Luxury Hotels - The Nam Hai - Advice on Best 1 Bdrm Pool Villa

We'll be staying at the Nam Hai in July for a week and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a 1 Bdrm pool villa that is on the beach or just off it but still has great ocean views, but also close to the main pools/restaurants.

I've read mixed reviews on the F&B at this resort and we'll probably travel into Hoi An on a few occasions for dinner but just out of curiosity what is the average price of dinner at the restaurants? The main gripe seems to be that people find it expensive for Vietnam, so just curious to know what that amounts to.

Any other tips/advice would be very welcome.

Thanks in Advance

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/4696/resortmap.jpg
based on resort map >
the one closest to beach is in the row next to public areas
(yellow square D vs red circle)

Thanks Kagehitokiri - it does look like the best one. I might email that to the resort and request it.

We stayed at the Nam Hai last fall. We really enjoyed it - it is a beautiful resort. I don't know if you are set on a pool villa but we stayed in a 1 BR beachfront villa which is right on the beach, near the restaurant and right next to the main pool so extremely convenient. It wasn't so busy so it was like having a pool in our backyard. It was Villa 4010 which is the most requested villa by those in the know (according to the staff).

I actually looked up my folio to check on how much the meals cost. We booked through Virtuoso so breakfast was included. Lunch was $50 US for two. This is considered expensive because a delicious banh mi in Hoi An is only 15000 VND (or 72 cents). The food was fine at the resort but the street food in Vietnam is far more delectable (and cheaper). There is a free shuttle into Hoi An from the resort. If you don't want to wait, a taxi is only $5...

We had some laundry done at the resort -they did a great job.

In Hoi An, definitely go to Banh Mi Phuong - as Anthony Bourdain did. Best vietnamese sandwich ! I'm of Vietnamese descent and I was suitably impressed.

Hi xray, Thanks so much on your feedback and for going through the effort of looking up your meal costs at the hotel. We're very much looking forward to our stay and I think we'll limit our meals in the evenings to just 2 nights at the resort as Hoi An seems to have some very good dining options. Thanks again!

ClefsDor...
What did you think?? I am headed there in October, or maybe the Hyatt Regency...Thoughts?

ClefsDor...
What did you think?? I am headed there in October, or maybe the Hyatt Regency...Thoughts?

You won't regret the Nam Hai ! We would go back in an instant.

Any advice on which resort is better: Nam Hai (1BR Pool Villa) or Con Dao or Ninh Van Bay ? Re: beach ?

Any advice on which resort is better: Nam Hai (1BR Pool Villa) or Con Dao or Ninh Van Bay ? Re: beach ?

Nam Hai: Best Villas, best food, best pools - the beach is large, but there is no scenery in front, just a plain, huge beach

Ninh Van Bay: Fantastic scenery with mountains and islands, not-so-good villas, not-so-good-food (at least some years ago), beach ok

Con Dao: was not there...

Any advice on which resort is better: Nam Hai (1BR Pool Villa) or Con Dao or Ninh Van Bay ? Re: beach ?

Unless you really, really like rustic, I would avoid Ninh Van Bay - although I agree that the surroundings are lovely (and I had good experiences with both service and food when I was there). Sadly, I think the Con Dao resort is also built along the same lines as Ninh Van Bay (no a/c anywhere else but the bedroom and very, very rustic design). Again, a shame, as the area looks lovely.

con dao does have residences, but looks like all might still only have AC in bedroom(s)

for beachfront with pool, nam hai is more expensive

Thanks all,

I was never sold to the rustic Six Senses style judging by the pics but a coworker went to NVB last year (while Mr.&Mrs. Pitt/Jolie stayed at Con Dao) and was well impressed. Con Dao looks much more modern than NVB and the least rustic within the Six Senses program and both seem to have a private and very swimmable nice beach with shallow waters (no Amanpulo quality though). As a Datai fan I am sold to the Nam Hai by its modern design but the beach surroundings look very public/not too isolated and I have no clue or feeling if its a joy to swim in the ocean there.

Please see brief review of Nam Hai I posted on another thread in this forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20549280-post46.html

We stayed in a pool villa and, as there were only two of us, it ended up being unnecessary. The Living/Dining area of the suite is in a separate building, meaning a short walk outdoors. This living area pavilion had an odd set up, with sofas in the corners and a large table in the middle, not ideal for relaxing. Our particular butler was new and added stress to our stay, as he kept making lists of what time we wanted this and that, basically looking for things to do and commitments from us about exactly what time we wanted breakfast, drinks, etc. I'd only spring for this set up with a larger group in need of a communal space.

The rooms are definitely designed for style over function and, in the US, would be a liability magnet. There are many steps, it's rather dark inside, not enough surfaces and an open pit in the desk area that I literally fell into. You really must be careful walking around. Same caution goes for walking around the resort in the evening.

All that said, it's a lovely resort, we liked the food and service very much and would definitely return.