A Knockout in Vietnam: Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An [Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, nor its parent company had input in any part of this article.

After an impressive first Four Seasons experience at Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogotá in Colombia last year, Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, was at the top of my list for my trip around Vietnam.

My 2-night stay at the end of May 2026, with the resort’s private villa setting, thoughtful service, and dining, was one of my most memorable hotel stays.

Booking a Stay at Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Nightly rates for a Garden View 1-Bedroom Villa start around $850.

A great way to book a stay at Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, is through a luxury hotel credit card’s travel portal. Depending on the cards you have in your wallet, you can get bonus perks and benefits by booking your stay via platforms such as Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, the Premier Collection from Capital One, and The Edit by Chase.

The travel portals usually unlock the same type of benefits, which could be a variation of the following:

• Early check-in (if available)
• Upgrade on arrival (if available)
• Daily breakfast for 2
• A dining or spa credit
• Guaranteed late checkout

Alternatively, you can reach out to Upgraded Points’ Leigh Rowan, a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, at leighrowan@upgradedpoints.com, who can help you book an upcoming Four Seasons stay. You’ll get access to extra perks (room upgrades, $100 credit, complimentary daily breakfast, and more), without having to use a travel rewards credit card.

Getting to the Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, is almost halfway along the coast between the popular tourist destinations of Da Nang and Hoi An. The closest international airport is Da Nang (DAD), about 13.5 miles away.

I arrived via a Four Seasons BMW chauffeur transfer, which is available for an additional fee.

Staying in a Pool Villa Residence

The resort consists entirely of standalone villas and private residence villas. Residences all have pools, and the number of bedrooms ranges from 1 to 5.

I was traveling with my friend Sarah, who lives in Australia. We usually try to meet somewhere in the world at least once a year, and this trip, we were thrilled to be staying in a 1-bedroom private residence with our own infinity pool at The Nam Hai.

Upon arrival at the villa, we caught our first glimpse of the late Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim’s trademark symmetrical design.

What we thought was our entire villa turned out to be just the living area.

Directly in front of the living area was our very own pool.

Almost all 100 villas feature some kind of ocean view or beach access. Ours was set further back, but we could see the sea. We used the pool from sunrise to dusk.

A set of bifold doors connected the patio and bedroom.

The raised bed added privacy to the sunken bathtub and relaxation area hidden away behind it.

This style is often found in Japanese, Indonesian, and Vietnamese hotels that evoke a spa-like atmosphere in your room.

Following on from the spa area was a spacious bathroom. With 2 sinks and 2 walk-in closets, we each had our own separate space for our clothes and getting ready.

When there’s a choice between an indoor and an outdoor shower, my preference is almost always the outdoor one. That said, I did enjoy taking a predinner indoor shower with a glass of red wine and my portable speaker.

Some minibar items were complimentary. We had unlimited water refills, dried fruit and nuts (packaged in paper), and hot drinks. I was very happy to see Lavazza pods rather than Nespresso.

Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, was more generous than most luxury hotels I’ve stayed at, as it included a daily complimentary bottle of its own brand cocktail, Nayuu Nam Hai Negroni. Everything in the fridge was priced reasonably.

Had I stayed here with a significant other, I don’t think I’d have left the villa other than to eat.

When we wanted to leave, we asked our butler, Mai, to call our dedicated buggy to pick us up. Butlers are reserved for residence guests.

Most of the time we preferred to use the complimentary bikes. Each had a room number as a registration plate for easy identification.

We Dined Like Royalty

We tried out every restaurant on the property, and boy, did we enjoy every single bite.

Café Nam Hai

Breakfast is served at Café Nam Hai each morning from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Lunch hours vary depending on the time of year. From 6 to 10 p.m., the restaurant serves fine Indian cuisine from Thursday to Tuesday. As we were limited to just 2 nights, we only ate here for breakfast.

It was so relaxing starting our day on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace with this view.

Taking center stage inside the restaurant were about 5 or 6 breakfast buffet stations.

There was an encyclopedic selection of breakfast dishes from around the world, including some I’d never seen at a breakfast buffet before, like roasted gammon (similar to ham), braised lemongrass chicken, and pork and tofu pancakes.

The à la carte menu also offered an abundance of tasty delights. The egg soufflé and passion fruit pancakes come highly recommended.

Lá Sen

We enjoyed 3 exquisite lunches at Lá Sen, the Vietnamese poolside restaurant. It’s ornately decorated with hanging lanterns, similar to those synonymous with Hoi An.

Hours are from midday until 3:30 p.m. for lunch, and from 6 until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dinner.

Our favorite table was at the end of the terrace, with nothing in view but sand, sea, and distant mountains.

Even the more Western dishes on the menu almost all had a Vietnamese twist, which I loved, including the lobster roll starters. The wholesome Vietnamese chicken was packed with flavor.

Drinks weren’t simply served. My Coke Zero was decanted into a carafe, and water was always served with a slice of lime and lemon on an afternoon tea-style stand. My postmeal espresso was served on a tray with a host of condiments.

Dinner is a more formal affair that starts with a cold towel, followed by a complimentary amuse-bouche and bread service.

I had the seasonal crab noodle soup to start, followed by a hearty chicken dish for a main. Sarah thoroughly enjoyed her Wagyu steak.

I finished the evening off with some chocolate ice cream, and we shared a pot of ginger tea.

Nayuu — Japanese Omakase Dining

Our favorite meal was, without a doubt, the Omakase dining experience at Nayuu.

We savored 14 courses, decadently presented and served by Alex Moranda, the renowned sushi chef who curated the menu.

The experience without any drink pairings costs around $243.

Sol & Sao

As each day drew to an end, Sol & Sao offered spectacular views for a relaxing sundowner.

We still enjoyed the glow of golden hour, even though it faces east.

With over 40 varieties, Sol & Sao has Vietnam’s largest collection of sherries.

There’s Lots of Pool Choice

The adults-only Olympic-sized pool in the middle of the resort is dreamy.

Set further back from the beach are an adults-only lap pool and a family pool. Our favorite spot for some afternoon sun was at the Olympic-sized pool.

The Beach Transports You Into the Heart of Vietnamese Life

In front of the main pool is a row of sunloungers, reserved only for hotel guests. Beach games and water sports were also available.

However, I loved the beach most at dawn and dusk.

If the weather’s in your favor, I suggest setting your alarm for sunrise. Waiting for the sun to come up while watching the fishermen in their basket boats was a magical moment I’ll never forget.

It’s a True Health and Wellness Resort

The Heart of the Earth Spa‘s lagoon setting is the most serene place I’ve ever had a massage.

The spa hosts a daily evening “Goodnight kiss to the earth” ritual from 5:30 p.m. It was a very wholesome and moving moment.

Sarah and I were whisked away to another universe during our hour-long massages. It started with a premassage foot scrub, then headed back across the floating stepping stones to the main treatment room.

Next to the spa is a yoga pavilion, where I tried aerial yoga for the first time.

I was also thrilled to complete a full workout in the gym without having to ask my trainer to update my workout plan.

There are also padel and tennis courts.

Infallible Service

Understanding simple requests and questions is essential to delivering the level of service guests expect from a 5-star hotel. While I found service communication challenging elsewhere in Vietnam, every member of the Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, team had excellent English proficiency.

Our stay was made extra special thanks to our butler, Mai, whose English was next-level.

Residence and pool villa guests also have a daily laundry allowance of up to 6 items.

The water, chocolate, and bookmark at Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, were a perfect example of a 5-star turndown service.

I was impressed by the pool when I popped back to the villa to get sunscreen, and came back to find a glass of ice water, a cold towel, and some fruit.

Final Thoughts

Our 48-hour stay at Four Seasons Resort, The Nam Hai, Hoi An, was, without doubt, one of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had. The private villa, varied dining, and attentive service made our short stay feel full.