Namia River Retreat.
Hoi An, Vietnam
namiariverretreat.com
“With peace in every step” – these are words that we encountered when visiting Namia River Retreat for the second edition of Schön! alive. You’ll see them handwritten on the cards presented to you both on arrival and departure. You’ll see them before you even get there, in the thoughtful emails that ensure your stay goes seamlessly. And it doesn’t take long before this philosophy settles in, soothing your aches and pains and calming your cluttered mind.
Located on the tranquil Cồn Ba Xã Islet in Vietnam, close to the ancient, lantern-lit town of Hoi An, Namia River Retreat opened its doors just last December. It’s unique to the area in being the only 5-star resort where accommodation is comprised solely of private villas – 60 of them to be precise – all with stunning saltwater infinity pools and views of either the Thu Bon River or the lush Nipa palm forest. With thatched ceilings and wooden accents, the interiors are inspired by the natural surroundings, traditional fishing boats and countryside dwellings.
It’s not just the villa-only concept that differentiates Namia. The retreat is a ‘wellness-inclusive resort’, meaning guests are offered a personalised 90-minute ‘wellness journey’ each day as standard, as well as a menu of complimentary wellness and cultural activities. It’s the brainchild of Lumina Wellbeing, the hotel management company behind the project, and something that Wellness Development
Director Emilie Chanon believes will become “a standard expectation in the future”. “As breakfast is included in your stay to enjoy your holiday, we believe these 90 minutes of self-care for your body and mind daily are equally essential,” says Chanon. “Since it’s included, we’ve taken away the guilt factor.”
Lumina Spa.
A fusion of ancient techniques and modern care
Ready to embark on our guilt-free wellness journey, we head to the retreat’s Lumina Spa. In a welcome area with panoramic river views, we’re greeted with a traditional cooling herbal tea that includes chrysanthemum flowers, pandan leaves and goji berries, before beginning our consultation.
The whole spa and wellbeing concept is inspired by Thuốc Nam (Southern Herbology), a traditional Vietnamese practice using only native ingredients that has been passed down through generations, and all wellness journeys also include an herbal remedy prescription from the on-site apothecary.
“Our hope is to support Vietnamese Southern Herbology and Vietnamese Traditional Medicine to garner the same international recognition and trust in the therapeutic benefits, as with Indian, Chinese, Thai or Balinese therapies,” says Michelle Ford, the retreat’s General Manager and founder and CEO of Lumina Wellbeing.
There are three wellness paths offered to guests: Deep Rest to support relaxation, improve sleep and decrease stress; Body Balance to ease pain and tension, reduce inflammation and improve circulation, and Holistic Healing to detox both body and mind and boost energy. However, the journey is very much tailored to each guest.
Although typically the daily 90-minute treatment is divided into 30 minutes in the hammam and 60 minutes in a treatment room, we are advised instead to opt for a 90-minute traditional Vietnamese massage, which is beyond excellent and much needed. Before melting into our massage, we commence with an herbal footbath, followed by a short session of moxibustion.
Apothecary.
Every wellness journey includes
a visit to the apothecary, to collect a
custom herbal remedy based on
your wellbeing assessment.
This is a traditional technique where sticks of dried mugwort are burned and held close to specific acupuncture points to stimulate blood flow and energy. For the massage itself, either a healing or detoxing oil is suggested. We opt for the latter, which contains lemongrass, ginger, coconut, almond and olive oils. There are even warming herbal slippers applied during the treatment and another herbal tea in one of the relaxation areas when it ends.
But the day’s wellness journey doesn’t stop there. After an evening Sleep Yoga session, we return to our villa where a cajeput herbal bath soak has been prepared in the spacious sunken tub that overlooks our private pool. It includes lemongrass to energise and purify the skin, ginger to warm the body and release tension, mint to refresh and soothe the mind and citrus leaves to uplift and invigorate the senses.
Day two begins with a morning Yang Yoga Flow session designed to boost energy levels, but earlier risers can also head to the pool for Dưỡng Sinh (an indigenous breathing and yoga exercise similar to Tai Chi) or participate in a silent walking meditation.
On our next visit to the spa, we try out the hammam treatment. Options include herbal wraps and body and facial scrubs, all of which start with a traditional Xông Hơi herbal steam to enhance body balance and end with a Vichy shower.
We’ve been recommended a body scrub to soften the skin and improve circulation and are taken to the apothecary who makes up a fresh batch whilst explaining the ingredients: mugwort and curry leaves, jasmine flowers, honey, sugar and angelica for brightening. This is followed by an hour of acupressure to improve Qi flow, using either mugwort or ginger oils and Diện Chẩn tools. These tools are also used in a signature facial reflexology treatment if you’d prefer.
Lumina Spa.
The eight herbal steam rooms and river
facing relaxation rooms, sauna and
cold plunge are just some of the facilities
available at the spa.
As well as the daily 90-minute treatments, you can make full use of the sauna and cold plunge facilities facing the river, but if you want to take it a step further, there is the all-inclusive Ritual for Release retreat, comprising a nutritional detox, energy healing, yoga and meditation, all under the guidance of a personal wellness practitioner.
If detoxing is not on your agenda and you’d rather savour a creamy (and yet vegan) coconut ice cream or a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, there are two restaurants on site: The Merchant, which is the resort’s excellent fine dining option – and where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous breakfast that includes both healthy and indulgent options – and The Fisherman, which is a more casual, but still chic, eatery exclusively for hotel guests which, as the name suggests, focuses on fresh seafood. Really, it’s totally up to you how ‘wholesome’ you want to be.
One thing we would highly recommend you do though is to take advantage of the many authentic cultural activities that are also included. It’s important to note that Namia is not just an exclusive spa hotel. Promoting, and engaging with, local culture, people and traditions is very much part of its DNA.
The Merchant Dinner.
A six-course dining journey by
Namia Executive Chef Thu Le
and Guest Chef Truesdale-Jutras.
Hoi An, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not to be missed. It is bustling and full of tourists, but its narrow and vibrant streets of yellow buildings festooned with colourful lanterns are charming all the same. Shop for local crafts, such as baskets, leather goods, silks and ceramics, or chill out in the many coffee shops that offer an array of local concoctions that you won’t encounter back home.
Being the second largest exporter of coffee in the world, Vietnam and its inhabitants take this beverage very seriously. Back at Namia, there’s not only a variety of intriguing brews to sample in your villa, but you can learn how to make local coffees such as coconut and egg or try a tasting with a chocolate pairing.
The resort is a short taxi or bicycle ride from Hoi An (and yes, a personal bike is parked outside your villa), but there is also a complimentary riverboat shuttle service and a more leisurely sunset cruise – accompanied by cocktails, mocktails and canapés with a local twist – to get you there too. Or participate in a guided bamboo bicycle ride through the Nipa forest, take a paddle on a traditional Vietnamese basket boat, partake in the evening lantern lighting ritual or koi fish feeding or even meet a local artisan. You can book these, and other, activities via your ‘host’ (in our case, the wonderful Bao), who is available throughout your stay to assist with your programme and anything else you might need. And if that’s not enough, there’s also the option of a local guide.
So, did we leave Namia River Retreat with peace in every step? Certainly, we came close to it. The thing is, it’s not just the stunning villas, the tranquil setting or the sumptuous spa, but the people that made us fall in love. It’s not just that the villas are accented with woodwork, pottery and textiles by local artisans, but that a small gift of one of these is left for you every evening with a handwritten poem.
It’s not just that airport transfers are complimentary or that early check-ins and late check outs are accommodated whenever feasible; it’s the kindness and care that permeates the culture here, from the restaurant staff who will remember your name to the gardeners who cheerfully great you with “Xin chào!” as you meander past the lush vegetation and botanical gardens.
It’s humbling – in a good way – and reminds you to smile more, especially at strangers. We definitely left Namia River Retreat with a spring in our step, but also a deep longing to return.
Meditation platform.
A perfect place to slow down
and become more conscious.
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words. Huma Humayun
images. Courtesy of Namia River Retreat
