Why do people love staying in your hotel? Anantara Hoi An Resort is only a short walk from the Ancient Town, an age-old seaport that looks today much as it did 400 years ago. The resort is situated on the banks of the storied Thu Bon River. A grassy esplanade punctuated by palm trees fronts the river flowing with sampans and dragon boats. People also love Anantara Hoi An’s French colonial-inspired two-storey buildings showcasing hints of Dutch, Chinese and Japanese influence, and our friendly, helpful staff. Condé Nast Traveller’s readers last year deemed this boutique property among Asia’s top 25 resorts. What is there to do in the area? The city’s Ancient Town is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shophouses built by Japanese and Chinese merchants in the 15th and 16th Centuries still totter over streets flowing with pedestrians, not vehicles. Its Chinese Assembly Halls, filled with red-faced deities and goddesses in flowing robes, are no less compelling, and central to the spell conjured by one of Asia’s great destinations. Departing from Anantara Hoi An in a boat fashioned by talented local carpenters at Kim Bong village, a five-kilometre one-hour sunset cruise opens up the Thu Bon in a whole new way. The cruise invites travellers to explore the contemporary appeal of an age-old icon, offering sweeping prospects of the locals’ fascinating way of life on a river that fueled Hoi An’s rise in the 17th and 18th centuries as a powerful trade link between Europe, China, India and Japan. There are a host of other activities to do in the region, including rummaging through the UNESCO World Heritage-protected My Son temples, that flourished between the 4th and 13th centuries under the Champa Kingdom’s reign. What kind of breakfast do you offer? At Lanterns Restaurant, a remarkable buffet breakfast of Asian and Western fare. Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? In the evening by the riverside, guests enjoy a delectable a la carte menu that showcases the very best of Vietnamese cuisine, as well as seafood and steaks grilled to perfection. Complement your meal with wine from our selection determined by our resident ‘Wine Guru’. We regularly offer a buffet of Vietnamese cuisine on our riverside terrace with a stunning vista of the river by night. Hoi An is renowned for its variety of restaurants and cafe. A great little find is Quan An 19 on Hoang Van Thu Street. It offers a solid selection of Vietnamese dishes. Which are your most popular room types, and why? All of our accommodation options are popular from Deluxe Garden View Rooms - overlooking our lush courtyard garden Deluxe Balcony - upper floor rooms featuring a generous balcony and views of the hotel’s garden courtyard Junior Garden View Suites - split level contemporary style apartments Junior River View Suites - suite with river views Anantara River View Suite - the best we have What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? The resort’s swimming pool is popular with children. Anantara Hoi An can organize for an extra bed to be implemented in a room or suite upon request. What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? In such a land of contrasts with such a vibrant people, sensory overload is part and parcel of a sojourn in Vietnam. Yet Anantara Hoi An allows you to slip into Vietnamese culture thanks to cooking classes and other activities that include lantern making and scenic river cruises.
