentic streets of Nha Trang, where only the endearing chaos of roadside food stalls and buzzy sounds of motorbikes remind me I’m on the shores of Vietnam.
Dinner at Hispania Nha Trang, an outpost of the acclaimed Spanish restaurant originating from London, exemplifies how natural this cultural pairing is and proves to be a real highlight of my trip.