Raising the international bar for luxury seaside resorts, Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam is on the radar of many an astute globetrotter who is searching for the next best jet-setting getaway. The region is a wondrous setting for a seaside resort with its 300 days of sunshine and a tropical climate year-round. The Anam is one of the region’s first multimillion-dollar resorts that opened in early 2017 and leads the charge winning travel acclaim since the day it opened, and for good reason.

The game-changer for regional Cam Ranh is its new US$163 million Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) with direct flights from multiple Asian and Oceania hub airports: about a one-hour flight time from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City respectively, a two-hour-plus flight from Kuala Lumpur via Air Asia, and less than three-hours from Hong Kong.

Soaring above its yesterday, today’s Vietnam oozes relaxed sophistication and a priceless richness underpinned by genuine smiles and extraordinary guest service. And the Anam is no exception. Situated on nearly 30 acres of lush natural oceanfront surrounds, The Anam exemplifies the ultimate unpretentious luxury getaway. With its picturesque white-sand private beach, open green spaces, superstar resort facilities, spacious villas, guest rooms and suites; restaurants and bars, The Anam extends the welcome mat to make happy days for all its guests.

Influenced by the French colonization of Vietnam in the 1880s, Vietnamese architecture, art and cuisine fuses two juxtaposed cultures that crystallize into an ‘opposites attract’ design vernacular, Indochine. The Anam design pays homage to the Indochine aesthetic through its imperial-style roofs, pot-bellied water vessels, reflection pools, bespoke mosaics and lantern-illuminated stone pathways.

If your concept of an ultimate holiday includes rejuvenation, delicious food, and participating in experiences, then look no further than The Anam…

Rejuvenate

Ready for a digital detox? The Anam might be the place to break up with your iPhone and digital devices. Like many of us living in the 21st-century an obsession with technology and connectivity is difficult to break. Nobody wants to miss out on the action or newsbreaks. However, studies prove (reinforced by common sense) that putting away these devices allows time to spark creativity and fresh thinking; enhances restful sleep and gifts time to enjoy the moment. For those not up to the digital detox challenge, The Anam has super strength WIFI, with compliments.

The guest rooms are adorned with crisp Irish cotton bed linens, goose down pillows and Sealy mattresses, world-renowned for their impeccable quality and investment in the science of sleep. Bespoke hand-made soaps and toiletries are other examples of The Anam’s attention to detail. Artwork by local visual artists decorates the interiors and provides further insight into the captivating Vietnamese culture.

Ingredients such as lemongrass, lemons, limes and ginger are harvested from The Anam Spa garden for use in the spa treatments and teas. The spa is all about high touch and low tech using age-old Asian healing techniques as part of its ‘Let your mind go, and your body will follow’ mantra. The Anam Spa has 10 treatment rooms including four VIP rooms designed for couples, steam rooms, saunas and spa baths.

Delicious

Vietnam is one of the world’s preeminent food destinations noted for intricate tastes, textures and colorful presentation amplified by a bounty of fresh seafood, regional herbs and vegetables. For romantic dining and classical French cuisine, The Colonial is the place. Directed by Executive Chef Ye Chang Sheng who regards famed British chef Marco Pierre White as a mentor, The Colonial aims to create a Michelin star restaurant through collaboration and using simply the best ingredients.

“Great chefs want to collaborate and share knowledge to achieve a greater outcome. Our chefs and team are constantly improving methods and service to accelerate excellence and to create a world-class dining experience for our guests,” says Chef Ye.

Traveling to Vietnam, one expects the Vietnamese food to be beyond outstanding. The Anam takes authentic Vietnamese cooking five steps further with their treasured ‘Mama Chefs’ – five mothers of the resort staff members who don their chef hat and cook their respective specialities at Lang Viet. Mamas’ Cooking Buffet, the brain-child of hospitality-visionary Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, The Anam General Manager, takes innovation and inclusion to the next level by hiring talent steeped in expertise, the local Cam Ranh mothers – each with north, south or central Vietnam masterpiece dish. The mamas call the shots in the kitchen when it comes to their recipes remaining true.

Mr Laubichler-Pichler explains, “The value our mamas bring is immeasurable, and the good food is only the beginning. The mamas bring happiness to our guests and are inspirational to the younger staff.”

Rivaling the Lang Viet in popularity is newly opened The Beach Club serves burgers, steaks and seafood off the barbecue, wood-oven pizzas and hand-made pasta. At the Anam, there is something for everyone. Come and see for yourself.

Experience

The Anam resort recreational facilities are first-class: three swimming pools – one for adults only, a state-of-the-art gym, sunrise yoga, tennis, an exquisite white-sand beach with non-motorized water sports equipment or opt for a jet ski adventure, a 60-seat 3D cinema, and a kids’ club. That said, many curious travelers are fastidious learners with a propensity to explore beyond the property. Here is a selection of day excursions to spark your interest.

Vespa Tour

Explore the Nha Trang back streets and countryside on the back of a Vespa stopping off at historic sites, village markets, artisan bakers, artist workshops, and a hidden-gem coffee café. It’s a fun-packed way to learn more about Vietnam and its people.

Teed off

Play golf at the Cam Ranh Links Golf Resort, a Greg Norman signature 27-hole golf course, which is poised to become one of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.

Cooking day with Chef Dat

The cooking day experience starts with shopping for fresh produce at the Cho Vinh Ngoc market then on to Chef Dat’s farmhouse for a hands-on cooking class to create traditional Vietnamese dishes followed by a luncheon feast. You will learn recipes and new cooking skills to impress your friends.

Quick facts