Wellness travel is a rapidly growing segment of international tourism, with Asia at the top of many travellers’ lists. At Namia River Retreat, a new addition to Vietnam’s wellness resort scene has emerged, positioning itself as a luxury wellness-inclusive escape. We checked in to see if this Hoi An retreat delivers on its promise.

Namia River Retreat review

Namia River Retreat boat
Guests can enjoy a sunset cruise

Namia River Retreat occupies a five-hectare private island along the quieter banks of the Thu Bon River, yet just a few kilometres from the UNESCO-listed Hoi An Old Town. This newly built eco-chic resort features 60 private pool villas and was conceived by seasoned Vietnamese tourism operator Mr Tran Thanh Nam.

Specialist architectural design studios Kanopea and T3 delivered a project that seamlessly blends with the natural surroundings, focuses on bioclimatic architecture, champions local materials, and radiates warmth, authenticity, and responsible luxury.

Namia offers a different take on the resort experience, encouraging guests to slow down, recalibrate, and immerse in healing rituals rooted in local traditions—embracing a genuinely holistic approach to relaxation.

To facilitate this, guests are invited to 90 minutes of daily Wellness Journeys. Your room rate includes these treatments, plus an all-day breakfast and complimentary non-alcoholic mini-bar. Additionally, every Villa has a pair of (very cool and eco) bamboo bicycles to use during their stay.

The villas

Interior of pool villa at Namia River Retreat
Interior of pool villa

Each villa offers views of the Thu Bon River or the Nipa Palm forest. Designed to deliver the luxury of space (148 sq-m combined indoor and outdoor), villas feature an open-plan lounge and bedroom anchored by a custom-made sunken bathtub. Wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass doors frame the river panorama, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces. Villa interiors showcase local artisanship, featuring handcrafted woodwork, pottery, and woven textiles reflecting Hoi An’s rich cultural heritage.

​We greatly appreciated thoughtful touches like a curated selection of teas, Vietnamese coffees, refillable water bottles, custom toiletries, and even bicycle helmets. A handwritten card with contemplative thought is placed on the bed each night, while the elements and recipe for a herbal bath soak invite you to surrender to the sunken tub.

Lumina Spa

Lumina Spa interior
Lumina Spa

Lumina Spa’s wellness philosophy is deeply influenced by ‘Thuốc Nam’—Vietnamese herbology. Treatments are thoughtfully designed to restore balance, with in-house apothecaries crafting custom remedies from local botanicals. Following a short self-assessment, we could choose pathways focused on the Mind (deep rest, stress release, sleep-enhancing) or Body (easing body tension, including pain relief, inflammation reduction, and circulation improvement).

From there, therapists suggested options from the spa menu to incorporate into our included 90-minute daily wellness treatments. A typical session begins with tailored herbal steam and scrub rituals in the hammam, followed by an hour-long signature therapy.
A herbal wrap infused with mugwort, liquorice, angelica, perilla, and green tea leaves, followed by a Vichy shower, left me feeling revitalised. For the signatures, I skipped the cupping therapy, though the traditional Vietnamese massage and acupressure treatments stood out for their expert technique.

Namia’s wellness offering extends beyond Lumina with a varied selection of activities available daily. Yin (restorative) and Yang (more active) yoga classes happen in the resort’s indoor movement studio. Join the walking meditation or try Dưỡng Sinh – a distinctly Vietnamese practice akin to Tai Chi. Grab your bike and join guided early morning rides into the rice field-filled countryside or Hoi An Old Town before the crowds arise. Each evening, guests can join lantern-lighting rituals to release the old and welcome in the new.

Food and drink

The Merchant food
The Merchant

Namia offers two dining choices. The all-day The Merchant on the ‘mainland’ side of the resort focuses on farm-to-table from breakfast onwards. The locally sourced granolas, fruits, herbs and salads, Hoi An-made charcuterie, exquisite barista-quality Vietnamese coffee, and those juice shots made breakfast worth getting up for. A fresh take on Vietnamese dishes is available across all meals.

Back on the island, surrounding the expansive resort pool with inviting river views is The Fisherman restaurant and Pool Bar. As the name suggests, it is seafood-centric and honours locally sourced catches. Also, be sure not to miss the resort’s Sunset Cruise—sip on cocktails and enjoy canapés as the sky (and central Hoi An) turns a riot of colour.

Final thoughts

Namia River Retreat more than delivers on its promise of wellness-inclusive luxury. Every element fosters relaxation, from its secluded island setting to its eco-chic design and deeply rooted Vietnamese wellness rituals. With Hoi An just a short ride away, it’s an immersive escape that blends serenity with cultural discovery.

Learn more about Namia River Retreat or Book through Booking.com

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