The Anam
Location
Cam Ranh Bay, a 60-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City, is on the verge of becoming Vietnam’s big beach resort destination, and The Anam is among the first of many multimillion-dollar resorts to open doors along this coastline. It's set on a long stretch of beach and flanked by the sites of what will become other five-star resorts.
When it comes to things to see and do, the Cam Ranh Bay area is not yet geared up for tourists, but the popular seaside city of Na Thrang is a half-hour drive away; you can take a day trip here to go diving or snorkelling off a nearby island, or eat at one of the many beachfront restaurants. If you’re looking for a destination from where you can explore the surrounding area, Cam Ranh Bay might not be for you, however if it’s luxury, privacy and a lovely beach holiday you’re after, this area is ideal.
Style and Character
The design of The Anam hints at both colonial-era and traditional Vietnamese aesthetics. In many places, pillars and horizontal lines frame views across sparkling pools that are edged with bougainvilleas and palm trees (there are more than 3,000 on the property), which form part of an extensive and beautifully landscaped garden. Leafy plants grow tall against the resort’s buildings, allowing them to recede into the garden and cultivating that impression of a tropical paradise.
The interior walls of this contemporary-style resort are filled with the work of local artists and photographers; furniture is made of dark hardwood from sustainable forests, and the floors have been tastefully tiled with large mosaics. The property’s elevated hotel wing is set towards the back of the resort, and most of the 96 rooms have a sea view; in front of the hotel, the villas, restaurants, swimming pools and immaculate lawns stretch down to the beach.
Service and Facilities
The Anam has a tranquil 10-room spa with treatments inspired by Balinese traditions and healing rituals. Guests wanting to get active can transition into the day with a complimentary early-morning beachfront yoga class, or enjoy the many watersports on offer. There is also a tennis court, badminton net, frisbees, balls, a pool table and three swimming pools to keep guests occupied. Every day two films are shown in the 3D cinema, one for children and the other for adults. The resort has three restaurants and two bars; the beachfront sports bar has a dartboard and plenty of board games – perfect for whiling away lazy holiday hours.
Rooms
The large, luxurious hotel rooms at The Anam have been cleverly designed so that almost every one has a sea view. The interiors are slick and contemporary: mosaic tiles and wood-panel floors hold the room together; the dark wood furniture is softened with white linens; and colourful soft furnishings pick up accents in the artwork on the walls, which are original and painted by Vietnamese artists.
As well as a king-sized or twin beds, every room has a sofa and balcony area, so they’re comfortable places in which to simply relax during the day. The bathrooms have a big shower as well as a tub that, once shutters are opened, is integrated into the bedroom. There is a variety of villas on the property too, most of which either have their own private pool, or open onto a large communal one.
Food and Drink
There are three restaurants and two bars at The Anam. IndoChine, which exudes a calm colonial-era charm, offers poolside seating on shaded terraces. This is the resort’s main restaurant and where tables overflow with buffet breakfast offerings – Western, Asian, Vietnamese, continental; the selection is vast. Indochine Grill specialises in European fine dining while the more relaxed Beach Club offers a mix of Vietnamese and Asian dishes along with pizzas, sandwiches and salads.
The beachfront Sports Bar is packed with board games, magazines and, of course, a large-screen television showing sporting events, while stylish Saigon Bar offers afternoon tea, cocktails and sparkling wine, often to the backdrop of live music.