Namia River Retreat, a five-star riverside resort and spa, is set to debut in the heart of Hoi An, Vietnam, this December. The 60-key destination, nestled on an islet overlooking the Thu Bon River, will offer wellness-infused customer journeys.

Its healing concept is centred around traditional Vietnamese medicine from the south known as thuoc nam, plant-based nutrition, signature therapies and movement practices.

“The spa journey has a distinct Vietnamese story and is inspired by thuoc nam (southern herbology),” says Michelle Ford, CEO of Lumina Wellbeing, the resort’s wellness and hotel operator and the consultancy which has overseen the project from concept creation to opening.

“As part of this, we’ve incorporated duong sinh (a harmonising Vietnamese morning movement practice); xông hơi (a folk remedy steam prescription) and dien chan (oriental facial reflexology) into the guest experience.”

Namia’s Lumina Spa will feature two traditional apothecaries, eight herbal steamrooms, a river-view terrace with a sauna and cold plunge, two relaxation lounges, a retail boutique and a movement studio.

Treatments will be conducted in one of Namia’s six double and four single treatment rooms.

Inclusive treatments
As part of room rates, guests will enjoy a daily 90-minute Wellbeing Journey every evening. This will consist of a 30-minute herbal hammam experience using locally sourced herbs and a 60-minute traditional therapy.

They’ll also be invited to participate in daily mindful rituals such as a silent meditation walk, visits to the retreat’s wishing tree or a lantern lighting ceremony to foster a deeper connection to their inner self and the serene surroundings of Namia River Retreat.

The resort’s centrepiece will be a riverside saltwater pool with water jets and foot reflexology, accompanied by a serene waterfall, a bio pond with fish and cosy lounge areas.

Forest inspired villas
Property owner HG Holdings tapped Saigon’s T3 Architects to lead the design due to its expertise in sustainability.

Pool villas have been inspired by the Nipa palm forest that envelops the destination. Each includes an open-plan living room flowing into an outdoor terrace with forest or river views, while sunken bathtubs in the bedrooms overlook the pool.

A restaurant specialises in locally sourced seafood dishes, while mini-tours to connect people, cultures and souls are also available.

“My vision is to create a resort that reflects our cultural essence in a modern way,” says CEO Nam Tran Thanh. “I’ve shared my stories and childhood memories from the village with the team, which are now infused into design details and cultural experiences.”

Namia, he says, is a legacy that he’s passing on to his two sons, adding that the resort will integrate essential lifestyle practices into its operations, aligning systems, procedures and team training to contribute to the local ecosystem and Hoi An community.

He aims to also lead the way in responsible tourism by reducing its environmental footprint through localised sourcing, waste management programmes and community collaboration projects.