Discover serenity at Namia River Retreat in Hoi An—a luxury wellness escape on the Thu Bon River offering mindful relaxation, nature, and healing rituals.
Just beyond the bustle of Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets, I found something entirely different—an island sanctuary where days are guided by breath, herbal steam, and the slow rhythm of the river. My partner and I spent three nights at Namia River Retreat, a new luxury wellness sanctuary in Hoi An, Vietnam. We left feeling lighter in body and clearer in mind. Built on a small islet in the Thu Bon River, Namia isn’t just where you stay—it’s where you pause.
UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An Old Town is just 15 minutes from Namia River Retreat. Photo courtesy Namia
Arrival at a Riverside Sanctuary
Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town on Vietnam’s central coast, is known for its beautifully preserved Ancient Town, vibrant lantern festivals, and centuries-old fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and French influences. While the Old Town buzzes with tailors, temples, restaurants, and night markets, Namia River Retreat offers a serene counterpart, just a short ride on the resort’s shuttle boat away but worlds apart in atmosphere.
Tucked onto the tranquil Cồn Ba Xã Islet, the Namia River Retreat offers a rare kind of stillness. Less than 15 minutes from Hoi An’s Ancient Town, the resort feels like a secluded sanctuary. A sweeping and striking bamboo-walled bridge connects the “mainland” reception to the 5-hectare islet, leading to lush grounds dotted with 60 private pool villas, wellness spaces, and riverfront views.
The resort is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. This badge holds weight with those of us who favor thoughtful design, personalized service, and a deep sense of place. That promise held across every aspect of our stay, from the design to the deeply intuitive service.
Namia’s Welcome Lounge aka lobby proudly displaying it’s SLH membership. Photo courtesy Namia
My Riverfront Villa: A Calm Within a Calm
Our River Pool Villa offered uninterrupted views of the Thu Bon River from nearly every corner of the room. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors framed the river in constantly shifting shades of silver and green. Handcrafted Hoi An ceramics, seagrass rugs, and carved sapele wood lent a grounded warmth inside. A tray of herbal teas and locally sourced snacks sat beside a sleek glass Vietnamese coffee filter, while two branded metal water bottles reminded us of the resort’s zero-plastic commitment.
Every evening brought a turndown ritual—handwritten notes with gentle affirmations, ingredients for a sleep-time tea, and instructions for a bath soak with herbs plucked from the resort’s organic garden. I had never felt so deeply considered as a guest.
One of the villa’s most distinctive features was the generously sized, in-floor sunken bathtub, positioned prominently within the open-plan space. More than just a design statement, it was a daily invitation to unwind. As part of Namia’s wellness philosophy, a new set of herbal soak ingredients and instructions was left each day, transforming a bath into a deeply therapeutic ritual. Built for two, the tub became our private spa sanctuary, a moment of calm that often became the perfect close to each day.
Our River Pool Villa, with its sunken bath and expansive river vistas. Photo courtesy Namia
Where Wellness Is a Daily Ritual
Unlike many wellness retreats in Vietnam and beyond that charge à la carte for spa treatments, Namia includes a 90-minute daily wellness journey for every guest with each night’s stay. And we took full advantage.
At my first appointment at Lumina, Namia’s impressive riverside spa, we each completed a self-assessment that guided our treatments throughout the stay. Every visit began with a 30-minute herbal hammam in a stone-clad steam room infused with custom herbal blends created by on-site apothecaries. I selected a mix of mugwort, perilla, green tea, and angelica one morning. As my therapist explained, it’s great for circulation.
Lumina Spa’s apothecaries make up the herbal blends for guests’ treatments. Photo courtesy Namia
From there, I drifted into a 60-minute traditional Vietnamese therapy. During our time at Namia, my partner and I experienced traditional Vietnamese massage, acupressure treatment, and an unforgettable Diện Chẩn facial reflexology session—a Vietnamese practice developed in the 1980s by Professor Bùi Quốc Châu. Within a couple of days, I was sleeping more soundly, my shoulders had softened, and my jet lag had vanished.
A Wellness Retreat in Vietnam with Heart and Heritage
Namia’s wellness program is rooted in Thuốc Nam, the folk herbology of southern Vietnam. Local herbalists and practitioners collaborated with Lumina Wellbeing‘s founder, Michelle Ford, to preserve and elevate these traditions.
Beyond the spa, wellness is woven into every part of the day. You can greet the sunrise with Dưỡng Sinh sessions, a slow, meditative Vietnamese movement practice similar to Tai Chi. One afternoon, I attended a slow and contemplative Yin yoga class that relaxed me deeply. Evenings concluded with a lantern ceremony, where we floated wishes and intentions across a lagoon in homage to Hoi An’s full moon rituals. It felt authentic, never performative. Wellness here isn’t a marketing hook—it’s a way of life.
Greet the day with Dưỡng Sinh, a Vietnamese style of Tai Chi. Photo courtesy Namia
Eco Practices that Go Beyond Buzzwords
Namia walks the eco-talk with commendable transparency. Villas feature refillable bath amenities, and water stations are dotted throughout the resort. The furniture is made from reclaimed wood; even the minibar was curated with local, sustainable snacks. The island has undergone rewilding efforts, introducing native plants and mangroves to combat erosion naturally. Namia’s new eco-centric bamboo bicycles are also a first for resorts in Vietnam.
The architecture, designed by T3 Architects and Kanopea Studio, seamlessly blends traditional Vietnamese forms with bioclimatic design principles. The structures are naturally ventilated, energy usage is minimized, and the layout prioritizes privacy without compromising the surroundings.
Namia River Retreat blends traditional Vietnamese forms with bioclimatic design principles. Photo courtesy Namia
Dining That Nourishes More Than Hunger
Each morning, I faced a delicious dilemma: Should I sit on the Merchant’s open-air riverfront deck or inside its stylish dining room with views of bent bamboo eaves and garden pods? The breakfast alone was a highlight—think Vietnamese charcuterie, Hoi An-sourced granolas, breads and pastries, fresh juices, herbs and salad vegetables direct from the on-site garden, and barista-grade Vietnamese coffee.
In the evenings, the Merchant shifted to à la carte dining, featuring dishes with a distinct Vietnamese focus. We particularly loved the farm-to-table duck with tamarind and citrus jus and the clay pot braised pork belly with eggplant and banana blossoms.
The resort’s second restaurant, The Fisherman, is reserved for in-house guests and celebrates Hoi An’s fishing heritage with a Japanese twist—sushi boats, yakitori grills, and seafood hotpots are enjoyed under a ceiling resembling a woven fishing net. Again, the river is never far from view.
The distinct decor and style of Fisherman Restaurant. Photo courtesy Namia
Bikes, Boats, and the Beauty of Hoi An
While it was tempting never to leave the islet, Namia made exploration easy. Each villa includes complimentary bamboo bikes. One morning, we joined a resort-run guided cycle tour through the nearby villages—past rice paddies, temples, and farmers preparing the spring crop. It was just 45 minutes, but a world away from tourist-trodden streets, and local cultural insights from our staff member-guide added colour to the experience.
A guest cycling across the resort’s distinctive bridge on one of the eco centric bamboo bicycle. Photo courtesy Namia
That night, we boarded Namia’s sunset cruise, floating down the river with a craft cocktail in hand. As Hoi An’s lanterns lit the banks and the water filled with flickering reflections, we felt entirely enchanted—grateful for a resort that encourages not just rest but real connection.
Final Reflections: A Retreat Worth Extending
Namia River Retreat is more than a hotel—it’s a luxury wellness sanctuary in Hoi An that prioritizes balance, beauty, and cultural respect. Its location—just a stone’s throw from Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed town center—is a bonus, not the headline.
As a traveler seeking meaning as much as luxury, Namia reminded me that sometimes the most profound moments come from slowing down, soaking in a herbal bath, or watching the sunset over water with nowhere else to be.
Like this meditation sala, Namia River Retreat provides the opportunity to pause. Photo courtesy Namia
If you’re looking for a wellness retreat in Vietnam where tradition meets tranquillity and sustainability meets style, Namia is the kind of place you’ll want to write home about. Or, in my case, write an entire article.
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Getting There
Namia River Retreat is located on Cồn Ba Xã Islet, just outside central Hoi An in Vietnam’s Quang Nam Province. The nearest airport is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), roughly 50 minutes away by car. From there, the resort can arrange private transfers, or travelers can use a taxi or pre-booked car service to reach Hoi An. US travelers can connect via major hubs like Seoul, Bangkok, or Singapore, with multiple daily flights into Da Nang International Airport.
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