New resort adds to Vietnam’s up-and-coming holiday hotspot

Those interested in war history will know the name Cam Ranh Bay. The French, Russian, Japanese and US forces all used it as a base at various times. Cam Ranh Bay is within an inlet of the South China Sea in southern Vietnam. Considered a safe harbour, its 20th-century military importance to the region was immense and even today, it is home to some facilities for Vietnam’s own military.

The area is a magnet for wellness resorts.

But it’s also now an upcoming resort area with vast tracts of vacant land edged by calm waters being snapped up for development as Vietnam’s tourism industry burgeons.

It benefits from its own international airport, which is within 10 minutes’ transfer of most resorts and hosts connecting flights from and to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, among other destinations beyond.

The latest resort to open in the area is The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, a nine-hectare property offering 207 rooms, suites and one, two or three-bedroom standalone pool villas.

There’s an emphasis here on wellness – a place for rest, rejuvenation and healthy holidaying.

The resort offers 207 rooms, suites and one, two or three-bedroom standalone pool villas.

The resort’s culinary offerings include an in-room dining menu highlighting superfoods. Breakfast venue The Verandah features juices and smoothies from Westin Fresh by The Juicery – a partnership with The Juicery, which operates cafes in London and Toronto. Hang Ten Beach Bar & Grill pedals modern Vietnamese cuisine and fresh, local seafood for those clean protein hits.

A sophisticated spa presents a wide range of replenishing treatments and the WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio offers yoga among its programs. For the outdoorsy types, it integrates the digital activity tracking app Strava with routes around the resort. The RunWESTIN Concierge leads social morning jogs, and guests can borrow items from a library of high-tech training equipment.

There are tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, and water sport equipment if you prefer kayaking or paddleboarding.

The resort has three outdoor pools, including a kids’ pool.

The resort has three outdoor pools, including a kids’ pool, and offers family programs, with children receiving a Westin Family Travel Journal and a Westin Family Activities Calendar filled with nature-focused activities to keep them busy. There’s also a Kid’s Healthy Eating menu developed by nutritionists – though parents may need their own military-style tactics to get some fussy eaters to partake.

See westin.marriott.com