Hotel review: Moire, Hoi An, Vietnam

A riverside glow up where low-key luxe reigns supreme.

David Smiedt

3 min read

February 4, 2025 - 11:05AM

Low key luxe at Moire Hoi An in Vietnam.

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Moire is more at this Hoi An favourite.

Location

The hotel sits on a prime piece of real estate directly across the river from the Old Town. The main bridge into town is right beside the entrance to the hotel and the night market is a 15 minute wander through the historic shopping district.

River views galore at Moire Hoi An.

Set the scene

We checked in with a forgiving state of mind as the property was in the midst of the transition from what used to be The Bay Resort to this new imprint from the Vignette Collection. There was nothing to forgive. The hotel runs like it and the new management have been in place for years. Quietly and intuitively going about their business. The 128 guest rooms and villas are arrayed in a series of three-storey biscuit-coloured buildings look over the Thu Bon river. Which is especially fetching at dusk when the lantern-laden boats begin ferrying tourists about.

River views galore at Moire Hoi An.

The room

We stayed in the Junior Grand Suite on the ground floor - which means a private terrace perched above a lawn which stretches to the riverbanks. The suite is more of an apartment with a separate living room and bedroom. Each has an enormous telly secreted in a timber panelled wall which echoes the sleek greys of the floorboards. The best hotels pay as much attention to the big architectural statements as the tiny ones such as scent and we are greeted by an essential oil diffuser set up hours earlier with a blend of citrus and lemongrass. Bonus points for the Acqua Di Parma toiletries. Truth be told, we liked it so much that we couldn’t bear to leave when our time was up and booked an extra night.

The Junior King Suite at Moire Hoi An.

Food and drinks

This hotel is always going to be up against it on the F&B front with dozens of cheap yet delicious restaurants within a five-minute stroll. That said, the newly opened The Yellow Bicycle cafe offers upmarket takes on Vietnamese classics such as pho, bahn mi and hoi an chicken rice. It is also the location for a personalised coffee experience where guests are taken through the unusual local variations such as egg and salt coffees. Upstairs is Bistro Julienne where most guests head for breakfast with a substantial and impressive buffet plus a host of made-to-order items. It is also a solid all-day diner but the restaurant we fell hardest for is the poolside Ember & Sip which channels the spirit of American cookouts with grilled steaks, ribs, burgers and a quartet of creative margaritas - try the star gooseberry variety with a Vietnamese sour plum salted rim.

Take a shot of Vietnamese coffee culture at Moire Hoi An.

The extras

A cyan pool is cleverly divided into a kid’s splash zone, trio of spas and a 25 metre lap zone. Add shaded cabanas and a new playground and you’ve found the perfect flop location. There is also a gym, bougie spa and a bunch of free bikes so you can explore the neighbourhood at your leisure. Hint: go over the bridge and turn right to get a glimpse of the real Hoi An out of the Old Town.

If you don't want to share, upgrade to a pool villa.

What’s hot

The staff here are just so committed to making your stay the best it can be. Before every interaction, they will touch their heart and no matter how many times it happens it is always heartfelt and disarming. Nothing is too much trouble either - it was thos writer’s partner’s birthday while we stayed and they organised a bunch of roses to be left on the patio we we had our morning coffees.

What’s not

Depending on your aesthetic preference, you will either adore the fact that the massive soaking tub is just a metre or so from the bed or be a bit bemused by it.