We review Anantara Quy Nhon Villas – a secluded escape tucked into a tranquil cove on Vietnam’s south-central coast
Indulge at this barefoot-luxury hideaway.
If you believe true luxury begins where the road ends, Anantara Quy Nhon Villas might be your next obsession. Tucked into a secluded cove, this all-villa resort sits quietly on a private stretch of Bãi Xếp Beach, 12 kilometres south of Quy Nhon in Vietnam’s Binh Dinh province. A region still largely untouched by international tourism. With just 25 villas spread across seven hectares, it’s a boutique, private retreat that redefines discreet indulgence.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Anantara Quy Nhon Villas review
First impressions
Arrival sets the tone. A winding descent from the hillside entrance opens onto a circular drive anchored by a bodhi tree and a serene water feature—a design touch with strong feng shui overtones. Liveried staff handle luggage seamlessly while we take in our first ocean view, framed by the open-air lobby. It stuns.
The lobby sets the aesthetic: vaulted wooden ceilings, rattan daybeds reminiscent of Vietnamese basket boats, and sculptural details that echo the movement of ocean swells. This thoughtful, tactile design runs throughout the property.
Within moments of check-in, we’re introduced to our Villa Host, Quy, a warm, WhatsApp-savvy butler who delivers the kind of intuitive, unintrusive service luxury brands strive for, but few truly perfect.
The villas
All accommodation is villa-based, each with its own private pool. You’ll choose between beachfront options or hillside units with elevated ocean views. Our Beachfront Pool Villa was a 187-square-metre haven of understated luxury. Floor-to-ceiling glass, warm teak accents, and a palette of seafoam greens and sandy neutrals blended Southeast Asian motifs with contemporary minimalism.
Outdoors, a private deck flows into the infinity pool with only the beach and sea ahead. A shaded sala with a double daybed and ceiling fan quickly became our favourite reading spot, though the view often stole the show.
Inside, the bathroom rivals the bedroom: a freestanding tub with sea views, dual vanities, and a tropical outdoor shower set against slate and stone. The details elevate the stay: Anantara-branded toiletries, yoga mats, a quality Bluetooth speaker, personal ice cream tubs in the freezer, and a cocktail kit alongside a well-stocked wine fridge and bar.
Facilities & wellness
While the villas encourage cocooning, the resort rewards exploration. A 20-metre beachfront pool with a swim-up bar invites morning laps and afternoon lounging. Though modestly equipped, the glass-walled gym is surrounded by lush greenery and elevated by opt-in fitness programs that allow guests to co-design a personalised holiday workout regime.
Perched on a jungle-flanked hilltop, the Anantara Spa is a standout. Treatments are infused with garden-grown herbs, and the space includes cliffside massage pavilions, meditation decks, and a daily yoga programme worth waking early for. It feels more like a private retreat than a resort facility.
The daily activities calendar offers everything from beach volleyball and guided runs to immersive local experiences like Binh Dinh martial arts or sound bath healing. The balance of wellness and leisure is just right.
Dining at Sea.Fire.Salt.
The resort’s culinary heart is Sea.Fire.Salt., an all-day restaurant perched above the beach. Mornings start with a vibrant buffet: tropical fruits, fresh pastries, eggs and pho made to order, Iberico ham sliced at the counter, and rotating Vietnamese specials the staff encourage you to try—and you’ll be glad you did.
Come evening, the mood shifts toward refined, relaxed fine dining. Highlights include a shellfish risotto brimming with oysters, mussels, clams, and crab, and grilled tuna presented on Himalayan salt blocks. The ambitious wine list has an impressive by-the-glass selection and over 140 bottles, including rare vintages.
But it was the low-key touches that really stood out to me: complimentary sorbet served poolside during the day’s heat or a fruit skewer mid-afternoon. Cocktail hour stretches luxuriously here. It begins with the Happiest Hour—a gracious offering of a complimentary cocktail or selected beverage served as the sun starts its descent. Then follows the classic Happy Hour. The combined two hours cultivate effortless social ease in this idyllic setting.
Service
This is where Anantara Quy Nhon excels. Service is not just warm or efficient, though it’s certainly both; it’s instinctive. Staff recall your name, your drink of choice, how you take your morning coffee, and even the local artisan workshop you visited the day before. It’s hospitality that feels personal, not pretentious; intimate, not scripted.
Local exploration
As tempting as it is to remain resort-bound, the surrounding region deserves exploration. Anantara’s Discovery Guides include visits to ancient Champa temples, workshops where conical hats and rice wine are made by hand, and local-led street food tours. While beloved by domestic travellers, Quy Nhon remains under the radar internationally. That window may not stay open for long, but it offers a rare sense of authenticity for now.
Final verdict
Anantara Quy Nhon Villas doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to. With its cinematic setting, high-spec villas, and soulfully attentive service, it’s ideal for travellers who’ve seen Vietnam’s major resort hubs and seek something quieter, rarer, and just as polished.
Whether you arrive, as we did, via the brand’s luxurious Vietage by Anantara train, or straight from the domestic airport, one thing’s sure: you’ll leave wondering why more people haven’t discovered it yet—and secretly hoping they don’t.
Would we return? In a heartbeat.
Learn more about Anantara Quy Nhon Villas or Book through Booking.com
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