Namia River Retreat

Namia River Retreat sits on the quiet Con Ba Xa islet in the Thu Bon River, a short boat ride from Hoi An's Ancient Town. It is a wellness inclusive resort and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with a 90 minute daily wellness journey built into every stay. Each villa has its own private pool, which suits couples, honeymooners and families looking for calm.

Five villa types all come with a private pool and a sunken bathtub. The Nipa Pool Villa and River Pool Villa are one bedroom retreats of 62 square metres, looking over the nipa palm forest or straight onto the Thu Bon River. Families can choose the two bedroom Nipa Family Villa or River Family Villa, each 80 square metres with outdoor dining. The Honeymoon Pool Villa extends to 100 square metres, with 180 degree river views, an outdoor sauna, a Jacuzzi, a spa treatment room for couples and a private dining sala.

Days are paced by gentle movement. Mindful yoga is held four times daily, and a bicycle trail runs through the countryside at 06:00 before the heat builds. Bamboo bicycles take you along tracks through the Nipa Forest, and visits to traditional artisans show local crafts at work. Paddling around the islet starts at 14:00, a sunset cruise on the Thu Bon runs from 17:00 to 18:00, and a poolside Duong Sinh movement class adds a Vietnamese note.

Lumina Wellbeing and Spa draws on Southern Herbology, the Vietnamese tradition of healing with local plants. It has two traditional apothecaries, eight herbal steam rooms, two indoor relaxation lounges and ten treatment rooms, four single and six double. A river view terrace holds a sauna and cold plunge, while indoor studios and open air salas host yoga, meditation and fitness. Treatments include Dien Chan facial reflexology, Vietnamese massage and cupping, arranged around Deep Rest, Body Balance and Holistic Healing pathways.

Dining comes in three settings. The Merchant Restaurant opens from 06:30 to 22:00 across two floors with river views, pairing farm to table roasted duck with Vietnamese and international fusion cooking and Hoi An inspired cocktails. The Fisherman Restaurant and Pool Bar is reserved for residents and specialises in modern seafood, garden to table and fire grilled, with the Cham Islands catch of the day and Hoi An artisanal ice cream. The Merchant River Cruise turns lunch or dinner into a floating experience along the Thu Bon, with set menus or barbecues.

A river shuttle boat carries you to the Ancient Town at 09:30, 11:00, 13:15 and 14:45, so the town's markets and lantern lit streets are an easy outing. Da Nang International Airport is about 24 kilometres away. Each evening a lantern lighting ritual takes place from 18:45 to 19:00, and the islet setting keeps the retreat pleasantly apart from the bustle of town.