From a delightful resort in Vietnam, to flying in style, and a summer Hunter Valley offer. travel editor Winsor Dobbin has the latest news and views.
Just sitting enjoying a welcome drink and taking in the sea view, you know you have landed somewhere pretty special.
Overlooking water features, the resort swimming pool and the white sands of Bac My An Beach, Pullman Danang Beach Resort is a top spot for chilling out for a few days. After you’ve done Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Danang offers a whole lot of contrasts; wide boulevards and an array of resorts aimed firmly at leisure travellers looking for cocktails, seafood and beachy pleasures.
The Pullman seems to have mastered the art of relaxation with a touch of luxury. The Accor-operated resort offers a blend of stylish seaside serenity and urban excitement. Think cocktails on the sand; a short stroll along the beach to food, bar and massage options.
Danang, sometimes spelt as Da Nang, is one of Vietnam’s most vibrant and modern cities and lies on the coast of the South China Sea of Vietnam at the mouth of the Han River. It is an important port, a seafood centre, and increasingly popular as a tourism destination.
The city’s major landmarks include the striking Dragon Bridge, and a giant female Buddha, which locals will tell you has reduced the number of serious weather events in the region since being constructed.
It is within 100km of several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the former capital of Hue and major tourism hub Hoi An, making it an excellent choice as a base for exploring. The Lady Buddha, 67 metres tall and completed in 2010, is believed to bring good luck and calm the weather for fishermen in the area.
Pullman Danang Beach Resort has a range of food and beverage outlets, including the Azure Beach Lounge, which offers a Vietnamese menu featuring dishes like seafood and mango salad and braised fish served in a clay pot. There is a more international vibe at Epice, where guests can enjoy spectacular buffet breakfasts. I enjoyed a cocktail or two at the beach bar watching spectacular evening storms roll in.
The hotel location is ideal. Right on the beach with direct access to the sand, it is a 15-minute drive from Danang International Airport and just 10 minutes from the main railway station, which links to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. There are 186 well-appointed rooms and cottages, all of which have private balconies that overlook either the beach, infinity pool, or tropical gardens.
My very spacious junior suite had a great view of the Lady Buddha in the distance. The on-site The Nắng Spa offers a range of treatments and the Fit Lounge is a fully-equipped gym.
For anyone planning a meeting, there is space for up to 900 delegates and the hotel complex is delightfully decorated with local artworks, including multiple dragonfly sculptures in striking colours.
For all these facilities, however, the staff are the stars of the show; uniformly helpful and smiling and on hand whenever you need them.
For more details and direct bookings check out https://www.pullman-danang.com/
The writer was a guest of the hotel and Vietjet Airways, which flies from Ho Chi Minh City to major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, and connects Hanoi to Sydney and Melbourne. Economy fares start at around $250, while business class fares begin at $1,100, with frequent seat sales on offer.
If you’ve ever thought you’d like to splurge on a business class experience, then a trip on Vietjet might suit you. I recently flew each way between Australia and Hanoi as a guest of Vietjet and both flights were super comfortable and on time.
I managed seven hours of uninterrupted snooze. That’s a rare treat.
You must make some compromises. First, VietJet does not offer entertainment; you’ll need to load some movies, books and music to your phone or device before flying. And there was no wifi on the two Airbus A330 flights that I took.
But there was pre-flight lounge access at both ends. Drinks, snacks, wifi and comfortable chairs that take a lot of the stress out of flying.
There is also priority boarding and disembarkation from the cosy business cabins, which comprise just two rows with a 2-2-2 business configuration.
Attentive and smartly attired crew help you stow your baggage, and business class ticket holders are allowed a massive 18kg of hand luggage – a huge win. That’s in addition to your checked baggage allowance.
There’s a pillow and blanket waiting for you in your seat, along with an amenities bag with slippers, eye mask and some Occitaine d’Provence goodies. Once on board there are pre-flight drinks and nibbles (water, juice or wine), and dedicated business cabin staff.
The food is good, too, with a choice of either the business menu or dishes from economy included in your fare.
Business choices include the likes of fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese baked fish, and chicken and vermicelli soup. The red and white wine options were Portuguese and serviceable if not stellar.
Throughout the flight you are offered nuts, or some cheese and biscuits, before a second meal is served (I slept through breakfast on the return leg).
There are dedicated business class toilets that were kept immaculate during both my flights. Flight time between Australia and Hanoi is around 10 to 10/12 hours.
Check out the current deals – they change all the time – at www.vietjetair.com.
—
Hunter heaven
Premium accommodation The Lane Retreat, Bimbadgen, set among 15 hectares of vineyards and natural bushlands in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country, is an ideal spot for a short break for couples or friends this summer.
Just two hours’ drive from Sydney, The Lane Retreat has just released a Summer Escape package from $291 per night (minimum two-night stay) which includes:
- a two-night stay for two in a Premium Studio Retreat with daily continental breakfast provisions supplied at check-in
- a bottle of Bimbadgen sparkling wine on arrival
- Two general admission tickets to Hunter Valley Gardens allowing access to the Light Festival Spectacular running until January 26, 2025
- A complimentary wine tasting at Alter Wines
- A wood-fired pizza meal at Bimbadgen Pizzeria for two people
- Late check-out to midday
- Book online at www.thelaneretreat.com.au
You can see more of Winsor’s travel tips at www.gourmetontheroad.com.