L'Alya Ninh Van Bay

I loved the jungle rock villa, tucked among the trees with such lovely views of the bay. It had a great indoor-outdoor feel, so it felt close to nature while still being comfortable. The beach and restaurant both had a separate vegan menu for lunch and dinner, and the mung bean pancakes, lemongrass tofu, and Vietnamese rolls were especially good. Breakfast had fewer vegan choices, but Tam and the restaurant team were happy to suggest alternatives the chef could make. Tam was a fantastic butler, arranging what I needed and always bringing genuine warmth to our conversations. On my first night, he and the restaurant staff surprised me with birthday cake and a song. The setting is peaceful, the staff are kind and attentive, and I’d love to return to L’Ayla for longer.

We only left because we had to. The whole resort was tidy and clean, the food was excellent, and the wood throughout gave everything a warm, natural feel. From our Rock Pool Villa we could see the jungle, beach, and ocean, and the remote beach is reached by boat. There’s plenty to do, including petanque, pickleball, kayaking, SUP, games, or just relaxing. Vu was one of the best parts of our stay. He was discreet and efficient, made sure we had what we needed, and even arranged transport for us during Tet so we could continue our journey. One of the best hotels we’ve ever visited.

Vu made a real difference during our three nights. He was attentive but discreet, and easy to reach on WhatsApp whenever we needed something. The resort stayed quiet and didn’t feel busy, with activities like hiking, snorkeling, petanque, pickleball, the pool, and ping pong. Our room was spacious, clean, and peaceful, and the food and service were impeccable. It’s a tranquil spot in the peninsula foothills, with a private beach and clear, calm water. You can occasionally spot endangered monkeys foraging in the trees. Airport pickup and drop-off, including a speedboat ride across the bay, make it easy to get here.

The sunset cruise on the resort’s catamaran was a highlight: canapés, a bottle of bubbly, and a waterslide the kids loved. It felt special without being complicated. What stayed with us most was how naturally the quiet, the scenery, and the thoughtful service came together. Our butler, An, handled everything smoothly while giving us space, and the restaurant management team also made a personal effort that we appreciated. Breakfast had fresh fruit, strong coffee, and both Western and Vietnamese dishes. The food was very good overall, especially the grouper grilled in banana leaf, which needs to be ordered ahead because it’s sourced fresh that day. We spent five nights here as a family of four. The villa was beautifully designed and immaculately cared for, with everything working as it should; housekeeping refreshed it twice a day. The bay, framed by mountains and open water, felt wonderfully spacious and private, with so few villas that we barely noticed other guests. My wife was moved to tears on the way to our villa. The photos are lovely, but in person the light, stillness, and scale are even more striking. We left grateful and sure we’d made the right choice.