With five swimming pools (including a glorious infinity pool with ocean views), spacious rooms and plenty of fun fam-friendly activities, this little slice of paradise is only a two and a half hour flight away from Singapore. The Danang Marriott Resort & Spa is perfect for a weekend getaway.
With a prime position on a wide expanse of Non Nuoc Beach, the former Vinpearl Luxury Danang has been transformed into the Danang Marriott Resort & Spa, with more than 200 rooms and villas decorated in traditional Indochine style.
We checked in to the Danang Marriott Resort & Spa for a solo travel experience. Between visits to the heavenly Quan Spa, workouts on the beach and in the fitness centre, and shopping trips to Hoi An, we came away refreshed and relaxed with a renewed sense of adventure. For more Vietnam travel tips, check out our Guide to Hoi An. Here’s what we loved about our stay.
1. Perfectly positioned right on Non Nuoc Beach
The winning thing about the Danang Marriott Resort & Spa is the location. Only a 2.5-hour flight from Singapore, then a 30-minute car ride, and you arrive. The infinity pool (and many of the rooms and villas) overlooks the picture-perfect Non Nuoc Beach, with a long stretch of sandy shoreline perfect for sunny walks and exercising.
While walking on the beach, you can see the tallest statue in Vietnam in the distance on Son Tra Peninsula. Lady Buddha stands at 67m tall (the equivalent of 30 storeys high!). The best time to walk the beach is in the morning, or join the Marriott’s team in a sunrise yoga session (from 5:30am) to see the sun ascend over the water. If cooler climes are more your thing, then run the beach at sunset when the temperature drops and the winds pick up (around 6:30pm).
2. An easy drive to Hoi An old town
Only a 30-minute car ride to Hoi An Old Town, bubbling with culture and history! See the Tan Ky Ancient house (built in 1741 and filled with fascinating memorabilia!), dine at Madame Vy’s Morning Glory, and grab yourself a coconut soup from a street vendor along the river. Visit Yaly Couture tailor for dresses and suits (ask for Maureen), or Friendly Shoes (request Na to help you), or grab a lairy patterned shirt from one of the many vendors. Lanterns, Non La hats and hand made crafts and fans are all available for purchase.
Vietnam is famous for it’s silk, and if you visit Cong Ty Co Phan Thang Loi, you can see the silk worms (ick!) and the artisans transforming their discarded cocoons into silk on traditional looms. There are also artisans hard at work embroidering pictures and cloths from photographs into artwork.
Psst… Ask the team at the Danang Marriott Resort & Spa to arrange a tour guide for you. We went out with the lovely Phuong Doan (photo above), who is a super knowledgeable local guide, and a joy to be around!
3. Don’t miss a visit to nearby Marble Mountain
A visit to Marble Mountain is a must-do! This spot is only a five-minute drive from the hotel – it’s visible from the beach and even from some of the rooms that back onto the front side of the Hotel. This is a sacred place for the Vietnamese people, and from the mountain you see the surrounding mountains, named for each of the elements (Metal, Wood, Fire, Water and Earth). Try and spot the six Buddhas spread throughout, along with the shrines and ‘Chinese Checkers’ playing statues. Psst… the locals believe that touching the checkers may cause fairies to transfer negative energy to your fingertips, so just see, don’t touch!
4. Danang Marriott Resort & Spa’s best hotel facilities: 5 swimming pools, well-equipped fitness centre and Quan Spa
Marriott Danang Resort & Spa is very well equipped for a wellness mini break. The Quan Spa has been elegantly renovated with beautiful wallpapers, classically beautiful tiles and bronze sinks. We tried a body massage and an anti-age facial, and left feeling glowy and relaxed. Treatments are well-priced at around VND1,500,000 (~S$84) for a facial, which is less than we would typically pay in Singapore.
Down the hall from the spa is the fitness centre. Equipped with towels, bottled water and plenty of machines (mainly for arms, however there were two quad machines as well as several treadmills).
5. The luxurious, homely feel of the rooms and villas (with spectacular views!)
We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the accommodation options at the Danang Marriott Resort & Spa. We stayed in an Executive Suite (max. 4 pax) that had a spacious lounge and dining area, along with a large fridge (great for storing snacks and juice boxes for the kids, and maybe a bottle of bubbles for the adults!). The views from the room were nothing short of epic, straight over the swimming pool and spacious grounds, and out over the beach.
If you’re traveling with a bigger group, consider the three-bedroom private pool villa. With two King bed master suites, and a junior suite with two Queen beds, there is room for everyone (up to 9 pax). There’s also a spacious lounge and dining area, beach access and of course a private pool! This is the perfect solution for a group or extended family holiday! The only downside – you’ll need to call for a buggy to transfer to the main hotel facilities and restaurants. But hey, when on holiday right? The kids will love these daily buggy rides!
6. Delicious dining with beautiful breakfasts in Madame Son and beachside cocktails at Non Nuoc Bar
The main buffet restaurant was under renovation during our stay, however the quality of the breakfast we had at Madame Son was still top notch. Pretty lanterns hang from the ceiling add to the ambience, and there are the usual egg and pho stations as well as a buffet room of meats, hot and cold dishes, salads, pastries, fruits and sweet treats. Our favourite was to sample traditional Vietnamese fare from roving waiters, including bánh mì.
Other dining options include the Non Nuoc Bar, set right on the beach and perfect for a seafood lunch or sundowner cocktail (or two), and Writer’s Bar, which looks perfect for a late night bar snack and whisky…
7. Play all day with water sports and cooking classes
There is a lot to see and do in Danang and nearby Hoi An, but the beauty of staying in a luxury hotel is that you can do as much or as little as you like. The kids will love a visit to the Kids Club, which we hear is due for a renovation soon. Activities like plaster painting and crafts along with a little playground are sure to keep them occupied when you need some quiet time by one of the pools. There are pool floats to play with too (we spotted two giant swans!). Relax in a hammock strung between the frangipani trees, or learn some new skills at a Vietnamese cooking class!
HoneyKids top travel tips for Danang, Vietnam:
Getting there
We flew VietJet Air, which had good flight times and was very cost effective. Direct flights from Singapore are around 2.5 hours and leave from Changi Terminal 4. The Danang Marriott Resort & Spa can arrange airport transfers with a luxury vehicle to meet you at the airport and drive the twenty to thirty minutes to the Hotel.
Currency
VND (Vietnamese Dong). Although tipping is not expected in Vietnam, we recommend having a range of notes available for shopping the market stalls in Hoi An and to purchase tickets to enter Marble Mountain (VND40,000 per person), or ride the bumboats along the river (we paid VND200,000 for two people).
Useful apps
Marriott Danang Resort and Spa is part of the Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Group. Sign up as a member for free and you can start earning points for free nights and upgrades! We would also recommend downloading the Grab app for taxi bookings. Note that from the hotel to Hoi An cost around VND243,000 (~S$13) each way. Many drivers will try to get you to pay outside of the Grab app (to save on the platform’s fees), and offer for you to take their number to WhatsApp with them. However, we would advise against this for safety reasons.
Nightly rates at Danang Marriott Resort & Spa start from S$192 per night.
Have a great time exploring Danang, Vietnam! Thank you to Danang Marriott Resort & Spa for hosting us for this review.
