A longing for white sand and sun brought us to central Quang Binh province, which is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha - Ke Bang caves. At the mouth of Nhat Le River a new destination appeared for tourists six year ago: the Sun Spa Resort.
Located in the picturesque city of Dong Hoi, Sun Spa Resort offers luxurious accommodation and excellent facilities and is a perfect gateway to discovering the nearby caves. Stretching out along the Bao Ninh Peninsula and facing an unspoiled beach, guests at Sun Spa can also enjoy spectacular sunrises over the sea.
The Sun Spa Resort is set amidst a spacious 30 hectares of landscaped gardens along the pristine Bao Ninh Beach and on the banks of the legendary Nhat Le River. The Resort has 34 beachfront villas on four hectares, a 15-storey hotel on six hectares, a 2.5-hectare rest centre, and a 3-hectare ecological forest surrounding the resort.
Harmony with the natural scenery and original architecture with traditional and modern character awaits guests at Sun Spa Resort. “I wanted to depict Vietnam, especially Quang Binh,” said Mr Vo Minh Hoai, CEO of the Truong Thinh Group, owner of Sun Spa Resort.
Sun Spa Resort connects sun and water, and people and nature. Guests will feel completely at peace next to the spotless white sand and green grass. Surrounded by water on three sides, the peninsula resort faces onto the beach and includes Ocean Suites, Deluxe and Superior rooms. All have the facilities you would expect from a top-quality resort, including satellite TV, air-con, a laptop portal, a safety deposit box and a Jacuzzi. In addition, guests are provided postal services, transportation services, facsimile access, currency exchange, 24-hour information services, and tour and travel arrangements, with all major credit cards being accepted. With a capacity of 380 people, the Ocean View room is the ideal venue for conferences and meetings, featuring modern equipment that meets working and business requirements.
Guests at the Resort can relax around the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy a traditional massage, sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi or therapeutic treatments. Tennis courts, a fitness centre, volleyball, Tai chi, yoga, aerobics and numerous water sports like para-sailing, jet skis, banana boats, catamarans, windsurfing and kayaking are also available.
Its fresh and delicious food will be one thing guests remember. Sun Spa Resort has three restaurants serving Asia, European, and American cuisine, in particular traditional Vietnamese dishes. Not surprisingly, the seafood is superb. The Ocean and Babylon Bars serve wonderful cocktails and famous wines from around the world.
“In our six years we have welcomed 200,000 domestic and international guests,” said Mr Hoai. “This year the number of guests has increased 30 per cent over last year, showing that Sun Spa Resort is gaining a name for itself.” It was rated among the Top 10 hotels and resorts in Vietnam and the Top 500 in the world by the World Hotel Association.
The Resort recently opened 34 bungalow villas on eight hectares. The villas offer luxurious facilities of five-star standard and reflect the image of Vietnam with its warm hospitality, rich culture and unique flavour. Each villa is designed in a Vietnamese style in harmony with nature, with fern-trunk thatching. A private tropical garden overlooks the ocean nearby, a place of tranquillity where life’s problems can pass you by. All villas are well-designed with graceful architecture. Discounts of 50 per cent on room tariffs are now on offer.
Every day the Resort organises trips to local spots such hot mineral springs, the Vinh Moc tunnels, the Bang hot water stream, Da Nhay beach and, in particular, Paradise Cave, the biggest in the world. Guests can easily see the sights and discover the famous landscapes of central Vietnam. Not only Phong Nha Ke Bang caves are close by; it’s also just a short trip to the former imperial capital of Hue, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Viet