Riverside Wellness Escape: Pools, Vietnamese Herbology & Hoi An Culture

Each villa at Namia has its own private pool overlooking the Thu Bon River, and the property is set on Cồn Ba Xã Islet, a small island within cycling distance of Hoi An's ancient town. The design leans on local craft — you'll notice it in the lanterns, the woodwork, the way the buildings sit low against the river. It's a small property, which means the common areas (the two pools, the spa, the restaurants) stay quiet even when it's full.

What sets this apart from a standard Hoi An resort stay is the wellness programme. Every night you're there, a 90-minute journey is included: 30 minutes of hydrotherapy followed by a 60-minute traditional therapy. Before your first treatment, you visit the spa's apothecary to pick out herbal remedies for the steam — this is based on Southern Herbology (Thuốc Nam), the folk medicine Vietnamese families have used for generations. It's not a generic massage menu; you're choosing herbs and the therapist works from that.

The daily experiences are the other half of the stay. The retreat organises visits with local artisans, bamboo bicycle rides through the Nipa Forest, and sundown river cruises. These aren't big-group tours — they're small and run by people who actually live on the islet or in Hoi An. If you'd rather just stay by the pool, that's fine too; nothing is compulsory.

Food is taken seriously here. The Fisherman Restaurant serves seafood from Hoi An's markets, and The Merchant Restaurant does a broader Vietnamese menu with spices that historically came through this trading port from both East and West. Ingredients are sourced locally — some grown on-site or nearby. Breakfast is included daily; other meals depend on your package.

Location-wise, you're about 10–15 minutes from Hoi An's old town, close enough for an evening out but far enough that you don't hear the crowds. The river is the main event — boats pass by, the light changes through the day, and the two pools face it. It's a place you come to do very little, but do it well.

What's included

- Private pool villa accommodation - Daily breakfast - 90-minute daily wellness journey (30-min hydrotherapy + 60-min traditional therapy) - Apothecary consultation for herbal remedies - Morning movement practices - Mindful rituals (morning and evening) - Bamboo bicycle trails through Nipa Forest - Sundown river cruise - Visits with local artisans - Free Wi-Fi - Use of communal pools and spa facilities

What's not included

- International flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged at extra cost) - Lunch and dinner (unless specified in your package) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional spa treatments beyond the daily included journey - Alcohol and beverages outside of meals